Napa auction raises record $6m

The Premiere Napa Valley Wines auction raised a record US$6 million at the weekend with both well-established names and up-and-coming producers attracting high prices.

There were over 200 lots of wine from the 2013 vintage created specifically for the sale and sold in barrel as futures and which will eventually be bottled and numbered when released to their new owners.

This year’s total narrowly beat last year’s US$5.9m, which in turn had doubled the previous record of US$3.1m set in 2012.

Trade and private clients were among the top bidders and their attention was on classic brands and rising stars of the region.

Top lots included wines from Chateau Boswell Winery, Fairchild, Gandona Estate, Silver Oak Cellars, Shafer Vineyards and Rombauer Vineyards.

The top lot went to Pritchard’s Hill’s 2013 Brand Napa Valley Double Barrel Elevation 1588 Cabernet Sauvignon, 60 bottles of which were bought for US$115,000.

Emma Swain, vice chairman of the NVV Board of Directors, Premiere Napa Valley chair and CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, said. “The record results speak for the wonderful support of Napa Valley as a world-class growing region.”