2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival Online Auction Exceeds $1 Million

This brings total NWWF online auction proceeds to nearly $6 million since inception in 2015, helping to fulfill the mission of the Naples Children Foundation

The Naples Children Foundation (NCF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), announced that its 12th annual online auction was another success, bringing in more than $1 million. This year’s online auction lots brought in a staggering $742,500 with the balance being directed to Fund a Need. This year’s proceeds bring the total amount raised through the online auction lots to nearly $6 million since its inception in 2015.

The online auction attracted bidders from across the country, giving them the chance to bid on over 100 amazing auction lots, including rare collectible wines, private wine tastings, over-the-top dinners with well-known chefs, exotic vacations, custom art, luxury excursions, sports and more.

This year’s top grossing online auction lot was “An Unforgettable Bahamas Escape at The Abaco Club – Golf, Dining & Island Adventures” sold for $31,000. Three couples will enjoy a five day, four nights’ stay in a private, luxury Bahamas home at The Abaco Club. Brimming with adventure and entertainment, this package features boating, culinary experiences, golf, spa treatments, water sports, cultural experiences and more. Depending upon the time they book, the guests will get the choice of luxurious residences, including Je t’aime, a three-bedroom, three-bath house; Ruff Life, a five-bedroom, four-bath house; Permit Paradise, a four-bedroom, four-and one-half bath house; and Sugar Cay, a six-bedroom, five-and-one-half bath house. Dining and cultural experiences include a welcome Champagne reception and a five-course water view wine dinner curated by an executive chef and sommelier, or a farm tour and farm-to-table dinner experience. Also included are unlimited rounds of golf on The Abaco Club’s championship seaside course, ranked number one in The Bahamas, a private lesson with the resident golf pro and a “meet and greet” and photo with Club Ambassador and Open Champion Darren Clarke. Also included is a private padel/tennis/pickleball clinic with a legendary racquets pro.

Additional online auction highlights included:

• $30,000 for “An Italian Sunday Dinner with the Gargiulos”: This unique experience invites 10 guests to join NCF Trustees Valerie Boyd and Jeff Gargiulo, owners of Gargiulo Vineyards, with a special musical guest for a traditional Italian Sunday dinner featuring fabulous food, wine and music at their private home in Naples. The memorable meal will be personally prepared by the Gargiulos and paired with wines from Jeff’s personal cellar.

• $27,500 for “A Premier Wine and Food Indulgence in the Highlands”: Three couples will travel Roundtrip, Private Air from Naples, Florida to Franklin, North Carolina on a Phenom 300, including catering and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They will enjoy five nights’ accommodations in a five-bedroom home in Highlands, North Carolina with six VIP Weekender tickets to the world-class Highlands Food & Wine Festival from Thursday, November 12, 2026 through Sunday, November 15, 2026.

• $27,000 for “Escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Linville, North Carolina” (sold twice for $13,500 each): Three couples each will enjoy five nights’ accommodations in a Luxury Cottage at Linville Ridge Country Club in Linville, North Carolina. Linville, North Carolina is an exclusive mountain retreat known for its breathtaking views of Grandfather Mountain, luxurious amenities and unparalleled lifestyle with a range of upscale golf and tennis and dining facilities all designed to cater to the most discerning tastes.

• $23,500 for “Fishing in the Florida Keys”: Four guests will travel on a three-day, two-night Key West fishing adventure. The trip begins with Roundtrip, Private Airfare from Naples, Florida to Key West, Florida on a Phenom 300. In Key West, the guests will enjoy two nights’ accommodations at The Galleon Resort & Marina with one day of offshore fishing on a Viking Valhalla 46-foot vessel with an experienced Captain.

• $22,500 for “Bentley Naples + Butcher Private—An Evening of Rare Access”: Ten couples will join Bentley Naples for one of the most extraordinary dining experiences—an exclusive wine-paired dinner at the Butcher Private, Naples’ premier members only club. Access to this renowned North Naples destination is typically reserved for members. For one night, guests will enjoy the full experience: exceptional wine pairings and aged steaks, matured to perfection in the club’s signature Himalayan salt chamber. Each couple also will receive the keys to a magnificent Bentley for two nights—an opportunity to experience open-road luxury and the effortless pleasure of driving through Southwest Florida in style.

• $19,000 for “Sunset Cruise and Dinner at the Home of Kelley & Jim Bailey”: Two couples will experience a private wine-paired dinner at the Port Royal home of NCF Trustees and Knights Bridge Winery proprietors Kelley and Jim Bailey in Naples, Florida. The fun-filled evening includes a sunset boat cruise around Naples Bay aboard a Barton & Gray captained Hinckley yacht accompanied by the Baileys. To remember their experience, the couples will receive four bespoke sport jackets by élevée by Rickey.

• $19,000 for “At Home in Napa with the Gargiulos”: The winning bidder will spend five nights at the private Gargiulo Vineyards guest house of NCF Trustees Valerie Boyd and Jeff Gargiulo and get an up-close and personal view of one of California’s premier wine estates. The guest house features three ensuite bedrooms. During their stay, guests will enjoy a VIP wine tasting followed by lunch at Gargiulo Vineyards with the winery’s owners.

• $17,000 for “A Napa Valley Affair with the Morlet Family”: Three couples will enjoy four nights at the Morlet Estate Hilltop Guest House in Napa Valley, California. During their stay, they will go on a private tour of the historic Morlet Family Winery and Morlet Estate Vineyard. They also will experience a VIP tasting highlighting a selection of wines from the Morlet Family Vineyards portfolio and a private lunch with Jodie, Luc and Claire Morlet showcasing library wines from the family’s private cellar. As a memento, each couple will receive a signed copy of Wine Country Women of Napa Valley. The couples also will share a collection of wines, including one 1.5 Liter 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards Cœur de Vallée Cabernet Sauvignon, one 1.5 Liter 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards Coup de Cœur Chardonnay, one 1.5 Liter 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards Force de la Nature Cabernet Franc, one 1.5 Liter 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards Joli Cœur Pinot Noir, and one 1.5 Liter 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards Passionnément Cabernet Sauvignon.

• $15,000 for “Napa Valley Reserve: Rare Four-Case Private Cellar Vertical”: One lucky winner will take home a rare vertical collection of wine from Napa Valley Reserve, including 12 bottles each of the Napa Valley Reserve 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages. Whether the wines are sampled in a vertical tasting or enjoyed one by one, they represent the achievements of Bob Levy, Michel Rolland and the entire Harlan winemaking team.

Every dollar spent in the online auction helps to fulfill NCF’s mission to significantly improve the educational, emotional and health outcomes of the most vulnerable children in Collier County.

This year marked the 26th anniversary of the NWWF, impacting some of the most effective nonprofit organizations in the local community that have provided 385,000 children with the significant services and resources they need to excel. An extraordinary lineup of the world’s most acclaimed vintners, top celebrity chefs and featured sommeliers hailing from multiple countries set the stage for a weekend of unique, one-of-a-kind wine, travel and culinary experiences.

During the live auction, Festival guests were inspired to bid high and often on 51 unique, one-of-a-kind auction lots, many of which included exceptional wine lots from some of the most revered vineyards across the globe, raising over $30 million for underserved children in Collier County. This brings the total raised by the NWWF to more than $366 million since its inception in 2001.

Using the funds raised from this year’s auction, NCF will award grants to nonprofit organizations and fund strategic initiatives supporting Collier County children in need on March 16, 2026.

For additional information on the Naples Children Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, please contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.

*Please note donations are still coming in and bids are being certified.

About Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in elegant, private homes and other landmark settings throughout Naples and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $366 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Collier County.

About Naples Children Foundation

The Naples Children Foundation (NCF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, creates transformational change and improves educational, emotional and health outcomes for vulnerable children in Collier County. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCF has impacted nearly 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 385,000 children with the services and resources they need to succeed. Through bold investments, collaborative partnerships, and data-driven solutions, NCF supports programs that ensure every child can thrive. NCF’s unique approach, which bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community–one issue at a time.

For additional information on the Naples Children Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, please contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.