Lyric Opera of Chicago’s celebrated Wine Auction made a dazzling return May 8–9, 2026, reaffirming its place as one of the city’s most anticipated social and philanthropic events. Hosted at Lyric’s iconic opera house, the triennial gathering brought together Chicago’s cultural and civic leaders, collectors, and philanthropists for a weekend of extraordinary wine, elegant dining, and spirited generosity.
Presented by the Women’s Board of Lyric Opera of Chicago, the 2026 auction — aptly themed A Divine Duet — celebrated the legendary wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy in a historic first for the event. The weekend raised $2.8 million in support of Lyric’s productions, education programs, and community engagement initiatives across Chicago.
Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction 2026 begins. Photo by Amy Aiello
A Leadership Trio Behind the Weekend’s Success
The event was led by Women’s Board President Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel, alongside co-chairs Jenni Sorenson and John Holmes, whose leadership brought a distinctive energy and vision to this year’s auction. Together, they introduced several firsts — including serving as the first married couple to co-chair the event and welcoming two honored guests instead of one.
"This event is such a special tradition for Lyric and for Chicago," said Gray-Krehbiel. "It’s a celebration of friendships, shared passions, and the joy of coming together for a meaningful cause. This year’s ‘Divine Duet’ made it all the more memorable."
"We wanted to create something that reflected both the artistry of wine and the spirit of Lyric. Bringing together Bordeaux and Burgundy felt like the perfect way to do that," said Sorenson.
"To celebrate two of the world’s great wine traditions in one weekend while supporting Lyric made this an extraordinary experience for everyone involved," said Holmes.
Honoring Two Icons of the Global Wine World
The weekend honored two towering figures in winemaking: Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem, and Erwan Faiveley of Domaine Faiveley and Williams Selyem. Their participation marked the first time the auction has featured honorees from both Bordeaux and Burgundy — an unprecedented pairing that elevated the event’s international stature.
Festivities began Friday evening with a Featured Vintner tasting in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer, featuring an exceptional array of wines from premier vintners, followed by an intimate VIP dinner honoring Lurton and Faiveley. On Saturday, guests gathered for an elegant dinner on the Lyric stage, where a live auction featuring rare vintages and exclusive global experiences unfolded in a lively and celebratory atmosphere.
Since its founding in 1988, the Lyric Wine Auction has raised nearly $20 million in support of the company, earning recognition from Wine Spectator as one of the nation’s "Top Charity Wine Auctions." Proceeds continue to play a vital role in sustaining Lyric’s artistic excellence while expanding its reach through education and community programming.
Sondra Radvanovsky with performers at Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction 2026. Photo by Robert Kusel.
Notable Attendees
The weekend drew a distinguished and stylish crowd from across Chicago’s civic, cultural, and philanthropic communities, including members of Lyric’s Board of Directors and Women’s Board, major donors, collectors, and prominent supporters of the arts.
Guests included leading figures from the city’s business and social circles, as well as visiting wine industry leaders and collectors from across the country.
Notable attendees included internationally acclaimed soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, who also serves as Artistic Advisor at Lyric, and her partner Dr. Ricardo Senno; Sylvia Neil, chairman of the board at Lyric, and Daniel Fischel; Craig Martin, chair-elect of the board at Lyric; Karen Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.; Amy and Paul Carbone; Jenni Sorenson and John Holmes; Pat and Shirley Ryan; Miles White and Laura Jonas; J. Christopher and Anne Reyes; Scott and Nancy Santi; Ambassador Ronald J. Gidwitz and Christina Kemper Gidwitz; and Chloe Mendel Corgan.
Featured vintners included Count Stephan von Neipperg of Château Canon la Gaffelière, Pierre Arnald of Château Franc Mayne, Mike Willison of Adelsheim Vineyard, Scott Nowakowski of Champagne Taittinger, Victoire Touton of Château Angélus, Noah Roberts of Nicolas-Jay Winery, Guillaume Large of Résonance, Neil Bernardi of Colgin Cellars, Adam Schneider of GAJA, Adam Verona of Michele Chiarlo Azienda Vitivinicola, Shannon Staglin of Staglin Family Vineyards, Chris Forbes of Taylor Fladgate Partnership, and Margot Bowen and Corinna Banti of Ultima Pietra.
With its signature blend of glamour, generosity, and international prestige, the 2026 Wine Auction once again demonstrated the extraordinary strength of Chicago’s philanthropic and cultural community — raising critical support for Lyric Opera of Chicago productions, education initiatives, and community engagement programs, ensuring the company’s work continues to inspire audiences across the city and beyond.
The Wine Auction was made possible through the generosity of many sponsors including the following Platinum and Gold Sponsors: Anonymous; Brent and Katie Gledhill; John Holmes and Jenni Sorenson; Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.; Henry Johnson, Executive Vice President at Northern Trust; Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan; and Lisbeth Stiffel, with additional support from Margot and Mark Bowen; Mr. and Mrs. William A. Osborn; Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Reyes; Alice and John Sabl; Mr. and Mrs. Scott Santi; and Margarita Chavez Tatro and Mark Tatro.
Lyric’s 2025/26 Season is presented by the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation.
Lyric’s 2026 Wine Auction’s Catalogue is generously sponsored by Lisbeth Stiffel.
Lyric’s 2026 Wine Auction’s Dinner and Live Auction is generously sponsored by Northern Trust.
Lyric's 2026 Wine Auction's Dinner Wines are generously sponsored by Anonymous.
Lyric’s 2026 Wine Auction’s Champagne Reception is generously sponsored by Champagne Taittinger and J&L Catering.
Lyric’s 2026 Wine Auction’s Auctioneers are generously sponsored by Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.
About Lyric
Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.
Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists — magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.
Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.
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For more information, visit lyricopera.org.