Alpha Omega Among Top Lots at the 2022 Napa Valley Barrel Auction
As reported by Decanter on June 8, 2022.
When 600 bidders gather to compete for still-in-barrel wines from Napa Valley’s most celebrated producers, something meaningful is happening. Not just in the lots being contested, but in the community rallying behind them. The 2022 Napa Valley Barrel Auction, held on June 3rd at Raymond Vineyards and co-organized by Sotheby’s, raised a total of $1.5 million in support of children’s mental health. Alpha Omega was proud to stand among the top three lots by aggregate price, a recognition that reflects not only the quality of our wines but the passion of collectors who believe in what we do.
A Record-Setting Afternoon for Napa Valley
Napa Valley Vintners reported an average price per lot of $18,683, a new record for the event. Seventy-five lots were offered, most from the 2021 vintage. Alpha Omega, alongside VGS Chateau Potelle and Shafer, achieved one of the three highest aggregate prices of the entire auction, ranging from $48,060 to $77,328 for ten cases. For collectors following the auction closely, these numbers signal something beyond the day’s excitement. They speak to enduring confidence in the terroir-driven wines emerging from Napa Valley’s most distinctive sub-appellations.
Jamie Ritchie, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s Wine, noted that the top three lots by number of bids each received more than 40 bids. Meanwhile, international collectors joined from Europe, Asia, and Central America, bidding online alongside the 600 in-person participants. More than three times the bidder participation of a standard wine auction, the event underscored Napa Valley’s commanding global relevance.
What the Barrel Auction Means for Alpha Omega Collectors
The auction’s format is worth understanding. The ten highest bids on any given lot each secure a 12-bottle case of that wine, to be delivered at a future date. In other words, the wines offered are futures, still aging in barrel at the time of sale. For a collector, this is an invitation to acquire something before it exists fully in the bottle, at a moment when most of the world does not yet have access to it.
At Alpha Omega, we approach futures with the same care and intention that goes into every wine we produce. Winemaker Melissa Paris and consulting winemaker Andy Erickson work in close partnership across our AVA portfolio, drawing from some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated sites. From the rocky volcanic soils of Atlas Peak to the legendary Rutherford Bench, each wine is an expression of place. When collectors bid on an Alpha Omega barrel lot, they are bidding on that specificity, that relationship between land and craft.
For those interested in acquiring our most limited, vineyard-designate releases, our ERA Elite membership offers priority access to single vineyard allocations, futures pricing, library releases, and exclusive vintner and winemaker events. It is our most collector-focused tier, designed for those who want to follow a wine from barrel to bottle.
Part of Something Larger: Collective Napa Valley
This barrel auction is now a cornerstone of Collective Napa Valley, a philanthropy-focused initiative created by Napa Valley Vintners to offer events and experiences for wine lovers throughout the year. It replaces the previous Auction Napa Valley format, which had been a fixture since 1981. The proceeds from the 2022 barrel auction went directly to children’s mental health programs, reflecting the values that have always animated the Napa Valley community at its best.
Giving back is not incidental to what we do at Alpha Omega. It is central to who Robin and Michelle Baggett are as vintners and as people. From the Toy Drive that has delivered more than 1,800 toys to children in need to our ongoing support of the V Foundation Wine Celebration for cancer research, philanthropy runs through everything we build here. Seeing Alpha Omega recognized at an event that raised $1.5 million for children’s wellbeing is a reminder of why this community matters so deeply.
The Wines Behind the Recognition
The lots that command attention at events like this are never accidental. They are the product of specific decisions made in the vineyard and the cellar, vintage after vintage. Alpha Omega sources from some of Napa Valley’s most storied sites, including Beckstoffer To Kalon in Oakville, Beckstoffer Georges III on the Rutherford Bench, and high-altitude parcels on Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder. Each sub-appellation contributes something irreplaceable to the portfolio.
Melissa Paris describes the character of these mountain-grown wines with precision. Of the Atlas Peak Cabernet, she has said: “Poised and powerfully ripe, the Atlas Peak Cabernet captures this high altitude, volcanic soil laden region’s personality, well defined fruit, graphite and a vibrant personality.” Of the extreme growing conditions of Mount Veeder, she notes: “The extreme growing conditions of Mt. Veeder push vines to their limits and the Cabernet Sauvignon displays the reward, intense fruit, mountain spice and unwavering focus.”
These are not generic descriptors. They are the language of place, earned through years of working specific land with specific intention. You can explore our AVA Series Cabernets to see how each sub-appellation expresses itself across the portfolio.
An Invitation to Experience Alpha Omega
The recognition Alpha Omega received at the 2022 Napa Valley Barrel Auction is a reflection of our collectors’ belief in these wines. It is also an invitation for those who have not yet visited to come and taste for themselves. Our estate on Mee Lane at Highway 29 in Rutherford welcomes walk-ins when availability allows. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome, and families with children are always at home here.
The views of the Mayacamas Mountains, the tranquil pond, and the landmark fountains create an atmosphere that guests consistently describe as an escape, resort-like in its ease but wholly authentic in its connection to the land. It is not a performance of Napa Valley. It is Napa Valley.
We would love to welcome you. Reserve a tasting at our Rutherford estate and let the wines speak for themselves.
Acquire. Taste. Belong.
Explore our current releases: Browse our current vintage releases and add a bottle to your cellar.
Visit the estate: Plan your visit to our Rutherford estate and taste what Napa Valley’s most recognized terroir has to offer.
Join the family: Become part of the Alpha Omega family and enjoy curated shipments, member events, and preferred access to our most celebrated wines.
“`