An Intimate Evening with Blackbird Vineyards
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 7:00 pm
- Winery:
- Blackbird Vineyards
Join Blackbird Vineyards for an intimate reception and wine dinner at Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in Yountville. Tour Ma(i)sonry's sculpture garden and peruse the art, design and furnishings gallery prior to enjoying a wine-paired dinner prepared by Mandarin Oriental's chefs. Guests will mingle with proprietor Michael Polenske, president Paul Leary and winemaker Aaron Pott while partaking in an al fresco dinner under century-old olive trees.
- Winery: Blackbird Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Michael Polenske
- Aaron Pott
- Paul Leary
- Day: Thursday
- Title: An Intimate Evening with Blackbird Vineyards
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 7:00 pm
Dinner at Castello di Amorosa
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 7:00 p.m.
- Winery:
- Castello di Amorosa
A slice of Italy in Napa Valley. Please join us in our medieval castle for an evening not to be forgotten. Enjoy dinner in the Great Hall, then take a private tour unlike any other winery tour, as you'll go deep underground to visit not only our wine caves, but the torture chamber and the Grand Barrel room, home to the Il Barone, Castello di Amorosa's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Winery: Castello di Amorosa
- Attendee Bios:
- Georg Salzner
- Brooks Painter
- Dario Sattui
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Dinner at Castello di Amorosa
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Wine Country Attire
- Start Time: 7:00 p.m.
Polyester Pants-off Dance-off
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Clos Du Val
Who needs sipping and small talk when you can dance your pants off to the sounds of Wonderbread 5 at Clos Du Val? Join us as we transport you back to 1972, the year of our founding, with the most fabulous, fringe-laden fête of the weekend. Learn the meaning of "flour power" with retro-inspired passed party food and paired with awe-inspiring wines from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today! So, pack up your platforms and polyester and prepare to part-ay!
- Winery: Clos Du Val
- Attendee Bios:
- Wonderbread 5
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Polyester Pants-off Dance-off
- Max Guests: 70
- Attire: '70's Fun
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Del Dotto Italian Extravaganza
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Del Dotto Vineyards
Join the Del Dotto family for an Italian extravaganza. The evening will begin with passed appetizers enjoyed while barrel tasting from hand-selected barrels in our marble-lined "sacred cave." Dinner will be served under the amber Venetian chandelier in the Grand Venetian Marble Tasting Room, which features Carlo Marchiori's giants on the frescoed walls. Executive chef Joshua Schwartz will spin culinary magic as he creates an Italian-inspired meal (using some of the family's own secret recipes) for you to enjoy while listening to live Italian opera. The Del Dotto Family is looking forward to meeting you!
- Winery: Del Dotto Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Del Dotto Family
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Del Dotto Italian Extravaganza
- Max Guests: 40
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Five-Course Wine Dinner with John Komes
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards
Ask anyone who's shared a meal and a bottle of our Trilogy with second-generation owner John Komes and they'll tell you that you'll never experience anything quite like it. We invite you to join John for an evening of storytelling, inspired cuisine and his favorite single-vineyard Cabernets, with the Flora Springs family's 300-acre ranch and vineyards as the backdrop. The winery's award-winning private chef will prepare a five-course meal designed around our flagship Trilogy blend, as well as our small-production Cabernet Sauvignons. John lives for nights like this, so be ready to drink the good stuff!
- Winery: Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- John Komes
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Five-Course Wine Dinner with John Komes
- Max Guests: 30
- Attire: Evening Dinner
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Epicurean Delight
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Harbison Estate Wines
Joe and Pat Harbison invite you for a night of all things exquisite at their private estate situated in the heart of Oakville as they host guest chef Pajo Bruich. Chef Pajo was named one of the Top 10 Chefs in the United States for Molecular Gastronomy in 2011 by Gayot. His creative team will provide an interactive, multi-course dinner of local, sustainable and seasonal foods to please the senses and rouse the imagination. To pair with it, the Harbisons will share their new estate wines, including the 2009, which was one of the hot discoveries at 2011 Taste of Oakville, as well as their highly acclaimed 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Winery: Harbison Estate Wines
- Attendee Bios:
- Joe & Pat Habison
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Epicurean Delight
- Max Guests: 12
- Attire: Napa Casual -- bring a wrap
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
A Bit of Country Heaven
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Kenefick Ranch Winery
The beautiful and rugged Palisades mountain range is the perfect backdrop for a poolside steak barbecue at the Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga. Owner Tom Kenefick and winemaker Kent Jarman will be your hosts for a fun and spirited evening filled with great wine, hearty food and the start to lasting friendships.
- Winery: Kenefick Ranch Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Thomas Kenefick
- Day: Thursday
- Title: A Bit of Country Heaven
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Casual Western Attire
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Dinner Above the Napa Valley
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Kenzo Estate
You are cordially invited to an elegant evening at Kenzo Estate, hosted by owners Kenzo and Natsuko Tsujimoto, with winemaker Heidi Barrett and vineyard manager David Abreu joining in the evening's festivities. After a winery and cave tour, you'll enjoy an intimate dinner prepared by French-trained chef Fumio Yonezawa and held in the Tsujimotos' home, with its panoramic views of the estate's 3,800 acres.
- Winery: Kenzo Estate
- Attendee Bios:
- Kenzo Tsujimoto
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Dinner Above the Napa Valley
- Max Guests: 16
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Spanish Dinner with the Palmaz Family
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Palmaz Vineyards
The Palmaz family invites you to a festive evening of music, laughter and great food celebrating the traditions of Spain—all enjoyed with the wines of Napa Valley. Join the lively mother-daughter duo Amalia and Florencia Palmaz in preparing the quintessential Spanish dish, paella, in a party-size paella pan brought back from Barcelona by (Amalia? Florencia?), then sit down to your al fresco feast with plenty of Palmaz wines to accompany it. After dinner, take in a private concert and library selections of wine in the winery's vintage car museum.
- Winery: Palmaz Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Florencia Palmaz
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Spanish Dinner with the Palmaz Family
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
An Elegant Evening at Raymond
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Raymond Vineyards
Bubbles will abound as the evening begins with a reception in the exclusive, members-only Red Room. Here, in the velvet-ensconced lounge lit warmly by Baccarat chandeliers, guests will be greeted by Jean-Charles Boisset, and enjoy passed appetizers and Raymond's limited-edition Red Room wine. Dinner will be served in the Crystal Cellar, where guests will dine alongside candle-lit stainless steel tanks and under Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Dinner will be prepared by renowned Napa Valley chef Michel Cornu and paired with rare library wines dating back to the 1970s.
- Winery: Raymond Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Jean-Charles Boisset
- Stephanie Putnam
- Day: Thursday
- Title: An Elegant Evening at Raymond
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Black Tie
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Launch Auction Napa Valley with a Mountain top Experience!
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Schweiger Vineyards
Join the Schweigers—one of Napa Valley's multi-generational winemaking families—2,000 feet above the valley floor at their enchanting estate winery for a fun-filled evening of phenomenal wines paired with a delectable repast. In celebration of another extraordinary year of Auction Napa Valley, you'll be treated to rare Schweiger vintages from patriarch Fred's personal cellar that perfectly showcase the terroir of the family's acclaimed vineyards. The musical talents of special guest David Pack will round out the evening, and perhaps even winemaker Andrew Schweiger will get out his saxophone and join in. Anything can happen—and you won't want to miss out on the party that everyone will be talking about the rest of the weekend!
- Winery: Schweiger Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Fred, Sally, Andew, and Diana Schweiger
- ROB WILSON
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Launch Auction Napa Valley with a Mountain top Experience!
- Max Guests: 40
- Attire: Casual
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Summertime… and the living is easy
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Shafer Vineyards
Leave your stresses at home for this summer revel in Stags Leap District. Join the Shafer family for a relaxed, informal evening of great wine, conversation, feasting and fun. Your hosts will pull some special wines from the cellar, while Chef Peter Hall serves a mesmerizing menu of seasonal summer fare off the grill.
- Winery: Shafer Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- John and Doug Shafer
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Summertime… and the living is easy
- Max Guests: 30
- Attire: Casual, Elegant
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
40 & Fabulous
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Silver Oak Cellars
2012 is the year to visit Silver Oak as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in Duncan family style. Indulge your senses as you savor rare library wines selected by hosts Kary and David Duncan and director of winemaking Daniel Baron and his wife, Gwyneth. Wines will be paired to perfection with a sumptuous celebratory feast created by winery chef Dominic Orsini just for the occasion. Slip into our candlelit Party Lounge and relax to the silky jazz stylings of R&B/Jazz multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson as you nibble on petite sweet endings. Get ready to be pampered… your party hat awaits!
- Winery: Silver Oak Cellars
- Attendee Bios:
- David Duncan
- Daniel Baron
- Day: Thursday
- Title: 40 & Fabulous
- Max Guests: 40
- Attire: Cocktail
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars—The Ultimate Estate Experience
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Come experience the breathtaking beauty of the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars estate while you enjoy our iconic wines in our favorite settings on the property. Celebrated chef Mark Dommen of San Francisco's One Market Restaurant will be creating signature dishes for you to enjoy for the evening's feast. His modern take on American cuisine earned the restaurant a Michelin star for the fifth year in a row in the 2012 Guide. Our winemaker, Nicki Pruss, will be digging deep into the cellar to find the perfect estate wines to match. As our guest, you'll experience our picturesque FAY Overlook (with sweeping views of our estate vineyards and the Stags Leap Palisades), our modern Cellarius Kitchen and the elegant Great Room of our caves. The dinner will conclude in the Round Room with dessert “under the stars.” Truly a night to remember… Stag's Leap Wine Cellars looks forward to hosting you in celebration of the 32nd annual Auction Napa Valley!
- Winery: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
- Attendee Bios:
- Nicki Pruss
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars—The Ultimate Estate Experience
- Max Guests: 35
- Attire: Dressy Casual to Festive Attire
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Evening on the Oakville Vineyard
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Tamber Bey
Enjoy an evening under the stars as Tamber Bey vintner Barry Waitte hosts a dinner prepared by Villagio Chef Kevin Miller and paired with Tamber Bey wines. The evening includes a tour of the gardens and horse stables before we sit down to dinner on the veranda overlooking our Oakville vineyard.
- Winery: Tamber Bey
- Attendee Bios:
- Barry and Jennifer Waitte
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Evening on the Oakville Vineyard
- Max Guests: 24
- Attire: Napa Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Estate Dinner
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Trefethen Family Vineyards
Here's a reason to celebrate: 45 years in Napa Valley! The Trefethen family will be honoring this milestone with a Sapphire Anniversary Party - Auction Napa Valley style. "Gems" and "hidden jewels" from Trefethen's wine library will glimmer in the stunning "setting" of our estate gardens, from which the evening's culinary treats will be featured. We will sapp"fire" up the grill for a sumptuous al fresco dinner and pull a few classic 45s out for twilight dancing under the cobalt evening sky. .
- Winery: Trefethen Family Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Trefethen Family
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Estate Dinner
- Max Guests: 36
- Attire: Festive yet Casual Sapphire attire requested
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Bowling & Lobster Feed at Crush Ultra Lounge
- Day:
- Thursday, May 31
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Trinitas Cellars
Trinitas Cellars owners Tim, Steph and Garrett Busch invite you to join them for a fun and memorable evening at the Meritage Resort and Spa, an idyllic Napa Valley luxury hotel and resort set against rolling hills and vineyards. The evening will begin in the Crush Ultra Lounge with a reception featuring a selection of Trinitas' wines. Guests are encouraged to jump on a team and hit the six brand-new bowling lanes in the lounge. After a little friendly competition and wine, guests will retreat to the outdoor terrace to enjoy an awesome and bountiful lobster feed. Lobster, prawns, sausage, corn, artichokes, garlic and more will be poured out on the table to be eaten by hand—but don't worry, bibs and wipes are provided! Then we will dance the night away to the sounds of a local band.
- Winery: Trinitas Cellars
- Attendee Bios:
- Garrett Busch
- Tim & Steph Busch
- Kevin Mills
- Day: Thursday
- Title: Bowling & Lobster Feed at Crush Ultra Lounge
- Max Guests: 30
- Attire: Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Gotham Bar & Grill - Greenwich Village Comes to Araujo Estate
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Araujo Estate Wines
Chef Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill received his first three-star rating from the New York Times more than 25 years ago. His dedication to sourcing quality ingredients from small farms has long-identified him as a leader of New American Cuisine. Araujo Estate is honored to have had its Eisele Vineyard Cabernet on Gotham's wine list since the 1992 vintage. Please join Daphne and Bart Araujo and the Gotham team for a continuation of this enduring partnership with a sparkling wine garden reception followed by an exquisite dinner in the wine caves at Araujo Estate.
- Winery: Araujo Estate Wines
- Attendee Bios:
- Bart and Daphne Araujo
- Day: Friday
- Title: Gotham Bar & Grill - Greenwich Village Comes to Araujo Estate
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
An Evening of Ariettas, Behind the Curtain
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Arietta
Description: Step backstage with Fritz and Caren Hatton, proprietors of Arietta, at their Victorian home in Saint Helena for an evening of epicurean masterpieces, virtuoso wines and harmonious music. Cindy Pawlcyn, one of Napa Valley's best-known and best-loved chefs (Mustards Grill, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, Brassica), will personally prepare and present a four-course meal—which means the party most certainly will venture into the kitchen! An operatic range of Arietta wines will be served, and each couple may nominate any wine in the Arietta library for a command performance at dinner. Between an overture of appetizers in the garden and the culinary tour de force at the table, guests will be serenaded by Vanessa Conlin, Arietta's Director of Sales (and a professional opera singer), accompanied by Arietta proprietor Fritz Hatton and his well-lubricated fingers at the piano.
- Winery: Arietta
- Attendee Bios:
- Fritz Hatton
- Cindy Pawlcyn
- Day: Friday
- Title: An Evening of Ariettas, Behind the Curtain
- Max Guests: 8
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Dinner at BOND
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- BOND
Bill and Deborah Harlan, along with winemaker Bob Levy and estate director and Master Sommelier Paul Roberts, invite you to an intimate and enchanting evening among friends at the BOND Winery. Enjoy a unique culinary experience prepared by Michelin 3-star chef Christopher Kostow, Executive Chef at The Restaurant at Meadowood, wines from the BOND library, stimulating conversation and engaging entertainment in a breathtaking hillside setting overlooking the Napa Valley.
- Winery: BOND
- Attendee Bios:
- Bill & Deborah Harlan
- Day: Friday
- Title: Dinner at BOND
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Wine Country Elegant
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Clones, Cops and Cabernet - Dinner and a Story in the Caldwell Caves
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Caldwell Vineyard and Winery
John and Joy Caldwell want you to join them for an evening of revelry, cavorting and storytelling in the Caldwell caves. You'll be on the edge of your seat as you get the real story about how John smuggled six of France's best Bordeaux clones across the US border. While you listen, savor a four-course dinner of gastronomic delights prepared by chef and sommelier Gary Penir, formerly of the Michelin-starred Cyrus Restaurant, and paired with Caldwell's signature wines, plus a few special bottles from John's invitation-only Society of Smugglers club. End the night with the dark side of chocolate and cigars… smuggler style, as you learn about one of the oldest vineyards planted in the eastern hills of Napa's newly appointed Coombsville appellation.
- Winery: Caldwell Vineyard and Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Joy & John Caldwell
- Day: Friday
- Title: Clones, Cops and Cabernet - Dinner and a Story in the Caldwell Caves
- Max Guests: 8
- Attire: Dressy
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Perfectly Paired
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Colgin Cellars
Ann Colgin and Joe Wender invite you to an intimate and festive evening at the beautiful Colgin Cellars "IX Estate" Winery. Savor a selection of Colgin wines from the library cellar, as well as current releases that will pair perfectly with the magnificent culinary experience prepared by Michelin 3-star Chef Thomas Keller and the French Laundry team. The enchanting evening will be filled with engaging hospitality and exciting amusement that you won't want to miss!
- Winery: Colgin Cellars
- Attendee Bios:
- Ann Colgin & Joe Wender
- Day: Friday
- Title: Perfectly Paired
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Cocktail
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Tim & Marcia's Continuum Dinner
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Continuum Estate
Dine with Continuum Estate founders Marcia and Tim Mondavi poolside under the stars at Tim's magnificent Napa Valley home. Your hosts will weave the magical tale of Continuum and the Mondavis' 100 years of wine-growing excellence as you tour Tim's private wine cellar, then enjoy an incredible chef's menu prepared by Napa culinary legend and author Sara Scott. Each dish will be expertly paired with sumptuous wines from Tim's cellar, including multiple vintages of Continuum, as well as some of his past golden hits: Robert Mondavi Reserve, Opus One and Ornellaia. Join the Mondavi family and Continuum for this once-in-a-lifetime dinner.
- Winery: Continuum Estate
- Attendee Bios:
- Marcia and Tim Mondavi
- Day: Friday
- Title: Tim & Marcia's Continuum Dinner
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive Attire
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Dinner at Dalla Valle
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Dalla Valle Vineyards
Ten guests are invited to an elegant dinner at the hillside home of Naoko Dalla Valle in Oakville. The dinner will be prepared by Richard Reddington of Redd Napa Valley, and feature various vintages of Maya.
- Winery: Dalla Valle Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Richard Reddington
- Naoko Dalla Valle
- Day: Friday
- Title: Dinner at Dalla Valle
- Max Guests: 10
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Evening at Dana Estates
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Dana Estates
Enjoy a private dinner at the winery with Hi Sang Lee and Jae Chun, proprietors of Dana Estates. Chef Corey Lee of Benu restaurant in San Francisco wil prepare a memorable meal, which will be paired with wines from Dana Estates, along with special gems pulled from the proprietors' personal cellar.
- Winery: Dana Estates
- Attendee Bios:
- Hi Sang Lee
- Jae M. Chun
- Day: Friday
- Title: Evening at Dana Estates
- Max Guests: 10
- Attire: Napa Valley Elegant
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Chef's Table with Gary Danko
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Darioush
Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi invite you to join them for an intimate and engaging take on the chef's table in their winery's grand tasting room. Renowned chef and close friend Gary Danko will share some of his beloved French dishes, those that shaped his unique style in his first years of wearing the toque. With each small-plate course and wine pairing, enjoy chef Danko's fascinating culinary journey and Darioush's inspirational story. As you converse and celebrate, you'll enjoy special selections from Darioush's private wine collection and rare vintages of Darioush signature wines.
- Winery: Darioush
- Attendee Bios:
- Darioush & Shahpar Khaledi
- Gary Danko
- Day: Friday
- Title: Chef's Table with Gary Danko
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
A Casual Evening at Diamond Creek Vineyards with Proprietor Boots Brounstein
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Diamond Creek Vineyards
Come enjoy the wines and idyllic beauty of Diamond Creek, California's first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon estate. Dinner will be served by candlelight overlooking our spectacular vineyards, waterfalls and rose gardens, with Boots Brounstein as your host for the evening.
- Winery: Diamond Creek Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Boots Brounstein
- Day: Friday
- Title: A Casual Evening at Diamond Creek Vineyards with Proprietor Boots Brounstein
- Max Guests: 14
- Attire: Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Private Tasting Dinner at étoile
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Domaine Chandon
As the only fine dining restaurant within a winery in Napa Valley, étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon epitomizes the very best that wine country dining has to offer. Its innovative, wine-inspired cuisine and sophisticated surroundings set the stage for this evening's ultimate wine and food experience. Join us at the Michelin-starred étoile Restaurant for a caviar and sparkling wine reception to begin the evening in style. Following the reception, indulge in a sumptuous six-course meal hosted by winemaker Tom Tiburzi and expertly paired with Chandon sparkling and still wines.
- Winery: Domaine Chandon
- Attendee Bios:
- Tom Tiburzi
- Day: Friday
- Title: Private Tasting Dinner at étoile
- Max Guests: 12
- Attire: Festive Attire
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Local Farmers Shine at Gargiulo Vineyards
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 7:00 pm
- Winery:
- Gargiulo Vineyards
Jeff and Valerie Gargiulo invite you to their beautiful Oakville estate winery for an incredible evening featuring the cuisine of Michelin 2-star chef Joseph Humphrey—previously of Meadowood Napa Valley and Sausalito's Murray Circle at Cavallo Point Resort—and the single-vineyard wines of Gargiulo Vineyards. Joseph, who is set to open one of San Francisco’s hottest new restaurants, Dixie, this year, will take inspiration for the evening's repast from his previous experience at some of the Bay Area's most acclaimed restaurants, including not only Meadowood Napa Valley and Cavallo Point, but Michael Mina and Auberge du Soleil. This evening’s dinner will be built around ingredients sourced from Greenleaf, the Bay Area's top supplier of locally farmed produce, and paired with Gargiulo’s estate Cabernet Sauvignons. And as in past years, the evening will include music from Jeff Gargiulo and other professional musicians.
- Winery: Gargiulo Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Jeff and Valerie Gargiulo
- Day: Friday
- Title: Local Farmers Shine at Gargiulo Vineyards
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 7:00 pm
Celebrate Cabernet
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- HALL
Join vintner Kathryn Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, and Steve Leveque, Director of Winemaking, as we celebrate Cabernet at HALL Napa Valley. We'll toast the sunset enjoying sweeping views of Napa Valley from the terrace before heading into the caves for an intimate dining experience. Dinner will feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients expertly paired with artisan Cabernet Sauvignons available only from the winery. The color of the evening will be red, so break out your best reds and we'll do the same! As Kathryn explains, "Napa Valley has long produced some of the world's truly extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignons. Craig and I are proud for HALL to be considered a part of this tradition." Join us for a special celebration and support Auction Napa Valley, another important tradition for 32 years.
- Winery: HALL
- Attendee Bios:
- Kathryn and Craig Hall
- Day: Friday
- Title: Celebrate Cabernet
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Your best Reds
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
An Evening with Hudson Vineyards and Quince Restaurant
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Hudson Vineyards
Lee Hudson and Cristina Salas-Porras of Hudson Vineyards and Michael Tusk of Quince Restaurant invite you to join them for an evening celebrating the rustic side of Renaissance. Experience the legendary wines of Hudson Vineyards from Lee's private cellar, discover the subtle art of pasta making in a demonstration by chef Michael and explore the eclectic art of collection of Casa Calabasa. It promises to be a feast with friends.
- Winery: Hudson Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Lee Hudson
- Cristina Salas-Porras
- Michael Tusk
- Day: Friday
- Title: An Evening with Hudson Vineyards and Quince Restaurant
- Max Guests: 14
- Attire: Napa Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Inspired Napa Valley: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Knights Bridge Winery
Travel through decades of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon history with an intimate dinner prepared and hosted by chef/vintner Tim Carl at the Knights Bridge Winery "Serendip House" in Calistoga. Enjoy wines from the legendary vintages and vintners of the past three decades that are the inspiration for the prize-vineyard, small-lot wines of Knights Bridge. As a professional chef, Tim has designed each course to showcase the terroir-driven character of each of the evening's library selections. The dinner culminates with a tasting of the most acclaimed limited-production wines of Knights Bridge from winemaker-to-watch Jeff Ames.
- Winery: Knights Bridge Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Tim Carl, Jim Bailey, Tom Costin and Essel Bailey
- Day: Friday
- Title: Inspired Napa Valley: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Max Guests: 16
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Racing & Wine on the Mountain
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Lokoya
Join us for a "racy" evening at 1,800 feet, on the top of our Veeder Peak Vineyard, overlooking the Napa Valley. To join us on the mountain, you will be whisked from the valley floor to the mountain peak in a precision automobile. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by your hosts for the evening, Stephan Johansson, Formula 1 racing star, and Christopher Carpenter, award-winning Lokoya winemaker. Both will entertain you with stories of the precision, triumph and attention to detail that make them both experts in their respective crafts. And we promise that all of your senses will be fully engaged during an exquisite vineyard dinner prepared by our estate chef and paired with wines pulled from deep within Lokoya's library.
- Winery: Lokoya
- Attendee Bios:
- Christopher Carpenter
- Day: Friday
- Title: Racing & Wine on the Mountain
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Wine Country Casual
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
A Prime Night at Nickel & Nickel
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Nickel & Nickel
Indulge in a night of decadence, steakhouse-style, in the candlelit barrel cellar at Nickel & Nickel. Savor prime steaks and the classic sides paired with big reds from Nickel & Nickel's single-vineyard Cabernet collection, selected from six famous Napa Valley AVAs. Served up with a heaping dose of warm hospitality compliments of your hostess, proprietress Beth Nickel, this promises to be a blue-chip experience you won't soon forget.
- Winery: Nickel & Nickel
- Attendee Bios:
- Beth Nickel, Larry Maguire
- Day: Friday
- Title: A Prime Night at Nickel & Nickel
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Everything is Original
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- Winery:
- Oakville Ranch Vineyards and Saintsbury
“Everyone is an original” and this collaboration is most certainly just that! Join Saintsbury and Oakville Ranch along with The Fairmont San Francisco for a magical and relaxing evening under the stars (we hope). High above the valley, guests will enjoy incredible wines representing two celebrated appellations, Carneros and Oakville, paired with an intimate dining experience created by The Fairmont San Francisco's Executive chef, J.W. Foster and his illustrious team. Richard Ward, proprietor of Saintsbury and winemaker Jerome Chery will entice you with luscious pinot noirs and delight you with the lore of their favorite grape. The girls of Oakville Ranch Mary Miner, proprietress, Anne Vawter, wine maker and Paula Kornell, General Manager, love to have fun and are sure to create a memorable night as they share their elegant mountainous cabernets.
- Winery: Oakville Ranch Vineyards and Saintsbury
- Attendee Bios:
- Day: Friday
- Title: Everything is Original
- Max Guests: 15
- Attire:
- Start Time:
A Celebration of the Year of the Dragon
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Opus One
Please join us to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon at Opus One. Dragon years are said to be marked by vitality, exhilaration and intensity—words that perfectly recall our founders, Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Our four-course dinner will evoke the convivial spirit of the dragon, honoring its potential to breathe life-creating fire into our hopes and dreams.
- Winery: Opus One
- Attendee Bios:
- David Pearson
- Michael Silacci
- Roger Asleson
- Robert Fowles
- Robert Roux
- Day: Friday
- Title: A Celebration of the Year of the Dragon
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Black Tie
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Dinner at Ovid Napa Valley
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Ovid Napa Valley
You are cordially invited to join winemakers Austin Peterson and Andy Erickson and Ovid partners Janet Pagano, Mark Nelson and Dana Johnson for an evening filled with stunning views, sumptuous food and wines to remember. Ten guests will enjoy an intimate and lively dinner at Ovid Napa Valley's winery perched on Pritchard Hill, 1,400 feet above the heart of Napa Valley. Executive chef and partner Matthew Dolan from San Francisco's Twenty Five Lusk will pair his farm-fresh and seasonally driven New American cuisine with an array of Bordeaux-style wines from Ovid's acclaimed estate vineyards. Ovid has a growing reputation as one of the most exciting new wineries in Napa Valley and Twenty Five Lusk was named one of the best new restaurants in the US in 2011 by Esquire Magazine; come see how 1 + 1 can add up to more than 2! [Limousine service provided to and from the dinner.]
- Winery: Ovid Napa Valley
- Attendee Bios:
- Day: Friday
- Title: Dinner at Ovid Napa Valley
- Max Guests: 10
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Dinner in the Art Gallery
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 8:00 pm
- Winery:
- Paoletti Estates Winery
Join Los Angeles restaurateur and Paoletti Estates owner Gianni Paoletti for an evening filled with art for both the eyes and the palate. We'll start with a reception in the family's private art gallery in the caves, then join Gianni in his home for an elegant dinner he will both prepare and host. World-class wines from our private wine cellar will be poured throughout this extraordinary evening.
- Winery: Paoletti Estates Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Gianni Paoletti
- Day: Friday
- Title: Dinner in the Art Gallery
- Max Guests: 8
- Attire: Dressy Casual
- Start Time: 8:00 pm
A Higher Calling
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 5:30 pm
- Winery:
- Pride Mountain Vineyards
Ten years of Auction Napa Valley! 2012 marks Pride's 10th year of welcoming the valley's most esteemed guests to the top of Spring Mountain for a magical start to the country's premier wine event. Join the Pride family in commemorating the occasion with a memorable, not-to-be missed evening featuring chef Peter Hall's deservedly renowned cuisine and selections by Steve Pride from the winery's cellar. Sean Allen, guitarist for Carlene Carter, will contribute the evening's soundtrack, while the estate's caves and vineyard terrace will provide a backdrop so striking as to need no further adornment.
- Winery: Pride Mountain Vineyards
- Attendee Bios:
- Steve Pride
- Suzanne Pride Bryan
- Carolyn Pride
- Day: Friday
- Title: A Higher Calling
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Dressy Casual (layers encouraged)
- Start Time: 5:30 pm
Dinner with Jim Regusci
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Regusci Winery
Join vintner and third-generation Napa Valley farmer Jim Regusci at Regusci Ranch, a 290-acre jewel located in the heart of the Stags Leap District, for an evening of wine, fine cuisine and friendship in the surrounds of the property's historic 1870s-era winery building. Set among the wine barrels in Angelo's Room, dinner will be prepared by Masaharu Morimoto, the world-renowned chef, restaurateur and star of "Iron Chef" and "Iron Chef America." Chef Morimoto has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese cuisine, and to go with his creations, we have selected classic wines from the family cellar. Stags Leap is the oldest district within the Napa Valley AVA and produces some of the most distinctive wines from within the region. Regusci offers a unique view into the past, calling on three generations of farming history in the Valley, but its sense of hospitality is firmly rooted in the present, and we look forward to hosting you.
- Winery: Regusci Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Jim Regusci
- Day: Friday
- Title: Dinner with Jim Regusci
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Robert Mondavi Winery Four-Decade Dinner
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 5:30 pm
- Winery:
- Robert Mondavi Winery
Margrit Mondavi and Director of Winemaking Genevieve Janssens are your hosts for this special evening's Four-Decade Dinner, to be held in the Vineyard Room, nestled along the edge of the historic To Kalon Vineyard. For the dinner, we'll dig deep into the cellar and showcase stand-out vintages that span our history from the 1970s onward.
- Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Margrit Mondavi
- Genevieve Janssens
- Stefan Johansson
- Day: Friday
- Title: Robert Mondavi Winery Four-Decade Dinner
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Napa Valley Chic
- Start Time: 5:30 pm
An Intimate Dinner at the Spottswoode Estate
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
In celebration of our 30th anniversary as a winery and of our 40 years of living at Spottswoode, Beth and Mary Novak invite you to a spectacular evening and dinner at the historic Spottswoode Estate in St. Helena. Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, of Terra in St. Helena and Ame in San Francisco, will prepare a magnificent meal to pair beautifully with our wines, of which there will be no shortage! This intimate dinner will be enjoyed on the deck overlooking the estate vineyard, weather permitting; if not, the dining room in the estate (Mary's private home) is equally inviting as a setting. We look forward to welcoming you to Spottswoode for what promises to be a truly wonderful evening of exceptional food, wine and camaraderie!
- Winery: Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
- Attendee Bios:
- Beth & Mary Novak
- Day: Friday
- Title: An Intimate Dinner at the Spottswoode Estate
- Max Guests: 12
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Alfresco Dining with the Staglins
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Staglin Family Vineyard
Garen, Shari, Brandon and Shannon Staglin look forward to hosting you for an unforgettable dining experience. The evening will begin with cocktails on the loggia of the Staglin residence overlooking the beautiful Napa Valley. Guests will then enjoy a leisurely stroll past the winery caves to the Steckter House, originally built in 1864, where dinner will commence on its edible gardens patio. Chefs Tyler Rodde & Curtis Di Fede from Oenotri will prepare a delicious meal paired with an impressive selection of library and large-format Staglin wines from the Staglins' personal cellar. We'll conclude the evening with dancing under the starry Rutherford skies.
- Winery: Staglin Family Vineyard
- Attendee Bios:
- Garen & Shari Staglin
- Day: Friday
- Title: Alfresco Dining with the Staglins
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:00 pm
Experience Vineyard 29
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:30 pm
- Winery:
- Vineyard 29
Join Chuck and Anne McMinn for a quintessential Napa Valley evening filled with delectable summer fare and the perfect wines to match. Start a beautiful summer evening on the terrace overlooking the valley with nibbles to whet your appetite and the latest wines from our exciting Cru portfolio. Then, after a stroll through Vineyard 29's elegant caves, it's off to our wine library, where the real festivities begin! Renowned Napa Valley private chef Sarah Heller will delight your senses with locally sourced and seasonally inspired selections designed to pair sublimely with Vineyard 29's wines from both our Aida and 29 Estate. And, as always, treats and surprises are sure to fill this unforgettable evening.
- Winery: Vineyard 29
- Attendee Bios:
- Chuck & Anne McMinn
- Day: Friday
- Title: Experience Vineyard 29
- Max Guests: 20
- Attire: Festive
- Start Time: 6:30 pm
Sunset on Spring Mountain!
- Day:
- Friday, June 1
- Time:
- 6:00 pm
- Winery:
- Vineyard 7 & 8
Please join the Steffens family and winemaker Luc Morlet on the top of Spring Mountain for a French-inspired Napa Valley experience. The evening will begin with a tour of our caves and barrel tasting of future wines. Then, as you take in the majestic and panoramic views at sunset, Thomas Keller's team from the Michelin-rated Bouchon will prepare a five-course meal paired with the handcrafted wines of Vineyard 7 & 8, including special selections from our library. .
- Winery: Vineyard 7 & 8
- Attendee Bios:
- Launny and Weezie Steffens
- Wesley Steffens
- Luc Morlet
- Alissa Aurecchione
- Day: Friday
- Title: Sunset on Spring Mountain!
- Max Guests: 16
- Attire: Dressy Casual or Festive
- Start Time: 6:00 pm