It did not take place in February, as it normally does, delayed by California’s pandemic gathering protocols.
But it did take place last Saturday, although with fewer vintners and fewer bidders on hand than normal.
We speak of Premiere Napa Valley, an annual wine auction that helps keep Napa at the forefront of global wine regions, connects growers with winemakers, and helps forge new relationships that pay off in even more exciting wines down the road.
Here’s a look at the 2021 edition of Premiere Napa Valley, by the numbers…
* Number of states represented by bidders — 37.
* Number of countries represented (thanks to an online option added due to the pandemic) — 12.
* Number of bidders attending in person (again, due to pandemic restrictions) — 60.
* Number of wineries contributing lots to the auction — 153.
* Number of lots successfully bid upon — 149, about 50 fewer than usual.
* Total number of bids placed — 3,700.
* Total number of bottles auctioned off — 11,760.
* Average bottle price of successful bids — $227.
* Total amount raised — $2.7 million.
Among the top lots were wines donated by:
* Shafer Vineyards
* A joint lot by Corison Winery, Dyer Vineyard, Gallica and Snowden Vineyards
* Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
* ZD Wines
* Favia
Consumers wanting to get their hands on some of the more expensive wines will face a challenge. The reason: Three of the six highest-priced lots were claimed by wine merchants in the United Kingdom.
