Wine Celebration Auction Update

Each year we gather the finest wine, travel, sport and entertainment experiences, along with some classic sports memorabilia for our auction. It all went up for bidding on August 8th, at the 11th Annual V Wine Celebration Gala Dinner & Auction at Nickel & Nickel. 

The Live Auction exceeded last year’s totals, with the top lot, Miner Magic, fetching a whopping $110,000 for an unprecedented 70 large- format bottle lot created by vintners Joe & Pat Harbison to recognize Emily Miner. Talk about a whole “Lot” of love!

The auction featured incredible opportunities to bid on intimate VIP experiences at the Super Bowl, the US Open in Pebble Beach, or playing a round of golf with the former #1 world-ranked pro and TV commentator Nick Faldo. Guests could take pleasure in an intimate performance with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, travel to St. Andrews for the British Open or the Ryder Cup in South Wales, walk the red carpet at the ESPY’s, cruise the Caribbean on a private 114-foot yacht, ski in the Rockies, and golf in Vail. Week-long trips and stays in private homes and villas were offered in Hawaii, Aspen and the Mexican Riviera. Guests will have the great fortune to experience first-hand, the magic of Napa Valley with some of our most highly regarded vintners and chefs. Exclusive packages featured treasured time with Dick & Ann Grace, Beth Nickel, Carmen & Gail Policy, Jon & Robin Lail, Cyril & Blakesley Chappellet , Jeff & Valerie Gargiulo, Chuck & Anne McMinn and Andy Erickson, and an unique opportunity to experience an entire appellation of vintners while Living La Vida Local.

Our Top Lots included:

• Fund A Need – Benefitting lung cancer research in honor of Emily Miner -- $705,000.00
• The Miner Magic collection of 70+ bottles from beloved Napa Valley vintners raised an astounding $110,000
• The Blue Devils Bonanza yielded a grand total of $90,000 with Coach K from Duke igniting the enthusiasm from the crowd during the bidding frenzy
• $150,000 was raised on two lots designed to experience the Yachting Life for a week in the Caribbean
• A night with dinner in a luxury suite for 16 at the new Yankee Stadium gleaned $64,000 for two lucky bidders
• Our priceless Superbowl lot doubled and raised $84,000
• A chance to walk the Red Carpet and attend the exclusive ESPN sponsored events at The ESPY Awards came through at $23,000
• An all inclusive evening with Faith Hill & Tim McGraw raised $11,000
• A chance to live for one-week in a gorgeous home on the water in Maui, stocked with CONSTANT Diamond Mountain Vineyard wines, closed at $20,000
• Top wine lots included a Yountville Harvest experience involving 18 vintners, an Audi excursion to Chappellet Vineyards, a Far Niente partner-hosted weekend at Auction Napa Valley and the Alpha Omega life which all fetched and average of $20,000 each.

Interested in donating an item to the auction? Please contact Max Duley or Jane Brovelli at 707-963-0611.