Andy Anderson, right, is congratulated after securing a winning bid at the 2020 Naples Winter Wine Festival auction at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. ERIC STRACHAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, announced that its popular online auction will once again return for this year, allowing supporters from across Southwest Florida and beyond to bid on more than 125 incredible food, wine and virtual experiences, and the opportunity to buy one of only 16 spots in the first annual NCEF Golf Fore Kids Pro-Am.
Since its launch in 2015, the NWWF online auction has provided additional participation opportunities to the local community as well as bidders and supporters nationwide, raising nearly $1.5 million to benefit underprivileged children in Collier County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s NWWF is going virtual and the importance of the online auction is greater than ever.
“After last year’s highly successful 20th anniversary festival, we could never have anticipated the devastating impact of the global health crisis,” said Ann Bain, co-chair of the NWWF Online Auction Committee. “Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our donors, we have been able to assemble some remarkable, one-of-a-kind auction lots, including rare wines, virtual wine tastings, over-the-top dinners, virtual concerts, custom art, luxury sunset cruises, golf and more. Every dollar raised in our online auction supports the mission of the Naples Children & Education Foundation to improve the lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.”
The Naples Children & Education Foundation is the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $212 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. ERIC STRACHAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY
Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $212 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.
Auction lot highlights include:
¦ Emillions Art: A Dario Campanile Commission for You (Lot 700): Emillions Art will welcome the celebrated, world-renowned Italian painter Dario Campanile into one (1) lucky winner’s own home to create a unique commissioned abstract artwork (up to 48” x 60”) for their desired space.
¦ Opus One: A Marriage of Napa & Bordeaux (Lot 106): Six (6) guests will have the opportunity to experience the “Art of the Table” at Opus One Winery, an immersive education in the art of food and wine pairing. The winners also will take home a vertical of Magnums of Opus One from 2013, 2014 and 2015, three vintages that will drink well for years to come.
¦ NCEF Golf Fore Kids Pro-Am Buy- A-Spot (Lot 100): Sixteen (16) lucky golfers will have the chance to play in the exclusive Pro-Am at The Old Collier Golf Club on Wednesday, April 21, hosted by Peter Jacobsen and Bobby Clampett and two additional Pros. This one-of-a kind experience will include a casual lunch and clinic on the driving range, an 18-hole tournament with the pros and a fabulous outdoor dinner with special wines.
¦ Sea Salt: A Cooking Lesson from a Master (Lot 405): Up to ten (10) guests will enjoy an exclusive cooking demonstration with Chef Fabrizio Aiello followed by a delightful Champagne lunch at the award-winning Sea Salt restaurant on Third Street South in Old Naples.
¦ A Hallberg Hangout (Lot 302): A private outdoor BBQ for up to sixteen (16) guests hosted by NCEF Trustees Sharon and Chuck Hallberg with Chef Sebastian Mazzotta awaits this lucky winner. Entertainment will be provided by Nashville music performer Ira Dean & Friends. Wines to be enjoyed at the BBQ include: 4 – 750ml 2011 Peter Michael Clos du Ciel Estate Pinot Noir; 4 – 750ml 2012 Domaine Serene Grace Vineyard Pinot Noir; 4 – 750ml (vintage TBD) Domaine Serene Monogram Pinot Noir; and 4 – 750ml 2013 Peter Michael Le Caprice, Estate Pinot Noir.
¦ Key West: Mile Marker 0 (Lot 600): Four (4) guests will enjoy a three (3) day, two (2) night Key West fishing adventure at The Galleon Resort & Marina, a waterfront property nestled in the heart of Old Town. Guests will fish one (1) day on a Boston Whaler 350 Outrage with an experienced fishing captain. Roundtrip, private airfare from Naples is included on a Phenom 300.
Those interested in participating in the online auction are invited to go to www.nwwfonlineauction.com and bid high and bid often starting on Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 a.m. until Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. (EST).
The 2021 Naples Winter Wine Festival “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” will celebrate the dedicated community of partners who have helped deliver life-changing services to underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. Due to COVID-19, the annual event has been re-engineered to prioritize the health and safety of all NCEF donors, patrons and partners.
A highlight of this year’s festival is a special televised event on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. Courtesy of WINK-TV, this one-hour broadcast will be an opportunity for NCEF to build awareness of the organization and the systems of care it has created to support local children. The program will weave together live and pre-recorded segments offering inspirational success stories, personal stories from parents and beneficiaries, reflections from NCEF Trustees, and the measurable impact NCEF has had in Collier County since the inaugural festival in 2001.
This inspiring broadcast, which will be available for viewing at both WINKTV and at www.NCEFKids.com, will motivate viewers to make pledges of online support to help NCEF fill critical voids in children’s social services. Festival guests who tune in will be especially inspired to bid high and often during the invitation-only Virtual Auction that kicks off right after the program.
For additional information on the Naples Children & Education Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514- 2239. ¦