Wine Legends VII Raises More Than $200,000
Wine Legends VII raised more than $200,000 for The POLG Foundation at a sold-out New York benefit.
Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation raised more than $200,000 in net proceeds for The POLG Foundation through its seventh Wine Legends Dinner in New York. The sold-out benefit, chaired by Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Luxembourg, took place at the Harmonie Club on 21 October. Leading international wine producers, collectors and philanthropists attended in support of research into POLG-related mitochondrial disorders. A Domaine Clarence Dillon collection, including Château Haut-Brion, sold for $90,000 during the live auction.
Wine Community Support
The event was held under the patronage of wine authorities Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, with Marchese Piero Antinori, Xavier Barlier and David Pearson serving as Honorary Chairs.
Wine estates from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the United States contributed wines for the dinner, accompanied by a menu created by Executive Chef Sherwin Charles. Guests included Alessia Antinori, Guillaume Fouilleron, Stefano Frescobaldi, Miguel Torres Maczassek, Jean-Guillaume Prats, Emma Swain and Jorge Rosas.
A Personal Mission
The gala supported a cause personal to Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Luxembourg, whose son Frederik died in March 2025 from POLG-related mitochondrial disease. The POLG Foundation was established by the couple and Frederik to advance research, raise awareness and support individuals and families affected by the disorders.
HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg, said:
“My wife, Julie, and I are deeply grateful to Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation, to the donors, to the wine producers who gave so generously from their own cellars, to our foundation team and to everyone who made this exceptional evening possible. Since our beloved son passed, we have sought to transform our deep sadness into strengthened resolve — and our mission remains exactly what it was on the day that we founded this organisation with Frederik: to support and accelerate the research that will find effective treatments and a cure for POLG mitochondrial disorders. The families living with this disease do not have the luxury of time, and it is their urgency for answers that drives our PolG Foundation team forward every single day. What was given tonight brings that cure measurably closer.”
Continuing Philanthropic Work
The evening was supported by Fathom Creative, Prime Pediatric Dental Group, Mighty Therapeutics and the Rada Zocco Foundation. Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation has brought wine producers, collectors and philanthropists together for humanitarian causes since its founding by Arlene Willis and Tony Aspler in 2000.
Arlene Willis, Founder and Chairman at Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation, said:
“In our 25 years of bringing the wine community together for humanitarian causes, this was a particularly meaningful evening. We were honored to have Prince Robert and Princess Julie join us, and deeply moved by the generosity of the producers, collectors, and guests who made this possible. Raising more than $200,000 for The POLG Foundation is a wonderful result, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed.”
