Bulgari, Ornellaia, Casanova di Neri and Frescobaldi: the top lots at the Napa Valley Auction

The 2019 edition of the Napa Valley Auction had a definitely Italian taste. It is one of the biggest “charity” events in the wine world, organized by the Napa Valley Vintners, which since 1981 has collected over 185 million dollars in proceeds marked for the benefit of social projects on the Californian territory. The top lot of the new edition that raised 12 million US dollars (the famous pop star Katy Perry was one of the many guests, in the photo), was the one offered by the Continuum Estate, the company Cesare Mondavi founded in 1919, which sold for a whopping 530.000 US dollars, bought by Lynn and James Grehl. In addition to 10 bottles of Napa Valley wine, the lot includes a 9-day tour of the attractions and flavors of Italy and Tuscany, particularly private visits to the Sistine Chapel and the Uffizi Gallery, as well as many others, but also private dinners and tastings in wineries such as Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino brands (together with Giacomo Neri), Giovanni Bulgari's Podernuovo Estate in Palazzone, a helicopter tour and a tasting in the Tenuta Ornellaia winery in Bolgheri, including dinner at the starred restaurant La Pineta in Marina di Bibbona by Daniele and Andrea Zazzeri. Further, there are tasting visits at the Frescobaldi family’s wineries such as Castello di Nipozzano, historical company in Chianti Rufina, and Castelgiocondo e Luce, in Montalcino, ending with a dinner as guests at Lamberto Frescobaldi’s home, as well as a tour in the Brunello area with Tim or Carissa Mondavi. A dream wine journey that every wine enthusiast would love.