2025 Auction Lots

Six (6) night wine and food escape to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee for three (3) couples

Roundtrip, Private Air from Naples, Florida or the Midwest region to Walland, Tennessee on a Northern Jet Bombardier Learjet 75
Roundtrip, airport transfers and ground transportation between Blackberry Mountain and Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Mountain:
Three (3) nights’ accommodations in Stone Cottages at Blackberry Mountain
One (1) private dinner at Three Sisters prepared by Chef Joey Edwards with a curated chef’s menu, paired with the wines of Gargiulo Vineyards, OVID Napa Valley and Silver Oak
One (1) private group mixology class curated by 2025 NWWF Featured Sommelier Logan Griffin
One (1) 80-minute body treatment or massage at Nest per person
Breakfast, lunch and dinner on property while at Blackberry Mountain

Blackberry Farm:
Three (3) nights’ accommodations in Cottages at Blackberry Farm
One (1) private multi-course dinner prepared by 2025 NWWF Celebrity Chef Cassidee Dabney in the Wine Cellar with wine pairings selected by 2025 NWWF Featured Sommelier Andy Chabot
One (1) 80-minute body treatment or massage at Wellhouse per person
One (1) adventure activity per person
Breakfast, lunch and dinner on property while at Blackberry Farm

Three couples are invited to slip into a Blackberry State of Mind and enjoy six nights at one of America’s greatest hidden treasures, with the time split between two Relais & Châteaux properties: the original Blackberry Farm and the newer Blackberry Mountain.

Initially built as a private residence in 1940, the Beall family opened Blackberry Farm as a six-room inn in 1976. Today the property spans 4,200 acres in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains comprising the ultimate nature retreat.

Your journey begins in complete luxury on a private flight from Naples, Florida or the Midwest region to Walland, Tennessee aboard a Learjet Series 75, courtesy of Northern Jet, a leader in private travel services for over twenty-five years. Upon arrival in Walland, your party will be transported to Blackberry Mountain for a three-night stay. You’ll relax in Stone Cottages that blend seamlessly into the mountainside, featuring stacked stone archways and reclaimed oak floors, complemented by an outdoor patio with a wood-burning fireplace.

One of the unforgettable highlights of your trip will be an exclusive private dinner at Three Sisters, the signature restaurant of Blackberry Mountain. This extraordinary dining experience will be paired with the exceptional wines of Gargiulo Vineyards, OVID Napa Valley and Silver Oak. Executive Chef Joey Edwards, a former NWWF Celebrity Chef, will curate a menu featuring the finest seasonal ingredients, thoughtfully paired with these exquisite wines.

Valerie Boyd and Jeff Gargiulo, proprietors of Gargiulo Vineyards, are NCEF founding Trustees and have been NWWF Featured Vintners every year since 2002. The evening will also feature wines from longtime NWWF supporters Kary and David R. Duncan, proprietors of Silver Oak. At the 2025 Festival, the Duncans will have been Featured Vintners 13 times, representing not only Silver Oak but also OVID Napa Valley and Twomey. This rare collaboration between Blackberry Mountain, Gargiulo Vineyards, OVID Napa Valley and Silver Oak is a truly special opportunity to savor the legacy of these renowned supporters.

Your party will also enjoy a mixology class where you’ll explore unique spirits like Amari, Mezcal and gin, learning about their origins, distillation methods and cocktail uses. Additionally, each member of the group will experience a relaxing spa treatment at Nest, a serene sanctuary designed to soothe the body and cater to individual needs.

For the next three nights, you’ll experience the original Blackberry Farm, the epitome of Southern hospitality. Managed by the Beall family, it offers 68 rooms with luxury amenities. Each Cottage takes a fashionable approach to ultimate luxury and comfort, with an indoor and outdoor fireplace, dining nook, private golf cart and a large covered and screened-in back porch with rocking chairs.

The culinary high point of your stay at the Farm will be a private, multi-course dinner prepared by 2025 Celebrity Chef Cassidee Dabney in the Wine Cellar at The Barn. A three-time James Beard Award nominee, Dabney is known for The Barn’s signature Foothills Cuisine^®, inspired by seasonal, farm-fresh products and produce grown in a garden a short walk away from The Barn. Each course will be accompanied by a wine chosen by 2025 NWWF Featured Sommelier Andy Chabot, who has grown The Barn’s wine collection from 17,000 to 166,000 bottles.

While at the Farm, participate in an adventure activity such as hiking, fly-fishing, cycling, clay shooting, horseback riding or boating. At the Wellhouse, you can choose between a conventional spa treatment or a more holistic experience such as Deep Woods Healing Meditation or Yoga.

You won’t want to leave the Blackberry properties, but the memories of your time there will mingle with the knowledge that you’ve extended a helping hand to our neediest children.

Insider's Info

This trip is for three (3) couples. Dates of visit must be selected within 90 days of the auction, planned for mutually agreeable dates and based on availability. Trip expires January 25, 2026. Availability is likely to be extremely limited during busy season and it is recommended the winning bidders offer flexibility with desired dates and plan in advance. Blackout dates include the month of October, holidays and Blackberry Farm event dates, including but not limited to February 16-19, 2025; March 2-5, 2025; March 23-26, 2025; April 6-9, 2025; May 4-7, 2025; May 18-21, 2025; June 22-25, 2025; July 27-30, 2025; August 24-27, 2025; September 21-24, 2025; and September 28-October 1, 2025. The appearance of Cassidee Dabney, Joey Edwards, Andy Chabot and Logan Griffin are based on their schedules and availability and not guaranteed. The trip to Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain must be taken consecutively. Room category will be best available at the time of booking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain are included served in the restaurants, beginning with dinner on the day of arrival and ending with breakfast on the day of departure, during restaurant hours. Adventure activity per person at Blackberry Farm is based on winners’ personal choice. The 80-minute spa treatments exclude enhancements and the Joanna Czech method. Gratuities are not included for the spa treatments. Non-alcoholic beverages and gratuities for your room and stated meals are included at both Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. Any additional activities, beverages and retail purchases will be billed at the end of the stay.

Donor

Blackberry Farm, Blackberry Mountain, Gargiulo Vineyards, OVID Napa Valley and Silver Oak Cellars
Private Air donated by Northern Jet