Auction Napa Valley 

Auction Napa Valley is the kind of weekend that earns its own line in the calendar. Every June, collectors and winemakers descend on the valley for three days of barrel tastings, private estate dinners, and some of the most competitive live bidding in the wine world, all in the name of a genuinely good cause. 

What Is Auction Napa Valley? 

Organized by the Napa Valley Vintners, this annual Napa Valley Wine Auction has directed tens of millions of dollars toward health and wellness programs for local youth. It started in 1981 and has since become a fixture on the global wine calendar: the event where provenance meets philanthropy, and where a single lot number can command a room. 

Signature Events & Experiences 

Thursday and Friday open with vintner-hosted dinners at private estates: intimate evenings where the guest list is small and the pours are generous. Friday's Napa Valley Barrel Auction is something authentically rare: a chance to taste futures alongside the winemakers who made them, in the company of over 100 producers.  

Saturday's Live Auction draws the crowd, with seldom‑seen wine lots going under the hammer before a formal dinner, now a Napa Valley tradition. 

When to Go & How to Attend 

Auction Napa Valley takes place every summer, with the 2026 event running June 4-6. Tickets are sold as full weekend packages or individual Napa Valley barrel auction day passes, with VIP options for a more curated experience. It sells out, so book well ahead. 

Where to Stay & How to Get Around 

Downtown Napa is the practical choice: close to the action and well-connected to the valley's restaurants and wineries. Yountville and St. Helena are each worth the short drive if you'd prefer more seclusion, while Calistoga offers a laid-back, wellness-focused setting known for its geothermal hot springs, spa culture, and easygoing charm.  

Check out where to stay to find the right fit and sort out transport before you arrive. Pro tip, a private driver makes the weekend considerably easier. 

The earlier you plan, the better your Auction Napa Valley weekend looks. Browse the full events calendar for what else is on in the valley and explore things to do beyond the auction itself.  

Book your spot early; this one doesn't wait!