Premiere Napa Valley Brings Trade Together in a Meaningful Show of Support
February 21, 2026 -
Saint Helena, CA - Premiere Napa Valley 2026 once again served as a meaningful gathering point for the wine trade. From celebratory preview tastings that buzzed with energy, to shared moments between winemakers and buyers, the week was defined by enthusiasm for coming together again and shared purpose around wine.
"We’re grateful to every trade partner who came out, who raised a paddle and who continues to believe in Napa Valley. The week provided a surge of momentum, and it was pure joy to be surrounded by so many people who are passionate about wine and about Napa Valley," said Josh Phelps, Owner and Winemaker of Grounded Wine Co, and co-chair of this year's Premiere Napa Valley alongside his father Chris Phelps.
Trade Showed Up in Support of Napa Valley
The week underscored that Napa Valley’s strength lies not only in its wines, but in the trade partners who support the region.
“I’ve been coming to Premiere for 16 years now, and it’s always great to be back. Premiere feels like one big family where we can reconnect with friends from across the wine trade,” said Tom Ferraro of Millbrook Inn by T&T and Millbrook on the River located in New York. "We come together not just to taste and buy, but to learn. Talking directly with winemakers about current trends keeps us at the forefront of the industry."
More than 1,000 trade members traveled to Napa Valley from 25 states and 12 countries to participate, with additional bidders joining online.
Strong Results Indicate Confidence for Napa Valley's Fine Wines
The live auction marked the culmination of the week.
Bidders were welcomed to Saturday's live auction with music, cheers and warm greetings from vintners, setting an enthusiastic tone from the start of the day. Energy in the room built steadily throughout the afternoon, with strong competition across a broad range of lots. The auction concluded with impressive results reaffirming confidence in Napa Valley’s fine wines. In total, the auction raised $3 million.
The day's top lots for red wine included Duckhorn Vineyards, a collaboration lot with Davies Vineyards, Diamond Creek Vineyards, Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Dyer Vineyard and Lokoya, Robert Mondavi Winery, Shafer Vineyards, JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, Quintessa, Silver Oak, Alpha Omega, Pym-Rae, Fairchild Napa Valley, Revana Family Vineyard and Reynolds Family Winery and the top white wines were Hudson, Schramsberg Vineyards, Chandon, Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine and Lail Vineyards.
The Debut of the 2024 Vintage
A major highlight of the week was the debut of the 2024 vintage, presented for the first time to the trade. Early impressions signal another standout year for Napa Valley.
Wine critic James Suckling of jamessuckling.com noted, “2024 follows 2023 in a beautiful way, with the same balance and drinkability but a touch more fruit. I think we’ll be talking about these two vintages for years, the way we still talk about 2018 and 2019.”
Jonathan Cristaldi, Napa wine critic for Decanter and founder of cristaldiandco.com observed, the 2024 wines “have darker fruit profiles, a more plush palate expression framed by ultra fine tannins that are supple and are generous and quite approachable.”
Save the Date for 2027
Trade members are invited to save the date for next year's Premiere Napa Valley, taking place February 24-27, 2027, one week later in the trade calendar than previous years. The auction will be chaired by the team at Amici Cellars, John Harris, Melissa Devore and Tony Biagi.
Resources
Premiere Napa Valley 2026 Photo Gallery
Premiere Napa Valley 2026 Auction Lots
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Portfolio by Retailer and Location
About 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 $245 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contact: Teresa Wall, Senior Director of Communications - 707-968-4210, twall@napavintners.com