Revelation struck after February’s Wine Women and Shoes event: How better to celebrate Sinfonia’s anniversary than by attending Festival del Sole’s opening weekend? Which is how a dedicated cadre of Sinfonia patrons found themselves seated within the courtyard of Calistoga’s Castello di Amorosa last July. As the final rays of sun illuminated the picturesque castle, we waited. And then the anticipatory silence of the steamy evening was broken by the pristine voice of soprano Nadine Sierra. The pure sound she radiated set the stage not only for that evening, but for a weekend that culminated in a gala headlined by stage and screen star Kevin Spacey.
An impressive showing at Ma(i)sonry—a unique winery collective and contemporary art gallery that features private boutique wine tastings, located in Napa Valley’s charming town of Yountville
It was, indeed, the perfect opening night for Napa’s beloved Festival del Sole. But it wasn’t the beginning of our trip. We had arrived the day before and checked into Meadowood Resort. Even knowing that this Saint Helena landmark is listed among Travel + Leisure magazine’s top one hundred hotels in the world didn’t prepare us for the grandeur. It’s a wonderland of perfectly manicured grounds filled with perfectly manicured people receiving perfectly manicured service. One of the many perks is the resort’s fleet of chauffeured Mercedes SUVs that shuttle guests within the resort and into town. And then there’s the eye candy of a mini-fleet of Bentleys aligned in the parking corridor. Our first destination upon arrival kept to the trip’s tenth-anniversary theme. Ma(i) sonry Napa Valley (MNV) proprietor Michael Polenske also owns Blackbird Vineyards and the Bespoke Collection, which is celebrating its tenth year as well. We got to experience MNV’s combination of art, architecture, and wine as well as say thank you to Polenske, who’s been a good friend to Sinfonia and a participating donor for its Wine Women and Shoes events. Just up the street from MNV is Thomas Keller’s famed restaurant, the French Laundry. Our objective wasn’t food (as delightful as a meal there would be), but rather a tour of its organic gardens. Master culinary gardener Aaron Keefer was our guide, expertly weaving the concept of sustainability into a personal tour of the gardens’ produce and herbs, as well as the egg-laying vintage chickens. The bounty of those gardens serves the French Laundry and sister restaurants Ad Hoc and our next stop, Bouchon. Bouchon sommelier Danielle Aita led us through the sounds of laughter and popping corks onto the restaurant’s private patio. We spent several hours in that slice of heaven, leaving only long enough to take another tour—this time of Bouchon’s wine cellar and kitchen. Ms. Aita explained that Bouchon has a unique program called Vin de Carafe, which sources wine from the regions surrounding the restaurant. Those wines are only on the menu until the barrel runs out.
The French Laundry master gardener Aaron Keefer and Sinfonia Gulf Coast patron Janis Bishop explore the treasures within the exceptional French Laundry culinary garden.
So far, so great. The next day’s first group outing was lunch at BRAND Napa Valley. Perched above the cloud line on Pritchard Hill (known as the Rodeo Drive of Napa Valley), BRAND Napa Valley boasts twelve acres of vines planted in red volcanic soils. It’s a unique terroir, to say the least. The winery was designed by Juancarlos Fernandez to the specifications of celebrated (read: rock star) winemaker Philippe Melka, who leads the wine-making program and also makes his own label on premises. And, just like the views, the wine is stunning.
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Front facade of Thomas Keller’s Michelin-rated Bouchon in Yountville