An Iconic Auction: Santo de Piedra and Massimo Bottura Unveil The Pastorale Series in a Historic Tribute to Mexico
- The Epicurer
- hace 40 minutos
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On September 23, 2025, all eyes in the world of luxury spirits and contemporary art will turn to Mexico City, where Morton Subastas—the nation’s most prestigious auction house—will host the unveiling and sale of a singular masterpiece: a hand-blown Murano glass bottle from The Pastorale Series, the groundbreaking collaboration between Mexican mezcal house Santo de Piedra and Italian culinary legend Massimo Bottura. More than an auction, the evening will mark a moment of cultural convergence—where art, gastronomy, and heritage meet in a single object. Crafted with reverence for Oaxaca’s mezcal traditions and Bottura’s Modenese soul and techniques used to produce Balsamic Vinegar, the auctioned bottle embodies the spirit of both lands—and stands as a tribute to Mexico, timed deliberately around the country’s Fiestas Patrias. This event isn’t merely about acquiring a rare spirit. It’s about participating in a legacy.
A Bottle That Holds More Than Mezcal
Only six Murano glass bottles were created for The Pastorale Series, but just one will go to public auction in México—Pastorale No. 1/6, the ceremonial heart of the collection. Handcrafted in Venice by master glassmakers using traditional techniques, the vessel is both a sculpture and a reliquary, housing a mezcal that has been blended, and curated with the same detail as a museum piece. This auction is a tribute—not just to a product, but to the land that gave mezcal to the world. And as such, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Food for Soul, Bottura and Lara Gilmore’s global initiative that fights food waste and social exclusion through the creation of community kitchens, including future projects in Oaxaca.
A Mezcal That Plays Like a Symphony
While the September auction takes center stage, the story of The Pastorale Series is a composition in itself—named after Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, also known as the “Pastoral.” Just as Beethoven celebrated nature and serenity through music, Bottura and David S. Giles (Santo de Piedra’s Managing Partner and a former museographer) sought to create a liquid symphony: a mezcal that evokes the senses, respects the past, and reimagines the future. Each of the 2,506 bottles in the collection tells this story. The process blends ancestral Oaxacan techniques with inspirations drawn from the aging of traditional Modenese balsamic vinegar, resulting in a profile that is layered, lyrical, and unlike anything that’s come before. For Bottura, whose three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana has long blurred the lines between cuisine and concept art, this collaboration was not a sidestep—it was a continuation. The same ethos applies to Food for Soul, whose Refettorio spaces have turned over 2,393 tons of rescued food into more than 3.7 million meals served to communities around the world. With part of the auction’s proceeds supporting this work, The Pastorale Series becomes a symbol not only of craftsmanship but of care.
Santo de Piedra The House That Rewrote the Rules
Since its founding in 2018, Santo de Piedra has positioned itself not just as a mezcal house, but as an art maison. David S. Giles, its founder, brings a curator’s precision to every release—from agave selection to the blend of woods used in each mezcal collection—building a brand more akin to haute couture than commercial spirits. With international acclaim for the most exclusive clients, including Royal Families and a unique footprint in cities like London, Tokyo, New York, and Venice, Santo de Piedra now presents its most ambitious expression yet.
How to Experience It
While the wider Pastorale Series by Massimo Bottura will be available through private channels in select cities, Pastorale No. 1—the soul of this auction—will be revealed to the world on September 23 at Morton Subastas, Mexico City Attendance is by invitation. Those wishing to attend this once-in-a-lifetime auction or inquire about remote bidding are encouraged to contact: ivera@mortonsubastas.com