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Sip, Savor and Celebrate: The 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival Schedule

A weekend of world-class wines, Michelin-starred chefs and life-changing generosity awaits at Southwest Florida’s premier event.

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Here’s the play-by-play for a weekend of fine wining and Michelin-star dining.

The Vintage Cellar: Pre-Festival Tasting and Luncheon

Thursday, January 23 

Burgundy estate Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair’s founder Louis-Michel Liger-Belair—who serves as the 2025 Honored Vintner with his wife, Constance—hosts a vertical tasting at Bleu Provence moderated by wine critic Antonio Galloni. The event* kicks off the festivities with some of the world’s finest wine.

*Separately ticketed event. Tasting from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Bleu Provence in Naples; resort-casual attire.

Meet the Moderator

At the Thursday morning Vintage Cellar, world-renowned wine critic

Antonio Galloni leads an exclusive tasting and conversation with Burgundy’s renowned Liger-Belair vintner. 

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Antonio Galloni was essentially born into the world of wine. After moving the family to Florida, his parents started selling wines with a focus on Italian producers. In high school, he enthusiastically wrote articles on Burgundy and Bordeaux for French class.

Galloni’s grape-fueled penchant continued through his undergraduate days at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and his graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. When he wasn’t studying jazz composition and guitar at Berklee or working on research papers for his master’s in business at MIT, Galloni would write about wine, laying the foundation for his illustrious career as a critic.

 The entrepreneur launched The Piedmont Report, the first English-language journal dedicated to Italian wine, in 2004. Within weeks, the publication garnered subscribers across more than 25 countries.

In 2006, Galloni joined Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate as its Italian wine critic; by 2013, he was the magazine’s lead critic, with coverage spanning major wine-producing areas in the United States and Europe. That year, Galloni launched Vinous, a multimedia platform—now one of the world’s most respected wine publications—with subscribers based in more than 100 countries.

Galloni has contributed to NWWF for more than a decade, lending his expertise to the festival and the Vintage Cellar tastings and luncheons. Through Galloni’s thoughtful moderation, the gap between legendary vintners and passionate collectors dissolves into shared appreciation, one exceptional pour at a time.

Meet the Kids Day Tour & Luncheon

Friday, January 24 

Begin the extraordinary weekend by witnessing the life-changing impact of NWWF. Get to know the organizations benefiting from NCEF grants and meet the children who have received the resources and services they need to excel. The morning culminates with heartfelt presentations showcasing remarkable success stories made possible by NCEF funding. Following the presentations, meet acclaimed vintners and taste fabulous wines at a luncheon catered by D’Amico’s The Continental in Naples. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; shuttles depart to Artis—Naples from The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, at 8:35 a.m.; resort-casual attire. 

Vintner Dinners

Friday, January 24

Enjoy intimate dinners with award-winning chefs and celebrated vintners hosted at the private homes of NCEF trustees and other elegant settings throughout Naples. Forge lifelong friendships with fellow wine and food enthusiasts during these magical evenings with unparalleled dining experiences.  Times and locations vary; hosts send personal invitations detailing the specific times and attire.

A Look into the Lot Room

Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25

Begin your bidding adventure in the lot room, where you can preview this year’s stellar auction packages, comprised of coveted items donated by the world’s top luxury brands. This is the time to check out the many lavish experiences and exceptional wine parcels, decide which items you can’t live without and discuss bidding strategies with friends.  1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón; resort-casual attire.

2025 Live Auction

Saturday, January 25

Embark on a journey beyond your wildest dreams during the live auction, where you’ll be dazzled by a team of chefs from around the country offering masterpiece menus and sommeliers pouring the world’s rarest wines. Then, you’ll head into the tent for an afternoon of bidding on extraordinary wines, travel packages and one-of-a-kind experiences. As bidders are cheered on and celebrated, featured sommeliers and servers go table to table, pouring wines and dishing gastropub fare as you raise your paddles to support local kids. The energy under the tent is electrifying! 11 a.m. to approx. 5 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón; resort-casual attire.

Wine Down

Saturday, January 25

Celebrate the enormous generosity of the winning bidders and ‘wine down’ with more great food and wines at the after-party. Dance the night away to live music with a band composed of Grammy Award-winning musicians. Following the live auction; at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón; casual attire.

Celebration Brunch

Sunday, January 26

The perfect ending to a perfect weekend: The Sunday Champagne brunch is complete with elegant fare and bubbly, plus plenty of chances to hobnob with the chef, vintner and oenophile friends you’ve made over the weekend. Bid farewell to old and new friends—until next year. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón; resort-casual attire.