Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival raises more than $3 million for UHN

The 13th annual Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine and culinary fundraiser, raised over $3 million net in support of scientific research and key program areas at UHN. The three-day event, which ran from October 26 to 28, presented by Aston Martin and Grand Touring Automobiles, has raised more than $25.7 million since 2005.

“We are so very grateful to all our participants in this year’s Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival. Funds raised from the auction will support world-leading researchers at Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals to continue to push the boundaries of science across a wide range of programs,” says Grand Cru Founder and Chair, Vice-Chair Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and UHN Board Trustee, Todd Halpern. “We are immensely proud of what this one-of-a-kind event has become. A big thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, hosts, chefs, vintners and volunteers for their tremendous support.”

• On Thursday, October 26, more than 1,500 guests attended the biennial Halpern Portfolio Wine Tasting and Grand Cru Live Auction at the Beanfield Centre. This year’s auction included 22 rare wine lots, 16 unique experiential and luxury lots and five art lots, and raised an impressive $1 million.
• On Friday, October 27, guests enjoyed a Castello di Ama, L’Apparita Vertical Wine Tasting at Sotto Sotto before the annual Grand Cru Appreciation Party at the Capitol Event Theatre. The Appreciation Party is an invitation-only celebration to thank Grand Cru chefs, wine estates, hosts, UHN scientists, VIP guests and event sponsors.
• On Saturday, October 28, more than 700 guests attended Grand Cru Exclusive Wine & Dine Experience Dinners in 26 spectacular private homes and venues across the GTA. Each home featured menus prepared by top chefs, accompanied by extraordinary wines and a senior UHN clinician or researcher. Guests learned about the latest discoveries and life-saving breakthroughs at UHN while enjoying the best in food and drink.

Celebrity chefs included, Mark McEwan, Lorenzo Loseto, Arpi Magyar and Daniel Boulud. Participating wine estates included Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Remoissenet Père et Fils, Château Latour, Bodegas Vega Sicilia, Silver Oak Cellars, Cliff Lede Vineyards and Antinori. Additional Festival sponsors included Miele, Rogers, Royal de Versailles and Raymond James.

BizBash ranked Grand Cru as this year’s number-one benefit in Toronto.