Rare Vertical of 10 Harlan Estate Wines will kick off Naples Winter Wine Festival

Wine legends Bill Harlan and Antonio Galloni to showcase unique collection of “first-growth” vintages

Naples, FL – July 21, 2016 – Harlan Estate, the ultimate cult winery behind some of the world’s most sought-after California Cabernets, will headline the 2017 Vintage Cellar with a vertical tasting of ten celebrated vintages, including extraordinary 100-point vintages from 2001 and 2007. This very special pre-Festival tasting and luncheon will give a select few guests the chance to learn from the team behind one of the country’s most iconic wineries, while tasting a rare combination of their highly-regarded wines.

Scheduled for January 26, 2017 at 10am, a day before the Naples Winter Wine Festival officially begins, this master class tasting will be overseen by a panel of experts including Napa Valley pioneer and Harlan Estate proprietor Bill Harlan, and led by his son Will Harlan, along with estate director Don Weaver, and winemaker Cory Empting. Internationally renowned wine critic Antonio Galloni of Vinous will moderate the tasting, which will include bottles from the Estate’s 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2012 vintages.

“It’s an honor to expand my family’s involvement with the Naples Winter Wine Festival through the Vintage Cellar,” said Bill Harlan. “It has been personally fulfilling to become involved with such a prestigious event, and a true pleasure to donate auction lots and participate in the Vintner Dinners each year, especially since those contributions support efforts to help underprivileged children. My family and I look forward to continuing that commitment.”

Harlan Estate has become famous as one of the world’s finest wineries by creating a First Growth California wine estate that rivals the international prestige of similar Bordeaux vintages. It has also become a symbol of Napa Valley’s pioneering spirit for more than just its wines: Bill Harlan is the founder of Napa Valley Reserve, a prestigious wine club that gives its members a chance to make their own wines under the tutelage of expert vintners.

“I am thrilled to be moderating this vertical tasting of Harlan Estate featuring a number of rare vintages going back to the early 1990s,” said Antonio Galloni. “It’s truly once in a lifetime tastings such as this, along with a deep commitment to supporting charitable causes in the local community, that make the Naples Winter Wine Festival such a singular event.”

“Vintage Cellar is a key component of the festival and our mission to improve the lives of underprivileged children in our community,” added 2017 co-chair Scott Lutgert. “This year we are fortunate to have such an acclaimed winery as Harlan Estate, sharing both their knowledge and precious vintages to create a truly unique experience for wine lovers and connoisseurs.”

The Vintage Cellar heralds the start to three days of the best in wine from around the globe, as other world-famous vintners pour their wines for guests. Attendees will enjoy meals prepared by celebrity chefs, and a live auction where they can bid on myriad luxury experiences not available to the general public. All this excitement supports a worthy 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 and impacts the lives of over 200,000 children.

Tickets to this limited-seating tasting, scheduled for January 26 at 10am at Bleu Provence, are $2,500 per person and will be available for purchase this fall. Seating is limited to 50 people. For more information, please call 239-514-2239.

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.