Naples Winter Wine Festival 2011: Welcome to The Magic

Whether you are lucky enough to be one of the 550 attendees of this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival, a recipient of the generosity springing from the event or just on the outside looking in, it’s hard to deny the magic in the air.

At Gulfshore Life, the Wine Festival has become sort of a beacon around which we plan our January issue. Each year we set out to document both the spectacle and the spectacular results the money raised has had on our community.

This year, with a little luck and a lot of hard work from the organizers, the festival is poised to top $100 million raised in just 12 years. Just let that number sink in for a second. $100 million. The festival has become a sort of stimulus package dedicated to making lives better for the at-risk and underprivileged children of Collier County.

While the focus is on the kids, the attendees do come to enjoy life’s finest things. From the private dinners catered by world-renowned chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, to the fantastical auction lots that offer one-of-a-kind adventures, experiences and treasures, there is no doubt the festival is one of the world’s most exclusive and luxurious parties. 

What follows is 20-plus pages dedicated to covering both what makes the festival great for attendees and those who benefit from it. We’ll introduce you to famous chefs and distinguished vintners. We’ll give you a tour of the auction lots and the inside scoop on how they are won. We’ll share favorite moments from the festival’s trustees and expound on the good deeds their donations have done.

Enjoy.