12/15/2014 - The Napa Valley Vintners invites wine enthusiasts and collectors to preview the one-of-a-kind, limited production wines that will be available at Premiere Napa Valley in February 2015. Created solely for the Premiere Napa Valley portfolio and produced in quantities as small as 60 and never more than 240 bottles, the wines will be sold exclusively to members of the wine trade during the nonprofit trade association’s annual barrel tasting and auction. Descriptions of the 225 lots can be viewed at premierenapawines.com
“For Premiere Napa Valley, every winemaker crafts a blend that is truly unique from all of the other wines they produce,” notes Michael Scholz of the St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery team that is chairing the 2015 Premiere Napa Valley Steering Committee. “The barrel they create is the only barrel of its kind making Premiere Napa Valley one of the rarest wine brands in the world.”
Though reminiscent of how Hospice de Beaune wines are produced, the process is uniquely American. For example, winemakers might use a grape variety they would not normally bottle as a stand-alone wine under their own brand. The grapes may be sourced from a specific part of a single vineyard, or the wine might be aged using a unique barrel regime not regularly employed by the winery. Some of the most novel offerings are produced as joint lots – multiple vintners who collaborate to create a blend exclusively for the Premiere Napa Valley brand.
The wines are offered as futures at the auction only to licensed members of the wine trade for resale to their customers and ultra-premium wine collectors. Each bottle is hand-labeled, individually numbered and signed by the winemaker, similar to a limited edition work of fine art.
The Premiere Napa Valley barrel tasting and auction on February 21, 2015 is the culmination of a week rich in wine tasting and educational and professional networking experiences hosted by both the NVV and the vintners who have crafted the wines. Now in its 19th year, Premiere Week, as it has come to be known, is an annual homecoming for trade and media to spend intimate time with Napa Valley winery owners and winemakers the world-renowned region.
Licensed wine sellers, including retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers can still request a ticket to the invitation-only Premiere Napa Valley event at premierenapawines.com. For those not able to attend, absentee bids will be accepted beginning January 15, 2015.
For members of the wine-loving public who would like to purchase these rare examples of Napa Valley winemaking innovation and creativity, there are several ways to secure selections for private cellars: Wines that have already been released from previous Premiere Napa Valley auctions are noted on the website along with the wine seller’s contact information. Consumers interested in purchasing the futures that will be sold in February can contact their favorite retailer to bid on their behalf.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence for 70 years by inspiring its 500 members to produce consistent quality wines, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. Proceeds from Premiere Napa Valley support the NVV’s mission to promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley appellation. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contact: Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director 707.968.4207 pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
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