This weekend, the 37th edition of the world’s glitziest charity wine auction will unroll like a glamorous film directed by Hollywood royalty. The goal is to encourage the 2,000 attendees to splash out more than last year’s $14.3 million—and maybe surpass the record-breaking $18.4 million in 2014. All proceeds go to local charities.
The glitz will come from Francis Ford Coppola and his family, who are honorarily co-chairing the annual four-day Auction Napa Valley, which officially kicks off Thursday night, June 1. But they’re no hands-off figureheads; they’ve divided responsibilities and are running with the challenge. From Sofia’s glamorous dinner, to Eleanor’s food and wine pavilions, to Gia’s after-party, the Coppolas have it covered.
“We had a little family meeting, and each person—my wife Eleanor, daughter Sofia, son Roman, granddaughter Gia, and I—seemed to connect with a particular aspect of the event,” says Coppola.
Five-time Oscar winner Coppola is both directing and cooking the weekend’s food high point, the Saturday post-auction dinner. That’s right; the Godfather maestro himself will be in the kitchen with the pasta and contorni.