DAVID ARTHUR VINEYARDS of St. Helena CA will host a 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Celebration on June 22, 2013 as a member of Team Fox, benefiting The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). David Arthur Vineyards aims to raise $350,000 or more to enable MJFF to continue aggressively funding research to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The Vineyards will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary by hosting a Gala Dinner and Celebration where all proceeds from the event will benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). David Arthur...

  Celebrate Cinco De Mayo early at the Centre du Vin French Bistro at the Ledson Hotel (www.ledsonhotel.com) with a live performance from Luna Itzel. Friday, May 3 the very talented Luna Itzel will be performing contemporary Mexican music at two dinner shows: 6pm – 7:30pm and 8pm – 9:30pm. Dinner reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (707) 996-9779. Luna Itzel has the most beautiful and expressive voice on Mexico’s contemporary music scene. Fourteen years of a dynamic career and seven albums have allowed her to interpret a variety of musical styles. For Itzel, the...

“I get asked all the time how much Syrah is in our Pinot Noir,” said Eric Hickey, President and Winemaker at Laetitia Vineyard & Winery on California’s Central Coast. “Yes, our Pinots have a purplish hue to them.  But no, we don’t put Syrah in our Pinot.” The real reason behind the dark robe on Laetitia Pinot Noir is anthocyanin, a compound that develops in the skins of fruit under certain levels of stress and sun exposure, producing a rich blue pigmentation. “Being so cool and coastal, we do very aggressive leafing, even compared to our neighbors in Edna Valley and Santa Maria,”...

Beginning April 1, 2013 a new exhibit of original wine paintings by Penelope Moore will be on display throughout the tasting room at Beaulieu Vineyard.  Each piece of artwork will be paired with a specially selected bottle of wine. Rather than traditional “gallery style” price tags, guests will have the opportunity to bid on each art and wine pairing from April 1st through April 14th.  Guests are invited to bid in person at the winery anytime during the two week period and join the closing celebration for live music and afternoon hor d’oeuvres on April 14th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15...

By Kaye Cloutman Main photos courtesy of Rocco Ceselin When you finally have an opportunity to visit the winery of a brand you’ve loved and served to guests over the years, the feeling you’ll get upon entering its doors is beyond invaluable. Grgich Hills Estate has been one of my go-to wines for some time now, especially when I’m not very familiar with a restaurant’s menu. Their wines pair easily and beautifully with any dish and I am never disappointed because from whites to reds, Grgich Hills Estate’s wines are clean, natural and have great acidity that makes your mouth water, which is...

Featured icon image courtesy of Vicki Strickland Perfectly situated under the face of the Stag’s Leap Palisades lays Robinson Family Vineyards hillside property. On the 78 acres you will find the highly visible outcropping of the Stag’s Leap cliffs. The hills are covered with aging oak trees, 7 acres of hillside vineyard, and their grandmother’s charming hand built log cabin. At the rear of Grandma’s house, dug into the mountain slope is the small boutique winery housing their estate grown wines, which consist of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Their...

Michael has been very busy navigating wine country these days. With the early bloom of the mustard fields and the sweet pinkish blush of the cherry trees, Napa has been one busy Winter for tourists and visitors. Today, we showcase three of his recently visited spots in the valley. Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley The setting is reminiscent of a home or a private club, framing a highly edited collection of furnishings and artwork. The furnishings, ranging from 16th century to mid-twentieth century, are paired with contemporary works crafted by today’s top designers. The collections of art...

Memorable moments from wilderness regions, sacred sites and diverse cultures all over the world captured by photographer Jeffrey A. Davis will be displayed in Serenity, Wonder, and Spirit, a new exhibit opening March 9 at the Fine Art Photography Gallery at Mumm Napa winery in Rutherford. The exhibit runs through January 5, 2014. From the awe and wonder of the Northern Lights to the quiet, raw expression of the first rays of morning light touching down on a lone iceberg, the images included in Serenity, Wonder, and Spirit share compelling stories and cherished moments from Davis’ travels to Norway, Japan,...

In a nod to its rich history and to celebrate the reprise of the classic American tale, Madrona Manor invites guests to travel back in time to The Jazz Age at its first ever “Great Gatsby Soiree” on Sunday, May 5 from 2:00-5:00pm. While film buffs and culture hounds alike eagerly await the release of Baz Luhrmann’s exciting cinematic version of The Great Gatsby (opening May 10) they can revel at this elegant Victorian mansion, which has played host to more than a few such parties. Madrona Manor will fete the film’s release with a ’20s-style lawn party replete with Gatsby-inspired food and...

Volker Eisele Family Estate creates enticing wines from the Chiles Valley appellation of the Napa Valley. Organically farmed for over thirty-five years, the Estate produces wines of uncommon balance and finesse. All fruit for the four limited production wines is grown in our Chiles Valley vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its elegance, depth and complexity. Terzetto is a unique proprietary blend of co-fermented Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, while Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, combined in the Bordeaux style, create the luscious Gemini. “…unmistakable elegance and...

General Manager Don Shindle of The Westin Verasa Napa, located on the bank of the Napa River and just a short stroll from the heart of Napa’s vibrant downtown, is pleased to announce the property’s newest offering, Somm Sisters Soiree.  A culinary, viticulture and relaxation inspired weekend getaway created to celebrate women, Somm Sisters Soiree Getaway will take place on Thursday through Saturday, March 7 through 9.  The month of March is Women’s History Month in the U.S. and International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8. “The Westin Verasa Napa is very proud to present this...

By Rely Pio Roda GEV Magazine  joined the second-generation vintners of participating wineries of NG: The Next Generation in Wine for their 6th Annual Trade Tasting held yesterday at the Farmstead Restaurant in St. Helena, California in conjunction with the 2013 Premiere Napa Valley Week. The Next Generation in Wine or NG was created in 2006 to bring together the next generation of Napa Valley family wineries and vineyards.  NG, originally 6 and now 18 wineries, has a non-profit status, an elected board, and a unified focus with collaborative wine marketing and wine education. Among the wineries seen...

“Part of the joy of owning a winery in the Napa Valley is the sheer joy of farming. Sometimes we forget that wine is at its essence merely a crop — subject to the surprises of Mother Nature. Tending to this crop makes us even more aware of the great potential of a patch of ground. We may have started with grapes in mind, but that has led us down a path to olive groves and winter gardens and summer vegetable patches and bees and myriad of other gifts”. “Kelly Fleming Winery extends across a 300-acre property which is tucked into a ravine called Simmons Canyon. Today 12 acres are...

Kenzo Estate is unusual in Napa Valley for the vast expanse of wilderness it encompasses, but it is unique and extraordinary for the owner’s desire to share his appreciation with guests. Draped along the summit that defines the eastern boundary of Napa Valley, Kenzo Estate is the custodian of watersheds originating on the property and draining East, West and South. Protected within this preserve are rain and spring-fed reservoirs, vernal pools, streams, and diverse forests of conifer, oak and manzanita. Wild boar, coyote, mountain lion, deer, turkey and bobcat are frequently observed while guests and...

Images by Tubay Yabut Photography Margrit Mondavi, vice president of cultural affairs for Robert Mondavi Winery, has pursued a life-long interest in uniting wine with fine arts, music and culinary artistry. With the enthusiastic support of her late husband, Robert Mondavi, she created a showplace for painters, sculptors, photographers, jazz and classical musicians and the great chefs and winemakers of the world. An accomplished linguist, Margrit serves as an ambassador for the winery to a wide range of international audiences. Recently, Mrs. Mondavi was presented with the prestigious Tiffany Sterling...

The Celani Family traces its roots back to the town of Ferentino near Rome—and they are deep roots. For generations the Celanis have celebrated life among family, friends, good food, and great wine. In this spirit Vicki and Tom Celani founded their own vineyard in the Vaca Mountain Range of California with one mission, and one mission only, to produce the finest wines in the Napa Valley. In doing so, they vowed to respect the gifts of nature without any compromise in quality – This is the virtue and value of their wine. Visit their website www.celaniwines.com Click on images to...

February 1st & 2nd from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm Visitors will enjoy complimentary wine tasting of their newly released wines in the Charles Krug Tasting Room. Peter Mondavi Jr. will be on hand Friday, February 1st from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm to welcome guests and sign bottles. The Family Reserve Tasting will be available for a fee of $25.00. If you are looking for truly spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon, this is the tasting for you! Construction of the new Hospitality Center is under way and they will be celebrating the grand opening in just eight months. Charles Krug Winery will bid a fine farewell to the old...

Romantic love will be in full celebration as guests express their love for each other at Castello di Amorosa’s cupid-friendly Royal Hearts Gala on February 16, 2013. A reception kicks off the festivities at 7:00 p.m. followed by dinner seating at 8:00 p.m. The winery’s name embodies the spirit of this gala — “Castle of Love.” The evening will also include a performance of excerpts from Shakespeare’s works on love. Castello di Amorosa welcomes special guest chef Alejandra Schrader, a Top 10 Finalist in Fox’s MasterChef USA Season 2. “To say we are thrilled to have Chef Schrader showcase...

VIADER is a leading first growth Napa Valley winery estate established in 1986 by Delia Viader, and recognized around the world for consistently producing high quality red wines. They are located 1200 feet above the Napa Valley floor just northeast of St. Helena on the steep, rocky slopes of Howell Mountain. Today, VIADER is a thriving multi-generational family business complete with a small bonded winery, underground caves, and a Hospitality Center which offers tours and tastings by appointment, and a sophisticated wine and food pairing Culinary Program. Since the inaugural vintage in 1989, VIADER...

Marston Family Vineyard is a hidden gem on the most southern slopes of Spring Mountain above the Napa Valley. A cool afternoon breeze passes through the vineyard permitting the fruit to ripen slowly and uniformly. Visit them at www.marstonfamilyvineyard.com Mike Johnson (aka wine707) is a chauffeur with a camera who drives for Napa Valley Tours and Transportation, a full service transportation company located right in the heart of downtown Napa, celebrating their 15th year in business. You can reach him at 707.251.9463 or chauffeur@NVTT.net. Follow more...

The latest chapter in Robert Mondavi Winery’s long history with the arts begins January 11 with the opening of ‘Ancient Textures and Sacred Landscapes,’ a fine-art photography exhibit by acclaimed Napa Valley photographer Teri Sandison. The 25-photograph exhibit will be on display through March 6, 2013 in the Vineyard Room at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville. The ‘Ancient Textures and Sacred Landscapes’ series explores the ways humans have found their place within the natural world, particularly throughout Asia. With a focus on highlighting the effect nature has had on ancient sacred sites, the...

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn in partnership with Salon D’ Art program, sponsored by Linearis is pleased to announce an exhibition and silent auction of “Marc Chagall’s Bible, 1960: Echoes of Nature.” For the first time in a decade, the entire series of 24 original lithographs will be displayed. The collection will be unveiled in the Lobby Living Room at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn on Friday, November 23, from 5:00-8:30p. The first lithographs, printed by the great French lithographers Mourlot Frères, were published in 1956. They were met with such high acclaim that Chagall made a...

Picture a meticulously recreated Tuscan castle; add live holiday music, Italian breads emerging from an oven in the courtyard, Baci chocolates (hazelnut kisses) transported by their own Fiat and a display of holiday wreaths made by local charities. This will be the scene on December 8 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, 4045 N. St. Helena Highway. ““It is rewarding to contribute to local charities that provide essential community service,” said Georg Salzner, President of Castello di Amorosa. “We are looking forward to a festive day filled with giving, great food and...

Napa Valley replaces Winter with Cabernet Season, inviting visitors to relax into this quiet time of year November through March filled with warm hospitality and simple pleasures. With the hustle and bustle of crush season complete, visitors to the Valley during Cabernet Season will find smaller crowds and a slower pace with even more personal attention at wineries and popular restaurants. Guests receive a very warm welcome at St. Helena’s charming Harvest Inn with a special ‘Colorful Cabernet Season’ package that includes luxurious accommodations with fireplace, two one-hour massage treatments, wine...

The third annual Napa Truffle Festival is pleased to announce its 2013 weekend Program, January 18-21, with keynote by Colman Andrews, and winery truffle lunches hosted by two premier Napa Valley wineries, Silver Oak and Beringer. Join in the fun, science and culinary adventure of a lifetime in pursuit of the rare and venerated black truffle—specifically the winter Périgord truffle: Tuber melanosporum (aka black diamond)—which will be discussed, examined, probed, prepared, demonstrated and, finally, paired with wines and feasted upon for breakfast, lunch and dinner! NAPA TRUFFLE FESTIVAL WEEKEND...

All aboard for a new way to see wine country! One of the Bay Area’s favorite modes of transportation now roams the quaint streets and vineyards of the gorgeous Sonoma Valley, offering open-air views that allow guests to experience wine country like they never have before. And now, the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley has added a new route, giving guests a choice of two memorable experiences. Reservations may be purchased at www.sonomavalleywinetrolley.com, or by calling 877-Wine-Trolley. The new route begins at the historic Sonoma Plaza, and meanders into the town of Glen Ellen and the Kenwood area,...