Collective Napa Valley Summer Wine Auction Nets $3.8 Million For Charity

Napa Valley was blessed with clear blue skies and balmy weather for the 2023 Collective Napa Valley summer barrel auction. More than 1300 wine lovers attended the weekend event that netted $3.8 million for mental health services in the community.

“We are grateful that Collective Napa Valley recognizes the critical need for our youth to access mental health services in safe spaces across our county,” said Liz Marks, Development Director with Mentis. Mentis is a non-profit organization that focuses on teaching coping skills to youth to prevent serious mental health issues.

Auction attendees seemed more than happy to contribute generously to the cause, and there was a jubilant air to the festivities as everyone celebrated with local wine and food.

“We come to this event every year to celebrate our wedding anniversary,” stated James and Kim Meredith, two local wine enthusiasts who attended the barrel auction. “We ended up winning eight-barrel lots. We love supporting the community and giving back – plus we get to taste wine from so many small wineries that we’ve never heard of.”

Louis M. Martini and Silver Oak Wineries Host Barrel and Live Auctions

The weekend started at noon on Friday, June 2 with a barrel auction at Louis M. Martini Winery, with live music and food/wine tastings. This was followed by gourmet dinners at various wineries throughout Napa Valley.

During the 3-hour barrel auction, hosted by Napa Valley Vintners and powered by Sotheby’s, attendees could taste wine directly from the barrel and ask the winemakers questions. There were a total of 82 barrel lots, that sold for under $1000 to over $5,000 for a case of wine. Many of the lots were from the 2021 and 2022 vintages, and winning bidders will receive their wine in the next 2 to 3 years when it has finished aging and will be bottled.

In addition to wine tasting, a multitude of local restaurants and specialty food caterers offered tempting dishes to enjoy with the wine. A few of the offerings included shrimp and cucumber tostadas, freshly caught halibut with arugula, beef and mushroom empanadas, decadent cheeses and desserts, amongst many other cuisines.

“It feels appropriate for us to host the Barrel Auction at the Louis M. Martini Winery, because Martini is one of the founding members of the Napa Valley Vintners Association,” stated Mark Williams, Head Winemaker with Louis M. Martini Winery. “It’s an honor to open our doors and, in collaboration with our tightly knit community of Napa Valley Wineries, to support youth mental health programs in the Napa Valley.”

On Saturday, June 3, the day started with visits to vineyards throughout Napa Valley to learn about farming methods and/or participate in wine blending sessions. This was followed by a gala dinner at Silver Oak Winery, where 200 guests sat at one long table in the gardens, and enjoyed Napa Wines paired with cuisine prepared by award-winning Chef Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustard’s Grill.

After dinner, guests had an opportunity to bid on 10 live lots, with selling prices ranging from $25,000 to $500,000. This was followed by live music and dancing under the stars.

The live lots included access to incredible wines and experiences. The majority of the lots focused on special experiences in Napa Valley along with trips to Alaska and South Africa. Wines included a Rombauer vertical of 2016 to 2022 wines, magnums from Stags Leap Wine Cellars SLV SLV from 1987, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009 and 2019, a methuselah (6L) of Silver Oak and more special wine offerings.

Napa Valley Wineries and Restaurants Give Back to Support Community

In order for Collective Napa Valley to be successful, wineries and local restaurants/food caterers donate their time, wine, food, and facilities to the various events and auctions that are part of a year-round philanthropy program. In personal interviews with some of those who attended this summer’s event, it was evident that they enjoyed giving back to support their community.

“Our winery has participated for the past ten years,” stated Rolando Herrera Jr., 2^nd Generation Family Member of Mi Sueño Winery. “We enjoy supporting our local community,” chimed in his sister, Rebecca Herrera. “It is a great opportunity to give back, as well as connect with many of our wine club members.”

Fred Zammataro, Principal with Schramsberg Vineyards, one of Napa’s oldest sparkling houses, added: “We enjoy supporting our community and interacting with our peers and clients. It is an opportunity for us to say thank you.” Schramsberg was fittingly serving their Querencia Brut Rosé, which is only produced from grapes grown in the Carneros region, and means ‘the deep and abiding affection one has for the place one calls home.’

Ryan Stetins, Co-Founder/ Managing Partner with Compline Restaurant in downtown Napa, said, “We are here, because we believe in aligning with people who do good things for our local community.” Compline is known for their Northern California cuisine and innovative menu that includes dishes such as bone marrow gnocchi and Mt. Lassen trout crudo.

Founder of Kara’s Cupcakes, Kara Haspel Lind, served delectable vanilla, carrot cake, and chocolate cupcakes to admiring attendees. “I’ve been supporting this auction for ten years because it truly does give back to our community,” she shared. “Plus I enjoy baking cupcakes for this event, because cupcakes are about celebration, and we are here to celebrate and connect with old and new friends.”

Beth Novak, President and CEO of Spottswoode Vineyards and Event Co-Chair, summed it up well: “The significance of the Barrel and Live Auctions in terms of positive impact on our Napa Valley community cannot be overstated. Vintners, community volunteers, restaurateurs and bidders come together in a spirit of great generosity and camaraderie to support so many in Napa County, the focus this year being on our youth and their mental health. To be able to have this impact through our collective effort is deeply gratifying.”