Auction Weekend Brings In $3.8M For Youth Mental Health In Napa Valley

ST. HELENA, CA — Long-time and new supporters came together for Collective Napa Valley's recent auction weekend with a shared goal in mind — providing Napa Valley's youth with much-needed access to mental health services.

Bids on wine and experiences came from as nearby as Napa Valley and as far away as Europe. Contributions ranged from modest to grand; giving at all levels, from $100 on up, totaled $3.8 million raised for youth mental health in Napa Valley.

Some 1,300 guests attended the Napa Valley Barrel Auction held Friday, June 2, under a blue sky at Louis M. Martini Winery. Eighty-two wineries donated 10 cases of wine each to be sold as wine futures. The top-selling barrel lots were donated by: Cardinale, Sire Estate Wines, Shafer Vineyards, Chappellet Vineyard, Dana Estates, Continuum, Alpha Omega, Outpost Wines, Rewa Vineyards, Darioush and Arkenstone Vineyards.

Included in the auction were 54 lots from the 2021 vintage and 28 lots from the 2022 vintage. Varieties included Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Red Blends and Chardonnay.

Friday evening, intimate dinners around the valley provided the opportunity for deeper connections. Saturday morning was all about winery experiences and there were many. Guests were treated to vineyard walks, blending sessions, sustainability demonstrations and more.

Saturday evening, the live auction at Silver Oak featured a select group of 10 lots granting special access to Napa Valley winemakers for exclusive dinners, tastings of rare and special wines, curated stays and other experiences.

Auctioneer Jacqueline Towers-Perkins from Sotheby's commanded the audience with charisma and charm. The limited crowd of 200 guests raised their paddles generously alongside those bidding online. Her gentle ribbing and entertaining style helped to draw out the best for each auction lot on offer.

"Sotheby’s is honored to power this year’s Collective Napa Valley Barrel Auction and Live Auction," said Richard Young, a vice president for Sotheby's. "We are thrilled to see strong results and clients participating from around the world to benefit the youth of Napa Valley."

Wineries in the live auction included B Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, Gargiulo Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery, Rombauer Vineyards, Schrader Cellars, Silver Oak, Spottswood Estate Vineyard & Winery, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, Staglin Family Vineyard and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

The top-selling lots included a VIP journey to South Africa donated by Staglin Family Vineyard; a 2024 bookend trip to Napa Valley to celebrate BottleRock and Collective Napa Valley's June Auction Weekend donated by Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery; and a custom weekend in Napa Valley with Nashville singer-songwriters hosted by Gargiulo Vineyards and Silver Oak.

Wines in the auction were three double magnums from Schrader Cellars, a Rombauer vertical of 2016 to 2022 wines, magnums of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars from 1987, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009 and 2019, a methuselah (6L) of Silver Oak and more.

This year's vintner co-chairs were Jaime Araujo of Trois Noix; Jack Bittner of Ecotone Vineyard; David Duncan of Silver Oak; Beth Novak of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery; and Doug Shafer of Shafer Vineyards.

“We were so happy to welcome our guests and to come together again," Novak said. "We’re absolutely thrilled with the results and are incredibly humbled by the showing of support from our vintners, our long-time bidders, and from those new. Through fundraising this weekend, immediate and direct impacts will take place in the lives of youth of all ages throughout Napa Valley. We are so thankful for all those who contributed to this incredible weekend."

Wine enthusiasts are invited to save the date for next year's Collective Napa Valley Auction weekend, taking place May 31-June 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Collective Napa Valley — one of Napa Valley Vintners' signature programs — will continue its philanthropy efforts year-round, bringing people together to enjoy Napa Valley wines while raising funds for the good of its community.

Napa Valley Vintners' goal is to help significantly expand mental health services to Napa County youth. Funds will benefit nonprofits that provide mental health support, including SHINE Napa Valley. Since 1981, NVV has donated more than $225 million to the community, focusing on health care and youth development.