June 2006
Auction Napa Valley : the Auction
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2006 AUCTION NAPA VALLEY - NAPA VALLEY, CA -

American Idol's Ryan Seacrest hosted the 26th annual Auction Napa Valley's Live Auction on Saturday June 3rd. The annual event is held on the grounds of the Meadowood Napa Valley. Seacrest, along with auctioneers Fritz Hatton and Ursula Hermacinski began the evening by offering 4 tickets and backstage passes to American Idol. Two successful bidders, each bidding $35,000, brought in an immediate $70,000 in the first round, and we were off and running. Seacrest, apparently an a big wine lover and collector, seemed quite comfortable mixing with the crowd, and despite the grueling heat and humidity, showed great composure and never lost a beat.

Television and movie star Geena Davis was also there to help sell the Frank Family Vineyards lot that featured a walk-on role in Davis’ upcoming film based on her television show, Commander in Chief. Davis, as the President in the series, tried to motivate the to continue to raise their bids with, “I am the fake president and you must do as I say.” Koerner Rombauer, of Rombauer Vineyards had the winning bid, landing the walk-on part.

The top-of-the-mark, king-of-the-hill Record-breaking Lot #9, was truly THE big ticket item. Referred to as the “new French Connection,” the Lot was provided by Staglin Family Vineyard, and featured 5 large format bottles PLUS a trip to France, hosted by Shari and Garen Staglin. A huge bidding war ensued that brought the final value of the Lot to $1.05 million. As a result, bidder Joy Craft of Woodside, CA established a new record, and described how she was proud to be in a position of philanthropy, as she came from humble beginnings, growing up on a farm in South Carolina. Garen Staglin commented, “We are honored to have contributed this lot that touched a bidder to respond so generously to our community.”

As the event drew to a close, the Napa Valley Vintners had raised nearly $8.4 million from 60 Live, 105 Barrel and 62 E-lots offering outstanding collections of wine, vintner-hosted events, as well as luxury items and travel adventures donated by the group's wineries. One lot, donated by Cakebread Cellars, Dyer Vineyards, Lail Vineyards and Oakville Ranch Vineyards included a 2007 Chevy Suburban donated by General Motors to be given to one of the Auction’s beneficiaries. Winning bidders Rick Jones and Chuck McMinn won the lot, and drew the final recipient's name from a hat: the Community Action of Napa Valley’s Shelter Project.

The chair of this year’s event was the Cakebread Family. The family took the stage to toast all of the bidders, vintners and nearly 900 volunteers who made this event possible. Family spokesperson Dennis Cakebread said: “This is terrific, just terrific. After last year’s blow-out for the 25th anniversary, we and the board of directors had budgeted $5 million in revenue and had told our beneficiaries to remember that last year was a gift, not a signpost for the future. So we are thrilled with the results and had a great time showing off our valley’s excellent hospitality.”

The event over, everyone adjourned to what is referred to as "The Party," where celebrity chefs had prepared signature dishes, and the wine flowed freely. What a time!

Auction Lots
Winning Bid
2006 10 Top Live Lots  
Staglin Family Vineyards,
Bidder: Joy Craft of Woodside, CA
5 large format bottles and a trip to France hosted by the Staglins
$1.05 million
Screaming Eagle,
Bidder: M.K. Koo of Hong Kong
12 magnum vertical from 1992 forward
$460,000
Colgin Cellars,
Bidder: Stratton Sclavos of Sarasota, Florida
4-3 Liter bottles, Tychson Hill Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and dinner for 8
$380,000
Harlan Estate,
Bidder: David Reis of Rye, NY
10 magnum vertical from 1993 forward and dinner for 8
$340,000
Frank Family Vineyards,
Bidder: Koerner Rombauer of St Helena, CA
12-750ml bottles and 5 magnums Cabernet Sauvignon and a walk-on role in Commander in Chief,
a movie based on the TV series with Geena Davis
$305,000
Chair’s Lot,
Bidder: Koerner Rombauer of St Helena, CA
98 bottles of Cakebread Cellars wine, plus ten cases, a 2006 Z06 Chevrolet Corvette, high performance driving school and luxury trip to Arizona.
$300,000
Dalla Valle Vineyards,
Bidder: M.K. Koo of Hong Kong
6-750ml bottles and 1-9 liter Maya along with a dinner with Naoko Dalla Valle.
$200,000
Duckhorn Vineyards,
Bidder: Larry Durham of Montecito, CA
Wine Country package plus 25 magnums
$200,000
Joseph Phelps Vineyards,
Bidder: M.K. Koo of Hong Kong
12-750ml bottles and 1-9 liter Insignia Proprietary Red Wine
$180,000
Robert Mondavi Winery,
Bidder: Koerner Rombauer of St Helena, CA
Excursion to Italy to the roots of the Mondavi family along with 43 bottles of wine from 1966 forward
$180,000
Arietta Winery,
Bidder: Jess Jackson of Santa Rosa, CA
Dinner for 20 and 20 bottles of wine
$180,000
2006 10 Top Barrel Lots
Shafer Vineyards,
$37,500
Pride Mountain Vineyards,
$28,000
Jones Family Vineyards,
$26,550
D.R. Stephens Estate,
$24,550
Joseph Phelps Vineyards,
$23,250
HDV,
$22,150
Cliff Lede Vineyards,
$18,200
Clark-Claudon Vineyards,
$16,550
Viader Vineyards & Winery,
$16,250
Hartwell Vineyards,
$14,950
2006 Top 10 E-Lots
Beringer Vineyards,
$48,100
Domaine Chandon, (duplicated by the donors, 2 lots of $17,400)
$34,800
Spring Mountain District Assoc.,
$15,500
Franciscan Oakville Estate,
$12,200
ZD Wines,
$10,100
Howell Mountain Vineyards,
$8,500
Sherwin Family Vineyards,
$8,000
Broman Cellars,
$7,000
Mumm Napa Valley,
$6,400

 

     
June 2006
Auction Napa Valley : the Auction
Photojournal : - 1 2 3 4 5 -next >>

 
 
 
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Last Update 8.21.06