29th Annual Premiere Napa Valley Wine Trade Event: Registration Opens

NAPA VALLEY, CA— Registration opened Tuesday for the most prestigious wine trade auction and wine business event of the year in North America.

The 29th Annual Premiere Napa Valley is set to take place Feb. 19-22, 2025, and will showcase more than 200 rare, custom-crafted wines — including the highly anticipated 2023 vintage—from Napa Valley's world-renowned winemakers.

"Premiere Napa Valley is hands down the best week of events to create and cultivate partnerships in the wine industry," said Katie Leonardini, co-owner of Whitehall Lane Winery. "Trade professionals have access to hundreds of winemakers and winery owners, all in one place. At the same time, this is an opportunity to see winemakers display the latest innovative and creative trends in winemaking."

Leonardini is co-chairing this year’s event with her brother, Tom Leonardini II, and winemaker Jason Moulton.

The 2023 Vintage Debut

The Premiere Napa Valley auction is the first opportunity for trade members to taste the vintage and secure rare, small-lot wines from 2023 that will never be produced again. It is expected to be one of Napa Valley’s finest in recent years, with wines of exceptional balance, complexity, and depth.

"The long, cool growing season was like a slow, steady heartbeat. Every century, every place has its legendary vintages," said Karen MacNeil, author of "The Wine Bible" and editor of WineSpeed. "I have no doubt that 2023 will go down as one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley."

Premiere Napa Valley Wines

The limited-edition wines represent the pinnacle of Napa Valley's craftsmanship, making it an essential event for those looking to expand their portfolios and offer something unique to their customers.

"Premiere Napa Valley is a great way for us to engage with our clients and offer them a wine-buying experience that they cannot get anywhere else," said Chester Cox, director of wine sales at Classic Wine. "We look forward to participating in PNV every year."

Lot sizes range from 60 to 240 bottles— Napa Valley's rarest commercially available wines. Only licensed members of the wine trade, including importers, brokers, distributors, retailers, restaurateurs and private clubs, can take part in the auction.

Industry Event Like No Other

Premiere Napa Valley is a key business event in the global wine trade. It attracts professionals from across the wine industry who come to discover new brands and strengthen existing relationships.

In addition to the wines up for auction, wine trade members have the opportunity to taste current releases and upcoming vintage wines at events leading up to Premiere Napa Valley.

"The opportunity to taste so many Napa wines in just a few days is unique and hugely valuable—as is the chance to meet the people behind them," said Alex Hunt, purchasing director at Berkmann Wine Cellars in London.

Register Now For Virtual And In-Person Participation

Wine trade members from around the world are invited to participate. Virtual participants can request wine samples and schedule meetings with winemakers in advance of the auction. Trade members who atttend in person can look forward to incredible vintner hospitality at dozens of winery events, the grand barrel tasting of Premiere Napa Valley lots, and the live auction, along with a variety of other networking opportunities.

Wine trade professionals who wish to participate and bid in person can register through Napa Valley Vintners at Premierenapavalley.com. Online bidding begins Feb. 7, 2025. Those interested in bidding online can register with Sotheby's. The week culminates in a live-streaming auction conducted by Sotheby's on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Major Driver Of Napa Valley Wine Industry

Premiere Napa Valley is not only a key industry event, but a major driver of the Napa Valley wine industry. It is hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners —NVV—trade association, which was founded in 1944 and inspires its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home.

Proceeds from Premiere Napa Valley go toward the organization's efforts to promote, protect and enhance the region. To date, NVV has invested more than $230 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County, and remains dedicated to improving diversity and championing inclusivity in its community and in the wine industry.