6/4/2000 - High tech continued its rebound this weekend at the world's largest wine charity event - the Napa Valley Wine Auction, held here today at Meadowood Napa Valley resort. A record-breaking $9.5 million was raised at the event sponsored annually by the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and benefiting local charities.
Driven primarily by record-breaking bids from top bidder, retired Silicon Valley executive Chase Bailey, of Incline Village, NV, auction dollars nearly doubled last year's $5.5 million total. Bailey, a first-time auction participant, redefined generosity with more than $1.7 million in winning bids for more than five live auction lots. His $500,000 bid for a six-liter bottle of 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon burned numerous previous world records for the price paid for a single bottle, according to Christie's auctioneer Fritz Hatton, who has seen 20 years of wine bidding at the world-respected auction house.
"My wife and I love great wines and great causes such as the charities this auction supports," said Bailey.
The high bid of the day for a single lot came from B.A. Adams of Patterson, LA, a 10-year veteran of Napa Valley Wine Auction bidding. He celebrated that benchmark by purchasing 10 bottles of Harlan Estate wine for $700,000. The 1.5 liter bottles spanned ten years of Harlan Estate vintages, 1987 to 1996.
"I'm totally overwhelmed! Never in my wildest imagination did I anticipate this incredible result," said Auction Chair Nancy Andrus, Principal of Pine Ridge Winery. "It reflects the generosity of the vintners, the dedication of more than 1,000 community volunteers, committee members, and bidders - both longtime supporters and new friends. And to think that at least 85 percent of the proceeds will go directly to our many Napa County beneficiaries is the most rewarding aspect of my year as Auction chair."
Final results for the live, big board barrel, private donor, art and cellar builder auctions totaled $7,848,800, $1,287,900, $203,250, $190,400 and $49,250 respectively, for a grand total of $9,579,600.
"Dollars raised this year will allow us to distribute more money to Napa County nonprofits than ever before," said Jack Stuart, NVV President, and Director of Winemaking and General Manager, Silverado Vineyards. "Perhaps more important, the success of this Auction will help vintners continue to build an endowment to sustain the well-being of our community for years to come."
The leading bid for the barrel auction was $33,000 for one case of the 1999 Dalla Valle Maya Cabernet Sauvignon. The top private donor lot - 107 bottles of assorted Napa Valley wines donated by Dan and Karen Lynch - sold for $50,000. The highest bid for the art auction lot was $42,000 for Susan Freedman's "Carneros" oil painting. The top bid for a cellar builder auction lot was $6,500 for 18 750 ml bottles of Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay donated by Margaret and Jack Smith.
The year 2001 Napa Valley Wine Auction is scheduled for June 7 - 10. Robert Mondavi and Margrit Biever Mondavi will co-chair the event. An invitation to the four-day event is available by calling 1-800-982-1371.
2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction
Top 12 Overall Lots
Harlan Estate - $700,000
10 (1987 - 1996 vertical vintage) 1.5 liter bottles Harlan Estate Cabernet blend
Screaming Eagle - $500,000
1 1992 6 liter bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley Vintners "Napa Valley Inside Out" - $500,000
Napa Valley experience for two: Four nights lodging, massages, Napa Valley dinners and wine from assorted Napa Valley wineries.
Staglin Family Vineyard - $300,000
Two duplicate lots sold for $150,000 each. Special Event: Dinner for 12 at the Staglin Family Villa and six bottles (1 magnum and 1 three liter each) of 1996 Auction Reserve Cabernet, 1993 Chardonnay and 1998 Stagliano Sangiovese. The Lot also includes 12 crystal goblets and 2 crystal decanters by Tuscan crystal master, Giampiero Brogi.
Araujo Estate Wines - $270,000
10 (1991 - 2000 vertical vintage) 1.5 liter bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon
Dalla Valle Vineyards - $270,000
Special Event: Lunch for six and eight bottles of Dalla Valle Maya (1990 - 1997)
Chair's Lot - $230,000
One glass work by internationally renowned artist Dale Chihuly and 20 750 ml
bottles of Pine Ridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Colgin Cellars - $220,000
1 6 liter bottle Herb Lamb Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Beringer Vineyards - $210,000
12 750 ml bottles and 1 9 liter bottle of 1997 Montagia Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (a collaboration by Beringer winemaker Ed Sbragia and legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana)
Vine Cliff Winery - $200,000
1 6 liter bottle 1998 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Private Stock, display case and six crystal glasses. This lot was amended to include dinner in the caves at Vine Cliff Winery, featuring a celebrity chef and entertainment
Dalla Valle Vineyards - $198,000
10 1-case lots of 1999 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Far Niente Winery - $170,000
Special Event: Dinner for eight, four six liter bottles of estate bottled Far
Niente Cabernet Sauvignon (1990, 1991, 1994, 1997)
Top Three Barrel Lots
1. Dalla Valle Vineyards - $198,000, 10-1 case lots
2. Staglin Family Vineyard - $131,500, 10-1 case lots
3. Shafer Vineyards - $57,600 10-1 case lots
Top Three Private Donor Lots
1. 107 bottles assorted Napa Valley wines, donated by Dan and Karen Lynch - $50,000
2. 5 1.5 liter bottles Colgin Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, donated by Fredrick Schrader - $41,000
3. 15 bottles assorted Napa Valley wines, donated by Karen and Neil Aldoroty - $22,000
Top Three Art Lots
1. "Carneros" oil painting by Susan Freedman - $42,000
2. "Special Rendezvous" oil painting by Sally Rosenbaum - $32,000
3. "Rutherford Reflection" acrylic painting by Beth Whybrow Leeds - $17,000
Top Three Cellar Builder Lots
1. 18 bottles Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, donated by Margaret and Jack Smith - $6,500
2. 1 6 liter bottle 1991 Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Five, donated by Alicia and John Vittal - $4,500
3. 6 bottles Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and 6 bottles Beringer Vineyards Bancroft Ranch, Howell Mountain Merlot, donated by Greg and Sara Tucker - $2,550
Top Ten Bidders
1. Chase Bailey, Incline Village, NV
2. B.A. Adams, Patterson, LA
3. Dee Lincoln, Plano, TX
4. Chuck McMinn, Los Altos Hills, CA
5. Daniel Lynch, Los Altos Hills, CA
6. Frank Husic, San Francisco, CA
7. Ona Roth, Santa Barbara, CA
8. Ronald Kuhn, Wheaton, IL
9. Chuck Sweeney, Napa, CA
10. Gary Rieschel, Mountain View, CA
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