Overall, the weekend’s events raised $13.6 million for local charities that help community health programs and childhood education efforts. That was a drop from the $15.7 million raised last year.

As a coda to the weekend’s festivities, $2.36 million was raised from the auction’s final lot, a fund-a-need lot benefiting Napa Valley Vintners’ Fund-the-Future program.

The event’s biggest wine lot was donated by Opus One. The winery offered four imperials (24 liters) of Opus One dating to 1979, as well as a trip to France filled with wining and dining at some of Paris’ top restaurants and an 18th-century themed masquerade ball at the Palace of Versailles. After a winning bid of $700,000 was made, Opus One doubled the lot, bringing in an additional $700,000 from a second bidder for a total of $1.4 million.

The highest single bid was $1 million for a lot sponsored by the NVV and Lexus for a weeklong excursion to the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pebble Beach next June, including exclusive wining, dining and golfing activities, as well as 18 magnums of Napa Valley wines.

A lighter moment came during bidding for the 28th lot, donated by Amizetta Estate, Gamble Family Vineyards and Somnium Wine. Bidding was flagging at $200,000 before Somnium owner (and recently retired professional racing driver) Danica Patrick decided to take matters into her own hands and add something extra to the lot.

It had included a ride at nearby Sonoma Raceway in a Toyota Camry pace car. Patrick offered a ride with her. “I think we can do better than a Camry—nothing against the Camry, but I think we can get a race car,” she said to the cheering audience. Bidding soon picked up, and the lot sold for $300,000. “I think Danica has been on stage before,” said Gamble owner Tom Gamble, with a smile.

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