Wine fest not at its best

The Naples Winter Wine Festival brings together captains of industry for a three-day Bacchanalian fest that features out-of-this-world auction lots such as a Rolls-Royce Dawn.

But is the event's fundraising a reliable economic indicator? After all, for $10,000 per couple, the wine festival attracts people who likely have a good pulse on the economy because of their stations in life. If the economic outlook is rosy, they might be inclined to spend more.

This year, the famed auction during the event raised $11.1 million for children's charities in Collier County. That's 12% less than the $12.55 million the auction raised in 2015 and it was the second consecutive annual decline.