LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cult Wines, the global leader in fine wine investment and collection management, today announced the release of an exclusive non-fungible token (NFT) in collaboration with Chateau Angélus, a historic, family-owned winery specializing in Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux. Commemorating the release of Bordeaux En Primeur, 2020, the one of one digital artwork features a 3D animated depiction of the iconic Chateau Angélus bells, the emblem of the estate featured on wine labels and from which the winery takes its name. The intricate design showcases the famous Saint-Emilion bell tower in extraordinary 3D detail, down to the engravings around the circumference of the bell and the strike of the hammer that elicits the actual sound of the Chateau Angélus bells ringing.
The NFT will be auctioned on OpenSea, beginning Tuesday, July 13, 9 AM BST until Tuesday, July 20.
Industry standard for reliably proving ownership and authentication, the NFT will give the buyer the right to ownership of one barrel of Chateau Angélus, Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Bordeaux En Primeur 2020 – to be bottled in whichever format(s) they chose* – one-of-a-kind experiences at Chateau Angélus, and Cult Wines’ signature care, preservation, and storage of the wine until it’s ready to drink.
“At Cult Wines, we are on a mission to reinvent and grow the fine wine category, and innovation is central to that vision,” said Tom Gearing, CEO & Co-Founder of Cult Wines. “This collaboration enables us to engage a new generation of wine drinkers in a creative way, by providing access to experiences, wine producers, and one-of-a-kind opportunities that truly demonstrate the specialized knowledge, access, relationships and insights that are the cornerstones of our brand experience.”
During the two-year ageing process, the owner of the NFT** will be invited to Chateau Angélus to take part in the wine’s journey from vineyard to bottle. The buyer will be invited to a virtual tasting with Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, Chateau Angélus CEO and Co-Owner, and a VIP experience during harvest 2021, including a personal wine pairing and cooking class with doubly appointed Michelin star Chef Alexandre Baumard at the celebrated ‘Le Logis de la Cadène’ in Saint Emilion and renowned ‘Le Gabriel’ in Bordeaux.
The experience will culminate in the bottling of the 2020 vintage, with a stay at the renowned Logis de Cadene*** and a celebratory dinner hosted by Tom Gearing and Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal at Chateau Angélus. Following the bottling, Cult Wines will take collection of the wine on the buyer’s behalf, storing it in the brand’s bonded, fully ensured warehouse that has been optimised for wine storage by carefully regulating temperature, humidity and other microclimatic factors.
Situated in Saint-Émilion, France, Chateau Angélus is one of the most prestigious and innovative properties in Bordeaux, resolutely turned towards the future, continuously implementing ambitious initiatives and new technology in favour of achieving excellence in wine growing and making.
The NFT collaboration with Chateau Angélus is the first step of several that Cult Wines plans to make with blockchain technology. Aiming to transform the way collectors and investors buy and sell fine wine, making it more secure and transparent, the company plans to introduce a number of cutting-edge initiatives.
“The NFT collaboration with Chateau Angélus is a step towards bigger ambitions of what we’d like to achieve in this area,” noted Corey Parkinson, Global Head of Product for Cult Wines. “Blockchain is a constantly evolving space that is fundamentally reshaping how wine is stored and authenticated, and we plan to be on the leading edge of that movement.”
The auction will begin accepting offers in crypto currencies USDC and Ethereum on July 13, 2021 on one of the largest NFT marketplaces, OpenSea.
* Subject to format availability and approval by Chateau Angélus
** Maximum two people
*** Subject to availability
ABOUT CULT WINES
Cult Wines, the world’s leading fine wine collection and investment management company, is setting a new industry standard. The award-winning company, which manages wine collections worth more than £175m, makes collecting and investing in fine wine as enjoyable and rewarding as the wine itself. Combining a love of fine wine and market-leading industry knowledge with the latest technology, Cult Wines analyses and unlocks the market for clients around the world. Wine collectors and investors alike choose Cult Wines not merely for the extensive financial expertise, but for the shared passion for fine wine, and access to likeminded wine lovers, renowned experts, exclusive events and bespoke experiences. Headquartered in the UK, Cult Wines was founded in 2007 and has offices in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the US supporting clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.wineinvestment.com/ or find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
