Hickstead wine cellar for sale through Bonhams

Hickstead is synonymous with showjumping. But his friends won’t be surprised to learn that Douglas Bunn — the late “master of Hickstead” — also had a very good cellar.

Now its contents are to be auctioned at Bonhams’ fine wine sale on 10 February at New Bond Street, London.

Mr Bunn founded the world famous All England Jumping Course in 1960 and the venue has recently undergone a £500,000 redevelopment in time for the 2011 season.

But Mr Bunn was also renowned for hosting lavish parties.

And a Bonhams spokesman said the contents of the cellar are testament to his “knowledge and expertise in buying fine wine”.

“There are case quantities of Lafite, Mouton, Margaux, La Mission and Leoville Las Cases from the magnificent 1982 vintage, Chave Hermitage and La Chapelle 1978 and Lafon’s Meursault,” said Richard Harvey, head of Bonhams’ wine department.

“But the cellar also contains a wide range of esoteric and interesting bottles which we are honoured to be able to offer for sale.”

Commenting on the sale, Mr Bunn’s daughter and Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn told H&H: “We had to pay for the International Arena improvements somehow!”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (3 February, 2011)

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