Benefiting The Naples Children Foundation, The 26th Annual Three-Day Event Dazzles
THE SCENE: Over the course of one epic weekend, more than 660 wine lovers, children’s advocates, sociables, and philanthropists from around the country gathered in Naples, Florida, to support one of the nation’s most successful and impactful fundraising events. These patrons were on hand for the 26th Annual Naples Winter Wine Festival. Benefiting the Naples Children Foundation, the weekend featured world-class food and wine and a live auction for the ages that did what only the very best events are capable of… leaving guests wanting more.
THE VIBE: The festivities kicked off on Friday morning with a Meet the Kids day. This allowed sponsors, donors, and community leaders to see firsthand the children and services they donate to the Naples Children Foundation, which are directly supported in Collier County. A luncheon followed, during which patrons enjoyed a delectable meal exquisitely paired with world-class wines.
On Friday night, guests were driven in private cars to top homes and venues around Naples for one of many intimate dinners hosted by the organization. Diners and donors had the opportunity to experience delectable cuisine and meals from an array of 18 celebrity chefs, 21 world-renowned vintners, and 17 of the world’s best sommeliers. The food, wine, and conversation flowed freely throughout the experiences, allowing donors and patrons to connect on a more personal level.
Saturday featured the weekend’s main event. The legendary Naples Winter Wine Festival Auction. Partygoers headed to a tent on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton Naples, Tiburón, for an epic afternoon of fun and fundraising. Before patrons took to their seats, they mingled and perused one of the nation’s best silent auction lots featuring over 100 items, as well as the ability to donate directly to the Naples Children Foundation.
In total, the 12th annual silent auction raised over $1 million, with $742,500 from a curated list of over 100 luxury packages and experiences. Several items in the silent auction, including an Italian Dinner with the Gargiulos, A Premier Wine and Food Indulgence Package in the Highlands, North Carolina, and an Escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains package. Each fetched over $25,000. The silent auction also allowed those not able to attend in person to be a part of the fun for the weekend, as the auction featured bidders of top
Revelers then headed to their seats for the weekend’s main event: The Gala and Live Auction. Internationally acclaimed auctioneers, Humphrey Butler and Lydia Fenet, took turns helming an epic array of 51 sensational, once-in-a-lifetime wine and luxury experience packages at some of the most coveted locales around the world.
Four of these packages raised over $1 million. The top package of the day was a Million Dollar Night of Country with Thomas Rhett, where 55 couples each paid $25,000 for dinner and a private concert at the Naples Jet Center, which netted $1.375 Million. Two packages fetched $1.1 million, including a Vanquish Velocity: Waves and Wheels package that included a brand-new 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante convertible, The Beauty and Majesty of Lake Como with Black Book Villas. Rounding out the million-dollar packages was a Million Dollar Meal… ALL for the Kids package, where 40 couples paid $25,000 to enjoy a rooftop dinner at Prime Social Reserve overlooking Fifth Avenue South.
Following the live auction, a spirited round of Paddles Up ensued. The Picture of Health-themed paddle raise allowed the guests’ generosity to permeate throughout the room and, as a result, raised the fundraising totals even higher. As the paddle raise drew to a close, it was announced that $7 million raised to support the Naples Children Foundation’s healthcare initiatives for children, specifically addressing gaps in access to mental, oral, vision, and primary health services.
On Sunday morning, guests gathered one last time to toast the weekend’s success. The Wine Down, as it’s known, allowed patrons to commiserate and share their favorite tales of an incredible weekend of fun and fundraising that allowed everyone to have one for the road before sharing their goodbyes…and anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2027 Naples Winter Wine Festival so they could secure their spots for next year…