Grape Expectations
Naples Winter Wine Festival will raise millions to benefit Collier kids
To help underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County, the Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious charity auctions, brings together world-renowned vintners and chefs with wine enthusiasts and philanthropists to raise millions of dollars over three days. The gala benefits the Naples Children & Education Foundation, or NCEF, and takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Jan. 29 to 31.
Most of us associate Collier County with a higher standard of living because of Naples; however, statistics show that 15 percent of children in the county live in poverty and 41 percent are in lowincome households. Festival proceeds improve those numbers.
The festival since 2001 has raised more than $135 million for NCEF, which has awarded grants to more than 40 nonprofits that have impacted the lives of more than 200,000 children in Collier County. The festival will be filled with emotional and joyful moments, as guests will have the opportunity to meet children whose lives have been improved through proceeds from previous years.
The festival’s theme, “Great Expectations,” calls for an unforgettable event. Guests can bid on rare collections of some of the world’s most sought-after wines, limited-edition cars (a Rolls-Royce Dawn valued at $400,000), exotic travel experiences and many other unique, valuable items that are not available to the general public. Throughout the three-day event, guests will sip on award-winning wines from 40 wineries in 13 global wine-producing regions in eight countries, and enjoy meals prepared by award-winning chefs from some of the most celebrated restaurants in the United States, including Bill Telepan of New York’s Telepan restaurant, Curtis Duffy of Grace in Chicago, and Rick Tramonto of Restaurant R’evolution in New Orleans. Tickets are limited to 580 guests and start at $10,000 per couple.
To learn more about the event, visit napleswinefestival.com or call 888-837-4919.