IN VINO CARITAS

The Napa Valley September 17–19 Forum Excursion 2014 Contents Welcome to Welcome to The Wine Forum 1 TheWineForum Schedule 2 Napa Valley 4 Wineries Visited 12 Welcome to The Wine Forum’s 2014 Napa The Napa Valley vintners have always had Woman Winemakers Dinner 24 Valley excursion. The Wine Forum is a strong philanthropic leanings. For 30 years, Biographies 26 nonprofit organization whose members share the Napa Valley auction has donated generous three attributes: they are world leaders in their sums of money to worthy causes. On this fields; they deeply appreciate fine ; and trip, The Wine Forum members meet the they avidly pursue philanthropic interests. originators and current organizers of the Some of our members are very knowledgeable Napa auction to join forces where appropriate. about fine wines and hold vast collections. In particular, we will hear from the Napa Most however, just enjoy wine for the sheer Valley Vintners about the new Napa Valley pleasure of sharing something special with Community Disaster Relief Fund created by friends and family. NVV with an initial $10 million gift to benefit those impacted by the 2014 Napa earthquake. The Wine Forum holds two or three exclusive events per year in the most prestigious Our special thanks extend to all the vineyard venues around the world. Napa winemakers, owners and hosts who have Valley holds some of the world’s most made this program possible. treasured wines. Nevertheless, the spirit of entrepreneurialism is very much alive, and We look forward to the next few days with you we will see that by not only meeting the and hope you enjoy them as thoroughly as we “traditional” innovators of the region but also enjoyed devising the program. by meeting the “next wave” of superstars. But — September 17, 2014 Napa is more than just the labels. In most cases, vineyards were born through hard work, sheer determination and a will to see quality find its rightful place.

David Spreng Vidhi Tambiah Co-founder Co-founder The Wine Forum The Wine Forum

1 Schedule

Wed | 17 Sept

6:30 pm Reception: Lucy Restaurant at Bardessono Hotel

7:00 pm Dinner: “Speed Dating” dinner with Women Winemakers from “Women’s Palate Group” at Lucy Restaurant at Bardessono Hotel

Thur | 18 Sept

9:30 am Departure to Harlan Estate and Promontory

10:00 am Tour and tasting at Harlan Estate

12:00 pm Departure to Dana Estates

12:30 pm Dana Estates: lunch in the Rooster Barn hosted by Jae Chun with Linda Reiff (Napa Valley Vintners) and David Pearson (Opus One)

3:00 pm Departure to Dominus Estate

3:30 pm Tour and tasting at Dominus Estate

6:00 pm Departure to The Napa Valley Reserve

7:00 pm Screaming Eagle dinner with Armand de Maigret

10:30 pm Departure to hotel

Fri | 19 Sept

9:30 am Departure to Colgin Cellars

10:00 am Tour and tasting at Colgin Cellars

11:45 am Departure to Ovid

12:00 pm “Pritchard Hill” lunch at Ovid with Continuum, David Arthur, Chappellet, BRAND, Montagna, and Ovid

3:00 pm Departure to Culinary Institute of America, Rudd Center. Premiere Napa Valley Top 10 Tasting with Karen MacNeil

4:30 pm Departure to hotel

7:00 pm Departure to Bottega Restaurant. “Legends of Napa” dinner at Bottega

10:30 pm Return to hotel

2 3 Napa Valley

(Extracted by kind permission of the Napa Valley Vintners)

History and Timeline

Early Napa dealt vintners a stunning blow, as much of To the Wappo Indians who first inhabited the valley’s vineyard acreage fell victim to the the valley, “Napa” meant a land of plenty. destructive root louse. Spawning salmon filled the waterways, clouds of migrating waterfowl darkened the Prohibition skies and the valley floor served as home to An even greater threat to Napa Valley’s wildcats, elk, black bear and grizzlies. Wild wine business arrived in 1920, with the grapes also grew in abundance, but it took enactment of Prohibition. Vineyards were early settlers such as George Calvert Yount to abandoned and many winemakers found recognize the valley’s potential for cultivating other trades during the next 14 years, with wine grapes. Establishing the first local a handful of wineries continuing to operate homestead in what is now Yountville in 1836, by producing sacramental wines. With the Yount was the first to plant vineyards in the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Napa Valley’s valley. Other early pioneers included John wine industry began its renaissance: a period Patchett, who planted the first commercial of recovery, then tremendous expansion and, vineyard; Dr. George Crane, who promoted finally, in recent years, refinement. the planting of grapevines through a series Napa Valley Vintners of newspaper articles; and Hamilton Walker Crabb, who experimented with more than The early 1940s marked an important point in 400 grape varieties. the Napa Valleys’ wine history, when a group of vintners came together in 1944 to share The Pioneers ideas on grape growing and winemaking Charity Present and Future Charles Krug is credited with establishing amidst a convivial atmosphere of shared A new chapter in Napa Valley’s history was Today, Napa Valley is home to approximately Napa Valley’s first commercial winery camaraderie, good food and wine. This opened in 1981, when the first Napa Valley 500 wineries and numerous more brands. Its in 1861, and by 1889 there group laid the foundation for the Napa Wine Auction was sponsored at Meadowood growers and vintners combine cutting-edge were more than 140 wineries Valley Vintners, a dynamic trade resort. Over the years, this Napa Valley science with traditional techniques, and its in operation, including organization dedicated to advancing Vintners-sponsored celebration of Napa reputation for producing world-class wines Schramsberg (founded in 1862), Napa Valley’s wines both domestically Valley wine and food has become the “world’s is firmly established in an ever-growing Beringer (1876) and and abroad. most successful” charity wine event, drawing global market. (1879). Before long, however, the participants from around the globe. The rapid expansion of the new wine auction has given $90 million to local health industry saw prices plummet care, youth programs and affordable housing amidst a sea of surplus grapes, since 1981. and the arrival of phylloxera Charles Krug

4 5 Geography Bounded on both sides by mountains, the The vineyard environments of the Napa Valley Napa Valley stretches approximately 30 miles have evolved through geologic time. Like the in a northwesterly direction, its width ranging rest of California, Napa Valley has had a very from five miles at the widest point near the active and eventful geologic history. Many city of Napa to just a mile where the valley tectonic plates (large pieces of the earth’s narrows near the town of Calistoga. crust) have collided with North America to Napa Valley form California. As a result, there are many Bisecting the valley is the Napa River, which geological faults in the area, which have follows the valley’s tapered contour, and molded the topography of the Napa Valley dwindles from a fully navigable river in and the mountains that surround it. its southern stretches to little more than a creek at its northern beginnings. The valley’s A great deal of volcanic activity occurred in Mt. St. Helena topography changes with its length, from the area about two million years ago. These the windswept estuarine flats and gentle volcanic eruptions deposited a series of Calistoga Sacramento hills in the south to the valley’s narrow tip ash and lava called the Sonoma Volcanics Napa at the town of Calistoga, cradled between over much of Napa and Sonoma Counties, the sheer walls of the Palisades at the foot of especially along the axis of the Mayacamas Oakland Mount St. Helena to the east and the forested Range. The small hills which emerge from the San Francisco Mayacamas Mountains to the west. valley floor north of Yountville were created by this volcanic activity. San Jose The Napa Valley’s amiable climate makes it a veritable garden. A wide variety of fruits Changes in sea level caused San Pablo Bay P A and vegetables thrive here: oranges, prunes, to alternately advance and retreat over the C I apples, olives and more. But what makes the southern part of the valley several times. This F Napa Valley truly unique is its remarkable resulted in the deposition of bay sediment IC suitability for the production of wine grapes. (clays and sand) as soil parent material in O CALIFORNIA A maritime climate that produces cool nights the southern valley. The bedrock varies from C E and warm days combines with soils that are coarse sandstones to marine conglomerates A deep but not excessively fertile to yield grapes to volcanic basalts and tuff. These different N that are singular in their intensity, complexity parent materials give rise to soils with very and balance. different ability to retain water, texture and fertility. Several different microclimates and a wide array of soil profiles mean that different vineyards produce grapes that are unique in style and character — but uniformly high in quality. Los Angeles

San Diego 6 7 Soils and Geology Agricultural Land Preservation and Open Space The Napa Valley appellation is While it may appear to the casual observer Thirty years ago, in the formative stages of unique for the diversity of soils that Napa County is bursting with grape today’s Napa Valley wine industry, local found in such a small geographic vines, the truth is that only nine percent of vintners joined the community’s successful area. Soils of volcanic, maritime Napa County is planted in vineyards and less opposition to Caltrans’ plans for a freeway and alluvial origin exist, each than three percent remains suitable for grape running up the valley. Fourteen years ago, created by geological events that planting, according to the findings of the the “2020 Initiative” was passed to hold all have occurred over a 60-million- Napa County Watershed Task Force. Napa county land zonings in place through the year year history. The valley was formed County encompasses 485,120 acres in total 2020 unless changed by a two-thirds vote of by tectonic plate movement and and just 45,275 acres are planted in vineyards. the people. volcanic activity, by alluvial waters and the flooding of San Pablo In the late 1950s and early 1960s, landowners Local vintners are well into a second- Bay, which once reached as far as realized that the encroaching urban growth generation effort to preserve the Valley. the site of the present-day town to the south all but guaranteed that their land Working with the Land Trust of Napa County, of Yountville. Rocky knolls and values were about to increase exponentially. vintners are joining other property owners alluvial fans interrupt the level Left unchecked, much of the Valley in placing their land into Conservation expanses of the valley floor, each could become paved over and covered in Easements. These easements dictate bearing testimony to geologic tract-homes and strip-malls similar to Santa how designated parcels will be used in occurrences in the past. Clara Valley, once a thriving agricultural area. perpetuity — without a sunset date.

The area’s topography supports In 1968, Napa Valley vintners and others Vintners have played a big role in the a wide variety of soils — more in the community had the forethought to history of Napa Valley’s preservation than 30 different types have been preserve open space and prevent future and will continue to play a vital role in identified. Ranging from well- over-development by enacting the nation’s ensuring a pastoral beauty and intact drained gravelly loams to moisture- first Agriculture Preserve. Since its adoption, natural environment. retaining silty clays, these soils vary not one acre of land has been removed from in depth and fertility. The structure the preserve. This land-zoning ordinance and composition of the soil greatly established agriculture and open space as affects the vegetation, including the “best use” for the land in the “fertile valley grapes, which it sustains. and foothill areas of Napa County.” Initially Photo: Jason Tinacci Photo: the ordinance protected 23,000 acres of In general, the soils found on the agricultural land stretching from Napa in the level flood plain of the Napa River south to Calistoga. Today, more than 36,000 and valley floor are deeper than the rocky grapes. While yields may suffer as a grape acres are contained within the Preserve. soils covering the slopes and hills. Experience vine’s roots struggle to penetrate the thin and has shown, however, that a highly fertile and rocky soils of hillside vineyards, the resulting deep soil is neither necessary nor always stress often results in smaller grapes of highly desirable for the growing of premium wine concentrated color and flavors.

8 9 Appellations Napa County Wine Industry Facts During the early decades of winemaking in ▶▶ Napa Valley’s reputation in the world of ▶▶ The most commonly used pest control the Napa Valley, grapes were often planted in wine is huge, yet Napa Valley accounts method in Napa Valley is sulfur. Sulfur, patchwork pattern vineyards in which many for only four percent of California’s total an organic fungicide, is used to control varieties were mixed. But experience has wine production. mildew and rot in fruits and ornamental since shown the wisdom of matching grapes ▶▶ Napa Valley accounts for only five percent plants. Sulfur is a natural compound found with locations whose microclimates and soils of total United States vineyard acreage. in mineral form in both aquatic and soil are best suited to particular grape varieties. ▶▶ In 1968, Napa Valley vintners and others environments, and is certified for use in organic farming. Within the Napa Valley, regions have in the community had the forethought emerged that possess distinct microclimates to preserve open space and prevent ▶▶ Napa County has a long, rich history in and terrains, imprinting recognizable future over-development by enacting the grape growing with the first vines planted characteristics on the grapes grown nation’s first Agriculture Preserve. Since in 1838–1839 by George Yount. The first within them. its adoption, not one acre of land has been wine from these vines was produced in the removed from the Preserve. mid-1840s. Vintners and growers within ▶▶ Auction Napa Valley, the Napa Valley ▶▶ In the late 1850s, Los Angeles had ten times these regions delineate the Vintners’ community fundraiser, is the as many vines as did Napa. boundaries of these growing world’s most successful wine charity event, ▶▶ The familiar statue on Highway 29 that areas, giving them names having given $120 million to Napa County greets those who enter Napa County from that reflect their regional Howell healthcare, youth service and affordable the south is called The Grapecrusher. The designations, or appellations. Mountain Calistoga Chiles housing non-profits. bronze sculpture by Gino Miles, was erected Valley Data supporting a proposed District ▶▶ The Napa Valley Vintners, through Auction in 1987 and is dedicated to the workers who Diamond labor in the vineyards. American Viticultural Area, Mountain Napa Valley, has dedicated almost $2 or AVA, is submitted to the District Spring million to Napa Valley Community Housing ▶▶ Of the NVV’s 500 members, 78% produce Mountain St. Helena government, which decides District to fund affordable housing projects, fewer than 10,000 cases annually; and 67% whether the proposed appellation including those that house farm workers. produce fewer than 5,000 cases annually. designation will be granted. Rutherford ▶▶ Vineyards and surrounding open space ▶▶ 95% of Napa Valley’s wineries are family provide a natural habitat for a variety of owned. The Napa Valley is itself an appellation. Oakville Atlas wildlife species and many growers invite Within the Napa Valley appellation exists Stags Peak ▶▶ The Napa Valley has a dry Mediterranean Leap birds, including owls and hawks, into their climate, which covers only 2% of the Earth’s 16 sub-appellations, or AVAs, including: District Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley District, Yountville vineyards by installing special protective surface, and is ideal for growing wine bird boxes. The birds of prey help control Coombsville, Diamond Mountain District, Mount Oak Knoll grapes. Veeder District of Wild rodent and pest populations in and around ▶▶ Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley Horse Napa Valley contains 33 soil series with Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Spring Valley the vineyards. more than 100 soil variations and half of the Mountain District, Stags Leap District, City of Napa Coombsville soil orders that exist within the world can be Yountville, Wild Horse Valley, Oak Knoll found in the Napa Valley. District of Napa Valley and Calistoga. Los Carneros

10 11 Wineries Visited

BRAND Chappellet Above the cloud line overlooking Lake The Chappellet family’s romance with Pritchard Hill’s rugged terroir has become Hennessey and the Napa Valley are the Pritchard Hill started more than four decades legendary for producing wines with great vineyards of BRAND, where twelve acres ago when Donn and Molly Chappellet first intensity and depth — qualities that define the of vines are planted in red volcanic soils glimpsed its magnificent vista of forests world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons. As a result, surrounded by massive boulders on this and wildflower-filled meadows. Inspired by Chappellet wines have consistently received mountainside winegrowing estate. After BRAND and the double horseshoes, our the notion that Bacchus loves the hills, the the highest praise from critics, and are sought 6 years of groundwork and preparation, logo, reflect the fundamental elements in our Chappellets followed the advice of renowned after by the world’s premier collectors. the first release of BRAND Napa Valley equestrian interests and the volcanic soils winemaker André Tchelistcheff and settled was offered in September on Pritchard Hill. Much like the horseshoe on Pritchard Hill’s rocky slopes, becoming the Today, a second generation of the family 2012. This wine embodies the depth of hammered true by the Farrier forms the first winery to plant vineyards exclusively on has joined their parents in embracing the commitment to the unique conditions and foundation for sustainability and grace in high-elevation hillsides. From these Pritchard romance of Pritchard Hill. They are passionate volcanic soil in which the vines are planted our horses; the soil painted red by the iron Hill vineyards, the Chappellets have been about preserving the land and continuing on the mountain called Pritchard Hill in the contained within has similar immeasurable crafting extraordinary, age-worthy wines what Donn and Molly began — making Napa Valley appellation. influence on the vine. since 1967. extraordinary wines.

12 13 Colgin Cellars Continuum Ann Colgin has helped forge a reputation for Four generations of the Mondavi family have California wines as amongst the greatest red grown and produced wines among the world’s wines of the world. From the first vintage in finest. Cesare Mondavi was the first to bring 1992, Colgin has produced highest quality wine to the table but it was his son Robert’s wines from exceptional hillside vineyards passion for excellence, which inspired both in the St. Helena area of Napa Valley. These his family and the world. Tim and Marcia unique sites, coupled with meticulous Mondavi, along with their children, maintain vineyard management and neoclassical this continuum of excellence, innovation and winemaking techniques, produce wines with tradition at their estate, high on Pritchard Hill. distinctive personalities. All of the Colgin wines are made at the state-of-the-art winery All great wines begin with a great site. From located at IX Estate. the early days in St. Helena to their father Colgin Cellars currently produces four Robert’s establishment of his winery in Colgin and her husband Joe Wender run first-growth quality red wines: Tychson Hill Oakville, the Mondavi family has recognized Colgin Cellars with impeccable attention to Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariad Napa the importance of this; Continuum takes the detail. Together, they lead a highly respected Valley Red Wine, IX Estate Napa Valley Red next step. Continuum had to be a hillside site, winemaking team made up of Winemaker Wine and IX Estate Syrah. Colgin’s highly on the east side of the valley with a westerly Allison Tauziet, Vineyard Manager David acclaimed Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet aspect. Continuum also needed the right Abreu and Consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud. Sauvignon was produced 1992–2007 and may soil; volcanic, iron rich soils to grow wines still be found on top restaurant wine lists and with great structure, focus and ageability. at auction. Four generations and a lifetime of experience brought them to this estate on Pritchard Hill. The estate has the perfect combination of soils, exposure and climate to grow wine in the company of the world’s finest.

14 15 Dana Estates David Arthur Nestled at the base of the Mayacamas The history of David Arthur Vineyards and Mountains in the Napa Valley, Dana Estates the Long Family in the Napa Valley reaches is dedicated to making small lots of truly back a half-century to the 1950s. At that distinctive world class wines. Dana is a Sanskrit time, Don Long began steadily investing in term meaning “the Spirit of Generosity.” It land on Pritchard Hill. He owned a small is in this spirit that we express a profound grocery business in Menlo Park, and had appreciation for those that have worked the long been interested in the soil before us, as we build on the foundations industry. His vision and commitment to laid by previous generations of vintners. build a legacy and business for his family Blending history and tradition with cutting led to the acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres. edge vineyard management, a new state of Nearly two decades later, in the late 1970s, the art winery and meticulous winemaking, that vision came to fruition when his son Dana Estates strives to make the greatest wines David began planting vines on the property. possible. In so doing, we hope to provide a In 2007, David’s daughter Laura joined the link between the past and future generations family business to run the daily operations. of vintners, and all those who appreciate the generosity of this special land. Dana Estates produces three single vineyards wines, from sites that are dramatically Today, two generations work different from one another. Each vineyard is together to continue the family farmed organically at low yields to allow the tradition at David Arthur unique qualities of each site to be expressed Vineyards. With the release in the bottle. Multiple passes through the of the 2010 vintage, the Long vineyards are made during harvest, and Family celebrates 25 years of only the purest expressions of fruit and winemaking. most balanced lots make it into Dana wines. Depending on the character of each lot, Today, as in the beginning, blocks are fermented in either concrete tanks, returning to their roots is oak uprights or small barrels to enhance what this family continues vineyard characteristics and help produce to be about. wines of distinction and sophistication. The Land, The Family, The Hill.

16 17 Dominus Harlan Estate In the late 1960s, while attending For over twenty-five years, Harlan Estate has the University of California at Davis, been committed to creating a California “First Christian Moueix fell in love with Growth” wine estate. the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed Founded in 1984, Harlan Estate is a wine merchant and producer from winegrowing estate in the western hills of Libourne, France, Moueix returned Oakville, California — in the heart of the home in 1970 to manage the family Napa Valley. Consisting of 240 acres (97 ha) vineyards, including Châteaux Petrus, of natural splendor set above the fabled La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol Oakville benchlands, the property rises in and Magdelaine in St.-Émilion. His elevation from 225 to 1,225 feet (68 to 374 m) love of Napa Valley lingered and, above sea level, roughly fifteen percent of in 1981, he discovered the historic which are under vine, planted to the classic Napanook Vineyard, a 124-acre site west varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, , of Yountville that had been the source and . More than of fruit from some of the finest Napa that, it is a family homestead; a place of great Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s. In inspiration, carved from the raw land, built for generations. 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership Bill Harlan to develop the vineyard and, in 1995, Bill Harlan acquired Meadowood resort became its sole owner. He chose the on the east side of Napa Valley in 1979 name ‘Dominus’ or ‘Lord of the Estate’ and developed it to be one of the premier in Latin to underscore his longstanding properties in the United States. Bill helped commitment to stewardship of the land. found Merryvale winery in 1983 and in 1984 he purchased a 230-acre forested property, with a stated ambition to “create a first growth wine.” Since then, Harlan Estate wines have been described by Jancis Robinson as “one of the ten best wines of the twentieth century,” and won acclaim from Wine Spectator Bill Harlan and Robert Parker. As one of the original organizers of the Napa Valley Wine Auction, Bill has been a participant in Napa Valley philanthropy for over 30 years.

18 19 Montagna The Napa Valley Reserve

Montagna sits in a unique geographical Montagna is appropriately named — it means Conceived and founded by H. William Harlan, part of Pritchard Hill. It is perched at the “mountain” in Italian. 16 acres are currently the winery is located on 80 acres in St. Helena, edge of the Vaca range and almost forms planted to several red varietals including California in the heart of the Napa Valley. The a corner of this part of the mountain. As a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Napa Valley Reserve has been established in the result you have some of the more spectacular Petite Verdot. The focus is on two wines: tradition of the great wine growing estates of all-encompassing views of the Napa Valley a and an Estate Cabernet the world and is exclusively devoted to offering and beyond. San Pablo Bay in the south to Sauvignon. a unique wine club membership. For a fraction Mt. St. Helena in the north. It’s an intimate Montagna is Bob Long’s new project on of the cost of owning a vineyard and winery, location, because there is a rather steep Members can participate as much or as little drop to the valley floor 1,000+ ft below. You Pritchard Hill, not far from David Arthur, which Bob founded with his brother David. as they choose in all stages of winemaking. All are right above the floor rather than any wine is produced by the same Harlan Estate of a number of other scenic locations up Nile Zacherle, the winemaker at David Arthur, is also in charge at Montagna. winemaking team that is responsible for creating and down either the Vaca or Mayacamas what The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker says mountain ranges, which are set back quite “might just be the single most profound red wine a ways from the actual valley. made not just in California, but in the world.”

In its six years of existence, The Reserve’s membership has grown rapidly, both in number and in geographic diversity. We currently have more than four hundred Members, two-thirds of whom live outside the Bay Area. Moreover, we have Members in thirty states and twelve countries. By working with our winemaking team, cellarmaster and label and packaging designers, our Members from all locations are able to create unique wines that they can call their own.

In addition to producing fine wine, The Reserve conducts events for Members at the winery and other international locations. As part of our yearly curriculum, resident and visiting experts explore a variety of topics including grape growing, winemaking, and the culinary arts. Past events have ranged from roundtable discussions with international winemakers to wine and culinary pairings with renowned chefs at restaurants and homes around the world.

20 21 Ovid Screaming Eagle Ovid was a Roman poet who lived Jean Phillips, a former real estate agent, from 43 BC to 17 AD. His most bought the 57-acre Oakville vineyard in famous work, Metamorphoses, is 1986 which was planted to a mix of varieties, a poetic narrative of the Greek most of which Phillips sold to various Napa myths, celebrating the themes of wineries except the one-acre, approximately transformation and change. 80 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon. For this one acre of Cabernet, Phillips sought Transforming estate-grown grapes to the opinions of Robert Mondavi Winery wine, Ovid’s team takes meticulous employees on the commercial potential of care in every step, blending classical her wine before hiring Richard Peterson as a and modern methods in farming consultant, and subsequently met Peterson’s and winemaking. Planted in 2000, daughter, Heidi Peterson Barrett, who became organically farmed and CCOF- Screaming Eagle’s first winemaker.The entire certified 15-acre vineyard is divided vineyard was replanted in 1995 to three into one-acre blocks, each with a varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and different rootstock and clone combination This operation has elicited considerable Cabernet Franc. The 1992 vintage, released of Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, in 1995, through a combination of very low Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. acclaim, given the talent involved. First of all is the terroir, a stunning location high production numbers and highly positive on Pritchard Hill, a neighborhood filled reviews (wine critic Robert Parker awarded with Napa superstars, add to that the level the wine 99 points), resulted in Screaming of talent — winemaker Austin Peterson, Eagle becoming one of the most celebrated consultant winemaker Andy Erickson, and expensive wines in the Napa Valley. viticulturalist David Abreu — and the result is Under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, this essentially a think-tank of world-class quality. vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been constructed. The production of Screaming Eagle has remained between 700 and 1,000 cases, and a , the Second Flight, includes 520 to 800 cases. The introduction of a second wine is an attempt to keep Screaming Eagle at its mythical level of quality.

22 23 Women Winemakers Dinner

Jane Ballentine Cherie Melka William Cole Vineyards, Owner/Marketing Manager Melka Winery, Owner/Winemaker Jane Sorensen Ballentine was raised in the small town of St. Helena, CA. She left the Cherie’s interest in winemaking started with an epiphany moment Napa Valley to go to college, where she studied English Literature at Oxford University with a glass of Château Lalande Pomerol. Having earned her in England and received a BA degree in Communications from St. Mary’s College. microbiology degree at Northern Arizona University, she decided to In 1992, Jane and Bill (fifth generation St. Helena grape grower) returned to live in the pursue that interest in the vineyard country of northern California. Napa Valley. “I knew that by returning to St. Helena I could make a difference in the She began her wine industry background by running the laboratory community, fulfill the challenges I had set for myself and pass my family’s legacy on at Ridge Vineyards for 6 years. During that time she met her future to my children,” Jane says. Bill and Jane bought the historic 1873 vineyard and restored husband Philippe and moved to France shortly after where she the old stone building, its neglected historic gardens, planted the estate vineyard and earned a certificate from the University of Bordeaux III in 1994. established William Cole Vineyards. “Sharing collective goals with my family and Upon their return to California in 1995, she worked with Beaulieu applying our individual talents is what life is all about.” Vineyards and Silver Oak Cellars, but longed to be more directly involved in wine production and join Philippe in crafting single vineyard designate wines. In 2003, Cherie decided to dedicate her time Kara Dunn exclusively to Melka Wines where she participates in harvest, blending, Dunn Vineyards & Retro Cellars bottling, package design, marketing and website development. Marketing, Dunn VIneyards; Owner, Retro Cellars Kara Pecota Dunn is a second generation Napa Valley vintner. As the daughter of Robert Pecota of Robert Pecota Winery in Calistoga, and the wife of Michael Dunn Beth Novak Milliken of Dunn Vineyards on Howell Mountain, she has been involved in the wine industry President & CEO, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery since her childhood. After receiving her BA from UC Davis in International Relations In 1987, Beth Novak Milliken joined her mother, Mary Novak, in in 1990, she worked her way up to the role of GM of Robert Pecota Winery, and guiding Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery. Beth has helped started Retro Cellars in 2003 with her husband. establish the Spottswoode Estate Vineyard as one of the world’s great winegrowing sites and one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries. She has been integral in Spottswoode’s evolution, acquiring the historic Sharon Kazan Harris adjacent Kraft property in 1989, earning CCOF organic certification RARECAT Wines, Director of Winemaking/Owner for the vineyard in 1992, and building the Spottswoode Estate Sharon’s love for wine began in Bordeaux where she moved to study French at the age Winery in 1999. of 20. Her success, as she described, “...have been a result of fortuitous introductions, She is also recognized as a Napa Valley leader, advocating on behalf dreaming big (with the ability to make ideas happen), desire to learn and a willingness of the wine industry, as well as social and environmental causes. to try new things” that led her to her first wine experience at Haut Brion. In 1998, Beth became the youngest and first female president of the She has had the desire to be in the wine industry for decades. Sharon spent many Napa Valley Vintners. She spearheaded the restoration of Spring years working in executive positions in publishing, advertising and technology. Creek in 2000, and in 2010, Beth and Mary were honorary chairs Luckily very successful in business, she was able to trade computers for vineyards. of Auction Napa Valley, which raised over $8,500,000 for nonprofits. Sharon graduated with honors from the Université de Bordeaux’s famed D.U.A.D. Spottswoode joined 1% for the Planet in 2007, and donates 1% of its program, a technical diploma taught in French. gross revenues each year to environmental causes. She launched RARECAT Wines in 2008 with the goal of making elegant, balanced wines. While promoting RARECAT, her greatest passion has been empowering women through wine and supporting women in the wine industry. Several years ago she formed an exclusive trade group called Wine Entre Femmes, comprised of some of the most remarkable women in wine in Napa and Bordeaux, and have recently co-launched A Woman’s Palate, a company that celebrates wines by women for women.

24 25 Biographies

Cameron Vawter Armand de Maigret Cameron Vawter joined Dana Estates in August 2005 as Director of Estate Manager Screaming Eagle Winery Production and was promoted to Winemaker in January 2013. As Dana Armand de Maigret possesses executive-level wine Estates’ first employee, Cameron has always been deeply rooted in bringing industry experience in both France and the United the vision of the brand to fruition. States. This knowledge and experience has proven Cameron’s vast travels throughout his lifetime have led him to Australia, an invaluable combination in his management of Chile and Greece; he also spent time sailing private sailboats between the Screaming Eagle. Armand is also the Estate Manager of Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. It was during these adventures that he Screaming Eagle’s sister wineries, Jonata in the Ballard fell in love with wine and decided he wanted to work in the industry. Canyon AVA, and The Hilt in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Prior to his role at Screaming Eagle, Jonata and The In 2002, Cameron dove right in to his passion with an internship at William Hilt, Armand held various leadership roles in the wine Hill Winery in the Napa Valley before attending the University of California industry including General Manager at Vérité Winery, at Davis to receive his Bachelor of Science in and Enology. While at school, he held La Jota Vineyard, Vice President of Marketing at Jackson internships at both Spring Mountain Vineyards and Domaine Carneros. Wine Estates, and Director of Marketing at Domaine Following graduation, Cameron received a grant from the International Food and Wine Chandon and Simi Winery. Armand holds an MBA from Society to travel to Chile to work with Val di Vieso during the Spring harvest of 2002. This was Northwestern University. followed by travels in France’s Burgundy and Rhône Valley wine regions. He ended the trip in Barcelona, Spain, where he worked with Torres for harvest in the Fall of 2002. He returned to the States for a full time role as assistant winemaker at Diamond Oaks Wines (formerly known as La Familia), where he remained until 2004 when he began the transition to Dana Estates. Janet Pagano Managing Partner, Ovid. Napa Valley A winemaker by training, Janet has a B.S. in Fermentation Jae M. Chun Science from U.C. Davis. She worked her way up from bottling Dana Estates lines to general management, enjoying every aspect of the wine business. However, she never imagined spending so much time Jae M. Chun serves as president of Dana Estates. With in construction trailers, overseeing the start up and management a background in both the agricultural and biochemical of several projects including Artesa, Stonestreet and Ovid wineries. industries as well as extensive experience in business and financial management, Chun oversees a broad range of Janet began as Managing Director at Ovid in 2002 and became an Dana Estates’ business operations, finance, strategy, and equity partner in 2008. She brings a wealth of winery and business brand direction. experience to her current role as Managing Partner at Ovid, where she is responsible for all aspects of Ovid Napa Valley. Chun also serves as general manager of Nara Cellar US, managing the company’s American import portfolio and Janet is married with two children and is active in the community. is president of Vintage Gem, a company that exports fine She was chairman of the Napa Valley Wine Auction, and has wines to Asia from world-class wine growing regions served on the boards of the Wine Institute and Napa Valley around the world. Vintners. She is the past President of the St. Helena Family Center and former board member and Chairman of the Napa Valley Chun received his Bachelor of Arts at Yonsei University in Community Foundation. Seoul, Korea and holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jae and his wife Jennie live in St. Helena with their three children.

26 27 David Pearson Linda Reiff CEO, Opus One Winery Executive Director, Napa Valley Vintners David Pearson has served as the CEO of Opus One Linda Reiff has served as executive director of the Napa Valley Winery since February, 2004. Vintners (NVV) since 1995. Under her leadership NVV membership has quadrupled to 400 member wineries, marketing and promotions Prior to his position with Opus One, David served as programs have expanded worldwide, and the organization has become an president of Rancho Arroyo Grande Winery on the international leader on industry issues. central coast of California. He has also served as vice president and general manager of Byron Vineyards & Reiff spearheads the NVV’s proactive approach on a number of fronts, Winery. David began his career working as winemaker including: efforts to protect winegrowing place names around the world; at San Pasqual Vineyards in Southern California. development of the most progressive farming, land and winery green certification programs in the United States; and, unprecedented business David has recently served as an honorary director of the investment in community causes. Grapes for Humanity Foundation, whose mission is to support global humanitarian efforts, particularly those The NVV is the creator and organizer of Auction Napa Valley, the world’s focused on the victims and survivors of disasters and personal most successful charity wine auction, which has given $97 million to local tragedies. He is a Board member for several organizations health care, youth development and affordable housing efforts since 1981. including UC Davis and the Napa Valley Vintners organization. The NVV has led in the creation and funding of innovative, cooperative David also serves as a Director on the Board of Festival del Solé, non-profit endeavors, such as the Napa Valley Farmworker Housing one of America’s premier music and lifestyle festivals held every Centers, the Children’s Health Initiative, the Napa Valley Vintners Health year in Napa Valley. Care Center, and the Student-Centered 21st Century Classroom. David earned a B.S. degree in fermentation science from the Prior to joining the NVV, Reiff worked for Congressman Vic Fazio from UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 1987 to 1995 and served as his chief of staff in Washington, D.C. Prior to He went on to earn an M.B.A. in international business from that, she worked as a daily newspaper reporter covering agricultural and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife, Linnea, have environmental issues in California. Reiff is married to Richard Ward, two daughters and a son. founder of Saintsbury vineyards & winery in Napa.

Fiona Morrison, MW Fiona Morrison MW is an independent wine writer and consultant with over 25 years of international experience in the fine wine business on both sides of the Atlantic. Born in America of British Parents, she was raised and educated in France and Britain before starting off her career first as a journalist and then in the fine wine business. Since her marriage to Jacques Thienpont, Belgian wine négociant and owner of Le Pin in Pomerol in 1997, Fiona divides her time between Belgium and Bordeaux. Winner of numerous awards for her wine journalism including the James Beard Award and the Prix Lanson.

28 29 Paul Roberts, MS/COO Karen MacNeil Paul Roberts, from a seventh-generation Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in Texas family, began his career as sommelier the United States, is the author of The Wine Bible — at Houston’s esteemed Café Annie, ranked the best-selling wine book in the US, and chairman by Gourmet Magazine as one of the top 20 of the wine department at The Culinary Institute restaurants in the United States. There he of America. She is the only American to have became the 48th Master Sommelier in the won every major wine award given in the English world, earning the prestigious honor of the language, including the James Beard Award for Wine Krug Cup—awarded to those who pass all Professional of the Year (2004). TIME Magazine has three exam sections on a first attempt, and called her “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” with the highest cumulative score. He was the sixth person in MS history to also win the Krug Cup, and the first Texan to become a Master Sommelier. From 2003 to 2008, Paul held the position of Wine Director for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. In February of 2004, he facilitated the openings of Per Se in New York City and Bouchon in Las Vegas. Among the four restaurants under his direction (including Bouchon, Yountville), Paul managed a team of 12 sommeliers, Seth Box receiving the coveted Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2007. Throughout the course of his career with Chef As Director of Education for Moet Hennessy USA, Keller, he earned seven Michelin stars, retiring from Seth is responsible for Champagne, wine and spirit restaurants as the most Michelin-starred sommelier education in the US. His career in the wine & spirits in the United States. He then became Estate Director business began in 1999, when he moved to the Napa for BOND Estates, dedicated to producing the Grand Valley to follow his passion for wine. While in Napa, Crus of the Napa Valley from several exceptional sites. Seth worked in the cellars of Joseph Phelps and as an In 2013, he joined the Colgin Cellars team as COO, a assistant at Sawyer Cellars. perfect match of talent, passion, and place. In 2005, he was recruited as Brand Manager for Moet Hennessy to manage their Italian wine portfolio in the U.S. He is B.A.R. (Beverage Alcohol Resource) Certified, holds the Advanced Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and passed the Theory portion of the Master of Wine Program.

30 31 For Your Notes

32 33 For Your Notes

34 35 Thank you for attending The Wine Forum’s Napa Excursion. We aim to The Wine Forum is an independent, not-for-profit society of very senior attain the highest standards in everything we do. We would be delighted to hear your private and public sector leaders who share a passion for fine wine and philanthropy. feedback on how we might improve for next time and what you enjoyed the most. Our events feature the best wines from the most renowned producers and take place Our next event will be in Davos, Switzerland; January 21-22, 2015. in discreet, unique settings.

For more details, please contact: Our members come from many different cultures, religions, and political philosophies [email protected] or [email protected] and set aside two or three days a year to attend our events.