Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/701904
18 / the tasting panel / july 2016 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K THE MESSAGE 18 / the tasting panel / july 2016 L'Eleganza Extravaganza Every weekend in Los Angeles, you'll find at least one art gallery show where wine pours freely and guests—with glass in hand— muse about the artist's works. However, on May 19, Winemaker Axel Heinz of Tuscany's Ornellaia winery and Los Angeles–based artist Yutaka Sone took that sophisticated pastime to a new level for the eighth edition of Vendemmia d'Artista, a project showcas- ing the convergence of the contemporary art and fine wine worlds. This year's edition was proclaimed "L'Eleganza," and celebrated at a gala dinner and Sotheby-officiated auction at Los Angeles's Hammer Museum. According to Heinz, the theme Sone captured in his artwork for the winery and special bottle labels translates the character of the 2013 vintage into three dimensions. "We feel it sometimes can be counterpro- ductive to classify vintages in terms of their absolute quality, and try figure out which one is the greatest," explains Heinz. "Each vintage has its own beautiful characteristics which makes it great and gives it its own story. L'Eleganza celebrates the 2013 vintage's more restrained, subtle and elegant expression of Ornellaia." "Sone combined aspects of this great production of wine and the land, with sculpture carved from the same marble Michelangelo used to create his 'David' statue," added Ferdinando Frescobaldi, President of Ornellaia, as he pointed out the special labels on bottles up for auction, depicting Sone and his friends picnicking at the site of his creation for the vineyard. The auction, which followed celebrity chef Suzanne Goin's exquisite pairing dinner showcas- ing Ornellaia's 2003 and 2013 vintages, raised more than $128,000 for the Hammer Museum. Although many of the limited-edition bottles with Sone's imprint have now found homes, som- meliers and consumers will be able to find the masterpiece 2013 vintage, thanks to Folio Fine Wine Partners (www.foliowine.com), whose founder, Michael Mondavi, was in attendance. —Elyse Glickman PHOTO COURTESY OF ORNELLAIA PHOTO COURTESY OF ORNELLAIA Winemaker Axel Heinz of Tuscany's Ornellaia winery spoke at this year's eighth edition of Vendemmia d'Artista—a project showcasing the convergence of the contemporary art and fine wine worlds—held at Los Angeles's Hammer Museum. President of Ornellaia Winery Ferdinando Frescobaldi (center) and guests at the gala.