Last Thursday, 300 opera enthusiasts and oenophiles came out to support the Canadian Opera Company’s 2010 Fine Wine Auction at Crush Wine Bar.

Hopes were high this year after $250,000 worth of premier vintages were donated for the cause—a record amount for the COC wine auction.

Alongside the COC enthusiasts, the wine auction drew folks who may not have otherwise attended. There were several serious wine collectors at the fundraiser completely fixated on the live and silent auction offerings. They planned their strategy, while other patrons sipped wine, munched on delicious artisinal fromage from the Cheese Boutique and oysters on the half shell.

Wine collector Laura Holmes was at the bar meticulously pouring over the program of auction items . “If I’m going to spend on [wine] I want it to be something worthwhile, value for money. Here is a good place to do it. It’s all in support of a really good cause. There are a lot of rare bottles that can get expensive but you can find gems among the offerings, especially among the silent auction. There are a lot of good deals. [For the live auction] I’m going to wait for the first round to go throughand the bidding high to go down, then I’m going to bid,” she said

Although the 1970 Chateau Petrus was anticipated to be the most coveted bottle, it was the 1982 Chateau LaFleur that sold for the highest amount at $3200. For people less interested in premier vintages there were other fabulous goodies available in the silent auction like a Jaguar Experiential Drive Program and black truffles.