Premiere Napa Valley 2005

Vintners poured barrel samples from their auction lots to a packed room. More than 550 wholesalers, retailers, restaurateurs and media guests were in attendance at the ninth annual Premiere Napa Valley, which took place at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

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Auctioneer Fritz Hatton encourages additional offers as spotters identify potential bidders from key locations in the packed auction hall.

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Mark Pope(right), owner of Bounty Hunter and a regular top bidder at Premiere Napa Valley, samples from Delia Viader, Viader Vineyards & Winery during the morning barrel tasting preceding the live auction.

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Onlookers watch as bids are registered on a live reader board at the back of the room.

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Laurie Claudon and Tom Clark of Claudon-Clark visit with Marty Ullman and his son, wholesalers from Minnesota during the barrel tasting portion of Premiere Napa Valley.

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Andy Hoxey, chair of Premiere Napa Valley 2005 signs the paddle of top bidder Gary Fisch following the event.

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Vintner Jamie Davies samples her lot alongside a Premiere Napa Valley guest.

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Gary Fisch and his sales team are all smiles at the end of another successful Premiere. Gary’s Wine and & Marketplace was the top bidder again.

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