Photos courtesy of Mila Bridger
The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world's most prestigious charity wine auctions, returns for its 25th annual celebration on January 24-26, 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.
With three days of activities, the 2025 festival will once again showcase exceptional fine wines, amazing cuisine, and unique, one-of-a-kind auction lots benefiting its founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), in support of its mission of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
The weekend will pay homage to the past while looking forward to the future. Guests will enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and other landmark settings throughout Naples curated by award-winning chefs and world-renowned vintners. Patrons also will be invited to bid on incredible travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction.
Heading the list of participating winemakers are 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival Honored Vintners Count Louis-Michel and Countess Constance Liger-Belair, owners of the legendary Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair wine estate in Burgundy, France. Louis-Michel Liger-Belair is an agricultural engineer and oenologist who created Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in 2000, taking on some of the most revered family-owned vineyards dating back more than 200 years.
The couple is renowned for producing Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes which are known for their complexity, roundness, and depth. Many of their wines are consistently rated 96 points and above, including the highly regarded La Romanée Grand Cru. All vines are managed using certified organic and biodynamic viticultural methods.
“We are thrilled to welcome Count Louis-Michel and Countess Constance Liger-Belair as this year’s Honored Vintners for the 25th Naples Winter Wine Festival,” expressed Scott Lutgert, 2025 Vintner Committee member. “Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is celebrated for producing some of the most sought-after wines in the world. Their presence at our Silver Anniversary Festival guarantees yet another extraordinary weekend filled with exceptional wine and food.”
Also headlining the 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival is Angelo Auriana, the innovative celebrity chef behind The Factory Kitchen and BRERA Ristorante. A native of Bergamo, Italy, Auriana graduated with honors from the prestigious San Pellegrino Hotel School at age 17. He made his way to California in 1985, where he helped with the opening of “Primi un Ristorante” shortly after becoming executive chef of “Valentino Ristorante” during his tenure of 18 years in their kitchen.
In 2013, Auriana partnered with Matteo Ferdinandi and Francine Diamond-Ferdinandi to launch Factory Place Hospitality Group, opening the trattoria-style The Factory Kitchen that year followed by the Milan-inspired BRERA Ristorante in 2016. Both restaurants reflect the veteran chef’s pride in Italian cuisine and heartfelt desire to introduce diners to authentic dishes from Northern Italy.
“Angelo’s passion for authentic Italian cuisine and fine wines make him the ideal choice as our Chef de Cuisine,” said Jeff Gargiulo, 2025 Chef Committee Co-Chair. “Joining him for our 25th anniversary is an impressive list of other world-renowned chefs, acclaimed vintners, and expert sommeliers, setting the stage for three days of unique, one-of-a-kind food and wine experiences.”
As a nod to the 25th anniversary, this year’s festival will be led by a team of several NCEF Trustees, all of whom have previously chaired the NWWF, including some who were involved in the very first festival in 2001. They include Nena and Bill Beynon, Debbi and Bill Cary, Denise and Brian Cobb, Shirlene Elkins, Valerie Boyd and Jeff Gargiulo, Libby and Rick Germain, Julia and Rob Heidt, Jr., Barbie and Paul Hills, Simone and Scott Lutgert, and Shelly and Ralph Stayer.
“We are delighted to once again welcome some of the world’s top vintners, celebrity chefs, and featured sommeliers for another amazing weekend,” said Rick Germain, Team 25 Leader. “As we commemorate our silver anniversary, we will encourage everyone under the tent to bid high and bid often during our live auction as every dollar raised benefits children in Collier County.”
Since its inaugural event in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised almost $302 million on behalf of NCEF. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, the nonprofit organization has impacted close to 90 of the most effective charitable programs in the community and provided 350,000 children with the essential services and resources they need to excel.
Ticket packages for the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival start at $17,500 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $40,000 for two couples to experience a Jeroboam Package.
For additional information, please visit napleswinefestival.com/about-the-festival.
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