A star studded event for all the royalty and heritage in the wine world family of Napa Valley was held at Meadowood Resort on June 1st. The day was full of sunny skies as over 900 guests were in attendance to enjoy the live auction which included 30 special lots. Meanwhile the chefs from the Michael Mina family of restaurants and the International Smoke were busy prepping a “Barbeque Battle” post auction dinner, featuring Wagyu beef selections.

After the reception, the enthusiastic crowd eagerly filled their seats under the auction tent to enjoy cellar selections, magnums and older vintages of classic Napa Valley wineries. Katy Perry’s live performance energized the crowd. The bidding started at a quick pace with the first lot from Continuum getting over a half million dollars right out of the gate. Later as the auction numbers began to climb even higher and higher with intense competition for the “Ducks and Dolphins” trip from the wilds of Canada to the soft sands of Hawaii offered by Labry Estate, Sandi and John Thompson and Garen and Shari Staglin founders of Staglin Family Vineyard.

Being chosen by the Guild Somm Foundation, (a nonprofit international membership organization for sommeliers and wine professionals that promotes education), to participate with the most prestigious Sommeliers from all over the United States and Canada, 35 total, that were also chosen. It was an amazing experience and I was honored to volunteer my time for both of these wonderful organizations. My participation included opening current vintage wines, checking for condition, serving tables with the winemakers present, while pouring and opening older cellar vintages that the winemakers had brought, all while the auction is going on with robust enthusiasm. (my favorite wine I tasted was the magnum 2008 Baldacci Family Vineyards, Brenda’s Vineyard, Stags Leap District) I have a new found appreciation and respect for Sommeliers, who are on the floor of their restaurants doing this daily for 10-12 hours. Thank goodness there was a massage table for volunteers nearby, as my body was not use to walking, running or standing for that long and clocking in 8.4 miles.

In addition to Saturday’s Live Auction, funds were also raised at Friday’s Barrel Auction, another beautiful sunny day in the valley, held this year at the newly renovated Louis M. Martini Winery, where guests tasted and competed to take home a case of 114 barrel offerings. Winemakers would make one special barrel for this auction and I was able to taste many of the 2017 vintages, which were delicious, bold and uniquely structured for being so young. The location was poignant, as Louis Martini was one of the founding members of the NVV in 1944.

The Napa Valley wine industry and related businesses create 44,000 local jobs and contribute more than $9 billion to the local economy annually. The NVV’s Auction Napa Valley fundraiser has invested $180 million in local nonprofits since 1981, and this year’s total contributing almost $12 million will continue to support the community.

I take my hat off to the generosity of member wineries, bidders who come from all over the world and the endless numbers of volunteers that increase the success of this event every year. Tickets for Auction Napa Valley 2020, June 4 to 7 are already on sale. It’s safe to say, there will be some exceptional offerings for the 40th year.

When wine is involved, nothing is difficult. Cheers! Nancy