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Auction Napa Valley and the Culinary Institute of America
Toast 2007 Top Barrel Auction Bidder
7/21/2007 - St Helena, CA - Napa Valley Vintners’ (NVV) Auction Napa Valley (ANV) held June 7-10, 2007 in Napa Valley was a rousing success in fundraising, benefiting non-profit healthcare, affordable housing and youth service charities raising over $9.8 million. This year the renowned Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (CIA) in Napa Valley offered an incentive to the Barrel Auction’s top bidder, a scholarship to its sought-after Sophisticated Palate program.
When all the lots were tallied, David Freed, chairman of Silverado Premium Partners, was the top bidder in the Barrel Auction, purchasing 74 cases of wine for nearly $60,000. Freed also won the Freemark Abbey lot in the Live Auction. Freed said: “We are involved in the Auction because we supply wine grapes to many of the wineries that participate, and it’s our opportunity to say thank you to them. If it helps the wineries, it helps us, and it helps the community. It’s a triple net gain to the bottom line!”
Sophisticated Palate is a signature program offered by the CIA to consumers, known as an “unforgettable experience for the discriminating gourmet.” The program offers a one-of-a-kind learning experience, a culinary immersion that exposes the attendee to both bold cuisines and the subtleties of food and wine pairing. The program is coordinated by one of the nation’s top chefs, John Ash and also engages CIA chef-instructors, guest lecturers, regional purveyors and, of course, great Napa Valley winemakers. For more information about Sophisticated Palate visit www.ciachef.edu.
About the CIA
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is a private, not-for-profit college dedicated to providing the world’s best professional culinary education. Excellence, leadership, professionalism, ethics, and respect for diversity are the core values that guide our efforts. We teach our students the general knowledge and specific skills necessary to live successful lives and to grow into positions of influence and leadership in their chosen profession.
About ANV
Established by a thoughtful group of Napa Valley vintners in 1981, ANV is the granddaddy of charity wine auctions in America, having given nearly $70 million dollars over its first 26 years for healthcare, youth service and low-income housing charities in Napa County. Funds from the 2007 event will be distributed in the fall. NVV is proud of our member’s contributions, raising desperately needed funds through ANV and for being the inspiration and backbone of all other charity wine auctions across the U.S.
About the NVV
Now in our seventh decade, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association is the sole organization responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley Appellation as a winegrowing region second to none in the world. Respect for our history reinforces our commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the Valley’s land, wine, and community for future generations. We address the shared interests of our nearly 300 members and aspire to be the essential organization for all Napa Valley vintners. For more information about the NVV, visit www.napavintners.com
Contact: CONTACT: Terry Hall Communications Director (707) 968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
