Born in Montreal, Marie-France Van Damme relocated from New York to Hong Kong in the 1980s. With a background in design and manufacturing, she launched her namesake luxury resort wear brand in 2011, now celebrated worldwide for its timeless poise and refinement. Alongside her fashion career, she and her husband acquired and designed properties in Hong Kong, creating spaces that reflected their pursuit of beauty, balance, and functionality. That same philosophy extends to their personal passions — collecting Asian art, teapots, wine, and objects of cultural and artistic significance — reflecting a distinct East West sensibility.

Wine holds a special place in her life. As enthusiastic hosts, the couple began acquiring wines in earnest in the 1990s, motivated by a genuine love of bringing friends and family together around the table. Bordeaux soon emerged as her favourite region. To secure the finest expressions, they began purchasing wines en primeur, patiently building a cellar of exceptional depth and pedigree. This auction reveals a precise and focused Bordeaux collection, acquired at release and meticulously preserved, with many bottles kept in their original wooden cases.

Marie-France Van Damme shared: "Curating my cellar reflects how I approach life — shaped by a longstanding appreciation for beautiful things and guided entirely by personal taste. Many of the wines I have collected are intertwined with meaningful moments, reflecting decades of joyful memories and experiences."

Terrence Tang, Bonhams' Head of Wine & Spirits, Asia, commented: "We are privileged to be entrusted with the meticulously curated wine collection amassed by Marie-France Van Damme over a few decades. More than a cellar, it is a portrait of a life lived with taste, intention, and generosity — and one that now opens to collectors as a rare opportunity to acquire wines shaped by one of fashion and design's most sophisticated eyes."

The offering demonstrates a deep passion for the First Growths — Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, and Latour from the outstanding 2009 and 2010 vintages — complemented by estates for which she holds a personal affection, including La Conseillante, Pichon Lalande, and d'Yquem. Standout lots include a bottle of the legendary Pétrus 1961, one of Bordeaux's most revered vintages, alongside a rare Saute Loup 2010, a bottling produced exclusively for family and close friends of Pétrus. Adding further diversity and prestige is a bottle of DRC Romanée-Conti 1975, an iconic Burgundy rarity that underscores the collector's discerning palate.

Marie-France's passion for grand scale hospitality is reflected in an impressive selection of large formats, where wine is enjoyed as a shared experience, while a substantial offering of half bottles is perfectly suited to intimate gatherings and refined everyday enjoyment.   Notable Highlights:

• Pétrus 1961 (1 x 750ml), estimated at HK$48,000 – 70,000 • A banded original wood case of Lafite Rothschild 2010 (3 x 3L), estimated at HK$46,000 – 65,000 • Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 1975 (1x 750ml), estimated at HK$70,000 – 100,000 • Château Mouton Rothschild 2010 (3 x 3L), estimated at HK$46,000 – 65,000 • Château Mouton Rothschild, 2009 (3x Magnums), estimated at HK$22,000–30,000 • Château Latour 2009 (12 x 750ml), estimated at HK$60,000 – 80,000 • Château Lafite Rothschild 2005 (1 x Magnum), estimated at HK$8,000 – 11,000 • Château Lafite Rothschild 2010 (3 x 3L), estimated at HK$46,000 – 65,000 • Château Haut Brion Blanc 2008 (6 x 750ml), estimated at HK$24,000 – HK$34,000 • Château Cheval Blanc 2010 (12 x 750ml), estimated at HK$60,000 – 80,000 • Saute Loup 2010 (1 x 750ml), estimated at HK$6,500 – 9,500 • Château d'Yquem 2003 (12 x 375ml), estimated at HK$9,500 – 14,000

  This sale forms part of Bonhams Hong Kong's five dedicated Wine & Spirits auctions this May, anchored by two live sales — Masterpiece Cellar of a Prescient Collector – Finest & Rarest Wines and The Legendary Japanese Whisky: Yamazaki 50 Year Old – Club Natsume & Karuizawa 52 Year Old Cask #5627, 1960 – Treasure Ship — on 30 May 2026, alongside three curated online auctions. Together, the series presents over 1,300 lots spanning the finest and rarest wines and legendary spirits, bringing to market bottles that embody rarity, impeccable provenance, and enduring excellence.

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