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...

“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,”...

SPQR’s Executive Chef Matthew Accarrino is teaming up with award-winning Chef Gerard Craft, executive chef and owner of Niche, Pastaria, Taste by Niche, and Brasserie by Niche in St. Louis, Missouri, Accarrino’s hometown, for a guest-chef dinner on Thursday, April 18, 2013. Chef Craft will create a special three-course a la carte menu showcasing his creative, yet simple modern Midwest cuisine. This is a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy Chef Craft’s innovative interpretations of the best of local ingredients alongside the modern Italian cuisine of Chef Accarrino. Complementing the menu, Wine...

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,...

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...

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...