2008 Auction Napa Valley Raises More Than $10 Million
A tribute dinner for Robert Mondavi becomes the top lot at the 28th annual charity event
Yep, that's Oprah Winfrey among the bidders during the annual Auction Napa Valley at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena.
The Chronicle/Liz Hafalia
The auction raised $10.35 million, a jump from last year but short of its $10.5 million record in 2005 and not quite at the level of the $14 million raised by the Naples Winter Wine Festival in Florida in January. The ticket prices were $2,500 a piece, just to get in.
Though many attendees had cause for excitement thanks to Oprah Winfrey, whose presence managed to overshadow even headline act Jay Leno.
Robert Mondavi was missed. Mondavi, whose presence often anchored the annual auction, died on May 16. Mondavi's legacy was commemorated with a massive lot that included a dinner for 90 at Copia, the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts, at $10,000 a head prepared by an all-star team of Charlie Trotter, Alice Waters, Julian Serrano, Gary Danko and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, plus wines from nine sponsoring wineries. The lot, which was initially planned as a 95th birthday tribute to Mondavi, raised $860,000.
Modest numbers
It was not the only high-dollar lot of the evening, but this year's numbers were more modest, certainly compared to last year's top single-bidder record of $1.1 million.
The evening's top wine lot, six magnums of Screaming Eagle's debut 1992 vintage, plus a dinner on site at the winery's hush-hush location, still went for $500,000 to Shanghai tech entrepreneur David Liang, who claims a 120,000-bottle cellar. "It's the best wine in the world," said Liang, who won several other lots to become the evening's top bidder, awarding him paddle No. 1 next year.
1. Robert Mondavi Tribute—$840,000
A multi-bidder auction lot to participate in a 95th birthday party for the late Robert Mondavi. Includes a dinner prepared by chefs Charlie Trotter, Alice Waters, Julian Serrano, Gary Danko and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, plus signed and etched bottles from wineries such as Rubicon, Quintessa and Joseph Phelps.
2. Screaming Eagle—$500,000
Six magnums of 1992 Screaming Eagle and dinner at the winery.
3. Frank Family Vineyards and Promise Wine—$480,000
Includes a walk-on role in an episode of Grey's Anatomy, tickets to the star-studded American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement awards in Los Angeles, dinner prepared by Mario Batali, a six-night luxury trip to New Zealand wine country and a collection of wines.
4. Harlan Estate—$340,000
Ten magnums of Harlan Estate from the 1995 vintage through 2004 and dinner for eight at the property.
5. Blackbird Vineyards—$300,000
Includes three 3-liter bottles (2003-2005) of Blackbird Vineyards Bordeaux-style blend, four tickets to the exclusive Chanel fashion show in Paris, accommodations for four in Paris, plus dinner and a tour of Coco Chanel's private apartment.
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