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16 W i n e s & V i n e s A P R i L 2 0 1 4 S t. Helena, Calif.—The 18th annual Premiere Napa Valley futures auction raised $5.9 million, up 90% from last year's already strong $3.1 million. The previous record (set in 2012) was $3.12 million. The trade auction held Feb. 23 promotes Napa Valley wines while raising money used by sponsor Napa Valley Vintners to support the valley's wine industry. Premiere Napa Valley is for the trade only, and it sold out quickly to 600 top buyers from eight countries and 28 states who paid to attend as well as members of the media. This auction is unlike the vintners' Auction Napa Valley in early June, which welcomes consumers and donates its proceeds to Napa Valley medical and youth programs. The average price per bottle sold was $283, and that's at wholesale prices for the wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs bidding at the event. The 225 lots included five, 10 or 20 cases of one-of-a-kind wines donated by members. The strongest bidding went for a Scarecrow Wine lot of 60 bottles from the J.J. Cohn Vineyard made by Celia Welch. The lot attracted $260,000 ($4,333 per bottle), more than twice the previous record of $125,000 for a single lot. Other top lots included Schrader Cellars, Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select and ZD Wines for an unusual multi-vintage Cabernet blend aged in multiple barrels much like a sherry solera, all for $100,000. The top bidder at the auction was Total Wine & More, which has stores in 15 states. Its members—including Christina Pearce, who raised paddle No. 1—spent more than $750,000 on 27 lots. Mark Pope's Bounty Hunter wine retailer in Napa spent nearly $500,000 for 13 lots and came in as the second bidder. It bought two of the top 10 lots: Schrader and Joseph Phelps Vineyards. —Paul Franson Premiere Auction Nets $5.9 Million Proceeds from Napa Valley wine trade auction almost double 2013 amount Learn more: Search keywords "Premiere Napa Valley." winesandvines.com Gary Fisch of Gary's Wine and Marketplace bids on a wine lot during the auction portion of the Premiere Napa Valley weekend. BoB MccLenahan A P R I L N E W S QST offers its clients……. Professionally fabricated stainless tanks 35 years of tank fabrication experience Performance & reliability guarantees Custom designs & modern features Quick & competitive tank project pricing On site tank repairs & modifications Special application tanks of all sizes "In stock tanks" from 500 to 10,000 gallons 510 Caletti Ave. Windsor, Ca. 95492 Phone 707-837-2721 or Toll-Free 877-598-0672 www.qualitystainless.com Company Website winetanks@aol.com email contact/sales info Custom Fabricated Tanks for the perfect size & fit… or Ready to Ship "Stock Tanks" Either way QST is ready to assist our clients! Call QST today for information or pricing! QUALITY STAINLESS TANKS