Napa Vintners Take Charity Fundraising Global

ST HELENA, Calif., May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual community fundraiser known as Auction Napa Valley, hosted by the 400 member wineries of the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association, has led the business of charity wine auctions since its inception in 1981.  This year the group continues to raise the bar with innovative initiatives to encourage global participation in raising funds for charity programs with its online E-Auction.

"We like to say you can have a virtual Napa Valley experience from wherever you are in the world—you could bid in your pajamas if you want to," said Andy Schweiger of Schweiger Vineyards, who leads the online component of Auction Napa Valley this year. "We look forward to bringing these great wines and wine experiences to Napa Valley wine lovers around the world.  We have put together some incredible offerings in more than 150 lots.  It's a never-before-seen, really amazing global outreach that brings together the best of Napa Valley—and all for great causes that support healthcare, youth services and affordable housing non-profit programs."

Lots donated by member wineries in Napa Valley range from small offerings of wine to large collections of wine ideal for cellar building.  There are vintner-hosted outings and more—even walk-on roles on popular television shows that are packaged with the appellation's wines in efforts to entice wine lovers from across the country and around the world to bid.  

Lots are available for preview now at www.napavintners.com/anv with bidding beginning on Sunday, May 29 at 8am and continuing until Sunday, June 5, at 6pm Pacific Daylight Time, when lots will close and winning bidders will be notified.

Online bidders will duel with onsite attendees in Napa Valley from Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5.  At the rousing Auction festivities in Napa Valley, bidders will be able to snap QR codes to access information on the various offerings from their mobile devices.  The website listings show icons that denote wines that are in large-format bottles, offerings from multiple wineries, wines in vertical collections, those with special events included and more.

"I don't know of any charity wine auction that engages the wine-loving community so broadly," said Linda Reiff, NVV executive director. "The discussion on social media has been fantastic and the excitement is gaining momentum every day."

"This is our chance to take this venerable charity auction to the next level.  It's already the most successful in the world having given $97 million to date and we continue to look for avenues to enhance our fundraising.  This online auction draws on the national and international renown of our wines to build our bidder base to help these charities that need the Vintners' support, now more than ever," said Reiff.

Auction Napa Valley is in its 31st year, being held June 2-5, 2011 with the Rombauer Family of Rombauer Vineyards as Honorary Chairs.

About Auction Napa Valley

Auction Napa Valley, hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners, is the most successful charity wine auction in the world and to date has given nearly $97 million to scores of non-profit programs. The annual auction was founded in 1981 under the vision of Robert and Margrit Mondavi.

About the Napa Valley Vintners

The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. The NVV represents 400 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. Learn more at www.NapaVintners.com.

SOURCE Napa Valley Vintners