The economic news may be dismal but Auction Napa Valley still managed to do quite well, coming in 5% over last year and raising $10.35 million for local charities. The weekend event in Napa Valley, California drew guests from around the world to bid on barrel futures, one-of-a-kind wines, winery vertical collections and rare bottlings of Napa Valley wines that were often partnered with vintner-hosted events, luxury items and travel. Jay Leno served as the host of the Live Auction and guests included Congressman Mike Thompson and first time attendee, Oprah Winfrey. Check out some of the fun in the gallery below.

One of the most famous figures in American winemaking, Robert Mondavi, died on Friday. Mondavi, who was 94, was considered "the Father of Napa" and is credited with bringing Napa Valley and California wine in general to worldwide attention and fame. When he started creating wine it was assumed that only Europe could make good wine. By studying with and partnering with some of the great wine families of Europe he created many great wines.

While the future of the Mondavi wines themselves may be in question, Mondavi's influence on modern winemaking cannot be overstated. His legacy is more than the wines that bear his name but is instead a whole new way of thinking about New World wine that has led to quality wines not just in Napa but all around the U.S. and other parts of the world. Mondavi also donated millions of dollars to the University of California at Davis, which offers many winemaking programs, and founded the the art and wine center, Copia and was committed to advancing wine education.

Robert Mondavi isn't just in the wine business, now they are in the wine glass business with a new Mondavi-branded wine collection. Like the Reidel glasses that I adore, these are varietal-specific shapes designed to enhance the nuances of each each wine. There is also a martini glass for those who aren't oenophiles. At $50 per pair, they aren't for casual gatherings.