Ever wanted to bid on multiple magnums of Screaming Eagle? Now’s your chance. The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), a nonprofit trade association that supports the local wine industry, launched its inaugural Napa Valley Library Wine Auction last week, offering collectors top-shelf wines spanning six decades. Bidding concludes Feb. 20.
“It’s hard to say this isn’t the most comprehensive collection of library wines from Napa Valley ever put up for auction,” said NVV director of communications Teresa Wall. “One of the unique concepts of this auction is that the wines will be delivered to the customer directly from the winery, meaning the wines have been cellared in the most pristine conditions.”
The sale, coordinated with Zachys in order to reach more consumers, is already seeing high bids. Some of the most expensive lots from the 100 exclusive offers include three magnums of 2015 Screaming Eagle, a vertical of Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet spanning 2000 to 2014, five magnums of Harlan Estate, five magnums of Bond and five imperials (6-liter bottles) of Opus One. Most of the current bids for these are over $10,000; some more than $20,000.
Unlike NVV’s 2020 ”Open the Cellar” sale, this year’s auction includes virtual winemaker discussions. The five “Napa Valley Sessions” cover Napa’s AVAs, varieties, traditions and more.
According to NVV, this auction is not a replacement for the canceled Auction Napa Valley, but a new endeavor to raise funds for the organization and the charities it supports.
“We do intend to come back with a replacement for Auction Napa Valley,” said NVV vice president of marketing Stacey Dolan Capitani. “Our goal is to create a completely new endeavor that will reach a broader audience while making a difference in our community.”
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