The Naples Winter Wine Festival raised $12.2 million Saturday, breaking its own record of $11.2 million raised in 2005 and retaining the crown of most successful wine auction in the world.Ann Colgin, auctioneer and vintner at the “Vintage 2006″ Festival, nailed it even before she slammed down her gavel for the first auction lot Saturday afternoon.

The money raised goes to children’s charities in Collier County.

This time, the festival had made enough in sponsorship and other monies from past years to take care of expenses, so 100 percent of the money raised will go go to help children, Scott Lutgert told the crowd.
Lutgert is chairman of the Naples Children’s and Education Foundation, the funding arm of the festival that disperses grants to charities.

Which charities will receive the money in 2006 among those that have applied has yet to be decided. Last year, 20 charities received $7.04 million of the $11.2 million raised.

Posted: 01|30|06 at 10:07 am. Filed under: Auction News.