Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
In about five months, you can get a taste of Napa Valley without leaving the comfort of Naples. The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, 2026 and is stacked with celebrity chefs and innovative vintners.
This year’s roster is impressive, with James Beard winners, Michelin-starred chefs, and pioneering restaurateurs like Nancy Oakes, Joe Flamm, Karen Akunowicz, and Dean Fearing. Leading the team of exceptional chefs is “Chef de Cuisine” Dustin Valette, acclaimed chef-owner of Valette and The Matheson in Healdsburg California. Valette carries a family legacy dating back to the 1820s, continuing a long line of culinary excellence.
“The Naples Winter Wine Festival has earned a reputation for attracting many of the nation’s top award-winning chefs, and this year is no different,” Kelley Bailey, 2026 Chef Committee Chair said in a press release. “Our lineup includes a number of celebrity chefs who have consistently participated in the NWWF for several years along with a handful of fresh new faces who are making their debut.”
Read the full article and see photos/video on naplesnews.com.
Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086 to view homes in Naples and surrounding communities.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Naples is grabbing national attention yet again ― this time for wine.
The USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the best in lifestyle, food and drink, and travel. The most recent set of awards were completely revolving around wine.
USA Today readers and judges recognized the Naples Winter Wine Festival as the best wine festival in the country, beating out events in California and New York.
“We are just really thrilled and honored and excited to be recognized as the best wine festival in the United States for 2025,” said Naples Children & Education Foundation CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara.
USA Today ranked the Naples Winter Wine Festival as the No. 1 wine festival in the country.
- Naples Winter Wine Festival (Naples)
- The Festival of Forgotten Grapes (Los Angeles)
- Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Read the full list, and view photos and video on naplesnews.com.
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
The latest Forbes list of the richest people on the planet includes a handful of Southwest Florida residents.
It doesn’t come as a surprise, as some have maintained their status for years.
In fact, none of the names are new this year.
There are seven local residents on the 2025 list, the same as last year, all with a Naples address.
Shahid Khan has retained his title as the richest person in Naples – and Southwest Florida. His net worth has grown to $13.4 billion, up from $12.2 billion last year.
Read more about Shahid Khan on naplesnews.com.
Looking for a luxury home in Naples, Florida? Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
The 21st annual Cars on 5th brought thousands to downtown Naples on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Exotic cars filled Fifth Avenue South as auto enthusiasts enjoyed seeing so many cool rides up close.
The event ― organized by the Naples chapter of the Ferrari Club of America ― is part of what’s become the Naples Automotive Experience weekend. Comedian Jay Leno was in town for the weekend.
The Naples Automotive Experience benefits the St. Matthew’s House, with 100% of the proceeds going to the nonprofit. The 2024 event raised $1.7 million.
See lots of photos from the 2025 and 2024 Cars on 5th event on naplesnews.com.
For more information about buying a home in the Naples, Florida area, contact David at David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Fort Myers News-Press
A Naples family has donated millions to a local environmental group that’s been a part of the local community since 1964.
John and Carol Walter gifted a $25 million grant to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida recently, enough to completely redo the organization’s nature center while also funding key work in the future.
“It’s the largest gift in our history and is one of the larger gifts in our community,” said Rob Moher, president and CEO of the Conservancy. “It’s a magnificent gift, particularly for a conservation organization. It’s probably unheard of, but it’s actually a grant and it comes down to their generosity and their family’s feeling to support our community and our mission. This was a family decision, a generational decision to leave a legacy.”
John Walter served on the Conservancy board of director for years.
“Making a commitment like this is putting a lot of trust into our vision,” Moher said. “I felt very proud and I look forward to executing this over the next five years.”
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
The Naples Winter Wine Festival reached a milestone this weekend.
At the 25th anniversary of the event, those attending the Jan. 25 live auction in a tent outside The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, bid on 52 auction lots and help raise more than $34 million.
This brings the total amount raised by the Naples Winter Wine Festival to more than $336 million since its inception in 2001. The money goes to nonprofits that support at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
What were some of the winning bid and auction lots
One couple took home a 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible with a winning bid of $1.7 million. The lot also includes a four-night VIP Bentley experience at Monterey Car Week from Aug. 14-Aug. 18, beginning with roundtrip, first class airfare from any major city in the United States or Canada to the California Bay Area.
Read the full article and see video of the event on naplesnews.com.
If you are looking for a luxury home in Naples, Florida, contact David at David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
