Lucio’s wine sale cancelled as secret buyer takes the lot

Wine connoisseurs eagerly awaiting Saturday’s sale of fine wine from renowned Paddington restaurant Lucio’s were dealt a cruel blow when the auction was cancelled, writes Annette Sharp.

The forthcoming March auction of a 200-item catalogue of artwork from Paddington restaurant and renowned foodie institution Lucio’s might be one of the most anticipated events on Sydney’s arts calendar, but it was the sale of the restaurant’s cellar that had wine connoisseurs in an excited state.

The sale of Lucio’s wine has been cancelled after a single buyer snapper up the lot.

That was until Friday when the sale, scheduled for Saturday, was cancelled after one buyer bought the lot of fine Italian wines.

Prospective buyers were advised via email: “We are sorry to disappoint so many of you who showed interest but we have sold the entire lot to one of Sydney’s leading restaurant groups.” Sally Galletto, wife of the famed Lucio, was unwilling to identify the eager buyer when contacted yesterday, but we’re assured some of Sydney’s best noses and palates are on the hunt and will not quit until the collection has been found.

TEARS AS EMILY’S MIRACLE BOY STARTS SCHOOL

Along with the thousands of Sydney kids taking their tenuous first steps to school last week was young Henry Jackson, the cherished son of Home And Away star Emily Symons.

Henry gave the day two thumbs up in a first day photo posted to Instagram by his mother.

Erika Heynatz’s son Charlie Kingston was also happy to be starting school.

Emily Symons sends son Henry off for his first day of school.

“It’s a thumbs up from Henry on the way to his first day at school!” said Symons, who was 45 when she had him.

“Happily walked off with his teacher and his classmates … There may have been a few tears from his Mama.”

Among those cheering Henry on was Erika Heynatz, mother to Charlie, who also was all brave smiles as he headed into his kindergarten for the first time.

“Grand new adventures beginning …” posted proud mum Heynatz, who is married to Andrew Kingston.

ENGELBERT’S WIFE LOSES COVID BATTLE

British actor and honorary Australian Patricia Healey, wife of singer Engelbert Humperdinck, died yesterday after a short battle with COVID.

Engelbert Humperdinck with wife Patricia.

The 85-year-old and love of Humperdinck’s life for 56 years had suffered from Alzheimer’s for a decade.

Both Humperdinck and Healey were diagnosed with COVID last month.

While three of the couple’s four children were with their mother when she died, the couple’s eldest child, Scott Dorsey, who lives in Coolangatta, was unable to join his family in LA but posted to social media thanking friends for their prayers for Healey who loved Australia.