The South’s Largest Wine Auction Grows Atlanta Fine Art, Bottlenecks Benefits Into Community

By Jannah Bolds
EIC, The Bold Opinion

More growth for the sweet South.

To kick off Spring 2026, The High Museum of Art wrapped its 34th annual Wine Auction; the museum’s largest fundraising event that directly affects exhibitions, programming, and arts education for Atlanta and its surrounding communities.

The weekend pushed The High into $37M range for funds raised and was full to the brim of activities including, a winemaker dinner, Palette & Pour: A vintners reception, and the finale live auction luncheon to cork the weekend.

(short recap video below)

In addition to the celebration, this year’s Winery of Honor, ZD Wines, has instilled their loyalty to the Wine Auction for thirty years and contributed their unwavering support for the Atlanta community.

“The High Museum of Art remains a cornerstone of culture in Atlanta,” said Rand Suffolk, Director at The High Museum of Art. “As we gather for our 34th year, we are especially excited to begin a new chapter for the Wine Auction at Pullman Yards — a setting that reflects both the rich history of our city and the continued evolution of this cherished event,” he added.

Weekend Breakdown…

Winemaker Dinner
An exclusive, culinary clash between Atlanta’s most talented chefs and exceptional vintners in an evening to tastefully connect both ends of the table.

Palette & Pour
An elevated evening and a new twist on an old tradition where guests sampled night-long pours from participating vintners and bites from local culinary artists. This alongside live spins with a matching ambiance was the precursor to the live auction.

Live Auction
In a crescendo to cap off the weekend, guests had the rare opportunity to sip wines from vintners’ private reserve accompanied by a seated luncheon. Following the feast, guests thrillingly engaged to bid on exclusive experiences, breathtaking trips, and, of course, rare wines.