Big Hearts and the Beautiful People at Auction Napa Valley
Wine people are generous people, we've always known it to be true!
UPDATE: An update on my book’s publishing date is near the end of this, with added content.
This past Friday afternoon, I found myself surrounded by olive trees, vineyard rows, and more than a few California Highway Patrol officers (just keeping us safe) at the Louis Martini Winery, and the quiet hum of generosity at the Friday preview portion of Auction Napa Valley. The wines were really exceptional this year, lots of the very handsome 2023s, but the spirit of the day went well beyond tasting notes. In fact, I admit to not taking notes and instead soaking in the vibe.
Where the Craft and the Charity Converge
The Friday session gave small and mid-sized producers their due. I tasted with Pahlmeyer, whose Red Wine (blend) 2022 is a masterclass in clarity and purpose. I do love the ‘22s much as I know I’m in the minority. I find them fresh, lively, and truly drinkable, making this an excellent example.
St. Supery poured a delightfully refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, which was especially nice considering the heat outside. It was complex, fresh, and fun. Here it’s chilling in the frunk of a Rivian, which was included in a particularly adventurous auction lot.
One couple chatting to me said confidently:
“We came for the cult lots, but we’re having fun with the discovery.”
I agree with them. It was great to see so many wineries, both established and new brands all in the same place. That the Auction raised over $6.5MM is fantastic. Of course it isn’t near their record highs, when they were auctioning 49 lots instead of just 14 this year, but I’m convinced it will rise again, and with a new generation of wine lovers primed for discovery.
Generosity in Action
Auction Napa Valley has long supported local healthcare, youth education, and housing for vineyard workers, but on Friday, that mission came alive in real time. Silent auction lots sparked friendly bidding wars. There’s a magic to that kind of informality; it turns fundraising into fellowship, which is a hallmark of all of these events. Through the years, events like this, typically attended by the extremely well-heeled (many wearing some awesome cowboy hats) have suffered the slings and arrows of critics who find it ostentatious, pandering, or exclusionary. To be honest, I found nothing like that. I found wine people adoring wine and other wine people, and it was pretty great. Maybe I’m biased, but these are our people, and I’m so glad they’re here.
Of course, the smaller producers…
Small wineries were big on display here, and I absolutely love that, as you know. There were many, and I want to point out the exceptional “Tench Vineyard” from Riverain, my first time having that winery, and Rockmere Vineyards, which was a fascinating and complex Cabernet. More great ‘23s from Ehlers Estate, Hertelendy, Grounded Wine Co., CourAvant, VinRoc, and superb Cabernet Sauvignon from Pope Valley Winery, and a nice Cabernet Franc ‘24 from Matthiasson. There were some fantastic whites too, including Sauvignon Blanc from Grieve, “Trillium” Chardonnay from Hudson, and a lovely new wine from Vineyard 7 & 8. From a larger winery, a Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc from Darioush was perfect.
DELAYED, BUT ON THE WAY, I PROMISE…
Yes, I purposely delayed the delivery of my book by a month, but I expect to have it out in a couple of weeks. My publisher and I agreed that an eighth chapter, geared to the European reader, concerning exports to the USA, would be a significant benefit, especially since an Italian publisher had expressed interest in a translation for their country. So I wrote that, and it also gave me the chance to update and replace the dated Preface that I had written, which is now brand new. So, thank you for your patience. You can expect to see the finished book in approximately 14 days.
