Private Cellar Treasures to Find New Homes at World’s Most Successful Charity Wine Auction

Naples, FL, January 22, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Prized wines that are praised by wine experts as among the finest in the world will be finding new homes. They are traveling from pristine private cellars, to the auction block at the 2009 Naples Winter Wine Festival on Feb. 7, and into the cellars of winning bidders. The cellar gems, donated by private wine collectors, range from Old World to New World vintages and 750mL bottles to Imperials. Every dollar raised during the auction of 65 one-of-a-kind lots will go toward helping underprivileged and at-risk children through the Naples Children & Education Foundation.

“The passion for fine wine coupled with the desire to help children in need is abundantly evident in the wine donations from private collectors,” said Larry Andrews, chairman of the festival’s vintner committee and a trustee of NCEF, which founded the festival in 2001. “In sharing their treasured wines, donors will have a significant and meaningful impact on the neediest children in Collier County, Florida, where pockets of poverty create deplorable living conditions.” He added, “Last year, a private donor lot of 75 bottles of Bordeaux wines from the 2000 vintage raised $220,000. That one lot funded vision screenings and new eyeglasses for 500 children in addition to sending more than 200 children to summer camps.”

Highlights of wine lots from private donors:

Lot 4
This nostalgic collection of some of the 1990s’ greatest wines includes nine Magnums from Silver Oak and Beringer, a case of Dunn’s Howell Mountain Cabernet, four vintages of Shafer Hillside Select and more.

Lot 7
Donated by baseball legend Rusty Staub’s foundation, this lot blends the best of Burgundies and baseball: 10 Double Magnum Burgundies from the highly acclaimed 2005 vintage and four tickets to the New York Mets 2009 season opener at the city’s new stadium, Citi Field, with dinner at Daniel in New York.

Lot 13
Four 100-point Bordeaux presented in large format are oenophile attention-getters with an Imperial of 2000 Pavie in addition to three of Bordeaux’s all-time classics: the 1982 Leoville Las Cases, 1986 Chateau Mouton Rothschild and the 1990 Chateau Margaux.

Lot 20
This lot, called Millennial Triumphs, holds 36 bottles of Bourdeaux from the 2000 vintage. The wines – Chateau Figeac, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Pichon Lalande and Chateau Haut-Brion – are outstanding examples of this historic vintage and are expected to age well over two decades.

Lot 24
Thirty-six bottles form a “dream team” auction lot of up-and-coming California Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah. There are 16 top Cabernet Sauvignons, including the first three vintages of Sloan, four top single-vineyard offerings from Hundred Acre, and one from Colgin’s IX Estate. All-stars of Pinot Noir are represented with three vintages of Marcassin, Aubert’s UV Vineyard, Sine Qua Non’s final release and the 2004 Kosta Browne Kanzler – Wine Spectator’s highest scoring Pinot Noir ever. Very special Chardonnay and Syrah vintages complete the lot.

Lot 26
This is a 44-bottle collection of Italy’s Angelo Gaja, including his bold and powerful reds and ephemeral whites. The lot includes four ultra-rare Double Magnums: Barbaresco, Darmagi, Costa Russi and Sori Tildin.

Lot 42
Titled Bordeaux Blockbusters, this lot comprises three cases of what wine experts consider the most coveted wines from the 1998 vintage: Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Chateau Leoville-Las Cases, Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is a three-day affair that begins on Friday, Feb. 6. It includes a tour of children’s charities, a lunch and wine tasting guided by some of California’s finest vintners, and evening vintner dinners in the elegant homes of 17 NCEF trustees presided over by famous chefs and vintners. On Saturday, there is a culinary showcase and wine tasting that precedes the auction on the grand lawn of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. In the evening, there is a “wine-down” party, and on Sunday, the festival concludes with a celebration brunch.

NCEF trustees who founded the festival had a vision to create an exquisite event that would raise funds for children’s charities in Collier County, Fla. Since the first festival, $69.5 million has been raised toward making a profound and sustainable difference for children in need. The festival is ranked as one of the top arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans by the Luxury Institute and as the top charity wine auction since 2004 by Wine Spectator.

For a schedule of 2009 festivities, a complete listing of auction lots and more information about the Naples Winter Wine Festival, please visit napleswinefestival.com, or call the wine festival office at 888-837-4919.

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