Naples Winter Wine Festival Hosts Exclusive Vintage Cellar Event

Exclusive Vintage Cellar Event Featuring Legendary French Winery

Château d’Yquemset to Kick Off 24^th Annual Naples Winter Wine Festival

Pre-Festival wine tasting and luncheon hosted by Château d’Yquem President and CEO Pierre Lurton and Estate Manager Lorenzo Pasquini and moderated by Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent will treat guests to an intimate tasting of vintages from the historic Estate

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF),announced that Superior First Growth winemaker Château d’Yquem will headline an exclusive Vintage Cellar event on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Bleu Provence in Old Naples to kick off the 24^th annual Festival.

Pierre Lurton

The pre-festival wine tasting and luncheon will be led by Château d’Yquem President and CEO Pierre Lurton and Estate Manager Lorenzo Pasquini and will feature a special guest moderator, Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent. Guests will be able to participate in a vertical tasting of the Estate’s 1962, 1983, 1990, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2017 and 2021 vintages. Wines will be poured by 10 featured sommeliers of Advanced and Master Levels who are participating throughout the weekend, enhancing appreciation for the unique and rare wines that will be tasted.

The Vintage Cellar is one of the most anticipated events for collectors and connoisseurs attending the NWWF. This incredible event will not only give guests the chance to sample some of Château d’Yquem’s greatest and most sought-after vintages, but also provide an intimate glimpse into the more than 400-year history and philosophy of one of the world’s most celebrated wine estates.

A four-course luncheon will immediately follow the tasting, offering the following:

• First Course: Seared Sea Scallops, Dieppoise Sauce with Bowfin Caviar and Salicorne Salad paired with the 2021 Y d’Yquem
• Second Course: Truffle Stuffed Organic Chicken Breast with Vin Jaune Sauce, Asparagus and Caramelized Pear paired with the 2021 Château d’Yquem
• Third Course: Roquefort, Walnut, Honey Pastry Puff and Green Salad paired with the 2005 Château d’Yquem
• Fourth Course: Lemon Meringue Tart paired with the 1990 Château d’Yquem

“It is a sincere honor to participate in this retrospective tasting event as a special kickoff to the 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival,” said Pierre Lurton, President and CEO of Château d’Yquem. “Established in 1593, wines from Château d’Yquem are characterized by their complexity, concentration and sweetness, which is balanced by relatively high acidity. We are pleased to share some of our most prized wines to support underserved children in the local community.”

Tickets to the Vintage Cellar wine tasting and luncheon are separate from Naples Winter Wine Festival ticket packages and will be available for purchase in late October for $3,750 per person.

“We are excited that Château d’Yquem will be providing such a unique opportunity to taste these exceptional wines and learn from Pierre Lurton, Lorenzo Pasquini and the team behind this legendary winemaker,” said Scott Lutgert, NCEF Lifetime Trustee and Vintner Committee Member. “With the extraordinary knowledge of wine critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown as our moderator, this year’s Vintage Cellar will serve as the perfect start to the 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival.”

The 24^th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival will take place on January 26-28, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. With the theme “Generosity in Full Bloom,” the Festival will once again showcase an action-packed weekend of exclusive fine wines, impeccable cuisine and unique, one-of-a-kind auction lots benefiting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.

This year’s theme reflects the incredible support consistently provided to the NWWF from patrons around the globe who bid on amazing auction lots and the dozens of award-winning chefs and world-renowned vintners who generously donate their time and talents at intimate private dinners throughout Naples, featuring the very best wines and food and unforgettable experiences.

Ticket packages for the 24^th 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.

The 2024 Vintage Cellar wine tasting and luncheon is a separate, pre-festival event and seating is limited to 40 guests. For additional information, contact Danielle Lomanno at 239-514-2239.

About Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival, 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 approximately $269 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

 About Naples Children & Education Foundation

The Naples Children & Education Foundation, 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 community, providing more than 300,000 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.