Two Dedicated Auctions of Outstanding Wines from The Cellar of Legendary Entrepreneur Jerry Perenchio Proceeds to Benefit the Perenchio Foundation First Auction on 30 March in Hong Kong

NEW YORK, 7 March 2018 – Sotheby’s is honored to present The Cellar from the Estate of Jerry Perenchio in two dedicated auctions this spring in Hong Kong and New York. A legendary entrepreneur whose business acumen and extraordinary work ethic led him to negotiate some of the biggest events in entertainment history, Mr. Perenchio was guided by his famed 20 “Rules of the Road” throughout his decades-long career, which culminated with his acquisition of Univision Communications and subsequent sale 15 years later in 2007 for $13.5 billion. Mr. Perenchio was also a generous philanthropist who, most often anonymously, donated to numerous artistic, educational and charitable institutions throughout Los Angeles.

A striking representation of his exceptional taste and enduring quest for excellence, Mr. Perenchio’s cellar is one of the most superb collections of mature wines to ever appear at auction. The collection is characterized by both its impressive quality and quantity of legendary wines from the finest producers. Both sales include some of the rarest and greatest vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy and de Vogüé in Burgundy, and Petrus and all of the First Growths from Bordeaux.

This exceptionally rare collection will be offered first on 30 March in Hong Kong, followed by a second dedicated auction this May in New York, with a combined pre-sale estimate of $6.5/9 million.

“My father, Jerry Perenchio, had a true passion for the best, including exceptional wines. He had a wonderful life with few regrets, but one he shared with me is that he would have enjoyed savoring the remaining contents of his cellar with family and friends. Though I offered to take over that “chore” on his behalf, I am proud to announce that he chose instead to auction his wine and have all proceeds benefit the Perenchio Foundation, whose principal mission will be to support visual and performing arts programs and institutions in Los Angeles.” John Perenchio

“The Jerry Perenchio Cellar is without doubt one of the greatest collections of mature wines ever to be offered for sale at auction. It includes previously unthinkable quantities of legendary vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy and de Vogüé, as well as Petrus, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Haut Brion. While Mr. Perenchio was perhaps best-known as the former chairman and CEO of Univision and for championing some of the entertainment world’s greatest talents, he also applied his instincts for excellence and his unbridled passion to assembling his cellar. The result is a truly remarkable collection of the greatest mature wines that exist and one that epitomizes the best of the best – something Mr. Perenchio’s strived to achieve in both his professional and personal life. It is now time for collectors and wine lovers all over the world to have the opportunity to enjoy these legendary wines, while perhaps raising a glass to the wisdom of the 20 “Rules of the Road”.” Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine

THE LIFE OF JERRY PERENCHIO
Born in Fresno, California in 1930, Andrew Jerrold Perenchio was inspired to pursue his American Dream from a very young age. His grandfather, Giovanni “John” Perenchio, who emigrated to the US from Northern Italy in 1896 with just ten dollars in his pocket and went on to become a successful businessman and winemaker, was cited by Mr. Perenchio as the most influential person in his life and the inspiration for pursuing his own American Dream. His father, Andy Perenchio’s love of music and singing would also come to have a lasting impact on his celebrated career.

At the age of 15, Mr. Perenchio and his family moved from Fresno to Los Angeles, where his father had the opportunity to lease the Los Angeles Greek Theater. Soon thereafter, he began working at the venue, learning the intricacies of the music business that would set the stage for his career in entertainment. Instilled with his grandfather’s motto – “no job too big, no job too small” – Mr. Perenchio held a number of jobs, from washing cars, to catering parties and booking bands, to pay his way through the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in business. Nearly five years later, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Perenchio was hired by Music Corporation of America (MCA) as a music agent and became the youngest vice president in the organization’s history.

In 1963, he helped form Chartwell Artists – a new talent agency named after the country estate of his hero, Winston Churchill – whose impressive roster of clients included iconic film and music figures such as Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Duvall, Johnny Mathis, and Elton John. After fine-tuning his natural instincts for deal-making while representing his clients, Mr. Perenchio embraced the opportunity to promote two of the most important events in sports and television history: “The Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971, a blockbuster event and great financial success largely due to Mr. Perenchio’s vision of generating new revenue streams in the form of closed-circuit broadcasts; and “The Battle of the Sexes” in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, which generated the largest television audience ever recorded for a tennis match.