Wine auction raises $14,000 in one week for younger onset dementia

“This is an amazing result,” said co-founder of The Lovell Foundation, Mandy Lovell.  

“This money is vital to achieving our goal of ensuring people diagnosed with younger onset dementia and their families are provided with long term accommodation options and appropriate support services.”  

The bidding action was fast and furious with a third of the final tally generated in the final hour of the week long auction.  

The most sought after items were the 1985 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, which sold for $576; the 1990 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos St Jacques 1er cru Gevrey-Chambertin that sold for $530; and a double magnum 1996 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz, which sold for $289.  

The world’s most prestigious wine regions were represented in the auction including; Italy, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the United States and Germany. While the Australian selection represented the country’s finest brands from Langi Shiraz, Toolangi, Peel Estate, Crawford River, Henschke Hill of Grace, Jasper Hill, Bests Great Western and the much sought after Penfolds Grange.  

Wine buffs know Trevor as the former proprietor and winemaker at Mount Langi Ghiran in Victoria’s Grampians. To tens-of-thousands of wine drinkers Trevor will be known for creating the distinctive Four Sisters brand named after his four daughters.  

Trevor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2006, at the age of 57.  

Stewart Langton, Langton’s Founder and General Manager, said Trevor Mast is not only a legend of the Australian industry but also a pioneer of Victorian cool-climate viticulture having produced wines that we will all enjoy for years to come.  

“His greatest achievement is undoubtedly his wonderful family. For this great family man and icon of the industry to be struck down by this disease is a tragedy. I congratulate Trevor and his family for their generous contribution,” he said.  

“I commend our wine lovers’ community for getting behind this auction to help honour this outstanding Australian.  

“Our customers will be able to enjoy their wine knowing they have assisted valuable work being done by The Lovell Foundation.”  

Trevor’s wife and carer, Sandra Mast said her family was inspired by The Lovell Foundation’s vision to lobby and raise funds for appropriate accommodation for people living with younger onset dementia.  

“Trevor will need more help in the future but not necessarily ‘aged’ care. We want to do whatever we can to give him the best quality of life and others in his situation deserve that same quality of life,” she said.  

“With this donation from the Mast family, we will be able to push for support for this issue, as currently very few, if any, options exist for people with younger onset dementia,” Ms Lovell said.  

Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is proud to support the work of The Lovell Foundation and the organisation’s chief executive officer, Maree McCabe said the outstanding support from the wine loving community demonstrates how dementia impacts all of us in all walks of life.  

“Donations and campaigns like this are vital to helping us raise awareness and funds to continually support people living with younger onset dementia, their families and carers.  

“With an estimated 15,000 Australians impacted by younger onset dementia, this is a real problem in our community,” she said.  

“The Lovell Foundation and the Mast Family are to be congratulated for this initiative.   This event was proudly supported by the Mast family, The Lovell Foundation, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic and Langton’s Fine Wine Auctions.