Napa Valley: October 2011 Archives

by Courtney Cochran

Temperatures may be cooling in the Napa Valley come November, but two dynamic events could make your visit the hottest in memory.  Both in their debut year, the Napa Valley Film Festival (Nov. 9-13) and Flavor! Napa Valley (Nov. 16-22) bring with them a host of diverting events that are rewriting the month's reputation - from a sleepier time to one that's buzzing with eclectic food-and-wine-fueled attractions.

Napa Valley Film Festival ~ 11/9- 11/13

Flavor! Napa Valley ~ 11/16-11/22

by Courtney Cochran

Silverado Resort & Culinary Institute of America at Greystone


The highlight of the weekend should be The Appellation Trail: Tasting Napa Valley, a mega tasting of more than 120 wineries' best pours and 30 restaurants' best bites in a festive walk-around format at the Culinary Institute on Friday night. With more big-name purveyors on hand than you'll find in any other place - think Silver Oak Cellars, Robert Mondavi Winery, Stags' Leap Winery, Staglin Family Vineyard and Morimoto Napa, Ad Hoc, La Toque and The Restaurant at Meadowood to name just a few - plus live demos by the likes of chef Tyler Florence, the Appellation Trail should be a phenomenal way to experience the best of the valley in just one night.

Come daytime, attending an intimate workshop with one of the valley's foremost culinary players affords rare insights into the philosophies and methods of these larger-than-life luminaries. Oenobuffs and new wine fans alike should enjoy "The Noblest of Grapes: A Celebration of Cabernet Sauvignon," a seminar hosted by the inimitable Karen MacNeil (authoress of The Wine Bible) and Fred Dame, a charismatic Master Sommelier and one of the nation's foremost wine educators. Sushi fans won't want to miss Iron Chef America star Masaharu Morimoto's "Sushi & Sashimi 101" demonstration, where the reliably entertaining maestro will guide guests through the nuances of this Japanese delicacy. 

For more on the weekend's full lineup, lodging packages and ticketing info, visit FlavorNapaValley.com.

by Courtney Cochran

Select venues throughout the Napa Valley

Founded by Bay Area locals and Bottle Shock producers Brenda and Marc Lohrmer, the first-ever Napa Valley Film Festival promises a chockablock schedule of feature, documentary and short film screenings, sneak previews, gala events, and conversations with film industry insiders over five days. 

Highly anticipated festivities will take place in venues from Carneros to Calistoga, with a gala kick-off reception going down at Robert Mondavi Winery on Thursday, November 10.  Thirsty film-goers will be able to sample pours from a diverse lineup of local vintners at wine pavilions, pre-screening pourings and winery open houses throughout the valley as well as at "Festival Front Porches," unique venues offering check-in rewards, live music and social media interactivity. Access Hollywood fans, take note: host Billy Bush will emcee the festival's Tribute Night program on Saturday in Yountville. 

OCTOBER

October 8 -- Crush Party at V. Sattui Winery
Celebration: Make your reservations today! V. Sattui Winery Production-Fermentation Floor, Crush Pad, Underground Cellars & Caves, Vittorio's Vineyard, Vittorio Room & Tasting Room.
Location: 1111 White Lane, St. Helena CA
Fee: $89/$79 Club Members, plus tax Time: 6:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Phone Number: 707-963-7774

October 8 -- Peju Club Crush: An Outdoor Lounge Experience
Celebration, Wine Education: Club Crush offers guests an unconventional peek into the harvest experience with an outdoor chill lounge, views of the vineyard, music to move your mood and exquisite small bites to pair with our wines. Taste actual fruit from this year's Harvest Say Flavor!
Fee: $65 plus tax; $55 + tax for club members Time: 5pm - 8pm Phone Number: 800-446-7358

October 8 -- Sequoia Grove Harvest Party & Lobster Feed
Celebration: Join us for our annual Harvest Party. We will be celebrating the bounty of Napa Valley with the bounty of the sea with our Lobster Feed! Come enjoy a rare harvest evening filled with succulent lobster, special pourings from our library and great games. Location: 8338 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558
Fee: $100, $85 wine club Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Phone Number: 707-944-2945 ext. 111

October 15 -- Havrest Party at Bourassa Vineyards
Celebration: Come and join us for another Grape Stomping Harvest Party at Bourassa Vineyards! Live Music Bourassa Vineyards Wines Napa Smith Beer Roast Pig On site Wood Fire Pizza Kitchen Cigars and Port!
Fee: $75, $40 for wine club members Time: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Phone Number: 707-254-4922

Every Saturday, October - November 5, 2011 - Harvest Experience at St. Supery
Wine Education: Be part of a small group of guests that experience Napa Valley harvest. Each tour includes wine tasting in the cellar from tank or barrel and a guided tasting of finished wines in one of St. Supery's private tasting rooms. Please call to reserve a tour.
Location: 8440 St. Helena Hwy, Rutherford CA
Fee: $50 Time: 11am-12:30pm Phone Number: 800-231-9116

CLICK HERE for more Crush and Harvest Season events in October!