(TDB) - For the first time Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is to host an online wine auction, giving collectors around the world the chance to bid electronically on unique Napa Valley wine lots.

The auction will open on 19 February at 8am PST with 25 of the lots featured at this year’s Premiere Napa Valley barrel tasting and futures auction due to be offered exclusively online.

The remaining 200 lots will go on sale at the 20th NVV auction taking place at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone on February 20 and is open only to licensed members of the wine trade.

NVV-member winemakers produce wines in quantities as small as 60 and never more than 240 bottles, making the Premiere Napa Valley portfolio home to some of Napa Valley’s rarest and highest quality commercially available wines.

“Premiere Napa Valley is our vintners’ chance to color outside the lines by creating a wine we’ve always wanted to make, one time only, specifically for this event,” said Doug Shafer of Shafer Vineyards and 2016 Premiere Napa Valley Steering Committee Chair.

“We then get the chance to share that wine with our friends in the wine trade who in turn pass these one-of-a-kind treasures to their valued customers.”

To take part in the online auction, which will run from 8am PST Friday19 February to Saturday 20 February 6pm PST, members of the trade must be registered.