Vineyard 511

Napa Valley Film Festival Celebrity Tribute Dinner

On November 15, Ed and I attended the Napa Valley Film Festival Celebrity Dinner at etoile restaurant, at Domanine and Chandon in Yountville, which proceded the Festival's Celebrity Tribute event at the Lincoln Theater, also in Yountville. We were lucky to sit next to the interesting and very approachable director of Saving Mr. Banks, John Lee Hancock. We so much enjoyed our conversation with him about his experiences making the film, which was about the making of another film: Mary Poppins.

We also were lucky enough to meet one of the stars of Saving Mr. Banks - - charming Irish actor Colin Farrell. (See photo.) I got to chat with him about his jewelry.

Nov 21, 2013 at 9:33 AM Permalink

92 Points From Wine Enthusiast

Ed and I are thrilled that the inaugural release of our 2009 Diamond Mountain District Vineyard 511 Cabernet Sauvignon was just rated 92 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine; the rating will appear in its December issue. Wa hoo!

Oct 12, 2013 at 11:24 AM Permalink

Audi Napa Valley Tennis Classic

From September 20 through 22, Meadowood Resort hosted its annual Napa Valley Tennis Classic, where the top collegiate players from seven major universities (Alabama, Boise State, Florida State, Texas A&M, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of San Diego), combined in competition with the Unites States Tennis Association's (USTA's) Elite Junior Development Team. This is a unique event that pits collegiate players against juniors, a tournament found nowhere else.

The players and their coaches were hosted by many families in Napa Valley, and Ed and I hosted the Bosie State and University of San Diego teams.  In the grand finale of the tournament -- the Wildcard Shootout--the top player of each group competed in a fast elimination process using 10 point tiebrakers and, where the winner receives a coveted Wild Card entry from the USTA to a major tournament in the United States Futures and Challenger circuit. And wouldn't you know it,  a super nice sophmore from University of San Diego-- Uros Petronijevic (from Smedervo, Serbia)-- won the Wild Card Shootout. We hope to hear about many more of his wins in the future (maybe a future Djokovic.)

Oct 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM Permalink

Harvest 2013

We're in the midst of a fabulous 2013 harvest of our Cabernet Sauvignon. Workers arrived at daybreak and have been furiously but meticulously handpicking our sweet and delicious grapes.

Oct 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM Permalink

V Foundation Fundraiser

Ed and I attended the V Foundation's 15th annual Wine Celebration August 1-3. The Foundation was founded by Jim Valvano and ESPN to raise money for cancer research. Valvano was the head coach of North Carolina State University's men's basketball team and led it to win the national championship in 1983;  in his last days before dying of bone cancer in 1993, he asked that the Foundation be started to find a cure for cancer.

On the first night of the Wine Celebration, we attended a lovely dinner hosted by Ann and Chuck McMinn (left) at their wonderful winery Vineyard 29. I was lucky enough to sit next to Jim Valvano's brother Nick Valvano (right), President Emeritus of the V Foundation, who served as its CEO for 13 years (1999-2012), and who has been on its Board since its inception. Nick, also a former basketball player and coach, played guard.

We learned alot about Valvano's extraordinary spirit and remarkable impact  that week , especially through the dinner and auction at the Nickel and Nickel Winery and through producer Dereck Wittenburg's and director Jonathan Hock's documentary, "Survive and Advance," which was screened at Yountville's Barrel Room by the Napa Valley Film Festival in conjuntion with the V Foundation.

The dinner/auction was hosted by Mike Krzyzewski ("Coach K"), head coach of Duke's men's basketball team. He, as well as Bob Lloyd, Chairman of the V Foundation and Valvano's longtime friend and teammate at Rutger's University, both emphasized the challenge we face in fighting cancer. Robin Roberts, Good Morning America co-host, who is battling cancer herself, addressed us through a video feed. The evening was topped off by a concert by Melissa Etheridge, rock singer and Grammy award winner.

Aug 18, 2013 at 2:01 PM Permalink

"Sideways" the Play

On July 21, 2013, Ed and I were lucky to be invited to the opening night of "Sideways," the play, at  La Jolla Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theater.  Our gracious hosts were Brenda and Marc Lhormer, the directors of  the film "Bottle Shock," and the founders of the Napa Valley Film Festival.

We were totally surprised that the successful 2004 film "Sideways" was made into a hilarious play, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  Rex Pickett, the playwright, who we met there, has rewritten his original novel "Sideways" into a play about what ensues when up-tight, wine-afficianato Miles (Patrick Breen),  takes his buddy, womanizer Jack (Sean Allan Krill), on a week-long wine-tasting road trip through the Santa Inez Valley, a week before Jack's impending wedding. This stag party/wine tasting on wheels leads to their getting into trouble with the women they meet. I have a feeling that this terrifically funny play will be produced on Broadway.

The performance was preceded and followed by a delicious reception, where Jamieson Ranch poured its yummy chardonnay and pinot noir.

Jul 29, 2013 at 4:49 PM Permalink

Meadowood Tent Raising

Meadowood Napa Valley, the premiere hotel and country club, hosted its members at its annual tent raising party in honor of Auction Napa Valley. Because Meadowood closes access to its golf course and tennis courts and restaurants during Auction Napa Valley, which officially starts the next day, Meadowood provides a lovely evening of live music and hors d'oeuvres and wine on its expansive lawn.

Jun 6, 2013 at 5:32 PM Permalink

Dinner at Viader

At another event associated with Auction Napa Valley, Ed and I watched the sun set over Napa Valley's Diamond Mountain with incredible views from Viader's tasting room patio 1300 feet on the eastern slopes of Howell Mountain. Soon afterward, we were treated to an elegant and entertaining dinner event of great wines from proprietor Delia Viader's cellar (Viader is recognized around the world for consistently producing high quality, very limited production red wines and red Bordeaux-style blends) and delicious Argentine-sttyle food prepared by her daughter-in-law Mariela Viader. My favorite wine was 1997 Cabernet Franc and favorite dish the mouth-watering Argentian style beef.

Delia Viader was born in Argentina, and the theme of the evening was the intimate setting of a nightclub, such as one found in the Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where we were entranced by live sultry tango dance performances. Ole! 

Jun 6, 2013 at 1:36 PM Permalink

Napa Vintner's 33rd Annual Auction Napa Valley

This past week, the Napa Valley Vintners' Association Auction Napa Valley raised a record $16.9 million for health care and youth education in Napa Valley. It broke its previous record of $10.5 million in 2005. In its 33rd year, the Auction provides for direct medical, dental and education services, lending support to families at risk, reaching the most vulnerable and extending a safety net to those in poverty.

The top live auction lot netted $3.7 million for Fund-a-need; the top barrel lot, each of which is 10 cases of wine, was Shafer Vineyards at $78,000; the top e-auction lot was for Sherwin Family Vineyards at $15,200.

The barrel auction was held in the afternoon at the lovely Raymond Vineyards, where an overwhelming number of local chefs and vintners provided yummy food and white, rose and sparkling wine outside in 5 large tents; while inside the cave, vintners poured their barrel samples. After schmoozing with Magrit Mondavi and owner Jean-claude Boisset, we ended up bidding on a case of Jean-Claude's 2010 Raymond cabernet--and won it!!!

Outside we ogled a 2006 Astin Martin convertible and chatted with Launny Steffens, proprietor of Vineyard 7 & 8, who was donating the (James Bond '007) thunderbolt on wheels to be auctioned off. How could he give it up??? Although Ed has the '06 sedan, I would have liked this one for myself. Oh well..............

Jun 6, 2013 at 11:30 AM Permalink

Bottle Rock Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Film Festival Join Forces

Bottle Rock Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Film festival teamed up to present two music documentaries: Sound City, at the Uptown Theater, on May 6, and Twenty Feet From Stardom, at 500 First Street (the former Copia facility), on May 7.

Sound City, directed by Nirvana/Foo Fighters musician Dave Grohl, was about the history of the legendary recording studio hidden away in Van Nuys, in the San Fernando Valley, near Los Angeles. Sound City Sudios was the birthplace of many of the greatest recordings in rock and roll history, and the film showcases Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and Rick Springfield, among others, and shows how Grohl brings the Studio back to life in the digital age.

Hors d'ovres by Bouchon and wines by Miner were terrrific!

Twenty Feet From Stardom, directed by Morgan Neville, my personal favorite, was first screened at Sundance, where it received standing ovations, and was presented  here as a special sneak preview before it opens theatrically in June. The film follows several diverse and gifted backup singers who, although immensely talented, perform in the shadows of star singers, such as Michael Jackson, Patti Austin, Pattie LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and the Rolling Stones. We learn their names; Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega and Judith Hill, who have sacrificed their egos to be a part of something bigger than themselves, backing up the star.

At the conclusion of the screening, Director Neville and Lisa Fisher answered questions from the audience, and then Lisa sang to an enrapt audience. Ed and I were lucky enough to meet Lisa personally backstage. What a lovely and gentle soul she is.

May 12, 2013 at 5:00 PM Permalink