The ‘California Gurl’ herself will launch the bidding, and the star chef will be cooking with fire
Photo by: Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Katy Perry performs at a recent concert; this year she’ll light up the stage at Auction Napa Valley.
Are you ready for the perfect storm—of wine, food, Napa vibes and all-star entertainment? The headliners of the 2019 Auction Napa Valley have been announced, and one of the biggest charity wine events in the country is going full red-carpet this year, with singer Katy Perry kicking off the bidding and chef–cookbook author Ayesha Curry serving up fare for attendees after the lots are gaveled off.
The 39th annual Auction Napa Valley also serves as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Napa Valley Vintners, the winery organization that runs the event. Last year’s auction, which featured race-car driver–winemaker Danica Patrick, raised $11 million in live bids and $13.6 million overall for local charities that help community health programs and childhood education efforts, making it the second-biggest charity wine auction in the country. Napa Valley Vintners, through ANV, has donated more than $185 million to such programs in total over the decades.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Katy Perry’s talent and energy add to the excitement of Auction Napa Valley,” said Paula Kornell of Kornell Wine Company and one of 25 past Napa Valley Vintners board chairs co-hosting this year’s event. The charitable work that benefits “the children and families made stronger by Auction Napa Valley proceeds aligns beautifully with Katy’s global philanthropic efforts.”
While always a big-ticket event, ANV, to be held May 30 to June 2 this year, will get an extra injection of pizzazz from Perry, who will perform some favorite hits to fire up the bidding. The multi-multi-platinum singer of “Dark Horse,” “Roar” and, of course, “California Gurls,” was last spotted in this space partying with Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” Champagne, but that was way back when the New York Giants last won the Super Bowl, and she’s clearly found her way back to Cabernet country since.
Curry is a Food Network star and restaurateur, partnering with chef Michael Mina to open International Smoke, a barbecue place in San Francisco; she’ll be cooking over an open fire after the auction with other Mina chefs. Her husband, Steph, of course, is the beloved point guard for Napa’s area NBA team the Golden State (x Silver Oak) Warriors.
This year’s ANV includes a Friday barrel auction at Louis M. Martini winery, vintner dinners at Colgin, Continuum, Dalla Valle, Diamond Creek and more, and the main event: the live auction at Meadowood, home to the a Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning restaurant of the same name. If you want to be dancing through the fires (so to speak) with Perry and Curry, tickets are on sale now.
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