International talent at 17th Naples Winter Wine Festival

Naples, FL – August 9, 2016 – This January, Naples will spotlight some of the most impressive food and wine talent across the globe at the 17^th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, scheduled for January 27-29, 2017 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL.More than 30 of the world’s preeminent wineries will be pouring at the Festival, representing 12 wine producing regions, five countries and three continents. Culinary giants with a collective 11 Michelin Stars, 13 James Beard Awards, and 10 James Beard Award nominations will prepare unforgettable meals for guests to enjoy.

Leading the lineups are Chef de Cuisine Wolfgang Puck and Honored Vintner Pierre Lurton, both world-renowned for their contributions in food and wine. Several others participating this year have been longtime supporters of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, including celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, multiple James Beard Award nominee Richard Reddington, and Michael Tusk, whose restaurant Quince was awarded two Michelin stars. Vintners representing acclaimed wineries in the Old and New World, such as Chateau Haut-Brion, Colgin Cellars and Staglin Family Vineyard, will return to the Festival yet again to lend their support to the many children in need in Collier County.

“The fact that so many gifted vintners and chefs are lending their time and talent to the Naples Winter Wine Festival is a testament to their immense generosity and affirmation of the tremendous impact we’re having in our community,” said Jeff Gargiulo, co-chair of the 2017 Naples Winter Wine Festival. “The entire community is excited to welcome this impressive lineup to Naples this January.”

On the Festival’s first evening, guests will be chauffeured to one of 18 intimate dinners hosted by Festival Trustees in private homes throughout Naples. There they will savor multi-course meals, expertly prepared by these famous chefs and designed to pair perfectly with a selection of the attending vintners’ first-class wines, an experience that can’t be missed.

“The Vintner Dinners are the pinnacle of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, an evening that makes this Festival truly exceptional,” added Jeff Gargiulo.

Guests to the Festival will also have the chance to bid on an impressive array of wine and travel experiences, each notable not only for its uniqueness and luxury, but also for its connection to a good cause. Since the event’s inception in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised more than $146 million for its founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), which has awarded grants to more than 40 non-profit organizations that have impacted the lives of over 200,000 children.

Ticket packages to the Naples Winter Wine Festival, limited to 580 guests, start at $10,000 per couple. A $25,000 package is also available that includes reserved seating for a party of four at a vintner dinner and under the tent. To inquire about tickets to the Festival, please contact Barrett Farmer at barrett@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.

About the Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is the most successful international charity wine auction in the world, bringing together renowned vintners and chefs with wine enthusiasts and philanthropists for a three-day Festival that raises millions of dollars for underprivileged and at-risk children. Every dollar raised under the tent funds the Festival’s founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), whose annual grants and strategic initiatives have provided more than 200,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel.  For more information, please visit Napleswinefestival.com.

Celebrity Chefs – will prepare multi-course meals for intimate Vintner Dinners hosted by Festival Trustee

• Angelo Auriana of Officine Brera in Los Angeles, California
• Colin Bedford of The Fearrington House in Pittsboro, North Carolina
• Tom Colicchio of Crafted Hospitality in New York, New York
• Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee
• Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas
• David Féau of Wally’s Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California
• Ryan Hardy of Charlie Bird in New York, New York
• David Kinch of Manresa Restaurant in Los Gatos, California
• Gerry Klaskala of Aria in Atlanta, Georgia
• Francis Mallmann of Bodega Garzón in Garzón, Uruguay
• John Minas of The Edison in Tallahassee, Florida
• Nancy Oakes of Boulevard Restaurant in San Francisco, California
• Enrique Olvera of Pujol in Mexico City, Mexico
• Wolfgang Puck of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide in Los Angeles, California
• Richard Reddington of REDD in Yountville, California
• Missy Robbins of Lilia in Brooklyn, New York
• Michael Tusk of Quince in San Francisco, California
• Dustin Valette of Valettein Healdsburg, California

Featured Dinner Vintners – will pour during intimate Vintner Dinners hosted by Festival Trustees

• Daphne & Bart Araujo of Accendo Cellars in Napa Valley, California
• Alejandro Bulgheroni of Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate in in Napa Valley, California
• MarilisaAllegrini of Allegrini in Valpolicella, Italy
• Anne-Caroline Biancheri of Antucura in Mendoza, Argentina
• PieroIncisadellaRocchetta of Bodega Chacra in Patagonia, Argentina
• ElisabettaGnudi of BorgoScopeto&Caparzoin Tuscany, Italy
• Sandrine Bégaud of Château Canon / Château Rauzan-Ségla in Bordeaux, France
• Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc / Château d’Yquemin Bordeaux,France
• TuridHoelAlcaras of Château Haut-Brion in Bordeaux, France
• Dimitri Augenblick of Château Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux,France
• Ann Colgin& Joe Wender of Colgin Cellars in St. Helena, California
• Tim Mondavi of Continuum Estate in St. Helena, California
• Shahpar&DarioushKhaledi of Darioush in Napa, California
• Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in Burgundy, France
• Guillaume d’Angerville of Domaine Marquis d’Angerville in Burgundy, France
• Grace & Ken Evenstad of Domaine Serene in Dayton, Oregon
• Peter Sisseck of Dominio de Pingus in Duero River Valley, Spain
• Leslie & Rich Frank of Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga, California
• Gaia Gaja of GAJA in Piedmont, Italy
• Valerie & Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards in Napa, California
• Pamela & George Hamel, Jr. of Hamel Family Wines in Sonoma, California
• Deborah & Bill Harlan, Will Harlan and Amanda Harlan of Harlan Estate in Oakville, California
• Olivier Krug of Krug Champagne in Champagne, France
• Barbara Banke of Lokoyain St. Helena, California
• Béatrice& Laurent Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhinin Burgundy, France
• Ali & Charles Banks of Mayacamas Vineyards & Winery in Napa, California
• MadaiahRevana of Revana Family Vineyard in St. Helena, California / Alexana Winery in Newberg, Oregon
• David Duncan of Silver Oak Cellars in Oakville, California
• Shari &GarenStaglin of Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, California

Featured Luncheon Vintners – will pour during a luncheon after Meet the Kids Day

• Gail & Carmen Policy of Casa Pienain Yountville, California
• Ann & Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards in St. Helena, California
• Elaine & Rick Jones of Jones Family Vineyards in Calistoga, California
• Maurice Marciano of Marciano Estate in St. Helena, California 

Vintage Cellar Vintners – will pour at the special pre-Festival Wine Tasting and Luncheon

• Deborah & Bill Harlan, Will Harlan and Amanda Harlan of Harlan Estate in Oakville, California