(Decanter) - Feverish bidding at the 21st annual Premiere Napa Valley barrel tasting and futures auction raised $4.2 million to support the Napa Valley Vintners, a non-profit association devoted to promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation. 

Premiere Napa Valley features small lots of unique wines sold exclusively to retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers.

These special bottlings can be obtained no other way, and every bottle is hand-signed and individually numbered by the winemaker on release.

As usual, a heady atmosphere prevailed, with bursts of cheering and applause punctuating the sale as buyers vied for the most sought-after wines, on Saturday 25th February.

‘The whole week was filled with high energy and we had the chance to share our wines and further build relationships with our partners in the trade,’ said Andy Erickson of Favia Erickson Winegrowers, who along with wife Annie Favia led this year’s event organizing committee.