$33 million raised at 2024's record-breaking Naples Winter Wine Festival

Copious wine, food and fun set the tone for Naples Winter Wine Festival’s 24th annual auction on Saturday at The Ritz-Carlton, Tiburon.

A veritable who’s who of world-class vintners, celebrity chefs and the names to know in Naples were all spotted under the tents.

The first famous gent spotted was Ray Isle, “Food & Wine” magazine’s executive wine editor and author of the new book “The World in a Wine Glass.”

Doing double duty as a guest of Knights Bridge’s vintner Kelley Bailey, he’s also part of the Festival’s online auction, teaming with actor Kyle MacLachlan on lot 302’s dinner at Kolomon in New York City.

The package is a four-course wine-pairing dinner prepared by participating Festival chef Markus Gloker.

The wines? From Isle’s famous cellar plus vintages from the “Sex and the City” star’s Pursued by Bear winery.

That lot is currently at $3,700, but there’s still time for readers to bid because the online auction closes Tuesday at 5 p.m.

The buzz

Skipping last year’s event, well-known philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker (The Baker Museum, Downtown Baker Hospital) were also in the crowd this year, supporting their friends ‒ and 2024 Festival chairs ‒ Shelly and Ralph Stayer.

Noting the weather day after weeks of rain and chilly temperatures, “The beautiful day is a blessing but people’s generosity is a bigger blessing,” said Patty Baker.

Did they have their eye on any auction lots?

Indeed, but they laughed and wouldn’t share which, adding they might go in on a lot with a few friends.

This reporter suspects that lot was number 29: a week for 12 people cruising the Mediterranean aboard former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s 312-foot superyacht M/Y Whisper with a crew of 27 attending to every need.

“I hope they break a record. It's an incredible cause,” Jay Baker said.

This lot was donated by Naples resident/Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan when the boat was his and known as ‘Kismet’; Khan insisted the donation be honored as a condition of the sale.

While the auctioneers raised most lot increments by $10,000 with each successive bidder, this lot's increments were $100,000.

The Khans, Bakers and Stayers sat together during the auction, and Ralph Stayer won with a bid of $2.7 million, breaking a record $2 million for a single lot featuring a Rolls Royce Phantom in 2007.

A cause close to home

Each year, the Naples Children & Education Foundation stages the NWWF. All funds raised are directed toward nonprofits addressing services that support Collier County’s underprivileged children.

First-time participating winemaker Clay Mauritson is no stranger to charitable events that support children.

However, he said his “expectations were blown out of the water,” at the Naples Winter Wine Fest.

Mauritson’s family has a long history of farming grapes in Sonoma. He is the sixth generation, but the first to craft wine from his family’s vineyards. Zinfandel is his forte.

Mauritson and wife Carrie’s first child was born with Down Syndrome. At the time, there were lots of stigmas associated with the diagnosis, and they struggled to find support.

So they took action: 13 years ago, Mauritson partnered with longtime friend and James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer to form Project Zin, a charity event dedicated to providing services and support for children with Down Syndrome. The event features wine and auction lots from some of the finest Zinfandel producers in California. In September, the annual event raised a total of $350,000.

His NWWF auction lot, featuring winemaking in Napa and skiing in Vail, brought in $400,000.

“After getting to meet the different nonprofits and seeing where that money goes, you truly want to raise more money for these incredible charities, so there is a lot of pressure,” he said.

About his inaugural NWWF appearance, Mauritson said, “I think wine charities are the ultimate because you have people that love wine and people that are philanthropic, two things that are so dear to my heart. It is the perfect marriage.”

But the main reason he traveled cross country to participate in this year’s event is, “Anytime you can help underprivileged kids, it’s the right thing to do.”

Next-gen trustees

Ashley and Adam Gerry earned a promotion of sorts this year from “Tastevin” status to trustees.

What’s a tastevin? The cup sommeliers use to taste wines before pouring.

Mr. Gerry explained that successful bidders over the $100,000 mark are given a tastevin and joked that he uses his to collect his tears when auction lot winners must pay up.

This is the couple's first year serving as trustees, and it’s a 10-year term. The parents of five consider the post an honor and privilege.

What did they most look forward to?

“There's a lot of excitement and energy this year, and it's going to be exciting to see if we're able to surpass last year's record.”

In 2023, the auction raised nearly $26 million. Through its 2001 debut, approximately $269 has been raised. The estimated grand total will be announced on Jan. 28.

“We're eager to help the children of Collier County and raise enough money to make a positive impact on their lives,” he said.

Writer and radio personality Gina Birch contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Winter Wine Festival's record-breaking auction benefits kids