2026 Premier Napa Valley Auction Wines Offering - Antonio's First Premier Napa and his first e-mail!!

Always Drink the Good Stuff First!  - Hey, I said that!!
Andrew Lampasone

There is nothing greater in life than having the next generation of the family take an interest in the family business.  Wine Watch was opened in 1983 by my mentor in the wine business Jim Turner and he practically willed it to me in 1998 when he found out he was terminally ill.  I had no money, but I was able to pay for the $80,000 transaction with my credit cards, and the Wine Watch was mine.   The Wine Watch was already famous in South Florida but now it is famous around the world with one of the greatest venues for wine tastings and one of the largest collections of vintage and current release wines on the planet.  We will also be introducing the NEW Club Wine Watch coming in the summer of 2026!   It has been the greatest gift of my life to get to go work every day doing something I love and even after 28 years, I still love it! 

Although you want the kids to take an interest in the family business you can’t push them into doing something they do not like or want to do.  Toni and I could not be happier to have both of our children working at Wine Watch today.  Although Isabella is not as interested in wine, she is doing an amazing job with social media and after taking on the role of Social Media Manager a few weeks ago we have already had dozens of positive comments about her work.  If you already follow Wine Watch on Facebook or Instagram you can also follow us on Tic-Tok but our handle is wine.watch. 

Antonio on the other hand is very intersted in wine and now that he is 21 years old I can legally take him to wine tasting events with me.  We just attended Premier Napa Valley last month and I suggested he write the e-mail snnouncement about the two lots that we purchased at the auction and about his experience at the event so here you have it.. Antonio’s first e-mail!!

Antonio’s First Premier Napa Experience and First E-mail!

First and foremost, I want to thank all of the producers, winemakers, staff, newfound friends, and especially my dad for making this trip truly incredible. Words cannot explain how excited I was to be a part of PNV this year; it was my first-ever major wine event, and it did not disappoint. Everything from the beautiful scenery and historical landscape to the delicious food paired with the best wine Napa has to offer was almost too much to handle at once.

My father and I don't always see eye-to-eye, but one thing we definitely share is the 'sales gene'—it’s rooted deep in my blood. So, with that being said, the lot that truly stole the show for me was Lot 175: the 2024 Charles Krug "Alta 1695" Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Although my opinion may be biased due to the fact that this is one of the only auction lot wines we will have available for sale, I will say with confidence that this wine is spectacular.

The name "Alta 1695" refers to the 1,695-foot elevation of the Mondavi family's Cold Springs Vineyard on Howell Mountain. The wine is a liquid snapshot of the site’s altitude and terroir—an intense, well-structured, and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the wine has a dark fruit profile with ultra-fine tannins and hints of graphite, smoked paprika, and tobacco leaf.

I first tried this wine at a tasting hosted at Revana Estate, where I met Angelina Mondavi, Head Winemaker at Charles Krug. Angelina's story is one for the books: she is a fourth-generation Mondavi who has carved her own path, becoming the first woman in her family to fill the position of head winemaker since the Mondavis acquired the estate in 1943. Although I did not have much time to speak with Ms. Mondavi, she was able to share a story about her Aloft project, which she co-owns with her sisters. The brand was originally started by Marc Mondavi, Angelina's father, with the four sisters acquiring Aloft in 2016 when they heard of its possible cancellation, putting the brand under the umbrella of the Mondavi Sisters’ Collection. Angelina, along with her sisters, believed that brands like Aloft bring variety and complexity to an estate's collection. On the contrary, the Charles Krug winery has built a reputation on high-volume production wines; with Aloft being a high-priced, low-production brand, it's easy to see why the board of directors for Krug did not see a fit. In a poetic twist, Angelina and her sisters have been so successful that the same board of directors who once doubted the brand are now considering buying it back

A standout runner-up that we simply couldn't pass up was Lot 106, which provided a stunning preview of Elizabeth Spencer’s 2025 'Muse' Sauvignon Blanc. While Napa is often defined by its Reds, the 'Muse' is a masterclass in what the region can do with whites when handled with this much precision. The Elizabeth Spencer team designed this lot as a singular expression of the variety, focusing on intense aromatic purity and a specific block-selection that is entirely distinct from their standard portfolio.

My father always says, 'White wine matters,' and this wine is a true testament to that statement. It possesses a vibrant, mineral-driven backbone that really commands attention. I’m glad to share that we secured this lot at an incredible price, coming in nearly $2,000 less than the Orange wine from The Vice. It was a rare moment where quality and timing aligned perfectly on the auction floor.

Although Alta 1695 takes the cake for wines that I experienced at PNV, the Chappellet tasting undoubtedly had the best food. There were two dishes in particular that I cannot stop thinking about. The first was sous-vide lamb on top of the world’s smoothest mashed potatoes, topped with a delicious savory demi-glace. Hands down, it was the most tender lamb I have ever tasted. The second—arguably the better of the two—was a masterclass in culinary misdirection. The dish looked as if it were a regular cappuccino topped with cinnamon; however, after the first bite, you are quickly met with crunchy graham crackers layered over braised venison in a blueberry red wine reduction, the perfect mix of sweet and savory.

Before PNV, I used to think that my dad had the easiest job ever: drinking the best wines all day while talking to like-minded people. After my experience, I can say with certainty that drinking all day is not at all easy; I found out quickly why there were spit cups. PNV 2026 was an incredible experience, and while I now know that 'drinking for a living' is a lot more work than it looks, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than my dad to show me the ropes. I'm excited to see how the Charles Krug 'Alta 1695' will hold up over time. 

Thank you!

Antonio Lampasone

Wine Consultant

Wine Watch, Inc.

954.523.9463

837 NE 3rd Avenue

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304

Wine Watch 2026 Premier Napa Valley Selections

Auction 30 | Lot No. 175

Vintage: 2024

Charles Krug

Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain

10 cases produced

2024 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Alta 1965 Premier Napa

Price: $195                   Pre-Sell $150/btl.

(The wine is scheduled to be released in October 2026)

Alta 1695 takes its name from the soaring 1,695-foot elevation of the Mondavi family's Cold Springs Vineyard on Howell Mountain--a rare, commanding site shaped by altitude, time, and vision. This wine signals a bold new chapter for Charles Krug Winery, one of Napa Valley's last historic, family-owned estates. Crafted as the inaugural Premiere lot by fourth-generation co-proprietress Angelina Mondavi, it marks a generational milestone and a powerful first. Guided by lifelong connection to the land and global perspective, Alta 1695 embodies place, purpose, and progress--honoring legacy while confidently carrying the Mondavi story into its next era.

Auction 30 | Lot No. 106

Vintage: 2025

Elizabeth Spencer

Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley

10 cases produced

2025 Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc Muse Premier Napa

Price: $99.00               Pre- Sell $75/btl.

(The wine is scheduled to be released in October 2026)

Crafted from the CCOF Organic Eisele Vineyard, Muse is a radiant barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc that celebrates the women who inspire through life’s everyday artistry. More than a wine, it is a gathering—an invitation to connect, to share, and to create. With each pour, Muse inspires laughter, conversation, and honors the women who lead not only through brilliance, but through belonging. It is a reminder that the true art of life is found in the company we keep, the memories we share, and the moment when story intertwines with emotion. Muse is Elizabeth Spencer’s heartfelt tribute to the art of living beautifully—and to the individuals who make that art possible.