Share your summer photo, win a trip to the Napa Valley

From our vineyards and wineries to your beach, barbecue, pool or picnic, there's a Napa Valley wine to perfectly complement your summer story. While you're sipping those crisp whites and refreshing rosés, we hope you'll share the moment with us -- from the expected to the unexpected, we want to know how Napa Valley wine helps you chill this summer.

One unexpected story might be that Napa Valley is the official wine region of the 34^th America's Cup coming to San Francisco this summer. Share a photo of your unexpected Napa Valley summer story and you could win a Napa Valley/34^th America's Cup getaway.

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Extending our Gratitude to the Community

On behalf of the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), we wish to extend our congratulations and sincere appreciation to the entire Napa Valley community on the success of Auction Napa Valley 2013. Thanks to the generosity of our bidders, vintners, partners, donors, local businesses and volunteers, this year’s Auction shattered numerous records and raised an astounding $16.9 million for our community. It is an unprecedented windfall for Napa County.

This year’s Auction was truly a show-stopper. One of those rare moments in time when months of hard work by many people, strong relationships, a recovering economy and the bounty of this special place converge to create a memorable event. We may not see another year like this for a long time and we are grateful for the magical combination that made this year’s Auction one for the record-books.

While many are eager to learn where the unanticipated proceeds will go, the NVV is committed to using its thoughtful and analytical process to assure all our contributors that their donations will create the greatest impact and will help meet our goal to give deeply rather than broadly in the areas of community health and children’s education.

We are grateful to the bidders, the vintners and the 500 community volunteers who, year after year, work together to showcase what makes Napa Valley such a special place -- good food, great wine and a community spirit unlike any other.

Bruce Cakebread

President and CEO, Cakebread Cellars
President, 2013 Napa Valley Vintners Board of Directors

2013 Auction Napa Valley Shatters Records with $16.9 Million Fundraising Total

This year's Auction Napa Valley was one for the record books, achieving $16.9 million in overall fundraising for healthcare and youth education nonprofits in Napa County. The American Wine Classic's record-breaking results exceeded the previous record of $10.5 million raised in 2005 by more than 60 percent, reaffirming Auction Napa Valley's position as the world's most celebrated charity wine event.

"Even after 33 years, Auction Napa Valley still has some surprises up its sleeve," commented Shari Staglin, owner and CEO of Staglin Family Vineyard. "We are grateful to the bidders, the vintners and the 500 community volunteers who, year after year, work together to showcase what makes Napa Valley such a special place -- good food, great wine and a community spirit unlike any other. So many lives will be changed by the 'irrational generosity' of the wonderful bidders from around the globe. Our family thanks them from the bottom of our hearts." Shari, husband Garen and children Shannon and Brandon served as honorary chairs of this year's Auction Napa Valley.

Read the full release and view quotes from the event

Access hi-resolution photos from the Auction Napa Valley SmugMug gallery

Download an MP3 of "Walk With Me," an original song written for Auction Napa Valley by Billy Dean, Jeff Gargiulo and Monty Powell and sung by Billy Dean, Jeff Gargiulo on guitar, recorded at Monty Powell's studio and produced by Monty Powell.

Auction Napa Valley 2013 Topples Previous Fundraising Records

This year's Auction Napa Valley, the world's most celebrated charity wine event, is on track to exceed an astounding $16 million in total funds raised. Although the final tally won't be certified until the event officially ends with Sunday night's close of the E-Auction, officials at the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) are declaring the 2013 event a record-breaker. This total tops the previous Auction fundraising record of $10.5 million set in 2005, the 25th anniversary of the event.

Learn more.

LIVE From Auction Napa Valley!

Follow all of the Auction Napa Valley excitement with our live video coverage with Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson!

Welcome to Auction Napa Valley from the Staglin Family!

The 33rd annual Auction Napa Valley is here!  Guests to Auction will be “marveled” by the must-see-to-believe Auction lots, the abundance of world-class cuisine and wine from Napa’s finest vintners and restaurateurs.  In return, guests’ bids at Auction contribute to the resulting “miracles” of funding for healthcare and children’s education in the Napa community. 

This year, Napa Valley is blessed to celebrate the marvels and miracles created at Auction with honorary chairs, the Staglin family of Staglin Family Vineyard.  During all of the hustle and bustle in preparation for the upcoming spectacle, Shannon Staglin, president of Staglin Family Vineyard, took the time to answer a few questions about this auction, which is so near and dear to her heart…

In two sentences or less describe what Auction Napa Valley means to your winery?

Shannon: “Auction Napa Valley is one of the most exciting weekends of the year, where you go to amazing parties, catch up with old friends, meet new people, eat great food, drink delicious wines and most importantly help raise money for education and healthcare in the Napa County.”

Price aside, what would be your ideal Auction Lot?

Shannon: “All of the auction lots this year are absolutely amazing and I would be elated if I were to be able to win any one of them! “

What wineries are you excited to visit during the Auction Napa Valley Market Place on Friday?

Shannon: “The wine highlights on Friday are the incredible barrel lots guests have the opportunities to taste and potentially purchase.  This is the only event in the world where the winemakers and proprietors bring their barrels to you to taste!”

What is your favorite event during Auction Napa Valley?

Shannon: “The weekends’ excitement culminates at the Saturday Live Auction where everyone comes together to celebrate and raise their paddles for amazing, “money-can’t-buy” experiences paired with one-of-a-kind selections of wines.”

Auction Napa Valley sets the bar high for all other charity wine auctions and with the Staglin family hosting, 2013 is sure to be a great year!

Anie Peszynski
#ANV13 Social Media Crew
Blackbird Vineyards
@blackbird_wines   

Auction Napa Valley's Impact on our Community

Since the first Auction Napa Valley in 1981, more than $110 million has been given to nonprofit agencies in Napa County to help create a healthy community and support children's education.

We are proud of our partnerships with nonprofit organizations that are helping build strong families, providing preventative and acute medical care, allowing children to start off right so they can be successful and providing basic needs to the most vulnerable people in our community.

Did you know?

·  $1,000 - covers one year in a teen mentoring program

·  $5,000 - provides 33 well baby check-ups

·  $10,000 - pays for after school tutoring for 50 kids

·  $25,000 - funds an innovative math program for 800 students

·  $50,000 - insures 200 kids for a year

·  $100,000 - funds a new ultrasound machine

Read more about Auction Napa Valley's impact on our Napa County neighbors.

 

Auction Napa Valley: A Miracle Brought to Life

Napa Valley evokes images of California Wine Country and impressive vintners who have international recognition. Looking in from the outside one may miss a very important piece to the valley. In fact, this piece is probably the most important of them all, community. The best sense of this was summed up in a quote I repeat regularly from the North Bay Bohemian, "The rest of the world calls them rock stars but we call them neighbors."

The community of farmers and vintners that founded this valley worked together to make Napa Valley the amazing place it is today. The people of the area are the strength of the valley. The spirit of community involvement and giving has only grown as the Napa Valley has become more successful.

The Napa Valley Vintners has always recognized that the community makes us who we are and through Auction Napa Valley continues to deliver funds to local Napa Valley nonprofits that help keep the area we live in one of the best places on the planet. These non profits do everything from help keep Napa Valley green to assisting community members in their greatest times of need.

NEWS (Napa Emergency Women’s Services) has been helping those in need in Napa Valley for more than 30 years. Founded in 1981, NEWS created a shelter and services for victims of domestic violence at a time when these issues were not being addressed. In the beginning, the founding members of NEWS were unsure where their funding would come from or if it would come at all. Much has changed since then. The organization now thrives from community support to help women and children in need. Needless to say, the services have expanded to encompass all of the needs of the victims of domestic violence. From basic shelter to assistance with legal issues, help with children and a comprehensive website to assist remotely; the website has a panic button to shut down the page quickly in case danger is looming.

We applaud all of the hard working, selfless individuals that make NEWS a viable community service. Though NEWS now has multiple revenue streams to keep them going strong, the Napa Valley Vintners recognize the important work of the organization and donate generously from the funds raised at Auction Napa Valley.

Yes, Auction Napa Valley is a amazing experience . Yes, Auction Napa Valley has some of the best wine and food in the world. Yes, Auction Napa Valley has some of the best of the best on the planet. All of this is a miracle brought to life in Napa Valley by the Napa Valley Vintners that is then turned into marvels by you, the Auction attendee. Miracles that save lives by funding amazing nonprofits like NEWS.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Auction Napa Valley and continuing to make Napa Valley one of the best places on earth.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there is help. Please go to the NEWS website today and find people that are there for you. http://www.napanews.org/

Christophe Smith
Titus Vineyards
#ANV13 Social Media Crew
@Cork_Dork, @TitusVyds