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Every society has its social season, and in the Napa Valley, it’s summer. Once the spring rains have given way to the warm, dry days and cool nights we cherish from June through September, the real fun kicks in. We’ve hosted and attended a number of exciting events this season, entertaining music and movie stars, sports celebrities and philanthropists, and have dedicated this edition of the eNews to these summer fêtes and festivals.
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Nickel & Nickel, Hall & Oates, Help V Foundation Raise the Bar for Cancer Research
Nickel & Nickel was the site for the 9th annual V Foundation Wine Celebration on Saturday night, August 4, where icons of the sports, corporate and rock ‘n’ roll worlds joined forces to raise a record $3.9 million for The V Foundation’s cancer research efforts.
Hall & Oates perform their greatest sing-able, dance-able hits.
After bidding on silent auction lots in the barrel cellar, while enjoying Nickel & Nickel single-vineyard wines matched with hors d’oeuvres, the 430 guests ascended to the courtyard for dinner and the live auction. Read more…
Far Niente and Festival del Sole Entertain Superstars of Classical Music
Far Niente sponsored the second annual Festival del Sole, a 10-day celebration of music, food and wine featuring performances by the top international classical musicians set in the Napa Valley in July. Presented by IMG Artists, the global leader in the arts management business, the festival featured performances by renowned artists including flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway, pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Piotr Anderszewski, the Russian National Orchestra, mezzo soprano Frederica Von Stade, and 13 year-old piano prodigy Conrad Tao, among many other artists.
Robert Redford, Gianluca Macheda, Nina Kotova, Barrett Wissman, and Joshua Bell enjoy the party at Far Niente. - Photo by Thomas Gibbons
The highlight of the week was the Wednesday, July 18 performance by the Russian National Orchestra with superstar soloists Joshua Bell on violin and cellist Nina Kotova. The evening also served as the North American debut for conductor Nicola Luisotti, who is the incoming music director for the San Francisco Opera. Read more…
UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation Delivers 2007 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award, Honors Leading Lady Vintners and Chefs
Event Highlights $1 Million Gift for Melanoma Research in Memory of Far Niente Proprietor Gil Nickel
Joy Sterling (Iron Horse Vineyards), Beth Novak Milliken (Spottswood Estate Vineyard and Winery), Beth Nickel (Nickel & Nickel), Margaret Duckhorn (Duckhorn Wine Company), Ashley Heisey (Long Meadow Ranch, Oakville Ranch and Marelle Syrah) and Stephanie Putnam (Far Niente) were presented with Riedel decanters at the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's "Taste for a Cure." - Photo by Jesse Grant
UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation delivered the 2007 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award and honored leading lady vintners and chefs from Napa, Sonoma and Los Angeles at “Taste for a Cure,” its annual Hollywood gala on Saturday evening, June 16, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Read more…
Teeing Off with Tiger
Far Niente has long been a supporter of the Tiger Woods Foundation, providing the wine for the pro-am awards dinner prior to Tiger’s annual Target World Challenge golf tournament every December at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. Over the years, a warm friendship between Tiger’s team and Far Niente has developed.
Far Niente President Larry Maguire and PGA Tour Pro Fred Funk celebrate their win.
The friendship resulted this year in an invitation for Far Niente President Larry Maguire to play in the first annual Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, on July 4, prior to the start of the AT&T National tournament at Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C. Read more…
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Excerpted from an interview with Oakland A’s pitcher Huston Street, published in the San Francisco Chronicle, July 6, 2007:
“Q: What was the first great wine you remember having?
The ’96 Far Niente. (Barry) Zito bought it for me. We were out in New York and we wanted to get a great wine. …”
The CNN.com Travel team recently visited Far Niente and posted an exciting and comprehensive feature about the winery, complete with text, a video tour, a narrated slide show of the early days of Far Niente, and a photo gallery.
Check it out!
California State Of the Art: Can California's best wines silence the doubters?
Graceful Aging: Napa Valley vintner Far Niente has perfected the beauty and distinction of underground aging with its impressive and all-together inspiring wine caves.
• VIDEO - Watch here!
Napa Valley Wineries
• VIDEO - Watch here!
July 2007, Nickel & Nickel 2005 Medina Vineyard Chardonnay
July 2007, Nickel & Nickel 2004 Suscol Ranch Merlot
May 2007, Nickel & Nickel 2005 Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay
The Chronicle's Wine Selections: Chardonnay from Napa Valley and its subappellations.
Wine of the Week: 2003 Dolce
Wine Dinners
October 11
Helmsley Park Lane Hotel
New York, NY
(212) 521-6655 or
(212) 521-6203
October 15
Andiamo Restaurant
Haworth, NJ
(201) 384-1551
October 16
Red Restaurant
Red Bank, NJ
(732) 741-3232
October 23
Legal Seafood Park Square
Boston, MA
(617) 530-9397
Wine Tastings
August 22
San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar
San Pedro, CA
(408) 298-WINE
August 29
Mantra Restaurant
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 322-3500
October 17
Beltramo’s
Menlo Park, CA
(650) 325-2806
October 25-27
New York Wine Experience
Marriott Marquis
New York, NY
(212) 684-4224
Special Events
September 23
Healthy Kids Fund of Santa Clara Family Health Foundation
Woodside, CA
Contact: ehennessy@scfhp.com or
(408) 874-1912
October 5
March of Dimes
Celebrity Chefs and Master Vintners of Silicon Valley
Fairmont Hotel
San Jose, CA
(408) 260-7629
October 11
Sacred Heart School
Flood Mansion at Sacred Heart
San Francisco, CA
(415) 864-2262
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