It's THE biggest charity event in Southwest Florida. It's also one of the biggest and most prestigious charity wine auctions in the United States. The weekend event raised a record, mind blowing 26-million dollars. However, the event is not only about wine. It's also about fashion. Just check out some of the shoes of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. I attended the posh event on Saturday and being a shoe girl, could not get enough of the diversity of the day. I struggled what to wear since part of the festival is on the lawn. It's also a long day so comfort is also something to consider.
The Naples Winter Wine Festival
The Naples Winter Wine Festival started in 2001 and quickly became the "it" place for wine lovers to gather annually. People fly in from all over the country, all over the world for the event. Guests include some of the most sought after winemakers worldwide, along with celebrities and philanthropists. In addition, renowned chefs fly in for private dinners along with sommeliers and more. It's quite the production.
Ticket prices begin at $15,000 a couple and auction lots are over the top. I think the lowest winning bid for a lot this year was $180,000. That one lot brought in more money than some charity auctions gross for their entire event.
Over the course of the last 22 years, the auction has raised some $269 million dollars for the Naples Children & Education Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to helping kids in need with everything from healthcare to education and everything in between.
Check back for more on the Naples Winter Wine Fest for this week's Wine Wednesday post. In the meantime, I could not help taking photos of shoes. I'm sure someone thought it was weird. However, others loved the fact that their choice of footwear was not only noticed but also appreciated. Enjoy these photos of the shoes of the Naples Winter Wine Festival.
