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Festival weekend planner

Auction Napa Valley — a 3-day weekend in Napa Valley

First weekend of June. St. Helena, United States. 70 min from the airport.

The weekend, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in St. Helena

    Land at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

  2. Day 2

    Auction Napa Valley

    Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.

  3. Day 3

    Wine country day in Napa Valley

    Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.

Where to stay

  • Hotels in St. Helena

    Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.

We may earn a commission on hotel links.

One winery worth a detour

Corison Winery

WTG pick

Napa Cabernet of world-class quality made by a pioneering female winemaker since 1987, priced well below cult-wine peers.

Address
987 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA 94574
Appointment
required
Tasting price
USD 65 · Library tasting of 4-5 wines
Website
Visit
Read the full Corison Winery guide →

Where to eat

Bouchon Bistro

$$$

Thomas Keller's French bistro in Yountville with excellent oyster bar and late-night menu

Must try: Farm-to-table seasonal tasting menus

More dining picks in Napa Valley →

Practical

Nearest airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Festival site
Visit official site

Insider tip

Attend the barrel tasting days (Wednesday–Thursday) before the Friday auction—this is where serious collectors meet winemakers one-on-one with zero crowds, and you can secure allocated future purchases before auction hype inflates pricing. Connect with Meadowood's wine director in advance; they frequently reserve barrel-tasting spots for serious secondary-market buyers.

Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?

The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Napa Valley itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.

Plan a Napa Valley trip →