25th Annual Naples Winter Wine Festival to Showcase Vintners and Celebrity Chefs

25^th Annual Naples Winter Wine Festival to Showcase Amazing Assemblage of Acclaimed Vintners and Award-Winning Celebrity Chefs on January 24-26, 2025

This year’s Honored Vintners Count Louis-Michel and Countess Constance Liger-Belair and Chef de Cuisine Angelo Auriana will lead an incredible line-up of acclaimed winemakers and celebrity chefs, including vintners Alessia Antinori, Ann Colgin, Grace Evenstad (FEATURED PHOTO), Giovanni Gaja, Christopher Lynch, and Peter Sisseck, along with chefs Josiah Citrin, Dean Fearing, Douglas Keane and Josh Gaulin, Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Palmer, Dustin Valette, and Bryan Voltaggio

Vintner Ann Colgin

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, today unveiled a star-studded list of world-renowned vintners and award-winning celebrity chefs who will be participating in the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón on January 24-26, 2025.

With three days of festival activities, the 2025 NWWF will once again feature amazing fine wines, impeccable cuisine and unique, one-of-a-kind auction lots benefiting the most vulnerable children in the community. The weekend will pay homage to the past while looking forward to the future.

The 25th anniversary event kicks off with the highly popular Meet the Kids Day on Friday morning, when guests will have a chance to hear firsthand from some of the children who have received support from NCEF funds and see how their involvement has positively impacted the community.

This year’s Meet the Kids Day luncheon vintners include:

● Denise Adams of ADAMVS in Angwin, California and Château Fonplégade in Saint-Émilion, France
● Roger Bower of Crown Point Vineyards in Santa Ynez, California
● Rebecca Laird of Laird Family Estate in Napa, California

Chef Charlie Palmer

On Friday evening, guests will enjoy one of 19intimate Vintner Dinners hosted by NCEF Trustees in private homes and other elegant landmark settings throughout Naples where guests will experience beautifully curated multi-course dinners and wine pairings under the careful direction of award-winning chefs and legendary winemakers and poured by featured sommeliers.

2025 Honored Vintners
Count Louis-Michel and Countess Constance Liger-Belair of
Domaine du Comte Liger-Belairin Burgundy, France

Heading the list of participating winemakers are 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival Honored Vintners Count Louis-Michel and Countess Constance Liger-Belair, owners of the legendary Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair wine estate in Burgundy, France. Louis-Michel Liger-Belair is an agricultural engineer and oenologist who created Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in 2000, taking on some of the most revered family-owned vineyards dating back more than 200 years.

Today, with his wife, Constance, and their three children, Liger-Belair grows 14.5 hectares (25.9461 acres) of vines in Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Flagley-Echezeaux and Vougeot. They produce Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes which are known for their complexity, roundness and depth. Many of their wines are consistently rated 96 points and above, including the highly regarded La Romanée Grand Cru. All vines are managed using certified organic and biodynamic viticultural methods.

This year’s other participating vintners include:

• Elisabetta Gnudi of Altesino, Borgo Scopetoe Caparzoin Siena, Italy
• Grace Evenstad of Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France and Domaine Serene in Dayton, Oregon
• Jean-Guillaume Prats of Château Léoville Las Cases in Saint-Julian, France
• Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena Winery in Calistoga, California
• Cliff Lede of Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville, California
• Ann Colgin &Joe Wender of Colgin Cellars in St. Helena, California
• Peter Sisseck of Dominio de Pingus in Valladolid, Spain
• Giovanni Gaja of GAJA in Barbaresco, Italy
• Valerie Boyd & Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville, California
• Kelley & Jim Bailey of Knights Bridge Winery in Sonoma, California
• Alessia Antinori of Marchesi Antinori Srl. in Tuscany, Italy
• Christopher Lynch of Opus One in Oakville, California
• Tim Irwin of Penfolds in Adelaide, Australia
• Emily & Paul Michael of Peter Michael Winery in Calistoga, California
• David Wolf of Petrusin Pomerol, France
• Maud Rabin of Rare Champagne in Champagne, France
• Matthew Sharp of Shafer Vineyards in Napa, California
• Kary & David R. Duncan of Silver Oak in Oakville, California
• Shari & Garen Staglin of Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, California
• Ariel & Christopher Jackson of Stonestreet Estate Vineyards in Healdsburg, California
• Alberto Tasca of Tasca d’Almerita in Sicily, Italy
• Lucas Löwi of Terrazas de los Andes in Mendoza, Argentina

Vintner Giovanni Gaja

This incredible lineup of vintners represents fine wines from 13 wine producing regions, six countries and four continents, including regions that NWWF is offering for the first time in its history. Throughout the weekend, patrons are sure to be impressed with the critically acclaimed and highly rated wines they will have the opportunity to savor, including rare wines that are difficult to find anywhere else. With such an impressive variety, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

“We are proud to have assembled one of the most amazing collections of vintners representing some of the world’s most prestigious wineries for our milestone 25th anniversary of the Naples Winter Wine Festival,” said Bill Cary, 2025 Vintner Committee Member. “These world-renowned vintners will provide guests the opportunity to sample rare and exceptional wines from diverse wine growing regions and the chance to meet the individuals behind these wines in person.”

2025 Chef de Cuisine
Angelo Auriana of The Factory Kitchen and BRERA Ristorante in Los Angeles, California

This year’s list of featured chefs is led by Angelo Auriana, the innovative celebrity chef behind The Factory Kitchen and BRERA Ristorante. A native of Bergamo, Italy, Auriana graduated with honors from the prestigious San Pellegrino Hotel School at age 17. He made his way to California in 1985, where he helped with the opening of “Primi un Ristorante” shortly after becoming executive chef of “Valentino Ristorante” during his tenure of over 18 years in Valentino’s kitchen.

Chef Emeril Lagasse

In 2013, Auriana partnered with Matteo Ferdinandi and Francine Diamond-Ferdinandi to launch Factory Place Hospitality Group, opening the trattoria-style The Factory Kitchen that year followed by the Milan-inspired BRERA Ristorante in 2016. Both restaurants reflect the veteran chef’s pride in Italian cuisine and heartfelt desire to introduce diners to authentic dishes from Northern Italy.

Today, Auriana divides his time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, continually developing menus and sharing his love for cooking through classes, tasting menus, wine collector food and wine pairings. Auriana also holds an honorary diploma from the mayor of Bergamo, Italy for sharing the town’s culture and traditions with the United States via his Italian Heritage Cuisine.

This year’s other participating chefs include:

• Josiah Citrin of Citrin and Mélissein Santa Monica, California
• Stephen Coe of Dangerous Eatsand The Early Bird Café in Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee
• Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas
• Joe Flamm of Rose Mary in Chicago, Illinois
• Neal Fraser of Redbird in Los Angeles, California
• Rogelio Garcia of Auro in Calistoga, California
• Douglas Keane and Josh Gaulin of Cyrus in Geyserville, California
• Emeril Lagasse of The Emeril Group in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Beau MacMillan of CALA Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona
• Carrie Nahabedian of Brindille in Chicago, Illinois
• David Nayfeld of Che Fico in San Francisco, California
• Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco, California
• Charlie Palmer of Charlie Palmer Collective in New York, New York
• Ryan Pollnow of Flour+Water in San Francisco, California
• Andrew Quinn of The Noortwyck in New York, New York
• Dustin Valette of Valette and The Matheson in Healdsburg, California
• Bryan Voltaggio of Wye Oak Tavern in Frederick, Maryland

For the 25th anniversary, the NWWF has assembled one of the finest lineups of chefs in its history. Four represented restaurants are Michelin-starred, at least 13 chefs have been recognized for their excellence by the James Beard Foundation and many boast additional magazine accolades, including Forbes Travel Guide, Food & Wine, Esquire, and Elite Traveler to name a few. Among the list include many recognizable faces, with chefs who have hosted, competed on or made guest appearances on television shows, including Top Chef, Chopped, MasterChef and more.

“We are extremely excited to welcome many of the biggest names and most trailblazing chefs representing several of the most popular restaurants across the country,” said Kelley Bailey, 2025 Chef Committee Chair. “Their participation in the 2025 event helps build momentum toward what promises to be another tremendous weekend in support of children in our community.”

Following Friday’s opening festivities, guests will flock to the Festival’s main event – Saturday’s famed live auction, featuring some of the most incredible, one-of-a-kind wine, travel and culinary experiences in the world. All proceeds from the live auction will benefit charities that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.

Ticket packages for the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival start at $17,500 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $40,000 for two couples to experience a Jeroboam Package. For additional information, please visit: napleswinefestival.com/about-the-festival.

About Naples Winter Wine Festival
The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in elegant, private homes and other landmark settings throughout Naples and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised almost $302 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Collier County.

About Naples Children & Education Foundation
The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted close to 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 350,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.

For additional information on the Naples Children & Education Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.