The three-day Inspire Napa Valley Spring Wine Weekend, held April 24-26 at venues across Napa Valley, raised more than $2 million, with a portion of the funds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The remainder will fund Alzheimer’s and dementia research nationally by different organizations.

Founded in 2018 by Kerrin Laz, proprietor of K. Laz Wine Collection, the annual fundraiser has now generated more than $11 million to support Alzheimer’s research, care and advocacy efforts.

“Each year, this weekend becomes more personal,” Laz said. “Every vintner who shares their wine, every guest who attends, every bidder who raises a paddle is choosing to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

The weekend opened April 24 with a VIP dinner at Gamble Estates, where guests gathered for a communal Wine Country meal featuring wines from Oakville producers.

Programming on April 25 began at CIA at Greystone with the inaugural Research & Innovation Roundtable, moderated by Claire Day, chief mission and program strategy officer for the Alzheimer’s Association Northern California and Northern Nevada chapter. The discussion brought together members of Inspire Napa Valley’s scientific advisory board to discuss current developments in Alzheimer’s research.

Later that day, wine critics Antonio Galloni, founder of Vinous, and Ray Isle, executive wine editor of Food & Wine, led a seminar titled “A Deep Dive Into Oakville.”

The evening concluded with a grand tasting, dinner and live auction at Louis M. Martini Winery in St. Helena, where organizers presented the inaugural Inspire Award to Bettina Bryant of Bryant Estate. Since the event’s founding, Bryant has helped raise over $750,000 for the cause.

The weekend closed April 26 with a farewell brunch at the Ad Hoc + Addendum garden in Yountville, featuring Thomas Keller’s fried chicken and waffles, pastries from Bouchon Bakery and a mimosa and Bloody Mary bar.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association,over 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. In California, an estimated 720,000 residents age 65 and older are living with the disease.