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Naples Winter Wine Festival raised US$30m for children’s charities

12 February 2026 By Sophie Arundel

A Rare Champagne auction lot fetched $350,000 at the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contributing to a record-breaking $30m raised for children’s charities.

Rare Champagne played a role in raising more than $30 million at the 26th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, held on 31 January at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. The total takes the festival’s fundraising to more than $366 million since its launch in 2001.

This year marked the third consecutive year that Rare Champagne has taken part in the event, which supports children in need through the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF).

$350,000 winning bid

Auction Lot 2, titled In the Footsteps of a Queen with Rare Champagne, achieved a winning bid of $350,000 during the live auction.

The experience includes six nights in France, split between Paris and Reims. In Paris, guests will receive a private visit to the Palace of Versailles, including access to Queen Marie Antoinette’s private apartment, as well as a visit to fine jewellery boutique Maison Mellerio, the oldest and last family-owned jewellery house in France.

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The group will then travel to Reims for three nights, where they will take part in a VIP vineyard and cellar tour hosted by Rare Champagne chef de cave Émilien Boutillat, followed by a tasting. The itinerary also includes a visit to Reims Cathedral and accommodation at the restored Résidence Eisenhower, where guests will enjoy a multi-course, wine-paired dinner featuring a vertical tasting of Rare Champagne vintages from 1985 to 2015.

Each couple will also receive magnums of Rare Millésime 2008 and Rare Rosé Millésime 2014 to take home.

Supporting children in need

“At Rare Champagne, we honour the patience of time and the artistry of nature in every bottle. To see our cuvées play a part in the remarkable generosity of the Naples Winter Wine Festival is deeply rewarding. It is a privilege to support an event that celebrates excellence and champions the next generation,” said Maud Rabin, directrice of Rare Champagne.

To date, Rare Champagne has raised $1,580,000 for the Naples Winter Wine Festival’s charity partners.

Funds raised from this year’s Rare Champagne auction lot will be used by NCEF to award grants to local organisations and to fund strategic initiatives supporting children in need in Collier County, with grants set to be awarded on 16 March 2025.

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