Every now and again there comes a moment in every auction professional’s career when one encounters a collection so truly distinctive that it is uniquely and singularly representative of another time and era. We at Spectrum experienced one of these moments upon our initial visual inspection of The Seaside Wine Collection. Never before had we seen so many classic treasures from the Golden Age of California together in one place. Everything upon which we gazed with astonishment and wonder had been put together as part of one man’s exceptional vision to capture and experience the thrill and excitement of the bourgeoning California wine scene of that time.

The Seaside Wine Collection was accumulated from late 1974 through early 1999 by a passionate individual of Portuguese descent who was born in Hong Kong and had moved to the United States. His passion for all things associated with and related to wine led him down a path wherein family vacations and trips invariably included ample time devoted to researching and visiting vineyards and wineries. Requisite visits to wine stores and frequent attendance at wine tastings throughout southern California became a regular part of his life.

In conjunction with the California wine renaissance of the 1970s, this particular individual loved to partake of his collection with family and friends and share knowledge, thoughts, stories and information as part of a far more innocent time and culture. Books and magazine articles pertaining to wine became an integral part of this collector’s life much in the same way as it is for today’s contemporary collectors. The collection was and has been stored for all these years in a self-built, climate-controlled cellar located in a southern California seaside town.

It is truly a privilege as well as a great honor to be able to bring to the auction stage a collection of this quality, depth, breadth, and magnitude. Contained therein are wines which are rarely, if ever, seen. Many are available for bid in full case quantities, often contained within their original cardboard or wood. In short, The Seaside Collection represents that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to procure wines which may never be available for bid again. The family wishes and hopes that the spirit of sharing, so important to the collection’s original foundation, will accompany and become part of your wine disposition as you contemplate bids on these cherished rarities.