Event Archives
A Stellar Year for Auction Napa Valley Raises $8.4 Million for Charities
6/4/2006 – St Helena, CA – The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), annual Auction Napa Valley (ANV), the granddaddy of America’s charity wine auctions raised $8.4 million in auction revenue over the annual four-day event that concluded today for health care, youth services and low-income housing efforts.
The stars come out for ANV American Idol host and media mogul Ryan Seacrest opened the Live Auction proceedings, held on the grounds of Meadowood Napa Valley, on Saturday evening to thunderous applause as bidders took to their paddles for fast and furious auction action. Seacrest, along with renowned auctioneers Fritz Hatton and Ursula Hermacinski began the evening offering 4 tickets and backstage passes to American Idol, then duplicated the lot so that two successful bidders, each bidding $35,000, brought $70,000 to the table in the first few minutes of the proceedings. Seacrest, an avid wine lover and collector, was right at home with the renowned vintners of Napa Valley.
Hollywood star Geena Davis was on hand to help sell the Frank Family Vineyards lot that featured a walk-on role in Davis’ upcoming film based on her critically acclaimed television show Commander in Chief. Davis good-naturedly chided the group to continue to raise their bids by saying, “I am the fake president and you must do as I say.” A star was born as Koerner Rombauer, of Rombauer Vineyards beat out a cheering crowd of fellow bidders to land the part...
Read the complete 2006 Auction Napa Valley press release.
