Gavel to gavel, in only four hours, bidders at The Naples Winter Wine Festival charity auction raised more than $8 million for underprivileged and at-risk children. Five hundred patrons were seated under a giant tent set on the grand lawn of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples for the live auction, with winning bids ranging from $22,000 to $440,000 for 61 one-of-a-kind lots.
Since 2001, the festival has raised $82.5 million for children in Collier County, Fla. Festival proceeds have expanded the horizons of nearly 100,000 children through grants to children's charities and collaborative funding of major new initiatives, including primary medical and dental care clinics and an early learning center. The festival has been ranked the most successful charity wine auction in the nation for the past six years by Wine Spectator.
"Everyone came through for the kids," said The Honorable Francis Rooney, 2010 festival chair with his wife, Kathleen, trustees of the Naples Children and Education Foundation, the festival's founding organization. "Top chefs and vintners flew in from around the world to make this a very special 10th anniversary festival. Sponsors and patrons dug deep into their wallets to raise money for children who need a helping hand in order to lead healthy, productive lives and fulfill their dreams. We are so appreciative of everyone's support."
Kathleen added, "Children's need for services continues to rise in this difficult economy, and generous festival patrons helped fill that need."
The top money-raising auction lot was a one-week Mediterranean voyage for six couples aboard Dream, a 170-foot Feadship yacht auctioned for $440,000.
Among the top wine lots were a 2003 Chateau Lynch-Bages presented in rare double magnum and two lots that were auctioned off for $160,000 each: a 2003-2005 vertical of Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon and three large-format Domaine Serene Monogram Pinot Noirs. A bid of $150,000 won four mammoth nine-liter bottles of Chateau Haut-Brion donated by Prince Robert of Luxembourg.