The 2018 Naples Winter Wine Festival came to a close this weekend following its energetic live auction, generating a resounding $15.15 million for children’s services and boosting the total amount raised to more than $176 million since its inception in 2001. Funds are still pouring in from the Online Auction, which closes tonight at 11:59pm EST.
There were 61 once-in-a-lifetime lots, many of which included exceptional wine lots from some of the most revered vineyards across the globe such as Ao Yun, Bodega Catena Zapata, Château Clerc Milon, Domaine Serene, Gargiulo Vineyards, Powell & Son, Staglin Family Vineyard, and Silver Oak Cellars.
This year’s highest bidding wine lot went for $520,000 and included a 10-day trip to South Africa with Shari and Garen Staglin as well as 12 bottles of Staglin Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ranging from 2009 – 2014. The winner will also get VIP access to Cape Wine Auction, private tours and tastings at seven wineries, a safari, and luxury accommodations at One&Only, Rupert & Rothschild Manor House, and Singita Lebombo Lodge.
Other top auction items include:
$450,000 for a Gargiulo Vineyards dinner and private performance by Thomas Rhett
$320,000 for dinner at Silver Oak and a private performance by Chuck Leavell.
$300,000 for a Bordeaux experience at Château Clerc Milon with the Rothschild Family – The winning bidders took home 6 Imperials of Château Clerc Milon, ranging from the 1970 vintage to 2000, and will be taking four guests on a 3-day, VIP Bordeaux experience featuring the “Prix de la Dance Clerc Milon” at Château Clerc Milon on June 16, 2018, followed by a reception attended by the Rothschild Family.
$220,000 for 34 wines from every NWWF vintner – The winner took home 1 Magnum from each of the 2018 Festival’s participating vintners.
$220,000 for Exclusive BOND Experience – The bid offered four couples a private tour of each of BOND’s 5 distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard sites, followed by lunch at BOND winery and dinner with the Harlan Family at The French Laundry. The package also included 2 nights’ accommodations at Meadowood resort in St. Helena and 5 Double Magnums of 2007 BOND—one each of Melbury, Pluribus, Quella, St. Eden and Vecina.
$780,000 went to the world’s first 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom – In addition to taking home the first model in the US, the winner will join the editors of ROBB Report to help select the “2019 Car of the Year” and stay at the Meadowood resort for two nights while enjoying wine-paired dinners. The lot also included an Imperial of 2014 Alpha Omega ERA etched with the Rolls Royce logo and a 12-month membership to Alpha Omega’s ERA Elite Wine Club.