Nothing warms the heart of a wine-loving Night Owl more than knowing that I can bid on incredible lots of Napa Valley wine “in the comfort of my own home” at any hour of the day – or night. That’s part of the reason why I agreed to co-chair this year’s Auction Napa Valley E-Auction. But I never expected the range and depth of the amazing wine offerings to bid on! More than 140 vintners have come up with a staggering array of wine and experiences that will be sold over a four-week period from May 9 to June 4.
Week One: Cellar Treasures in Bottles and Mags
The first weeklong auction opens on Sunday, May 9, featuring incredible wines in 750ml and 1.5L formats. Highlights include a 20-year vertical spanning from 1988 through to 2007 from Frog’s Leap and a rare collection of 24 bottles of famed Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon honoring Napa Valley wine pioneers Barney and Belle Rhodes. For the art lover, acclaimed watercolor artist Eric Christensen’s lovely “Napa Valley Memories II” is recreated as a gorgeous giclée on the cover of a cherry box housing Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. If you haven’t blown the entire budget on week one, hold on – there are more super lots coming in weeks two, three, and four.
Week Two: Jeroboams, Rehoboams, Methuselahs, and Nebuchadnezzars -- OH MY!
Running from Sunday, May 16 until Sunday, May 23, week two is themed around big bottles. I love the idea of trying the same wine in various formats (from 375 ml to 6L) as well as seeking a couple of the “big boys” for special occasions like milestone birthdays and anniversaries. There’s nothing like a 3L to get your guests’ attention at a dinner party. And we have 29 wineries who have contributed wine in bottles that are 3L or larger.
Week Three: Unforgettable Days of Wine & Adventure
From May 23 through May 30, you can bid on lots that include both wine and amazing daytime events. More than 20 Napa Valley winemakers are ready to sit with you to share a meal or lead a blending session—all one-of-a-kind for a perfect Napa Valley getaway.
Week Four: Nights to Remember: Wine, Food and Friends
Or perhaps you’d like to spend a night (or two) in a private winery guesthouse—this week is for you! Globetrotters will appreciate a stay at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona compliments of Blackbird Vineyards. Or maybe you fancy a walk down the red carpet at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, courtesy of Beaulieu Vineyard, Sterling Vineyards, Provenance Vineyards, and Hewitt Vineyard? It’s all here and thanks to our unbelievably generous vintners, you can place a bid at any hour of the day or night from May 30 until June 3 and then until 3pm on June 4 as bidders from around the globe vie for winning bids against bidders on-site at Taste Napa Valley’s Friday Festival Auction Weekend.
I’m sure my usual online purveyors (e.g. Rue LaLa, Ideeli, Gilt) will miss me, but from May 9 through June 4, my nocturnal shopping sprees are going to be centered on Auction Napa Valley. I hope you’ll join me.
Click here to view a photos montage of the e-lots, and here to register to bid.
Cheers, and happy bidding!
Stacey Bressler
Co-chair, E-Auction
Auction Napa Valley 2010
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