3/30/2026 - Saint Helena, CA - This year at Auction Napa Valley, legendary vintner Robin Lail will be honored with a lifetime achievement award recognizing her founding role in the auction and her decades of continued leadership. The recognition will take place at the Live Auction Celebration on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
As a chair of the inaugural 1981 planning committee, Lail helped bring Auction Napa Valley to life. For the first auction, Lail was instrumental in rallying vintners to take part, using her extensive connections throughout the valley to recruit vintners to join the steering committee and donate lots.
Through her ongoing support and participation in many auctions since, she has helped grow it into one of the most successful charitable wine auctions in the world. Over the years, she has served on numerous committees and task forces to help produce and evolve the auction.
"We look forward to recognizing Robin for her extraordinary dedication and lasting contributions. From helping establish Auction Napa Valley, to her continued leadership every year since, Robin has been a constant supporter and champion for our community. After so many decades of hard work, we can't wait for her to sit back and relax at this year's auction and enjoy this well-deserved recognition," said Linda Reiff, President & CEO of Napa Valley Vintners.
Today, the event stands as one of the most successful charitable wine auctions in the world, having donated $245 million to support health, education and children's wellness initiatives across Napa Valley.
Its success reflects the vision of leaders like Lail, whose story is inseparable from that of Napa Valley itself. Raised among the vines of Inglenook, founded by her great-granduncle Gustave Niebaum in 1879, she grew up at the winery, learning about vineyards and harvest from her father and legendary winemaker, John Daniel Jr.
From her early days working alongside Robert Mondavi during Napa’s modern renaissance, to her role in launching iconic wineries including Dominus Estate with Christian Moueix, Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan and Lail Vineyards with her daughters, Lail has helped shape Napa Valley into the world-class region it is today.
This year’s Live Auction, held at Inglenook, provides a fitting connection to her journey, returning to where her story began and commemorating the legacy she helped build.
Those interested in taking part, and celebrating with Lail at this year's Auction, can visit auctionnapavalley.org.
About Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $245 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contact: Teresa Wall, Senior Director of Communications - 707-968-4210, twall@napavintners.com
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