Naples Winter Wine Festival’s online auction pairs with community partners to offer insidery experiences at regional institutions. Since its inception, the online auction has raised more than $2 million for Collier County kids.
SLIP AWAY TO SONOMA
Make your way to Sonoma County’s Knights Bridge Winery for a VIP winery and cave tour for up to six people. Peruse the new state-of-the-art facility and cave, pausing for an exclusive barrel tasting. You’ll be among the first to sample the not-yet-bottled Draco Dormiere before taking a seat for an intimate, guided tasting in the art-lined salon. The winner and their guests then linger over an alfresco lunch in the olive grove at the private residence of Knights Bridge owners Kelley and Jim Bailey. The private chef prepares a meal of fresh, seasonal and local ingredients paired with library vintages. Once you’re home, you can savor the experience with a magnum of the 2007 Knights Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, a souvenir of your time in wine country.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Sure, you’ve heard of a night at the museum, but how about a private dinner at the zoo? The winning bidder and five guests dine with the president and CEO of Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Jack Mulvena, before throwing on a pair of night vision goggles for a personal tour along the paved paths of the 43-acre conservation zoo and historic botanical garden. The tour gets you up close and personal with some of the animals. Continue exploring the zoo for the next year with a membership (one per couple) that includes complimentary admission to the Conservation Lecture Series and discounts on Camp WILD for kids.
FEAST ITALIAN-STYLE
Italy is the land of trattorie, beloved for casual, family-style dining. Barbatella, in Old Naples, embraces this rustic, regionally defined cuisine that centers on tradition over trends. For those who had to cancel international trips this year, Barbatella brings a taste of the Italian spirit to Naples with a multicourse, family-style dinner with wine pairings from their celebrated cellar for the winner and up to 19 friends. Eat your way through the restaurant’s star dishes, from antipasto platters to wood-fired pizzas to short rib ravioli, before ending with desserts, like Sicilian cannoli and a traditional grandmother’s cake.
SAIL INTO SUNSET
We know there are few better ways to experience Naples than by being on the water. That’s why one lucky winner takes nine friends on a three-hour sunset cruise aboard a 76-foot Sunseeker Tempus Fugit motor yacht. The trip is courtesy Exclusive Yachts, a by-invitation-only membership company, known for its on-demand experiences in some of the world’s dreamiest locales. Three top-tier crew members greet you and your guests with a welcome reception of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and hors d’oeuvres before you set out from the Naples City Dock for a personalized party and cruise.
Golf Course
GOLF WITH THE PROS
Add in your $10,000 bid for the chance to putt alongside the pros at NCEF’s third-annual Golf Fore Kids Pro-Am 18-hole tournament, which takes place at The Old Collier Golf Club this spring. Start the day with a casual lunch and golf clinic on the driving range before hitting the course and celebrating your (Fingers crossed!) victory with dinner, served alongside a stellar selection of wines. Not only does your bid buy you a coveted place at the tournament, you’ll also be able to share the evening with a guest.
Don’t miss your chance to bid on these stellar lots at nwwfonlineauction.com from January 27 to February 7.