Napa Valley Vintners Present: Premiere Napa Valley | Unique Cuvées Only | Trade Access Only
Live Auction: 21 February 2026 • 1:00 PM PST • Napa

Napa Valley Vintners Present: Premiere Napa Valley | Unique Cuvées Only | Trade Access Only 21 February 2026 • 1:00 PM PST • Napa

P remiere Napa Valley wines are one-of-a-kind, limited-edition bottles, specially created and curated to be offered at an annual auction. This sale is open to licensed members of the wine trade only, who in turn can make these unique bottles available to their customers and collectors around the world. This auction is being conducted under a license issued to Napa Valley Vintners, who is acting as the Seller of record, powered via Sotheby’s bidding platform. Note that these wines are being offered while still in barrel, and release dates can be found with each lot description.

Bidding for licensed members of the trade will open on Friday, February 06 at 12:01 AM PST, and close live streamed on Saturday, February 21 at 1:00 PM PST in Napa.

Throughout the week leading up to Premiere Napa Valley, Napa Valley Vintners in conjunction with participating wineries will host an array of tastings, both virtually and in person, for licensed members of the trade to attend.

For registration details to participate and event schedule, please visit Premiere Napa Valley’s website. 

Proceeds from the sale will benefit programs to promote, protect and enhance Napa Valley. Please note that, for each lot, an 8% Auction fee will be applied to the hammer price.

Premiere Napa Valley Wines

Collectable, Creative and Incomparable

Premiere Napa Valley bottlings represent a micro-lot of wines. In the pursuit of expressing the story they want to tell, the winemaker is allowed to narrow their focus, ensuring that the greatest attention to detail is paid to the creation of the wine, every step of the way. The wines push the limits of creative experimentation and are the encapsulation of a sense of perfection.

Though reminiscent of how Hospices de Beaune wines are produced, the process is uniquely American. The winemakers take a gloves-off approach, often using varieties they may not bottle as a stand-alone, or perhaps a noted white-wine-only house producing a red wine. These wines showcase Napa Valley's sense of exploration in fine winemaking.

Participating in Premiere Napa Valley | Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Premiere Napa Valley Week?
    Premiere Napa Valley Week is a week of tastings and educational sessions for members of the trade only, culminating with Premiere Napa Valley auction at The Culinary Institute of America, in St. Helena. Proceeds from the sale will benefit programs to promote, protect and enhance Napa Valley.
  • Who can bid in the auction?
    These auctions are open to licensed members of the wine trade only, who in turn can make these unique bottles available to their customers and collectors around the world.
  • How do I register for online bidding?
    Bidders must register with Sotheby's to bid online. For clients who already have a Trade Account set up with Sotheby’s but need to update their license on file, please login to your Sotheby’ss Trade Account to register for the sale. Once registered, please email the Sotheby’s Bids team your updated license to bids.newyork@sothebys.com .

    For new clients, An Individual Account will be required before a Trade Account can be created. To create an Individual Account, please navigate to Sothebys.com and click ‘Log In’ at the top of the page. At the bottom you will see ‘Sign Up’; please click on it and complete the needed steps.

    Once the Individual Account has been created, the following information should be sent to the Sotheby’s Bids team at bids.newyork@sothebys.com :

    - Company Name
    - Mailing Address
    - Primary Telephone Number
    - Primary Email
    - Current form of Company ID (Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Authorization or any other Government-Issued Corporate Documents)
    - Resale certificate and a license issued by the local government if in the US. If outside the US, please provide a license issued by the corresponding local government.

    Once all documents are received by the Sotheby’s Bids team they will confirm the creation of the Trade Account and confirm registration to the auction.
  • How do I register for in-person bidding?
    Bidders must register with Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) for in-person bidding, limited to two tickets per account ($500 for each ticket). Confirmed members of the wine trade are welcome to attend their selection of various invite-only tasting events happening around the valley.
  • How much will I pay in total?
    Winning bidders are responsible for paying the full purchase price of a lot. On top of the hammer price, the full purchase price includes an Auction Fee, set at 8% of the hammer price and any applicable VAT or sales tax. Sales tax will not be charged to US accounts with a valid resale certificate and current liquor license.
  • How do I pay for my purchase?
    Napa Valley Vintners will send an invoice to successful bidders following the close of the auction. The final amount due will be the full purchase price which includes the hammer price, Auction Fee and any applicable VAT or sales tax. Any applicable sales tax will be applied to the full purchase price. Buyers may pay via credit card issued to the registered trade account, or via check/ wire transfer from bank account in the name of the registered trade account. Note, the credit card used for account creation for Online Bidding on Sotheby's website is not stored for payment purposes.
  • How do I receive my wine?
    After the auction, the barrels will continue to mature at the wineries. Release dates for wines can be found with each lot description.

    Once bottled, wines can be collected from the winery in Napa Valley or shipping arrangements can be made. Wineries will reach out to make arrangements directly with the buyer. Winery contact information will also be provided to buyers after the auction.

    All lots are sold FOB Napa County, California. Shipping arrangements, expenses, insurance and domestic/ international compliance requirements are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
  • How do I participate in the sample program?
    Both in-person and Sotheby’s online registered bidders are eligible to receive complimentary wine samples of selected auction lots. Registered bidders are responsible for making shipping arranges and the cost of wine shipping. For more information, please contact tradeconcierge@napavintners.com
  • Who do I contact? 
    For assistance with Sotheby’s online bidding and registration, please contact:

    +1 212 606 7414
    bidsnewyork@sothebys.com

    For assistance with in-person bidding and registration, please contact:
    Trade Concierge
    +1 707 363 8048
    tradeconcierge@napavintners.com

    For all enquiries please contact:

    Richard Young
    VP, Head of Auction Sales, Americas
    New York
    +1 212 606 7050
    Richard.Young@sothebys.com

    Wei-Ling Carrigan
    Sales Manager
    New York
    +1 212 606 7050
    Wei-Ling.Carrigan@sothebys.com
  • Who are the Napa Valley Vintners?
    The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $230 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County, and is dedicated to improving diversity and championing inclusivity in its community and in the wine industry. Learn more at napavintners.com .

About the Napa Valley Vintners

The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $230 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County, and is dedicated to improving diversity and championing inclusivity in its community and in the wine industry. Learn more at napavintners.com.

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