2019 NWWF Master Sommeliers and Vintage Cellar Announced

It isn’t one of the planet’s grandest wine weekends for nothing: The Naples festival in January continues its tradition of excellence and penchant for surprises.

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Each year, the Naples Winter Wine Festival curates its own unique blend of top chefs and vintners from around the globe who fly in to make it unforgettable.

There’s always a push to think out of the box—and that’s what keeps people coming back year after year, with couples forking over $12,500 just to go. But, arguably, the importing of not just sommeliers but certified Master Sommeliers is of equal value to keep guests happy, filling glasses with once-in-a-lifetime pours throughout the weekend. And this time, 18 of the world’s 273 Jedi Knights of the grape will pilgrimage to Naples for the January 25-27, 2019, festival, along with a Robert Parker disciple who has been tapped to moderate the Vintage Cellar, a separate event on Thursday Jan. 24 that serves as the festival's unofficial kickoff. That tasting and luncheon is the ultimate educational seminar and bonanza for serious collectors who want to (wine)geek out with a vertical tasting and interactive discussion. This year’s will focus on Burgundy’s Maison Joseph Drouhin and its stateside counterpart, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, and be led by winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss and Lisa Perrotti-Brown, a wine critic with Robert Parker Wine Advocate. Tickets for the Vintage Cellar are on sale now and start at $2,500 per person (for more information, contact 239-514-2239). If you’ve never been, you know it’s a great way to get a taste of the festival—or to extend the fun of an already big-gun weekend.