Auction Lots
Auction Lot #24 - Days of Wine and Poetry
1 – 6 Liter 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
1 – 3 Liter 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
1 – 1.5 Liter 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
1 – 750ml 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
One (1) month (30 contiguous nights) accommodations at the private, three (3) bedroom
Farmhouse at Poetry Vineyard for one (1) couple
Roundtrip, Business Class Airfare from anywhere in the continental United States to San
Francisco, California, for two (2) people
Use of Cliff’s Porsche 911 convertible for the month
Welcome dinner hosted by proprietor Cliff Lede at his art-filled residence, paired with
wines from Cliff Lede’s personal wine cellar
Thirty (30) bottles of famed Napa Valley wine, selected by Cliff Lede Vineyard’s Master
Sommelier, Jennifer Huether
Access to the Poetry Inn concierge team
Dinner at The French Laundry, with wine pairings by the sommelier
Private cooking class with Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustards and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen
Four (4) private tours and tastings at some of Napa’s top properties arranged by Cliff Lede
Vineyards and Poetry Inn
How long does it truly take to acclimate to new surroundings? To live as a local, in tune with the daily variations of an unfamiliar locale; to fall into the easy embrace of the rhythm of a new life. A week hardly seems enough. A weekend – embarrassingly short. A month however… a month is enough time to witness a change of season; the quickening of the pulse of life. A month would seem to be perfect for the graduation from visitor, to part of the community.
The unique chance to experience Napa, not as a visitor but as a resident, is the centerpiece of this extraordinary lot. Cliff Lede Vineyards has invited one couple to escape life’s realities for one month to experience the lavish life of a Napa Valley vintner with a month’s stay at the private Farmhouse at Poetry Vineyard. This three bedroom, four bath property boasts a gourmet kitchen and expansive indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces. It is an ideal property to enjoy with friends and family, so feel free to invite family and friends to partake in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. For those days when the only visitors are the sun and the vines, a private pool and lounging area beckons, including a hot tub with a view.
Days are free to visit the surrounding countryside, whether it be nearby vineyards, the magnificent sequoias to the North or San Francisco Bay to the South. Regardless of your destination, arrive in style, as Cliff Lede will be lending his Porsche 911 to the winning bidder for the month.
Renowned for producing supple and elegant Bordeaux varietal wines, Cliff Lede Vineyards is located on 60 acres in the tiny Napa Valley corridor of Stags Leap, where the Yountville Crossroad intersects the Silverado Trail. The independently owned winery boasts two handcrafted wine brands – Cliff Lede Vineyards and Poetry – as well as the exclusive Poetry Inn and The Farmhouse at Poetry Vineyard.
Return home with a collector-caliber package of Cliff Lede Vineyard’s flagship 2009 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon in multiple bottle sizes. Cliff Lede has described this version of his winery as ‘version 2.0’ after vineyard manager David Abreu re-planted a number of its vineyards. With Philippe Melka as consulting winemaker, Lede’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is marvelous in its completeness. An expressive, open bouquet melds into dark cherries, plums, spices and minerals. Firm, yet well-integrated tannins frame a finish defined by a superb textural finesse.
To celebrate your arrival in Napa, join Cliff and his fellow vintner friends at his Howard Backen–designed, art-filled residence for a welcome dinner. The meal will be paired with a line-up of highly sought after wines from Cliff’s personal collection. With a panoramic view of the Valley and surrounded by acclaimed art, you’ll enjoy an evening to remember at one of Napa Valley’s most spectacular private residences.
While enjoying your new status as a Napa Valley insider, Cliff Lede’s Master Sommelier, Jennifer Huether, will stock the cellar with 30 days of exclusive Napa Valley wines. Additionally, you will have access to Poetry Inn’s concierge staff, who will arrange for VIP tastings at four top Napa wineries. One afternoon at The Farmhouse, renowned Napa Chef Cindy Pawlcyn will help you dust off your toque: you’ll learn to cook some of Cindy’s most famous recipes. Cap off your stay with a “Gold Experience” at the incomparable French Laundry, an evening which will include an extended chef’s tasting menu for two guests along with wines hand selected by their sommelier to compliment the food.
INSIDER’S INFO: Visit to be scheduled for a mutually agreeable month (30 contiguous nights) prior to January 2014.