Adios, Ursula

Ursula Hermacinski, the Los Angeles-based “queen of the wine auctioneers,” has retired from Christie’s. She joined the firm in 1982 in London as a secretary in the rugs and toy department but became a star as a wine auctioneer, known for an entertaining style of chiding and cajolery. Eventually she brought the gavel down on the first case of wine to sell for over $100,000--the 1945 Ch. Mouton, at $112,000. She plans to move on to some other position in the wine industry. She will be replaced by Cameron Hobel, who worked with Hermacinski during her last two years with the firm.