The Lifetime Achievement Award will recognize Robin Vail's founding role in the auction and her decades of continued leadership. The recognition will take place at the Live Auction Celebration on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

As a chair of the inaugural 1981 planning committee, Lail helped bring Auction Napa Valley to life. For the first auction, Lail was instrumental in rallying vintners to take part, using her extensive connections throughout the valley to recruit vintners to join the steering committee and donate lots.

Through her ongoing support and participation in many auctions since, she has helped grow it into one of the most successful charitable wine auctions in the world having donated $245 million to support health, education and children's wellness initiatives across Napa Valley. Over the years, she has served on numerous committees and task forces to help produce and evolve the auction.

Raised among the vines of Inglenook, founded by her great-granduncle Gustave Niebaum in 1879, she grew up at the winery, learning about vineyards and harvest from her father and legendary winemaker, John Daniel Jr.