Giving at Its Best: Naples Winter Wine Festival

The 24th edition of the Naples Winter Wine Festival will take place from January 26–28, 2024, at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.

Since the festival’s inception in 2001, nearly 90 of Collier County’s most prosperous nonprofit organizations have benefited from the roughly $269 million it has raised, giving more than 300,000 underprivileged and at-risk children the tools they need to succeed.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is back, showcasing some of the best wines, food, and auction goods in the world under the theme “Generosity in Full Bloom.” The stage will be set for an unforgettable weekend of wine, travel, and culinary experiences by renowned vintners, chefs, and sommeliers from over six different nations.

A member of the 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival Auction Lot Committee, Rick Germain, stated, “We are very excited about the unique, one-of-a-kind auction lots that will be offered at this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival.” The most opulent domestic and international travel are included in these packages, along with uncommon collector wines and incredible gastronomic adventures.

Highlights from the Auction Lot:

The Best of Burgundy in One Week:

With lodgings in the 18th-century guest house at Maison Joseph Drouhin, two fortunate couples will enjoy a seven-night insider wine country excursion of Burgundy. A private visit and special wine tasting in the 14th and 15th century cellars of the Dukes of Burgundy and Kings of France will be provided, along with a private dinner with the proprietor, Véronique Boss-Drouhin, and a special invitation to attend a Chapter of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin in the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot’s Cistercian cellar. In addition, the couples will have a private tour of some of the most renowned vineyards in Burgundy, which will include a private visit to the ruins of Saint-Vivant, the oldest abbey site in Burgundy, an exclusive tour of the renowned Hospices de Beaune, and a special lunch or dinner at Folie du Clos Vougeot. The Drouhin crew will arrange extra activities according to the winners’ choices. Plus, four three-bottle Magnum verticals of Joseph Drouhin wines (Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Blanc, Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Rouge, Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru, and Musigny Grand Cru) will be given to each couple in 2017–2018, 2019–in addition to other gifts.

The view from the top:Two couples will fly business class from the United States to Switzerland for a five-night luxurious excursion. A private helicopter tour of Matterhorn, dinner at Restaurant Chez Heini, and two nights’ lodging at the five-star Mont Cervin Palace in Alpine Suites Matterhorn await the couples at the start of their voyage. Following their multi-course, wine-paired meal and afternoon tea with canapés, guests will travel by Glacier Express train Excellent Class from Zermatt to St. Moritz. A private guided tour of the St. Moritz Mountains will be provided for the whole day, along with tickets to St. Moritz Corviglia and lunch at Paradiso Mountain Club & Restaurant. The couples will spend three nights in the St. Moritz Suites at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz. Along with lunch at Restaurant Roseg Gletscher, they will have a horse-drawn buggy ride to Roseg Valley.

Opening a California First Growth:To celebrate their 40th anniversary, three couples will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to taste the unique wines of Harlan Estate and the Harlan family in Napa Valley. Along with a unique tour to the Harlan family archive, the trip includes two nights at the Five Star Meadowood Napa Valley. A spa treatment per person at Meadowood Napa Valley, a private lunch at Harlan Estate with the first-generation Harlan family members, and a private supper at Harlan Estate with the second-generation Harlan family members are also being provided to the couples. Three unique, six-liter bottles of Harlan Estate–one each from 1993, 2001, and 2019–will also be awarded to the successful bidders.

Traveling through the Croatian Islands:Between June 29, 2024 and July 7, 2024, or July 6, 2024 and July 14, 2024, Kelley and Jim Bailey, the owners of Knights Bridge Winery, will welcome four couples on an eight-night luxurious yachting trip along the Croatian coast. Depending on the dates of travel, this amazing experience includes one way business class airfare from New York, New York to Croatia or from Croatia to New York, New York, as well as one way private air on a Gulfstream 450 from New York, New York to Croatia or from Croatia to New York, New York. Starting on the dates of travel, the tour includes one night at a five-star hotel in Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia. Once on board, the couples will embark on a seven-night cruise with private staterooms and stops at exotic locales like BraÄ, Hvar, KorÄula, Mljet, and Å ipan, which provide the best in culture, food, and wine. The yacht is a 122-foot Navilux private charter yacht hosted by the Baileys. All meals, cooked by a private chef on board and at nearby restaurants, are included in the price for the whole stay. A 1.5-liter bottle of 2021 Knights Bridge Draco Dormiere, Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley will also be given to each couple as a memento of their evening.

Riding on clouds:A 2024 Rolls-Royce Electric Spectre will be given away to a fortunate buyer. With its first clients anticipating delivery by the end of 2023, the 2024 Spectre is a brand-new model that represents Rolls-Royce’s foray into the electric vehicle market. With a coachline of Tailored Purple, polished 23-inch wing spoke wheels, and an interior of Grace White leather with Black and Tailored Purple accents, this unique and collectible car was created especially for NWWF.

Million-Dollar Luncheon ONLY for the Kids:

On November 21, 2024, a select group of 40 couples–including the esteemed Chef Thomas Keller–will eat a multi-course dinner at The Surf Club Restaurant in Surfside, Florida. In the field of cooking, Keller is seen as a global leader. The Surf Club Restaurant is Keller’s first Florida-based establishment, housed inside the freshly renovated famed Miami nightclub. Perfectly adapted for today’s modern diners to enjoy the Surfside beach view, the restaurant serves classic Continental cuisine.

According to Shelly Stayer, Chair of the 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival and Committee Member for Auction Lots, “These incredible auction lots represent these amazing, unique wine, travel, and culinary experiences offered on live auction day. We hope the demand for these auction lots will lead to another sold-out event, which will enable us to raise millions of dollars and accomplish our goal of significantly and sustainably improving the lives of children in our neighborhood.”

This article originally appeared on Life in Naples

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