Page 84 - Life In Naples March 2022 Flipbook

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he 22 annual Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF)
“Rise Up: Twenty Twenty Twogether” with an amazing
Naples T at the Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. When the
live auction, hitting a record of more than $23 million for
underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. This brings
the total amount raised by the NWWF to nearly $245 million since
Winter its inception in 2001.
Festival attendees came together under the big tent just outside
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort to bid on 43 unique, one-of-a-kind
Wine auction lots, many of which included exceptional wine lots from
some of the most revered vineyards across the globe. All proceeds
support more than 50 of the most
Festival effective nonprofit organizations in
the community and provide more
than 275,000 local children with the
services and resources they need to
Hits excel.
This year’s top luxury auction lot
was the “Million Dollar Meal: All for
a Record of the Kids,” which sold for $1 million.
Forty lucky couples contributed
More Than $25,000 each for the chance to partake
in the first “Million Dollar Meal” at Bleu Provence in Naples in
$23 Million November 2022. After an intimate cocktail and wine reception, a
fabulous multi-course meal will be prepared by executive chef and
owner, Lysielle Cariot. Each course will highlight one of NCEF’s
initiatives and will be paired with the finest wines carefully selected
by Lysielle’s husband and co-owner, Jacques Cariot.
Additionally, three rare automobiles - the very first 2022
Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner delivered to North America with
a VIP tour of the English and Scottish countryside; a brand new
2021 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG Wagon with a Diamond White
Metallic exterior and Espresso Brown interior; and a 2021 First
Edition Ford Bronco complimented with Magnums from each
of the participating 2022 NWWF vintners - went for $680,000,
$600,000 and $280,000 respectively.
On-the-spot donations supporting this year’s Fund a Need,
“Raise the Grade,” brought in contributions of more than $4
million to support NCEF’s education initiatives for underserved
children, including Early Learning, Out-of-School Time, and
Career and College Readiness.
Additional live auction highlights included:
“Miracle on the Adriatic” for $950,000 - Five couples will
travel round trip, private air for a once-in-a-lifetime, eight-night
adventure by air, land and sea through Croatia. Guests will spend
four nights, divided between the beginning and end of the trip,
aboard the 201-foot superyacht Katharine with 16 crew members
attending to their every need. In between, they will spend four
nights at the 5-star Relais & Châteaux Korta Katarina Villa and
Winery. They also will explore the remote islands and hidden
harbors of Croatia like Trogir, Hvar, Polače and Sveta Marija while
enjoying the very best in food, wine and hospitality.
“A Day at the Races” for $750,000 (doubled for $1.5 million) -
Three couples will be treated like kings and queens during a 6-night
Royal Ascot experience on Friday, June 10 to Thursday, June 16,
2022. First, they will spend two nights at the Mandarin Oriental
in Knightsbridge and indulge in the city’s high points: private
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84 Life in Naples | March 2022 Life in Naples | March 2022
shopping at Harrods, a tour of the Queen’s Household Cavalry for $600,000 – Four couples will
“When Rêves Become Reality”
Barracks, dining at the most exclusive London clubs and a meal
spend five nights at Cuvée’s new villa,
bugle sounds for the races, they will be seated in Barbara Banke’s
Vue de Rêves (View of Dreams), a
private box in the Royal Enclosure. Guests will take home four
private, ocean-hugging masterpiece
Salmanazar bottles of wine from Lokoya’s 2018 vintage: one each in St. Barths with panoramic views and
exquisite design. With five Master en-
of Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder
and Spring Mountain.
suites on four different levels, the villa features
(doubled for $1.16 million) – Two couples will take a six-night thoughtful details and amenities, such as a wine cave carved
“In the Footsteps of the Antinori Family” for $580,000
into natural stone, a fire-meets-water infinity pool terrace and
Italian excursion to visit the Antinori family estate. The journey
imported French fixtures. Guests will enjoy round trip, private air
via Flexjet from Naples to St. Barths. Activities include a private
will begin with two nights’ accommodations in apartment suites
in Florence at Palazzo Antinori, with dinners, lunch and a tour catamaran cruise with private chef, a private cooking lesson at
of the Uffizi Museum. They then continue to the heart of Chianti
Eden Rock’s prestigious culinary school and an in-villa dinner
Classico for a two-night stay at Tenuta Tignanello, home of the
prepared by Cuvée’s private chef.
The 2022 NWWF kicked off with an exclusive Grand Crew
vineyards for both Tignanello and Solaia. Tours and tastings Party hosted at Campiello in historic Old Naples. This year, the
are included and dinner at the Michelin-starred Osteria di
Festival honored James Beard Foundation Award winner Nancy
Passignano. The couples then will travel via helicopter to Bolgheri
on the Tuscan coast for a visit to the estate of Guado al Tasso Oakes, Executive Chef/Owner of Boulevard Restaurant in San
for one evening. The trip concludes with another helicopter ride
Francisco, as its Chef de Cuisine. Also celebrated were nearly a
to Umbria plus a tour, tasting and dinner at Castello della Sala. dozen long-time Legacy Vintners who have contributed so much
toward the success of the Festival since the its inception in 2001.
The winning bidders will take home three Double Magnums of
On Friday, Festival attendees got the chance to witness first-
Tignanello (one each: 2011, 2015 and 2017) and three Magnums
of Guado of Tasso Bolgheri Superiore DOC (one each: 2012, hand the life-changing impact of the NWWF at the annual “Meet
2014 and 2018).
the Kids Day.” The morning culminated in heartfelt presentations
“From the Farm to the Vineyard” for $1.05 million (sold showcasing remarkable success stories that NCEF’s grants have
twice for $550,000 and $500,000) – Three couples will split made possible, followed by a delicious luncheon highlighting
their time between Tennessee’s legendary Smoky Mountains fabulous wines presented by acclaimed vintners.
and Napa Valley. They will fly private from Naples to Tennessee The night before Saturday’s Live Auction, nearly 20 celebrity
on a Phenom 300 and spend three nights at Blackberry Farm, chefs, 20 world-renowned vintners and 17 of the world’s elite
sampling their remarkable range of culinary offerings. The trip will Master Sommeliers paired off to prepare exquisite, intimate
be highlighted by dinner with Staglin Family Vineyard President dinners at the stunning local homes of Festival Trustees and some
Shannon Staglin and her husband Artie Johnson in the wine of Naples’ most iconic destinations.
cellar at The Barn prepared by executive chef Cassidee Dabney. Using the funds raised from this year’s auction, NCEF will
Then, they will move onto Blackberry Mountain for two nights award grants to local organizations and fund strategic initiatives
in Stone Cottages, filling their days with yoga, hiking, biking and supporting Collier County children in need on March 14, 2022.
nature, before flying back to Naples. At a separate time, they will
About Naples Winter Wine Festival
enjoy three days of insider experiences at Staglin Family Vineyard The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world's most prestigious
in Napa, including a private cooking class with the estate chef, a charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests
component blending trial led by winemaker Fredrik Johansson and enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and
a dinner at the Staglin Family home hosted by Shannon and Artie. are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during
Each couple will take home an etched 3-Liter bottle of 2015 an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the Festival
has raised nearly $245 million, making a profound difference in the lives of
Staglin Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon along with a case of
hundreds of thousands of children.
their personal Cabernet blend.
About Naples Children & Education Foundation
“Party Like a Rock Star, Eat and Drink Like Kings” for The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding
$650,000 - Three couples will fly round trip, private air via VistaJet organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the
to Napa Valley for five nights with Valerie Boyd and Jeff Gargiulo educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk
of Gargiulo Vineyards at the annual BottleRock Festival in children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has
impacted more than 50 of the most effective nonprofits in the community,
either 2022 or 2023. They will enjoy a VIP dinner and concert at
providing over 275,000 children with the services and resources they need
Gargiulo Vineyards with a BottleRock performer, three days of
to excel. NCEF's unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between
Platinum passes for the festival, including access to the Platinum
organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint
Lounge and dinner at Thomas Keller’s 3-starred Michelin for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.
restaurant The French Laundry. Each couple will take home a For additional information on the Naples Children & Education
custom Taylor guitar as well as the following Gargiulo Vineyards Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@
Cabernet Sauvignon Magnums from the 2018 vintage: 575 OVX, napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.
OVX G Major 7 and Money Road Ranch.
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