The Naples Winter Wine Festival once again proved why it occupies a singular place on the philanthropic calendar, raising more than $30 million in one weekend to benefit vulnerable children across Collier County. Now in its 26th year, the festival has surpassed $366 million raised since its founding, funding programs that support healthcare, education, and family services throughout the region. This year’s live auction unfolded under the tent at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, and was attended by more than 600 guests who bid on 51 one-of-a-kind experiences spanning wine, travel, dining, and performance.

The 2026 Festival was co-hosted by Nena & Bill Beynon and Ashley & Adam Gerry, with trustees, including Marilyn Scripps, hosting intimate dinners across Naples the night before the auction. At its core, the Naples Winter Wine Festival is driven by sustained impact and a clear commitment to the health and future of children across Collier County.

Food and wine were at the heart of the weekend, with one dinner hosted at the Naples Jet Center, featuring winemaker Jesse Katz, founder of Aperture Cellars (recently recognized among the World’s 50 Best Vineyards), whose technically precise work has been redefining contemporary Sonoma winemaking. That sensibility was echoed by chef Dustin Valette, the Sonoma native and James Beard Award nominee behind the Michelin-recognized Valette and The Matheson. Valette served as Chef de Cuisine for one of the festival’s marquee lots, a rooftop “Million Dollar Meal” at Prime Social Reserve. 

The weekend also highlighted the human impact behind the numbers. During the annual Meet the Kids Day, festival attendees heard directly from families and nonprofit partners whose lives have been changed by Naples Children Foundation grants. The Fund a Need initiative alone raised more than $7 million to address critical gaps in pediatric healthcare, including mental health, oral health, vision, and primary care.

 

Vintner Jesse Katz

 

 

Jesse Katz, Bill Beynon and Dustin Valette

 

 

 

 

The Loving Mary band performing at the Naples Jet Center.