Love the Wine You're With
With a fabulous line up of Celebrity Vintners attending the Auction this year, comes amazing experiences, tours, tastings, and once in a lifetime trips to their vineyard grounds, to their guest houses, to Napa cottages, and French Villages. Wine dinners and sought after cuisine prepared by talented chefs in highly acclaimed restaurants will have your mouth already watering. Here are just a few of the Vintner lots that will be offered for our 10th Annual Auction:
From Joseph Phelps Vineyards:
The successful bidder on this lot, along with seven guests, will be hosted by Phelps family members or a member of our winemaking team for a behind the scenes tour of the historic Joseph Phelps winery followed by a multi-course dinner paired with rare library vintages celebrating the extraordinary forty-plus-years of Joseph Phelps winemaking history.
The winning bidder will also fill their cellar with Joseph Phelps Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast wines from the highly-anticipated 2012 vintage. Enjoy first access to upcoming vintages of Insignia, Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Syrah, along with new releases of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noirs from the winery’s Sonoma Coast estate in Freestone, including limited production single-vineyard wines from both Pastorale and Quarter Moon Vineyard. This lot offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future of Joseph Phelps Vineyards!
From Chateau de Beaucastel:
Your experience starts with accommodations for three couples for three nights at the Beaucastel guest house in the historic village of Vinsobres. The house will be stocked with wine, light appetizers, breakfast items and local cheese. The village's name originates from the Latin words "vin sobris" or "vin sobrio" meaning "wine and work" and indeed the area is completely devoted to the making of wine.
After a restful night, your driver will bring you to Château de Beaucastel and the Family Perrin property for a private VIP tour and tasting with a member of the Perrin family. You will enjoy an outstanding lunch at L’Oustalet followed by the most unique dinner at Château de Beaucastel.
A driver will take your group to visit Nicolas Jaboulet from Nicolas Perrin wines in Tain Hermitage with lunch, tastings and tours of the vineyards. Top off the day with a visit to the famous Valrhona Chocolate factory in Tain. Spend the next day touring the area and visiting other area wineries.
Travel next to Aix de Provence where you will have three rooms for two nights at the Hotel Villa Gallici. The Hotel La Villa Gallici welcomes you to an elegant 18th century residence. This 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel offers luxurious amenities and outstanding service. The country home opens out on to a garden filled with the sweet fragrances of Provence, with cypress trees sheltering the outdoor swimming pool. There is a special reason this location is included with this lot. Aix de Provence is the location of Chateau Miraval, a historic winery owned by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. A member of Famille Perrin will provide a rare VIP visit to the tasting room at Chateau Miraval. This auction lot is truly a one in a kind experience.
From Foley Family Wines:
This wonderful auction lot is the perfect way to become fully immersed in the culture and lifestyle of Foley Family of wines. Two lucky couples will spend two nights at the Healdsburg Hotel Les Mar, a member of Relais & Châteaux, an exclusive collection of 500 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. Hotel Les Mars offers a confluence of old world luxury and 21st-century technology: wireless internet in a library of hand-carved walnut panels and leather-bound books, home entertainment housed within a Louis XV armoire, and draped four-poster beds made up with sumptuous Italian linens. Learn more at http://www.hotellesmars.com/guestrooms.html.
The winery has arranged tours and tastings at Sonoma wineries Lancaster Estate and Roth Estate and a tour, tasting and lunch at Chalk Hill. Dinner that evening is at Chalkboard restaurant. Located just off the square in downtown Healdsburg, Chalkboard is casual and contemporary, and a celebration of the best ingredients Sonoma has to offer.
Day two offers a great opportunity to enjoy Napa grown Foley wines with tours and tastings at Foley Johnson and Merus and a tour, tasting and lunch at Kuleto.
Finally, each couple will receive a mixed case of two bottles of wine from each of the wineries visited. Welcome to the wonderful world of Foley Family Wines!
From V-Madrone Cellars:
Two lucky couples will enjoy their trip to the wine country in world class style. Start with individual valley suites at Auberge du Soleil, simply one of the most luxurious resorts in the country. Add a six course chef's tasting menu dinner at the Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil with wines from the V Madrone library, and breakfast at the resort both mornings. Finish with a tour of the V Madrone winery with barrel and library tastings, catered lunch, and gift box including 2013 V Madrone Chardonnay, 2013 Zinfandel Old Vines, 2013 Petite Sirah Old Vines, and 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon . This is high-style indeed!
From Boisset Collection:
This once-in-a-lifetime weekend will allow you a private, VIP experience of the best of Northern California wine world brought to you by Jean-Charles Boisset. Originally from Burgundy, France, Jean Charles is today one of the leading voices of the California wine world, with a unique collection of historical and innovative wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and the Russian River Valley.
Your tour begins at DeLoach Vineyards, where you’ll explore our property with an in-depth VIP tour of our Biodynamic and certified organic vineyards and vegetable garden; learn about our Burgundian winemaking techniques during a tour of our cellar. Unwind from the week’s stress during our gourmet wine and cheese pairing. Discover the region’s varied terroirs through flights of our vineyard designate Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Zinfandels.
You’ll then depart for Buena Vista Winery, where the winner will enjoy a private winery tour and lunch at California’s first premium winery, founded in 1857 in Sonoma – Buena Vista Winery. You will tour the winery caves and grounds on a historical journey through the first gravity-flow winery, the first wine caves, and the first of California’s grand winery estates with the founder of the winery himself – The Count of Buena Vista – who has been brought back to life (through means we are not at liberty to divulge) by Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset. Jean-Charles has completely renovated the historical winery to its former grandeur and added experiences that cannot be found at any other winery. Be among the first to see Buena Vista’s re-birth!
Your ultimate day in the wine country continues at Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley, Wine Enthusiast’s 2012 American Winery of the Year and the “Best Tasting Room – Best Place to Spend a Day” according to Sunset magazine. With a glass of bubbles in hand, enjoy a full tour of Raymond Vineyards, including the fabulous Crystal Cellar, Red Room and JCB Lounge, and an opportunity to don your beret and silver winemaker lab coat to blend your own wine in the one-of-a-kind Winemaker for a Day lab. You’ll take home a bottle of your blend, with your own custom label, and enjoy a private tasting of Raymond wines in Napa’s most exclusive winery experience: the Raymond Red Room. Finally, the fabulous chef Michel Cornu will invite you for a private VIP cooking class in the Gaggenau demonstration kitchen in the vineyards.
From Larkmead Vineyards:
Your experience starts with three premier garden cottages with king beds for three nights at the luxurious Carneros Inn. Hide away from the rest of the world in your private Napa Valley cottage. Open the door to a stylish, sun-washed space that features modern furnishings and all those extra touches that allow you to truly make yourself at home.
Once you are settled, your trip has only just begun! Enjoy a unique Napa experience lovingly called “Bite the Land that Feeds You”. The Napa Valley is not only blessed with bountiful harvests of grapes that produce world class wines. It also provides the exquisite ingredients that supply to the best restaurants in the world. Experience Napa Valley with unprecedented access and raw authenticity through private and personal tours with the viticulturists, vineyard managers, farmers, winemakers, chefs and sommeliers who have helped bring the Napa Valley to global recognition.
What follows is even better! “Larkmead Vineyards’ Perfect Day” - First ever unrestricted access to Larkmead Vineyards’ estate, production facility, barrel room and brand new Lark Room. Meet the world class team who makes it all possible and take a private tour with owners Cam and Kate Solari Baker. Culminate with an evening hosted by winemaker Dan Petroski and estate sommelier Dallas Brennan as they take you through a tasting menu created by CIA professor and chef Andy Wild made with locally sourced ingredients specifically paired with rare and library Larkmead Vineyards wines.
“A Friend of Larkmead Is A Friend of Yours” is a private tour of The French Laundry gardens and farms and reservations for 6 to The French Laundry. In addition, you will have an appointment for “Another Great Estate” a private tour and tasting at Hudson Ranch and Vineyards and finish your amazing trip with “You Smell Like a Sommelier” a wonderful lesson in smelling and tasting alongside sommelier Dallas Brennan with his favorite wines from all over the world. The memories of this trip are significantly enhanced by the wine as each couple will receive a case of “Horizontal Vertical”. This is the only time this critically acclaimed and most complete portfolio offering from Larkmead Vineyards has ever been offered.
From Betz Family Winery:
This wonderful auction lot will allow two lucky couples to become part of the Betz Family Winery for two nights at the nearby Willows Lodge in Woodinville, a romantic 5 Star boutique hotel in the heart of wine country. Willows Lodge is located on five landscaped acres bordering the Sammamish River in the heart of Western Washington’s wine country. It’s a comfortable, luxurious haven where you can rejuvenate your senses and experience award-winning cuisine. It’s no wonder Willows was selected for Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List. Learn more at www.willowslodge.com.
During your stay Steve and Bridgit Griessel will host you for dinner at their house at Betz Family Winery where you'll enjoy a five course dinner paired with Betz Family wines as well as wines from their personal cellar.
This lot also includes a chance to sit down with the winemaking team including Bob Betz who is a Master of Wine, and taste through barrel samples of the 2014 vintage. You will work with the team to make a unique blend of your choice. Each couple will receive one case of this unique blend and get to name the wine as well. Only two cases of this wine will ever exist!
The Griessel’s will also arrange visits to their friend’s wineries where you'll enjoy intimate tasting with owners and winemakers. Finally, the winning bidders will receive a coveted spot directly onto the Betz Family private member mailing list which is closed with a wait list. Because that’s what families do!
From Saint Helena Winery:
Begin your heavenly adventure with accommodations for two couples at Saint Helena Winery Estate in Napa Valley. Enjoy a three night stay in a winery estate cottage with two queen bedroom suites, each with private bath, and a common kitchen. With decks overlooking vineyards, a swimming pool and a bocce court, the cottage is on the winery property located on Pratt Avenue, less than a mile walk into downtown St. Helena.
You will have the opportunity to savor a private tasting of estate wines on the main house veranda. The winery estate is not open to the public, only to invited guests. The wine tasting will be paired with a lunch prepared by Natalie and Jon Niksa, both CIA Hyde Park graduates recognized as rising star chefs at Aspen Food & Wine Festival.
This lot also includes a collection of Saint Helena Winery's Estate Cabernet Sauvignon; all signed by winemakers Aaron Pott and Elizabeth Tangney: 4 bottles each of Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sympa Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. This lot is proof that if you are good, heaven truly awaits!
From Willamette Valley Vineyards:
4 Night Stay for 4 at Willamette Valley Vineyards Guest Suites
Experience the pastoral tranquility of Oregon wine country from Willamette Valley Vineyard’s luxurious Winery Guest Suites retreat. This fabulously appointed “home away from home” is the perfect place to start your adventures and the ideal sanctuary at the end of a memorable day among the vines. Situated high atop the rolling hills covered in vineyards, with stunning views of the Cascades and coastal mountain range in the distance you will immerse yourself in all that the Mid-Willamette valley has to offer.
Pamper yourself with the very best of this undiscovered wine country, and enjoy life.....The Oregon way.
Receive a hands-on educational blending seminar with Willamette Valley Vineyards winemaker
Don Crank, where you will be able to test your blending skills against each other by using single lot Pinot Noir clones to make your own wine. The seminar will include a directed tasting of the clones lead by the winemaker, assistance in building your blends, and a competition style blind tasting. This is a unique opportunity to experience a side of winemaking seldom seen by wine enthusiasts.
Enjoy an unforgettable experience with Jim Bernau in a private VIP cellar barrel tasting, tour and dinner. Taste through barrels followed by a once in a lifetime four course dinner prepared by Chef Eric Nelson...the perfect ending to a perfect day! ALso enjoy a Fly Fishing excurision for 4 and a Wine Dinner for 4 at the Joel Palmer House
Published on Thursday, March 12, 2015