At the 45th Auction Napa Valley, Vintners Raised $6.5 Million to Benefit Local Youth

From June 5 to 7, the Napa Valley wine community welcomed guests from around the world to the 45th edition of Auction Napa Valley, a weekend of celebration involving dinners with vintners, the chance to sample not-yet-released wines and bidding on unique bottlings and lavish travel experiences. Organized annually by the Napa Valley Vintners, the 2025 event brought in $6.5 million, with the proceeds going to the NVV’s Youth Wellness Initiative. The funds will be donated to non-profit partners in Napa Valley that support after-school and summer programs for children and teens.

Begun in 1981, Auction Napa Valley has raised $230 million over the years for Napa County children and other community services for all ages. “The results this year were just amazing,” stated Alpha Omega Winery owner Robin Baggett, who served with his wife, Michelle, as the 2025 honorary event chairs. “There was a lot of love for our Napa Valley youth, for our wines and for the auction lot experiences we will be sharing.”

“I love the level of involvement, and having the industry come together,” longtime winegrower Lee Hudson of Hudson Vineyards told Wine Spectator.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the NVV moved to change the format of their big annual event and spread their philanthropic efforts throughout the year, but in 2024, they brought back the original successful auction weekend formula, beginning with the barrel auction on Friday.

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Held at Louis M. Martini Winery and attended by nearly 2,000 people, including over 100 vintners and local chefs, the 2025 barrel auction showcased samples of Napa Valley wines from the 2023 and 2024 vintages that will be bottled later. Joining auction stalwarts such as Joseph Phelps was a crop of newer wineries that were happy to contribute as well, including Annulus. Proprietor Luke Evnin said, “We love supporting the community. We’ve lived here in the valley for 25 years. This is really still the signature event. We’re delighted to be a part of it.”

More than 700 online bidders competed with the in-person guests for the almost 80 selections up for sale at the barrel auction. The top lots came from Chappellet, Pulido~Walker, Cardinale, Alpha Omega, Shafer Vineyards, Peter Michael Winery, B Cellars and Darioush. For each barrel lot, the top 10 bidders each won a case of wine, with the top bidder also receiving a barrel head signed by the winery owner.

[article-img-container][src=2025-06/news-auction-napa-barrel-larkmead-060725_1600.jpg] [credit= (Steven Chester Cooley)] [alt= Larkmead winemaker Avery Heelan enjoying a glass of white wine at the 2025 Auction Napa Valley barrel auction with guest Brittany Pederson][end: article-img-container]

The 2023 vintage was widely praised by winemakers and event guests, particularly for the appellation’s signature variety, Cabernet Sauvignon. “It’s one of the greatest vintages of Napa Valley,” said Shafer winemaker Elias Fernandez, who has attended every Napa Auction since the first one in 1981. “I’ve been making wine for 41 years. It’s in the top three.”

The vintage was noted for its extended growing season, and the 2023 harvest was, in many vineyards, four to five weeks later than average. “We were awarded a long hang time in 2023,” Larkmead winemaker Avery Heelan commented. “We started picking almost a month later than any other harvest in Larkmead’s history. So that’s great for us for big tannins, big color development, and I’m really happy with the wines as they are right now.”

Other producers contributed barrels from the 2024 vintage, which was not to be outdone by its predecessor. Hudson, who was pouring his Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros Little Bit, commented that after the unusually late ’23 vintage, “… in ’24, everything was right on schedule. And it was kind of nice to do it like it always does.”

[article-img-container][src=2025-06/news-auction-napa-barrel-baggets-060725_1600.jpg] [credit= (Steven Chester Cooley)] [alt= Honorary auction co-chairs Robin and Michelle Baggett, owners of Alpha Omega Winery][end: article-img-container]

Bella Union winemaker Brooke Price, who was pouring their 2024 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, said, “The 2024 vintage is honestly one of our best yet. The colors and flavors of the wine are very concentrated. Our tannins have a lot of nice structure, but finesse at the same time. [They are] already showing really well.”

The main event—the dinner and live auction (shorter and more intimate than pre-pandemic)—was held on Saturday, June 7, at Domaine Chandon’s estate in Yountville. Chef Christopher Kostow of The Charter Oak in St. Helena served dishes such as scallop- and lobster–stuffed squash blossoms and grilled ribeye cap for bidders to enjoy while auctioneer Jacqueline Towers-Perkins charmed the crowd into raising their paddles for ever-higher amounts.

The 14 extravagant lots offered went beyond wine to incorporate all-inclusive travel experiences, events and luxury goods, such as voyages on a mega-yacht; stays in Italy, Japan, Kenya, Australia, France and the Caribbean; jewelry, and floor seats to a WNBA game. The top five bids went to lots assembled by Antinori Napa Valley and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Alpha Omega and Bouchaine Vineyards, St. Supéry and its parent company Chanel, Darioush and Kenzo Estate.

[article-img-container][src=2025-06/news-napa-live-auction-bidder-8-table-060725_1600.jpg] [credit= (Steven Chester Cooley)] [alt= Mark Pulido enjoying the Auction Napa Valley live auction action with a table full of friends][end: article-img-container]

Once the last paddle was lowered and the cowbells stopped ringing, a group of local children gathered on stage to explain how the auction-supported youth programs have bettered their lives—inspiring bidders to generously give more through an open donation.

“This is probably one of the best that I have been to in the past 20 years,” said Darioush owner Darioush Khaledi of the 2025 Auction Napa Valley. “Very organized, good venue … I have to learn because next year I’m chairing this auction,” along with his wife, Shahpar, and daughter Sally. The 2026 event will be held on June 5 and 6.