The pandemic has posed challenges for charities, especially those whose events depend on human interaction through a live auction. The Naples Winter Wine Festival, the world’s most successful wine charity event, took place last year in a virtual format to protect the health of all donors, patrons and employees. This festival raised $ 7.2 million, or about a third of the total of just over $ 20 million in 2020, but an impressive result under the circumstances.

This year’s festival, the twenty-second, will be live again. Held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, January 28-30, it will feature an impressive group of world-class wineries, celebrity chefs and master sommeliers united under the theme ‘Rise Up: Twenty Twenty Twogether’.

Presented by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the festivities begin Friday morning with Meet the Kids Day, when donors meet the recipients of the funds raised and hear their stories firsthand. Vintner Dinners are held in the homes of the NCEF Trustees on Friday evenings. The famous live auction, the main event of the festival, will take place on Saturday afternoon at the hotel, offering a collection of one-of-a-kind food, wine and lifestyle experiences. All proceeds from the auction go directly to charities serving underprivileged children in Collier County.

“We are thrilled to have brought together such an incredible lineup of renowned wineries and chefs for the 2022 Naples Winter Wine Festival,” said Shirlene Elkins, Co-Chair of this year’s Chefs Committee.

“Each of these individuals is a true legend with a solid reputation for excellence in their field.”

Participating chefs include Boulevard chef Nancy Oakes in San Francisco, who will be joined by luminaries such as Dean Fearing, Michael Mina, Charlie Palmer, Tony Mantuano and Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. Featured wineries include Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars, Krug Champagne, Bourgogne Joseph Drouhin, Harlan Estate, Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Darioush and Peter Michael Winery.

Ticket prices for the Naples Winter Wine Festival 2022 are $ 15,000 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $ 35,000 for two couples for a Jeroboam package.