The legacy of Joe Heitz is an outstanding portfolio of wine produced from some of the valley’s choicest grapevines.

Joe was a man who preferred to let the wine do the talking, although he was not one to shy away from discussions about how the Napa Valley wine industry had gotten to where it is or where it was headed.

His family has now taken the reins, continuing what their pioneering patriarch started nearly five decades ago.

Not much for song and dance, the Heitz clan often flies under the radar; and, as Joe would prefer, allows the wine to speak for itself.

However, this year, the Heitzes are smack dab in the spotlight. The Heitz family is chairing the 28th edition of Auction Napa Valley, one of the largest charity wine events in the world.

Auction Napa Valley 2008 takes place in a giant white tent on the fairway at Meadowood Resort, as it has now for nearly three decades.

The Heitz family has taken part in the auction since it began in 1981, “but we have a new sense of appreciation for the staff, the volunteers and our fellow vintners” since taking a leadership role, noted  winery president Kathleen Heitz Myers.

She has observed other fundraisers experiencing problems as newcomers get involved. “There are often lapses, a few fizzles ... not so with this auction. The Napa Valley Vintners keep it fresh and community spirit keeps it going.

“It’s been a great experience for us,” she added, speaking for her brother David, the winemaker, and her mother, Alice, revered as one of the wine country’s best cooks and a most gracious hostess. Years ago — before the valley was peppered with great restaurants — wineries entertained their clients at home. And one of the most coveted invitations was one for a meal prepared by Alice Heitz.

Myers said this year’s auction on Saturday night will be similar in format to that of last year, with some of her family’s favorite chefs preparing the meal that will be served throughout the auction. Manning the stoves in the culinary tents surrounding the auction venue will be Douglas Dale, of Wolfdale’s in Tahoe City; Ken Frank, chef/owner, La Toque; Christopher Kostow, chef at host Meadowood Resort; and Alan Wong, of Alan Wong’s in Honolulu.

“We have a few new things and a few surprises,” she added. “And, by popular demand, Jay Leno is returning  to kick things off with one of his incredible monologues.”

There are barrel and e-auctions taking place as well this year at Friday’s community event, Taste Napa Valley, incorporating “the most lots ever this year,” Myers noted. And participating wineries are hosting a wealth of hospitality events on Friday and Saturday, along with open houses throughout the valley Thursday night.

Outstanding Heitz wines

Heitz Wine Cellars is located in pristine hills east of St. Helena, known to locals as Spring Valley. In 1964, Joe and Alice Heitz acquired this 160-acre ranch and winery to accommodate a growing family wine business.

Constructed of hand-chiseled perlite in 1898, a gray stone cellar restored by Joe Heitz and outfitted with state-of-the-art production equipment safeguards oak barrels filled with aging wine.

Heitz Wine Cellars has earned countless accolades for its wines every year since 1961. Most notably, the family’s trio of vineyard-designated wines — Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — are the most popular in the company’s portfolio.

In fact, the winery’s exceptional Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has been a collector’s favorite for over 40 years.

Located on the west side of the valley just south of Oakville, the certified organic ranch is home to a proprietary cabernet sauvignon clone famed for producing small berries with an intensely purple hue and incredibly concentrated flavor, the Heitz family points out. Joe Heitz crafted the first memorable Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from this exquisite fruit in 1966.

Tom and Martha May have owned this much-heralded vineyard since 1963. The connection they made with Joe and Alice Heitz was a fortuitous moment in cabernet history.

When the Mays purchased the land and moved into their home, they were greeted with two bottles of Heitz wine that had been left as a welcome by the sellers. Impressed with the gift, the Mays decided to visit Heitz Wine Cellars. That marked the beginning of a friendship that quickly became one of the most important relationships in the winemaking industry. The Heitz family’s exclusive arrangement to buy the May family’s grapes began with their first harvest and continues today.

Wine Spectator underscored this wine’s legendary status by selecting Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as one of the top wines of the 20th century.

In addition to the exceptional cabernets Joe Heitz produced — wines that his family continues to make today — Heitz also offers consumers smaller productions of chardonnay, grignolino, zinfandel and Port.

“In our family, most of life’s memorable moments have involved sharing a bottle of fine wine with friends and family,” noted Myers. “Many of the personal and business relationships that we still treasure after three generations started around our dinner table.

“When people choose Heitz Cellars, they envision a classic wine and pure elegance that they can count on year after year. That is the heart and soul of our heritage. Our practices and methods have evolved over the years, but the quality of our wines and the integrity of our approach to the business — that is going to stay the same.”