The International Chardonnay Symposium, the world’s foremost gathering of top global Chardonnay winemakers, sommeliers, journalists, wine industry leaders, foodies and oenophiles will feature a star-studded panel and guided tasting tour of the most storied and seminal Chardonnay regions in France at this year’s celebration May 12-14. “France has long been the standard-bearer of Chardonnay, and this spotlight and panel discussion comes at an exciting time since France’s classic, lean-and-bright style is clearly influencing winemakers the world over, especially here in California,” says Brian Talley, a Symposium advisory board member and...

Photos courtesy of InterContinental Hotel San Francisco/ Connie Perez Wong Chef Daniel Corey of Luce at the InterContinental® San Francisco announces the top student finalists in the annual Culinary Clash competition in partnership with the International Culinary Center. Entering its fifth year, students submitted three-course menus with corresponding recipes for the opportunity to cook with Luce’s Michelin-star Chef Daniel Corey and win scholarship money. Starting on March 6, 2016, three student teams will showcase their menus at Luce on a designated Sunday evening. The dinner is judged by a panel of hotel executives, local personalities,...

You’ll find hundreds of destinations, tour operators and travel suppliers from around the globe, who combine to put thousands of travel experts right at your fingertips. Become inspired to take that dream vacation by attending seminars featuring top travel celebrity experts such as Samantha Brown, Rick Steves, Pauline Frommer and Johnny Jet on the Travel Theater. Become your own travel expert on the Savvy Traveler Theater, where seasoned travelers will give you the tips and skills you need to maximize your next vacation. Find out the top places to go and see on your next vacation from local experts as they present 30 minute workshops...

By Liz Bernardo Photography by Nash Bernardo Last Thursday, February 18, 2016, Rich and Leslie Frank, proprietors of Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga, hosted a Trade and Media Dinner to celebrate a great start to Premiere Napa Valley 2016. The day also coincided with National Drink Wine Day, which is celebrated annually to spread the love and health benefits of wine across America. Entering the winery’s fermentation room, we were greeted with a fireball contact juggling performer and a very impressive acrobatic dancer. We enjoyed the magical performance while sipping on the winery’s 2012 Blanc de Blanc and 2012 Brut Rose wines. We also...

The second annual Yountville Live, the country’s ultimate and intimate food, wine and music celebration takes place in Yountville, California, the culinary capital of the Napa Valley from March 31 – April 3, 2016, featuring a star-studded line-up of rock-star chefs, the finest Napa Valley wines, and chart-topping musical acts to offer special up close and personal, semi-acoustic sets by The Goo Goo Dolls, American Idol Winner Kris Allen, Mayer Hawthorne, and Plain White T’s with emerging artist performances sprinkled throughout the weekend. Dozens of the valley’s celebrated vintners, including Trinchero Family Estates, Jessup Cellars,...

By Kathryn Holland Besser Photography by Rey Del Fierro Some of the very best in food, fashion and lifestyle programming were honored at the 7th Annual TASTE AWARDS at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theater on February 11th. GEV was there to congratulate the winners and rub elbows with the food and fashion glitterati who came to celebrate. The Awards Show featured a star-studded lineup, including celebrity presenters Brian Boitano (Food Network, HGTV), Bobby Bognar (History Channel, Bio Channel), Jolene Sugarbaker (YouTube), Marisa Churchill (Bravo’s Top Chef, Author), Bret Harris (Indiegogo), Jake Wall (Project Runway),...

Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is setting the stage for the Silver Anniversary of Zinfandel Experience 2016, affectionately known as ZinEx. This highly anticipated, annual three-day extravaganza of tastings features illustrious culinary partners, seminars, and once-in-a-lifetime winemaker dinners. With a special nod to its quarter century status as the educational resource behind “America’s Heritage Grape,” the San Francisco based event, taking place Thursday, February 25 through Saturday, February 27, will offer more face time with both the legends and rising stars of the Zinfandel world during five celebratory...

Single day passes for the fourth annual BottleRock Napa Valley music, wine, food, and craft brew festival, presented by JaM Cellars on May 27 – 29, 2016, will be available February 2 at 10:00 a.m. PST and may be purchased at BottleRockNapaValley.com and Eventbrite.com. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their passes early. Three-day General Admission, VIP and VIP Plus Skydeck passes are sold out and a limited quantity of single day passes will be available starting at $109 per person.   The legendary Stevie Wonder will kick-off the festival on Friday, May 27, followed by indie rock superstars Florence + The Machine on...