Sizzling Generosity Results in $14.3 Million Raised During Auction Napa Valley Weekend
Napa Valley Vintners’ annual fete benefits more than 100,000
nonprofit clients annually
ST. HELENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ANV16–The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) trade association announced that this
year’s Auction Napa Valley raised $14.3 million for children’s education
and community health nonprofits during a weekend of feverish bidding and
Latin-infused fun at the annual celebration of the best of America’s
leading wine region.
Over the course of four days, guests experienced vintner-hosted dinners
and parties, the crowd-pleasing Napa Valley Barrel Auction at the iconic
Robert Mondavi Winery, spellbinding live-fire cooking by South America’s
renowned Chef Francis Mallmann, the confetti-infused Live Auction
Celebration and dancing to a 30-piece Cuban salsa band.
“Thrilled doesn’t begin to describe how pleased we are with the results
of this weekend’s Auction Napa Valley,” noted Emma Swain, chair of the
NVV’s board of directors and CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards &
Winery. “We are immensely grateful to our vintners, guests and
volunteers for their amazing outpouring of generosity that will directly
benefit so many of our neighbors in need.”
To date, the NVV has given more than $150 million to Napa County
nonprofits that serve more than 100,000 clients annually.
Vintner Generosity Sparks Lively Bidding
Inside the white air-cooled main tent during Saturday’s Live Auction,
brisk bidding on remarkable Napa Valley wines and unique experiences was
further enhanced when vintner members of the NVV doubled and tripled
their lots, offered matching cash donations and raised their own paddles
during the Fund-a-Need lot. Barbara Banke of Jackson Family Wines was
the top Fund-a-Need donor, contributing $500,000.
Cool Time on a Hot Day
Friday’s hot temperatures did nothing to dampen the festive conviviality
at the Napa Valley Barrel Auction, hosted at Robert Mondavi Winery,
which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Guests
refreshed themselves in the cool cellar while sampling and bidding on
limited-offering Napa Valley wines from the highly touted 2013, 2014 and
2015 vintages. Outside, misters and fans allowed sun-hatted attendees to
enjoy more than 100 current release wines while nibbling on bites from
more than 40 of Napa Valley’s most talented chefs and food purveyors.
Fire on the Fairway
On Saturday, guests arrived at the manicured fairway at Meadowood Napa
Valley to the captivating spectacle of live-fire cooking by renowned
South American Chef Francis Mallmann. Racks of rib eye and whole
chickens hung over flames and embers like Calder mobiles, while root
vegetables cooked underground in fire pits lined with hot rocks and
grapevine leaves.
“We showed our guests how much fun it is to be part of Auction Napa
Valley,” noted Agustin F. Huneeus, honorary chair of this year’s event,
20 years after his father held the same mantle as chair of the 1996
Auction. “From the amazing asado prepared by Chef Francis
Mallmann and served with delicious Napa Valley wines, to the late night
dancing to Los Van Van, a 30-piece Cuban band, a great time was had by
all in support of great causes in our community.”
The next Auction Napa Valley is June 1-4, 2017. The Coppola family of
Inglenook will serve as honorary chairs of the event. Tickets go on sale
at the beginning of February 2017.
Top Live Auction Lots
- ‘Fund-a-Need’ which brought in $2.1 million from 100 paddle holders
-
‘Into Africa, Incomparably’ donated by Staglin Family Vineyards, which
sold for $700,000 and was expanded to include an additional couple,
for a fundraising total of $1.05 million -
‘True Warriors of Wine’ donated by Amuse Bouche and Tusk Estates,
which sold for $520,000 and was then matched for a fundraising total
of $1.04 million -
‘The Quintessential Vintner Experience’ donated by Quintessa, which
sold for $170,000, was doubled and then matched for a fundraising
total of $680,000 -
‘A Night Full of Stars’ a buy-a-spot lot donated by Opus One, which
raised $660,000 -
‘50 Years, 50 Guests, 50 Bottles’ donated by Robert Mondavi Winery
sold for $520,000 -
‘Etched Into the Hillside’ donated by Harlan Estate, which sold for
$500,000 - ‘Luminosity’ donated by Scarecrow Wine, which sold for $440,000
-
‘The Grand Heist’ donated by Blackbird Vineyards and Bvlgari, which
sold for $180,000 and was then doubled for a fundraising total of
$360,000 -
‘Rooms with a View’ donated by Antica Napa Valley – Antinori Family
Wine Estate, which sold for $320,000
Top Barrel Lots
- Melka Wines, $62,100
- Shafer Vineyards, $60,050
- Vice Versa, $54,800
- The Mascot, $47,750
- Cardinale, $42,050
- Continuum Estate, $37,450
- D. R. Stephens Estate, $37,250
- Paul Hobbs, $36,700
- Chappellet Vineyard, $36,400
- Arkenstone Vineyards, $35,800
Top E-Auction Lots
- Grgich Hills Estate, $17,550
- Sherwin Family Vineyards, $11,550
- HALL Wines, $10,000
- Cliff Lede Vineyards, $8,050
- Napa Valley Vintners and Riedel , $8,050
- Kapcsandy Family Winery, $7,600
- Beringer Vineyards, $7,050
- Clif Family Winery, $6,050
- Levy & McClellan, $6,050
- Benessere Vineyards, $6,000
Top Big Board Lots
- Lail Vineyards and Vineyard 29, $37,800
- Darioush, $27,000
- Ovid Napa Valley, $20,100
- Napa Valley Vintners, $13,100
-
Aloft Wine, Casa Piena, Hestan Vineyards, Jones Family Vineyards,
Outpost Wines, Pulido Walker, QTR, Revana Family Vineyard, Saunter
Wines, Stone the Crows, Wallis Family Estate, $12,000
View favorite
photos from the weekend.
View social
media highlights, including celebrity sightings.
Learn how Auction Napa Valley changes lives by viewing ‘Stories
of Impact.’
About Auction Napa Valley
Auction Napa Valley is the NVV’s annual community fundraiser that for
more than 35 years has utilized the worldwide reputation of Napa Valley
wines and the scenic beauty of the region to raise funds to enhance the
health and wellbeing of the Napa Valley community. To date, the NVV has
invested more than $150 million from Auction Napa Valley proceeds in
Napa County nonprofit organizations. Learn more at auctionnapavalley.org
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been
cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its more than 525 members
to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide
environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they
call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contacts
Napa Valley Vintners
Cate Conniff, 707-968-4229
cconniff@napavintners.com
