The Biggest Wineries and Regions Are Reigning at Auctions Right Now

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On a hot and sunny early June day, well-dressed and well-heeled wine lovers strolled the grounds of the newly redesigned Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley before entering the cool, dark confines of the estate’s thoughtfully upgraded barrel room. Home to the 2026 Napa Valley Barrel Auction, it offered strategic bidders the opportunity to take home a portion of a barrel of some of the best wine from the outstanding 2024 vintage alongside a few from 2023 and 2022.

With more than 100 Napa Valley winemakers and winery owners sampling pours directly from barrel to glass and over 2,000 guests in attendance, the packed room was filled with revelers who continually checked the bid board to make sure their offers were still standing. At the end of the day, the list of highest grossing lots read like a who’s who of Napa’s most famous producers, with top dollar going for Chappellet Vineyard, Cardinale, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Continuum Estate, Shafer Vineyards, Alpha Omega, Davies Vineyards, Ovid Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi Winery, and Favia. Of the 102 barrels on auction, Cabernet Sauvignon took the lion’s share, with 67 offerings in the mix, followed by Cabernet Franc, which was represented in nine lots.

This comes as no surprise, as it fits with what our sources on the ground have been saying about the wine auction market this year. “Demand was concentrated among blue-chip producers from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Napa Valley, especially rare formats, complete cellar collections, and wines offered directly from notable private collections.” says Nick Pegna, Sotheby’s global head of wine and spirits. The barrel auction, conducted by Sotheby’s alongside Napa Valley Vintners, led to similar conclusions. “I think those results reinforce an important point: reputation still matters.” Pegna says. “Established names provide a degree of confidence, especially when buyers are purchasing wines that may not be enjoyed for many years.”

Despite all the Cabernet Sauvignon on hand, the auction showcased a diverse array of varieties including Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Syrah, Tempranillo, Chardonnay (the third-most popular, with seven options), and one barrel of Koshu, a rare, ancient Japanese variety. Pegna agrees that between the range of styles and the mix of established and lesser-known producers, there was room for experimentation on the part of bidders. “I don’t think it is solely a story about conservatism or a preference for the familiar,” he says. “The market is large enough to accommodate both established icons and emerging producers. We routinely see collectors pursuing discovery and value at the same time that they continue to compete for the most recognized names.”

This is borne out by results at Christie’s as well, where Paul Tortora, international head of its wine and spirits department, has noted that the continued strength and momentum in the market aligns with collectors’ willingness to reach for wines with special provenance from highly curated single-owner sales. “There is still brisk demand for well-cellared Burgundy, particularly DRC, Rousseau, Roumier, Raveneau, as well as classic Californian wines such as Heitz Martha’s Vineyard and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars,” he says. “In addition, more and more collectors are continuing to fuel the renewed demand for aged Bordeaux, thanks in large part to its current value proposition.” However, those with a taste for something off the beaten track can be rewarded for their efforts. Tortora points to the example of an original case of Gentaz-Dervieux 1989 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune Cuvée Réservée, “one of the landmark wines of the Northern Rhône from this mythic, bygone domain,” that fetched $75,000 at a June sale titled the Exceptional Cellar of a Silicon Valley Pioneer. “This lot is emblematic of the themes that are driving today’s market—provenance, storytelling, curation, and rarity,” he says.

Back at the auction in Napa, John Morrison of Woodland, Calif. looked beyond just the king of reds to snap up Oakville Ranch Vineyards 2024 Vista Cabernet Franc. “I love high-elevation Cabernet Franc from Napa, so I made a point of tasting all of the Cab Francs offered,” Morrison says. “This was the best one.” Of course, he didn’t bypass Napa Cabs altogether. Morrison bid successfully on Chappellet Vineyards 2024 Pritchard 57 Cabernet Sauvignon, which fetched $7,350 from the top buyer. (Each winery donated a portion of a barrel, or 120 bottles of wine, enabling each of the 10 top bidders to take home a 12-bottle case.) A member of Chappellet’s club for more than 15 years, Morrison says it is his favorite winery and the one which claims the most space in his collection, which in addition to Napa Cab goes heavy on Brunello, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bordeaux, and Pinot Noir from Oregon and California.

One of the under-the-radar wines at the Barrel Auction was Canard Vineyard 2022 Reserve Petit Verdot, which buyer Richard Golubow of Laguna Niguel, Calif., calls “distinctive and unexpected,” as the variety is almost always experienced as part of a blend. “At an auction like this, I am not looking only for familiar names,” he says. “I also want to find wines that will be interesting to open, share and talk about years later.” Hewing closer to the traditional end of the scale, Golubow also went in on Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. “I have always been drawn to Cardinale’s approach of creating one distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyards throughout Napa Valley,” he says, while “Chateau Montelena is one of the great names in American wine.”

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While big names like DRC, Haut Brion, Dom Perignon, and Screaming Eagle still reign at auction, an interesting development is the strong performance of wines that sit just outside the traditional trophy categories. “When a wine combines scarcity, maturity, and a compelling story, collectors are often willing to bid aggressively even if it lacks the broad name recognition of the market’s biggest brands,” Pegna says. So, while marquee wines still hold a spell over the auction market, savvy buyers can readily find treasures if they take a close enough look.

Do you want access to rare and outstanding reds from Napa Valley? Join the Robb Report 672 Wine Club today.