2/9/2024 – Saint Helena, CA – Bidding for the 28th annual Premiere Napa Valley wine auction opens today, February 9, 2024, with global participation by way of Sotheby’s. Premiere Napa Valley was the first, and is today, the most renowned wine industry auction and business event in North America, offering one-of-a-kind bottlings from top Napa Valley wineries.
While in person attendance is sold out, registration is still open and members of the wine trade can bid from anywhere in the world on Premiere Napa Valley wines. Those who participate virtually can connect with winemakers in advance of the auction.
Winemakers craft their best and most special wines for Premiere Napa Valley. Lot sizes range from 60 to 240 bottles total, making these Napa Valley’s rarest commercially available wines. The Napa Valley 2022 vintage will make its debut at this year’s auction.
On offer are 166 unique Premiere Napa Valley wine lots; of those 83% are from the 2022 vintage. Bidding begins today and culminates in a live-streaming auction on Saturday, February 24 beginning at 1 p.m.
Nick Pegna, Sotheby’s Global Head of Wine & Spirits, commented: “Some of the world’s greatest and most sought-after wines come from Napa Valley. Premiere Napa Valley exemplifies this with an offering that showcases the highest quality from inspired and innovative winemakers. It is a privilege for Sotheby’s to present these exceptional and rare Napa Valley wines to the international wine trade.”
In advance of the auction, on Tuesday, February 20 at 10 a.m., trade members are invited to join a virtual session exploring Napa Valley’s culture of collaboration and camaraderie moderated by Doug Shafer, strategic advisor for Shafer Vineyards and host of the podcast The Taste with Doug Shafer. Open to all members of the wine trade. Register via Zoom.
Premiere Napa Valley is an opportunity for today’s winemakers to innovate and collaborate on wines. Of note at this year’s auction are 12 joint-winemaker lots.
“Working with multiple winemakers on a Premiere Napa Valley lot is personally and professionally rewarding. It’s a great opportunity to share ideas and learn about one another’s approach. It also makes for a truly unique wine that you can get nowhere else. It’s exciting that so many winemakers are taking the opportunity to work together at this year’s auction,” said Steve Reynolds, owner and winemaker of Reynolds Family Winery.
Premiere Napa Valley wines are tasted at the event straight from the barrel and sold at the Premiere Napa Valley auction as wine futures. Wine trade buyers purchase these wines and make them available to their customers. Wines from the 2024 auction will come to market beginning in October 2024. A listing of those who sell Premiere Napa Valley wines is available at premierenapavalley.com.
Registration for Premiere Napa Valley is open. Interested members of the wine trade may register through Sotheby’s.
About Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $230 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County, and is dedicated to improving diversity and championing inclusivity in its community and in the wine industry. Learn more at napavintners.com.
