Since 1981, the Napa Valley Vintners have gathered each June to celebrate the valley's wines and raise money for the community that produces them. What began as a regional fundraiser has become, over four decades, the most significant charity wine auction in the world — a three-day event that draws the most serious collectors on the planet and raises millions each year for Napa Valley youth health and wellness programs.
Auction Napa Valley 2026 runs June 4–6 at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, with Honorary Chairs Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi of Darioush Winery. Over three days, more than 100 of Napa's most significant winemakers will pour side by side — access to library wines, vertical tastings, barrel lots, and the winemakers themselves that simply does not exist in any other format.
LXV coordinates weekend packages, vintner dinner seats, and accommodation for members attending Auction Napa Valley. Register your interest below.
The Auction and Its History
Launched by the Napa Valley Vintners in 1981, Auction Napa Valley has raised more than $250 million for community health initiatives since inception — making it one of the most philanthropically significant wine events in the world. The cause is not incidental to the experience. For the winemakers who participate and the collectors who attend, the auction is an expression of the relationship between the valley and the community that sustains it.
The format across three days moves from intimate to grand. Thursday brings winemakers into their own environments — barrel rooms, estate caves, and private dining rooms that guests would otherwise never access. Friday introduces the barrel auction: a rare opportunity to bid on wines that don't yet exist commercially. Saturday brings everyone together at Robert Mondavi Winery for the main event: the live auction and dinner celebration with the valley's finest wines and celebrity chefs.
The Three Days in Detail
Thursday: Vintner-Hosted Barrel Tastings and Winery Dinners
More than 20 winemakers host intimate dinners at their estates throughout the valley. These are not hotel ballroom dinners — they are private evenings in barrel caves, on estate terraces, inside historic stone wineries, and in private residences. The guest lists are small and the access is complete: the winemaker is present, the wines are often not commercially available, and the experience is, for many attendees, the highlight of the entire weekend.
"The winemaker dinners on Thursday evening are, for many attendees, the most memorable part of the weekend — intimate dinners hosted in barrel rooms, caves, and private estate dining rooms across the valley. Seats for the most sought-after estates sell out in hours."
Friday: Napa Valley Barrel Auction
The Barrel Auction is a genuinely unique event in the world of wine. Guests taste wines that are still aging — wines that will not be commercially released for 12 to 24 months — and bid on barrel lots in live auction format. The premiums paid for barrel lots reflect both the quality of the wine and the exclusivity: a buyer who wins a barrel lot from Harlan, Screaming Eagle, or a similarly allocated producer may be receiving wine that no amount of money on the secondary market could otherwise secure.
Saturday: Live Auction and Dinner Celebration
The main event takes place on the grounds of Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville — one of the most important addresses in American wine history. One hundred or more wineries pour simultaneously. Celebrity chefs present dinner courses alongside the finest wines in the valley. The live auction features lots that include large-format collections, private winery experiences, and vertical sets of wines that do not exist anywhere else in commerce.
Auction Weekend Schedule
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thu, Jun 4 | Vintner-Hosted Barrel Tastings & Winery Dinners |
| Fri, Jun 5 | Napa Valley Barrel Auction — Taste Future Vintages |
| Sat, Jun 6 | Live Auction & Dinner Celebration — Robert Mondavi Winery |
Napa Valley in June
Auction weekend falls in early June — the valley is at its most verdant, the vines are setting, and the days are long and warm without the heat extremes of late summer. It is the ideal moment to experience Napa at full expression.
Meadowood Napa Valley has long been the social headquarters of the Napa wine world and the preferred base for auction attendees who want proximity to the valley's estates. Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford offers the valley's most celebrated terrace restaurant with views across the vineyards. The French Laundry in Yountville remains one of the most important restaurants in the country — securing a reservation requires planning months in advance, and LXV can assist.
For those who want to extend the weekend into deeper exploration, the valley rewards it. Harlan Estate, Opus One, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Domaine Carneros, and Schramsberg represent the full breadth of what Napa has produced over the past half century. LXV can arrange private tastings and cellar visits at estates that are otherwise closed to walk-in visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Auction Napa Valley?
The world's most prestigious charity wine auction, held annually since 1981 in the Napa Valley. Over three days, 100+ winemakers pour rare and library wines while bidders compete for lots that often include private winery experiences, large-format bottles, and exclusive vertical collections. All proceeds benefit Napa Valley youth health and wellness programs.
What is the Barrel Auction?
A unique opportunity to taste wines that are still aging in barrel — wines that won't be commercially released for 1–2 years. Bidders compete for barrel lots, often at significant premiums. It's the only way to access certain vintages before they exist.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets go on sale January 2026 through Auction Napa Valley directly. Complete weekend packages, individual day options, and vintner dinner seats are available. LXV can assist with coordination and connections to preferred winery dinners before general availability.
What else is there to do in Napa during auction weekend?
Napa Valley in June is at its most beautiful. Meadowood, Auberge du Soleil, Domaine Carneros, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Harlan Estate, and Opus One are among the possible experiences. The French Laundry remains one of America's most important restaurants. LXV can build the full weekend around the auction.
