Lord Webber brings his personal wine collection to Hong Kong

Andrew Lloyd Webber, also known as Lord Lloyd Webber, is regarded as one of the greatest talents in British musical theatre. His musical hits like The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and Evita and Cats have earned him much global acclaim and recognition. However, very few are aware of his avid interest in vintage wine collection.

A committed and knowledgeable collector of wine, Lord Lloyd Webber has built up a magnificent cellar over many years, part of which will be offered for sale at Sotheby's Hong Kong on January 22, 2011.

The auction titled 'The Andrew Lloyd Webber Wine Collection' will offer a total of 748 lots and is expected to fetch around $2.8 to 4.1 million.

It is a marvel that wines of this quality and excitement can now come to the market, said Serena Sutcliffe, Master of Wine in Sotheby's International Head of Wine.

Knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1992 and created a peer in the House of Lords by the British Government in 1997 for his services to music, Lord Lloyd Webber has had a long and fruitful musical career.

At just eleven, Webber had his first composition published and his first song was commercially recorded at the age of fifteen.

For his achievements in musical theatre, Lord Webber has often been referred to as the most commercially successful composer in history.

While the artist's vinous devotion is to France, the Sotheby's sale will contain a wide array of wine varieties from mature, classic wines that can be broached immediately (1982 Bordeaux for example), to stupendous vintages that can age further, such as the formidable 2005s.

I am very happy that Sotheby's is bringing part of my precious wine collection to Hong Kong, particularly given that many wine connoisseurs are now in Asia, said Lord Lloyd Webber about the Hong Kong sale.

The collection features all five First Growths in key vintages such as 1982, 2000 and 2005, as well as a range of Domaine Leflaive; one of the greatest producers of White Burgundy and the fabulous Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) Red Burgundy.

Part of the collection has been stored in the temperature controlled cellars of Lord Webber's 16th century home, Sydmonton Court, while many younger wines come from professional storage.