On October 21st, the magnificent Drawing Room of the famous Sotheby’s auction house, in London’s Bond Street, hosted an exclusive charity auction of Istrian white truffles, organized by the Istria Tourist Board, thanks to a donation from the Karlić family, from the village of Paladini, near Buzet, whose tradition of truffle hunting dates back from 1966.

Three exceptional specimens of white truffle were auctioned off– a real giant of 525 grams, along with two specimens of 175 g and 120 g, achieving a combined value of 15.300 pounds sterling, i.e. 17.500 euro. The complete amount raised was donated to the Pula Rehabilitation Centre in Veruda, which provides its clients with means of rehabilitation, education and upbringing of children with developmental difficulties from the whole of Istria County.

The auction was conducted by Harry Dalmeny, the Earl of Rosebery, the charismatic honorary president of Sotheby’s auction house for the UK and Ireland, who with his characteristic humour and enthusiasm conducted an exclusive London audience, through an evening dedicated to natural beauty and human nobility. The event was attended by twenty invitees – collectors, gourmands and members of the exclusive London social scene – who also had the opportunity to experience the Istrian white truffle on a plate, as the centrepiece of a dinner prepared in the setting of the Sotheby’s Drawing Room. 

“This season’s largest and most beautiful noble white truffle arrived in London – the jewell of Istria which surpasses the most luxurious items of any collection in the world. With this event, Istria has once again proven that a blend of natural wealth, culture and humanity has the ability to inspire the world”, said the director of the Istria Tourist Board, Denis Ivošević, after this exceptionally successful auction.

Along with outstanding gastronomy, the evening in Sotheby’s offered an experience which blended art, luxury and altruism – in honour of the Istrian white truffle and humanity.

»» His Majesty the Truffle of Istria