6/4/2011 - St Helena, CA--Tonight at the close of the centerpiece Live Auction festivities at Meadowood Napa Valley, when the last gavel fell, the weekend's earnings topped $7.3 million. This will put giving totals for the renowned charity wine auction at more than $100 million in support of healthcare, youth services and affordable housing non-profit programs when funds are distributed later this year.
Though cool for early June, the bad weather was kept at bay on Friday, June 3 for the Barrel Auction and Marketplace held at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St Helena, even though organizers took all precautions by tenting the normally open-air marketplace. By all accounts the Barrel Auction held in the historic setting's cellar was a rousing success.
For the first time in its 31 year history, the normally al fresco Live Auction was inundated with unseasonable and heavy rain throughout the day on Saturday, June 4. The lush lawns of Meadowood's fairway were tented to enclose all the day's activities. While the lawn was soaked, the spirit and enthusiasm of the bidders and vintners was not dampened in the slightest.
The final take will rise as the online global E-Auction with its more than 150 lots offering large format bottles, cellar builder collections and vintner-hosted activities and more is still open at www.napavintners.com until 6pm, Sunday, June 5.
Full report on the weekend's event will follow on Monday, June 6
About Auction Napa Valley
Auction Napa Valley is the most successful charity wine auction in the world and to date
has given nearly $97 million to scores of non-profit programs. The annual fundraiser is hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners. The auction was founded in 1981 under the vision of Robert and Margrit Mondavi and has grown to be a four-day celebration of wine, food and fundraising held the first weekend in June.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents 400 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.NapaVintners.com.
Click to View a Partial Gallery from the Weekend
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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