Pouring it Forward

This article was originally published on June 8th, 2026. It appears in the September 30, 2026, issue as “Pour it Forward: Auction Napa Valley Raises $6 Million.”

“I was there when my father, [Robert Mondavi], first presented the idea for a Napa Valley wine auction 47 years ago,” vintner and Continuum owner Tim Mondavi told the crowd during the 2026 Auction Napa Valley’s live auction and gala, recalling the skepticism the concept initially faced. “They said, ‘There goes crazy Bob again. It will never fly’.”

The annual auction, organized by Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), has been flying ever since the elder Mondavi helped it debut in 1981. This year’s sold-out, multi-part charitable event stretched over three days, June 4-6. By the end of the weekend, the event had raised $6 million for community nonprofits, programs and infrastructure projects. That’s below last year’s total of $6.5 million. Since the auction’s founding, the NVV has given more than $245 million in grant funding for their nonprofit partners.

While Auction Napa Valley has established the model that many other similar events have since followed, the weekend also acts as a bellwether for the Valley’s wine industry. The NVV reported that ticket sales were up this year, with more than 2,000 people from 29 states in attendance.

A First Look at Upcoming Vintages

Before the live auction gala, the Barrel Auction on June 5 brought a lively atmosphere to the newly renovated Robert Mondavi Winery. More than 1,700 guests, vintners and volunteers attended the event, enjoying wines alongside dishes from local restaurant favorites.

Winemaker Andy Erickson pours a taste during the barrel auction. (Sandoval Media Momentous Images)

The centerpiece of the afternoon was the barrel tasting and auction. More than 100 wineries each donated a half-barrel of yet unreleased wine, equivalent to 10 cases. Guests sampled the wines, met the vintners and placed bids throughout the day. The ten highest bidders for each lot won a case. The top bidder also received a commemorative barrel head signed by the winemaker and an invitation to an exclusive kickoff lunch at next year’s auction. The wines represented the 2023, 2024 and 2025 vintages.

The top grossing lots of the day were for wines made by Chappellet Winery, Cardinale, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Continuum Estate, Shafer Vineyards, Alpha Omega, Davies Vineyards, Ovid, Robert Mondavi Winery and Favia.

The Main Event

About 400 guests gathered in front of the historic Inglenook winery the next day for the live auction, which raised more than $4 million. Winery owner Francis Ford Coppola joined the festivities, while honorary auction chairs Darioush, Shahpar and Sally Khaledi, owners of Darioush Winery, welcomed attendees.

Before the event, Darioush Khaledi told Wine Spectator that serving as an auction chair had been both demanding and rewarding. “Sometimes I wonder, why did I say yes?” he said with a smile. “There is a lot of work involved, but it’s really worth it.”

Robin Lail paid tribute to her father as she spoke to the crowd. (Sandoval Media Momentous Images)

The NVV presented fourth-generation vintner Robin Lail with the inaugural Auction Napa Valley Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her role on the original committee that helped create the auction. A direct descendant of Inglenook founder Gustave Niebaum, Lail grew up on the property and appeared deeply moved by the standing ovation she received.

“There’s one person I’d like to share this with, and that would be the spirit of John Daniel Jr.,” she said. “That’s my dad. And I know he’s here, and he will check in to make sure that I say thank you properly.”

Before bidding opened on the live lots, auctioneers offered five mystery magnums. Guests received clues to the wines’ identities, which included an Opus One Napa Valley 1981 that sold for $14,000 and a Screaming Eagle Napa Valley 2007 that brought $35,000.

Dinner followed beneath a canopy of trees on Inglenook’s front lawn. The team from The Bear at Stanly Ranch and Chef Anthony Stagnaro served Wagyu pastrami short ribs with Japanese sweet potatoes, while vintners circulated among the tables pouring wines, many from large-format bottles.

The auction featured 17 lots, including one honoring the late consultant Michel Rolland, seats at a tribute dinner at Staglin. His daughter, Stephanie Rolland, attended to help support the bidding. Vintners Donna Walker and Mark Pulido ultimately secured the winning bid. “It’s wonderful to be part of a community that helps children,” Pulido said.

The lots paired rare wines with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. One of the top-selling packages, offered by The Vice, featured a private journey through Morocco, including visits to Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, camel rides, a hot-air balloon flight and luxury accommodations in Casablanca. Bidding reached $320,000.

Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi, Francis Ford Coppola and Shari Staglin, left to right, were among leading guests. (Sandoval Media Momentous Images)

One of the evening’s standout offerings featured an eight-day luxury South African experience, including safari adventures, wine tastings in Stellenbosch and 30 magnums of Napa Valley wine. Ricardo and Dayva Jimenez, owners of Firetree Family Vineyards in Carneros, won the package with a $110,000 bid.

Ricardo Jimenez said the vintners’ commitment to community fundraising inspired him. “It’s amazing. The activity, the charity, supporting that community? We love that. It’s absolutely something that really moves us.”

A $300,000 package from John Anthony included VIP BottleRock experiences and guitars signed by Stevie Nicks and Noah Kahan. Gargiulo, B Cellars and Silver Oak offered tickets to a private Sebastian Maniscalco performance and a dinner prepared by Chef Charlie Palmer for $5,000 each. Alpha Omega offered a 14-night voyage for four aboard the world’s largest privately owned residential megayacht that raised $160,000.

Other highlights included the two top wines in the historic Judgment of Paris tasting—the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V.—along with 60 additional bottles. That sold to an online bidder for $110,000.

Joy Lindsay, who has attended the auction for roughly two decades, captured the mood of the evening. “It’s the Super Bowl of wine,” she said.

The Underlying Cause

Several children who have benefited from NVV-funded programs took the stage during the Fund-a-Need portion of the evening to thank bidders and encourage additional donations.

Renzo Cotarella of Stag’s Leap and Tim Mondavi of Continuum enjoyed a laugh. (Sandoval Media Momentous Images)

One local resident, Destiney, shared her story of growing up in a household affected by alcoholism and lacking support for her education. “It only takes one person to make a difference,” she told the crowd. Through programs supported by the vintners, she found mentors and opportunities that helped her graduate from high school a year early while taking college-level courses. Guests raised paddles for donation levels ranging from $1,000 to $250,000.

Schatzi Throckmorton, owner of Relic Wine Cellars and current chair of the NVV, praised both the turnout and the energy surrounding the event. “It’s really exciting,” she said. “This week has felt so good. Every event, people have really been showing up. It’s joyful.”

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