3/15/2011 - St Helena, CA--The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association announces the opening of ticket sales for its annual community fundraiser Auction Napa Valley begin on March 31 at 8:00 a.m. PDT.
The 2011 Auction Napa Valley--known as The American Wine Classic, the premier wine and food event in the US, takes place June 2-5, 2011. Hundreds of wineries from America's most renowned winegrowing region will host guests in intimate home and winery settings for dinners; at the rousing Barrel Auction and Marketplace to be held this year at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone; and at the centerpiece Live Auction at Meadowood Napa Valley.
Bidders at the event will vie with bidders from across the country and around the world for the nearly 150 lots offered on-line at the global E-Auction. Here winning bidders can purchase anything from large format bottles to vertical wine collections, vintner-hosted travel and luxury goods without leaving home. This virtual Auction Napa Valley experience will bring a taste of Napa Valley right to your door.
All Live, Barrel and E-Auction Lots may be previewed beginning May 2, at www.napavintners.com
Hosted by the NVV, Auction Napa Valley promises to once again be one of the life events that will amaze the senses. Guests will enjoy the incomparable beauty of the Napa Valley when the days are long, warm and inviting with legendary wine and food, and while helping raise millions of dollars for outstanding charitable programs that support healthcare, youth development and affordable housing efforts.
Good Things Come over Four Days
The Four Day Passport is the quintessential getaway weekend in the Napa Valley beginning on Thursday, June 2, with casual dinners with winemakers welcoming guests to their homes and wineries to get the weekend's party started.
Day two is a full one, with the Barrel Tasting and Marketplace, the consummate foodie event, held at the historic Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St Helena. This grand 19th-century stone winery, now the west coast campus of the venerable culinary academy, will roll out the red carpet as scores of the valley's top toques and hundreds of wineries help revelers to taste and swirl the day away. Wine lovers will explore deep into the old winery's cellar to bid on and purchase wine futures, thieved right from the barrel by the winemaker who crafted the wine. Later that day, they'll join small, intimate fetes, again at winemakers' homes and wineries, for the opportunity to really connect with the vintner hosts and other guests.
Day three is the centerpiece of the weekend, where Chef Cindy Pawlcyn will offer lunch on the lawn at Meadowood while attendees plan their strategy on how to capture one or more of of the 40 incredible lots offered that include some of the rarest wines in the world--and most extraordinary vintner excursions ever put together--at the Live Auction.
As the sun goes down and bidders have secured their treasures, Chef Michael Chiarello will let out all the stops Napa style as he creates the most memorable al fresco dinner.
The final day starts with a sparkling brunch at Meadowood, as guests prepare to take home a bit of Napa's warm glow from an amazing weekend, having helped make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Full Four-Day Passports are $2500 per person and includes admission to all Auction festivities
Three-Day Packages are $1000 per person and include a Thursday welcome dinner party, Friday's Barrel Auction and Marketplace, and Sunday's Farewell Brunch
A la carte tickets to the Friday Barrel Auction and Marketplace are $350 per person with limited availability--last year this ticket sold out in less than 30 minutes.
Tickets are sold on-line at www.napavintners.com and savvy purchasers will ensure they have set up an account in advance of tickets going on sale so as to be ready to buy when launched at 8:00 a.m. on March 31.
Successful bidders from recent Auction years may log into their account to purchase their tickets in advance, as early as Wednesday, March 23 at 8:00 a.m. PDT.
About Auction Napa Valley
Auction Napa Valley is the most successful charity wine auction in the world and to date
has given nearly $100 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
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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