In Napa Valley, the tradition of generosity runs as deep as the wine. It’s a community that puts as much into giving back as it does to growing grapes and making wine.
The spirit of giving is evident through the long-running and highly anticipated Auction Weekend, a community endeavor born in 1981 through a shared desire to give back.
Leading the charge, Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has been an enduring philanthropic group within the Napa Valley community. From the start, the mission of the organization has been to “promote, protect and enhance Napa Valley.” This mission embodies why visionary leaders created an event that would not only raise funds for a network of nonprofit partners but would also bring together and truly embody what Napa Valley is all about: community.
Auction Weekend—a series of celebrations including Barrel Auction and Auction Napa Valley—brings together vintners, collectors and wine enthusiasts from around the world for unparalleled wine experiences and lively bidding. What began as a modest fundraiser evolved into one of the most prestigious wine auctions in the world. Since its inception, NVV has invested more than $230 million in local healthcare, youth and education programs.
Evolving to keep the efforts going beyond Auction Weekend, NVV created Collective Napa Valley—a philanthropic program offering multiple opportunities for guests to get involved throughout the year. Here, the motto of “great wines, good causes” rings true.
Looking back at 40 years of giving, one can see the significant impact that NVV’s philanthropy has had on the community. One such example is the deep investment made in OLE Health (now known as CommuniCare+OLE), the only nonprofit community health center serving Napa County. In all, NVV’s support of OLE totals more than $60 million. This has had a considerable impact on the community, as one in four Napa Valley residents rely on these services each year.
“NVV was a huge part of the history of our organization, helping us close funding gaps early in our history to remain operational and later helping us to establish a permanent home for our work in Napa. With the late John Shafer [founder of Shafer Vineyards], they spurred efforts to build our first permanent health center, the Napa Valley Vintners North Napa Campus on Pear Tree Lane, which remains our busiest health center today,” notes Alicia Hardy, CEO of CommuniCare+OLE.
The 2024 Auction Weekend raised $4.8 million, with proceeds directed to youth mental health. Monies given will help ensure every school-age child in Napa County has access to affordable, quality mental health services and will provide caregivers tools to recognize mental health issues in children for early intervention.
“The generosity of the wineries in Napa Valley knows no bounds,” says Cyril Chappellet, CEO and chairman of Chappellet Vineyard. “We have a level of giving that is unrivaled.”
If you’ve spent any time in Napa Valley, you’ve likely felt this generosity of spirit coupled with its welcoming hospitality. And while many would say the heart of Napa Valley is the wine, the true essence is its people.
“Napa is a small community with a big heart. We believe in taking care of this special place with the same devotion we give to our vines and our wines,” says Donna J. Walker, proprietor and owner of Pulido~Walker Estate Vineyard and Winery. “We are so thankful that wine enthusiasts from around the world share our love of Napa Valley and come together to generously support our community.”
