Auction Napa Valley
Set against the backdrop of Napa Valley’s most sought-after estates, this annual wine weekend hosted by Collective Napa Valley offers collectors, sommeliers, and devoted wine lovers rare access to the region’s most coveted wines.
A highlight of the event is the opportunity to meet the winemakers and taste wines directly from barrel, an insider experience that continues to draw strong interest each year. The auction featured 100 lots, giving guests the rare chance to secure highly anticipated 2024 vintage wines ahead of release. Top-grossing lots included offerings from Chappellet Vineyard, Cardinale, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Continuum Estate, Shafer Vineyards, Alpha Omega, Davies Vineyards, Ovid, Robert Mondavi Winery, and Favia.
Thursday Evening: Vintner-hosted Welcome Dinners
Auction Napa Valley begins around a dinner table. The Vintner-hosted Welcome Dinners capture what makes Napa Valley exceptional: its warmth and generosity. One of the weekend's standout dinners brought together Corison Winery, Crocker & Starr, and VGS Chateau Potelle for an evening that showcased three distinct expressions of Napa Valley Cabernet.
Crocker & Starr showcased beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc from its historic St. Helena estate. Corison’s Cabernet Sauvignon embodied elegance and restraint, while VGS Château Potelle presented bold, mountain-grown wines defined by concentrated fruit and a distinct French influence. Together, the three producers illustrated the remarkable diversity found within a single wine region.
Friday: The Barrel Auction
Held at the beautifully reimagined Robert Mondavi Winery, the Barrel Auction is unlike any tasting experience. More than 100 wineries pour wines directly from barrel, many still aging in oak and months away from release. Guests taste alongside winemakers, engaging in conversations about vineyard sites, blending decisions, and the nuances of the vintage.
Many of the auction lots are created exclusively for the weekend, featuring one-time blends or unique vineyard combinations unavailable through tasting rooms or retailers. It's a rare opportunity to experience Napa Valley at its most creative and collaborative.
Saturday Evening: The Live Auction
The weekend concluded at historic Inglenook, where world-class wine, exceptional cuisine, and philanthropy came together in spectacular fashion.
As guests gathered beneath the estate's iconic stone buildings, spirited bidding unfolded for rare wines, luxury travel experiences, and one-of-a-kind auction lots, all benefiting children's health and wellness initiatives throughout Napa Valley.
Chef Anthony Stagnaro of Bear at Stanly Ranch prepared a multi-course dinner paired with exceptional Napa Valley wines, while vintners generously shared bottles from their personal collections.
One of the evening's most meaningful moments came with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Robin Lail, honoring her vision in helping establish Auction Napa Valley and her decades of service to the region.
More Than a Wine Auction
Luxury wine events often center on exclusivity, but Auction Napa Valley is defined by its spirit of generosity. Proceeds from the event support the Napa Valley Vintners Youth Wellness Initiative, which funds school- and community-based wellness centers, after-school and summer programs, and parent education across Napa County. Since its founding, the initiative has returned more than $245 million to the local community.
Looking ahead, wine enthusiasts should mark their calendars: Auction Napa Valley returns June 3–5, 2027, with Tim Mondavi, Marcia Mondavi Borger, and the multigenerational Continuum family serving as honorary chairs.
