Staff, volunteers and board members from Victoria ’s Belfry Theatre have been raiding some of this city’s best wine cellars to find rare and unusual wines to auction online for Crush 2020 presented by Odlum Brown Limited, the theatre’s premiere wine fundraiser.

This year’s lots will feature wine from France, Italy, California, British Columbia, Uruguay and two rare offerings of scotch whisky from Scotland.

Many of the bottles on offer are not available in liquor stores. Crush is the only opportunity to buy these bottles of wine – they have been held in private cellars, purchased abroad or were released in very small batches and subsequently sold out.

The auction includes a 1934  extremely rare and valuable single-barrel vintage of Comte de Lauvia Armagnac from Gascony, which has been described as “Christmas in a bottle.”

The bidding for Crush 2020 will be open exclusively online this year between November 30 and December 6 (there is no in-person event due to limitations on public gatherings this year).

While the curated collector’s items in the auction are the highlight, there is something for everyone (over 19) at affordable price points, including baskets of B.C. Wine, local spirits, dining and other gift certificates.