Mila Bridger (2016Milabridger.com)
KoehnBradyBoyandGirlsClubkids
One thing that has come to be a given in the Naples Winter Wine Festival’s 19 years of existence is that its organizers know how to bust out the big guns. The annual reveal of which chefs and winemakers are flying in to cook and pour their hearts out in the name of charitable giving is for local food lovers what Oscar announcements are for cinema buffs.
The co-chairs of the 2019 festival, to be held Jan. 25-27, gave a sneak preview in July, when they said Richard Reddington of REDD and Redd Wood in Yountville would be the festival’s Chef de Cuisine, joined by Daphne and Bart Araujo of Accendo Cellars as the Honored Vintners. They’ve now released the full list of more than 50 collaborators, and you can see for yourself below that they’ve continued the tradition of making this a “Who’s Who” in wine and food. One thing the organization’s trustees have gotten really good at is creating an intriguing blend of household names, like Tom Colicchio and two Mondavis (Tim, of Continuum in St. Helena and Carlo, of RAEN in Sonoma), and emerging leaders, like James Beard winners and nominees in cities not covered by the Michelin Guide as well as new winemakers who are earning more points from Robert Parker and his cohorts than Serena or Rafa in a tennis match.
Tickets are sold for the entire weekend (the entry price for a couple is $12,500). Some vintners participate in Friday’s Meet the Kids Day luncheon, while others are paired with the chefs to cook at intimate dinners that are hosted at homes throughout Naples (the 500-plus attendees select and then are assigned to attend one). Many also have wines featured at the capstone auction.
Meet the Kids Day Vintners
Ann & Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards in St. Helena, California
Kevin Kinsella of Kinsella Estates in Sonoma, California
Larry Stone of Lingua Franca in Salem, Oregon
Samantha & Patrice Breton of Vice Versa Wines in St. Helena, California
VINTNER DINNERS:
Vintners & Chefs
Daphne & Bart Araujo of Accendo Cellars in Napa, California
Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee
Tim Mondavi of Continuum in St. Helena, California
Carlo Mondavi of RAEN Winery in Sonoma, California
Cinzia Merli of Le Macchiole in Bolgheri, Italy
Richard Reddington of REDD and Redd Wood in Yountville, California
Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery in St. Helena, California
Tom Colicchio of Crafted Hospitality in New York, New York
Rotem & Mounir Saouma of Lucien Le Moine in Beaune, France
David Duncan of OVID in ST. Helena, California
Angelo Auriana of Officine Brera in Los Angeles, California
Cliff Lede of Cliff Lede Vineyards in Napa, California
Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja in Denver, Colorado
Shari & Garen Staglin of Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, California
Thierry Rautureau of Luc/Loulay in Seattle, Washington
Jim Bailey of Knights Bridge Winery in Calistoga, California
Barbara Banke of Gran Moraine Vineyard in Yamhill, Oregon and Zena Crown Vineyard in Salem, Oregon
Nancy Oakes of Boulevard Restaurant in San Francisco, California
The Miller Family of Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates in Santa Maria, California
PierFilippo Abbruzzese of Valdicava in Montalcino, Italy
Rogan Lechthaler of The Downtown Grocery in Ludlow, Vermont
Shahpar & Darioush Khaledi of Darioush in Napa, California
Dustin Valette of Valette in Healdsburg, California
Giovanni Manetti of Fontodi in Greve in Chianti, Italy
Valerie Boyd & Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville, California
Charlie Palmer of Aureole in New York, New York
Jean-Charles Cazes of Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, France
Donald Link of Herbsaint in New Orleans, Louisiana
Elisabetta Gnudi of Borgo Scopeto & Caparzo in Montalcino, Italy
Naoko and Maya Dalla Valle of Dalla Valle Vineyards in Oakville, California
Markus Glocker of Bâtard in New York, New York
Lucas Löwi of Bodega Numanthia in Valdefinjas, Spain
Matt Hobbs of Paul Hobbs Wines in Sebastopol, California
Bill Telepan of Oceana Restaurant in New York, New York
Nicholas Allen of Carte Blanche Wine in Napa, California
Roberta Ceretto of Ceretto in Alba, Italy
John Tesar of Knife at The Highland in Dallas, Texas
Grace & Ken Evenstad of Domaine Serene in Dayton, Oregon and Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France
Vitaly Paley of Paley Hospitality Group in Portland, Oregon
Véronique Drouhin-Boss of Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, France and Domaine
Drouhin Oregon in Dundee, Oregon
Mike Lata and Jason Stanhope of FIG in Charleston, South Carolina
Olivier Krug of Krug Champagne in Reims, France
David Pearson of Opus One Winery in Oakville, California
Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois
Dimitri Augenblick of Cos d’Estournel in Saint- Estèphe, France
Salvatore Ferragamo of Il Borro in San Giustino, Italy
Joseph Lenn of JC Holdway in Knoxville, Tennessee