Auction Napa Valley returns
Napa Valley Vintners’ 45th Auction Napa Valley, one of the valley’s biggest social and community events, is back once again this week. The role model for many other charity auctions that followed it in the valley, it remains vital for our wine and hospitality businesses and raising money for the community.
The online action kicked off last Thursday, when most locals were preoccupied with BottleRock, but for most of us, it really begins with the iconic Napa Valley Barrel Auction starting Tuesday, June 3, at 9 a.m.
Bidding takes place at the event on Friday and online via Sotheby’s from all over the world.
Friday night are the vintner dinners at their homes and wineries, and the celebration culminates on Saturday, June 7, with the dinner and live auction at the renovated Chandon winery in Yountville.
The live auction lots seem especially opulent this year, including not only rare wines but experiences like a trip around the world on a floating luxury community yacht. Explore the catalog of live lots online. Here are some highlights:
- Ocean escapes: Darioush hosts guests aboard The World mega yacht, while Alpha Omega and Bouchaine Vineyards offer a private island retreat on Mustique.
- Fashion icons: St. Supéry opens the doors to its owner Chanel in Paris; B Cellars partners with Bvlgari in Italy. Both include Napa experiences.
- Wilderness adventures: Rivian, Chase Auto and the Vintners present a Kenyan safari; Vineyard 7&8 hosts guests at Brush Creek Ranch and its Napa estate.
- Napa and beyond: Blend wine in Napa and bourbon in Kentucky with Chappellet Vineyard and Jefferson’s Reserve; explore Japan’s culture with Kenzo Estate.
- Global wine icons: Tour estates like Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Antinori (Napa and Tuscany), and Beaulieu Vineyard and Penfolds (Napa and Australia).
- Insider access: Cardinale offers a WNBA Valkyries debut experience and Napa getaway; Schrader Cellars hosts a library dinner at renovated Mondavi Winery.
- Legacy lots: Celebrate 45 years with entry to the next 45 Auction Napa Valley weekends; bid on a library of 100 magnums from top vintages.
Two different ticket packages are available, the Napa Valley Barrel Auction ticket or the all-access weekend experience. For tickets, visit collectivenapavalley.org. Proceeds this year benefit Napa Valley Vintners’ Youth Wellness Initiative. The auction has donated more than $230 million to the Napa community over the years.
This story is a Napa County Times extra, used with permission from Paul Franson’s NapaLife.
