At Wine Festival, party before you party

This year at the Naples Winter Wine Festival, there's going to be a special party before the party.

Prince Robert of Luxembourg will host a special wine tasting at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples on Jan. 26. His Royal Highness is the president and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon, parent company of Chateau Haut-Brion and the adjoining Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion.

The red wine from the Chateau Haut-Brion property in the Bordeaux region of France is one of just five with France's top wine classification. The prince will be on hand to give guests a taste of five of the best vintages from the chateaux: 1961, 1982, 1989, 1990 and 2000.

The event is limited to 70 people and each ticket to the event costs $2,500. Besides the tastings, it includes lunch at the Ritz-Carlton with two additional “surprise” rare vintage wines.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised nearly $95 million for child-focused charities in Collier County since 2001. Festival tickets for the three-day festival that starts Jan. 27 cost $8,500 per couple. The highlight of the festival is the auction of extravagant lots, ranging from sports cars to exotic trips.