Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is a multi-day charity wine festival featuring celebrity chef-hosted dinners and an auction. The event has been held yearly in Naples, Florida since 2001. Since its inception, the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised over $146 million for underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.

Past Festivals

• 2001 - The festival's first year saw $2.7 million ($3.61 million in 2016 dollars^[1]) raised for charity. Jeff Garguilo, of Garguilo Vineyards, was the chairman.^[2]
• 2002 - $3.4 million ($4.47 million in 2016 dollars^[1]) raised for charity, with $2.5 million coming from the auction. Brian Cobb was the chairman.^[3]
• 2003 - $3.96 million ($5.09 million in 2016 dollars^[1]) was raised. Tom Wajnert was the chairman.^[4]
• 2004 - The Festival's auction set a world record for a charity wine auction; $6.67 million ($8.36 million in 2016 dollars^[1]). Shirleen Elkins was the chairwoman, and Robert Mondavi was the honored vintner.^[5]
• 2005 - The auction set another world record, with $11.1 million ($13.4 million in 2016 dollars^[1]).^[6]
• 2006 - The auction raised $12.19 million ($14.3 million in 2016 dollars^[1]). Grace Evanstad, of Domaine Serene, was the festival's chairwoman.^[7]
• 2007 - Another record year -- $16.5 million ($18.8 million in 2016 dollars^[1]). A single lot went for a record $2 million ($2.28 million in 2016 dollars^[1]); a 2008 Rolls Royce drophead coupe.^[8]
• 2008 - The auction raised $14 million ($15.4 million in 2016 dollars^[1]).^[9]
• 2009 - Due to the economy, the auction only raised $5.06 million ($5.58 million in 2016 dollars^[1]), the lowest auction total since 2003.^[10]
• 2010 - The festival bounced back with $8.06 million in auction lots ($8.75 million in 2016 dollars^[1]). Festival Chairs were Kathleen & Francis Rooney.^[11]
• 2011 - The auction brought in $11.9 million, but the chairs added another $100,000 to make it an even $12 million ($13 million in 2016 dollars^[1])^[12]
• 2012 - The auction raised $12.2 million; HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg was the featured vintner. He donated several vintages of his wine, Château Haut-Brion, which had 2 bidders involved in a bidding war. He donated a second lot to the losing bidder; the combined price for both was $1.1 million.^[13]

• 2013 - Theme “When Stars Align,” Chairs Terry & Bob Edwards, the auction raised $8.6 million. Chef de Cuisine was Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and Honored Vintner was Barbara Banke of Vérité; top auction lot $750,000 for a 2013 F12berlinetta Ferrari, top wine lot $180,000 for a 65 bottle complete vertical of Château Mouton Rothschild artist label series housed in a custom-made display table. (auction totals reached over $110 million to date)

• 2014 - Theme “Celebrate the Journey,” Chairs Anne Welsh McNulty, Linda Richards Malone, Adria Starkey, the auction raised $12.5 million. Chef de Cuisine was Bill Telepan of Telepan and Honored Vintner was Olivier Krug, Krug Champagne; top auction lot $1.4 million for “Beautiful Minds” Fund a Need helping NCEF’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative; top wine lot was $400,000 “Stunning Staglin” four double magnums of wine from Staglin and Domaine Michel Lafarge and a six-day Parisian and Burgundian wine adventure. Following spirited bidding, a second identical lot was donated. Each captured a bid of $200,000. (auction total reached over $123 million raised to date)

• 2015 – Theme “Imagine the Possibilities” Chairs Sharon & Chuck Hallberg and Sandi & Tom Moran, the auction raised $12.32 million (including $231,000 from online auction). Chef de Cuisine was Barbara Lynch of Menton and Honored Vintner was Marchese Piero Antinori of Marchesi Antinori; top auction lot $1 million for “Now You See It” Fund a Need helping NCEF’s Children’s Vision Initiative; top wine lot was $500,000 “You’ve Been Krug’d!” complete with a collection of Krug’s most notable bottles and a private, multi-day visit to the champagne house’s French estate.

• 2016 – Theme “Great Expectations” Chairs Laura & Jim Dixon and Sandi & Tom Moran; festival dates January 29-31, 2016.

References

1. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
2. Staff (25 April 2001). "Foundation gives $2.2M to children's organizations". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
3. Posner, Marc (3 February 2002). "Winter Wine Festival raises record $3.4 million for education foundation". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
4. Staff (2 April 2003). "Winter Wine Festival proceeds totaling $3.75M distributed to several Collier County charities". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
5. Wendt, Elizabeth (8 February 2004). "Wine festival raises record $6.6 million". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
6. Stahl, Theresa (6 February 2005). "Festival Raises Record 12 Million". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
7. Gina Edwards; Denise Zoldan (29 January 2006). "$12.19 million for the kids". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
8. Layden, Laura (28 January 2007). "Naples developer’s bid for Rolls is one for record books". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
9. Katherine Albers; Laura Layden (28 January 2008). "Wine Festival 2008: $14 million for the kids". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
10. Layden, Laura (7 February 2009). "No disappointment: Wine Festival auction total down, but still $5 million for kids". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
11. Laura Layden; Leslie Williams Hale (30 January 2010). "PHOTOS/VIDEO A fine wine auction: $8 million raised for Collier kids’ charities at Naples festival". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
12. Laura Layden; Leslie Williams Hale (29 January 2011). "PHOTOS/VIDEO Winter Wine festival auction raises $12 million for kids’ charities". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
13. Katherine Albers; Laura Layden (28 January 2012). "Dozens are wild: 2012 Naples Winter Wine Festival raises $12.2 million - PHOTOS". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2012.

External links

• Official page