Page 8 - Life In Naples Magazine - November 2015

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for 2016 festival
A star-studded lineup featuring some
PAUL & EMILY MICHAEL of the most celebrated vintners and for running some of America’s most recognized
chefs will head to Naples, Florida for restaurants. Together, they boast a collective
RICK TRAMONTO the 16th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, nine James Beard Awards and multiple James
taking place from January 29-31, 2016. Beard Award nominations, several Michelin
Stars, numerous four star reviews and many more
Joining this year’s Honored Vintners, Paul accolades.They will be led by Rick Tramonto, who is
and Emily Michael of the Peter Michael returning to the Festival for his sixth year, this time
Winery, will be proprietors from more than 40 as Chef de Cuisine.
wineries in 13 global wine-producing regions,
eight countries, and three continents. These top NWWF 2016 CHEFS
vintners will pour some of the most sought-
after and collectable wines in the world. Colin Bedford of The Fearrington
House Restaurant in Pittsboro, NC
Guests will be able to taste wines from
Old World wineries, such as Italy’s famous Brian Boitano host of Food
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, which dates back to Network’s “What Would Brian Boitano
the 13th century; Château de Beaucastel in Make?” in San Francisco, CA
France’s Rhône Valley, which traces back to
the 16th century; Domaine Thibault Liger- Nash Cognetti of Tra Vigne in St.
Belair, which started as a family business in the Helena, CA
Burgundy region in the early 18th century; and
Krug Champagne, which dates back to 1843. Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary
Danko in San Francisco, CA
They can also taste fantastic wines from
noted New World wineries, such as Gargiulo Curtis Duffy of Grace in Chicago, IL
Vineyards, one of the most highly regarded
Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa John Folse of Restaurant R’evolution in
Valley; Vérité in Sonoma County, which New Orleans, LA
recently received seven coveted 100-point
scores from famed wine critic Robert Parker, Ken Frank of La Toque in Napa, CA
Jr. and Domaine Serene, famous for its
Oregon Pinot Noirs. Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde in
Chicago, IL
California vintners from Napa Valley,
Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara Jen Jasinski of Rioja in Denver, CO
and Arroyo Grande will be in attendance, as well as vintners from Virginia,
Oregon, New York, Spain, Italy, France, New Zealand, Montenegro and Australia. Daniel Joly of Mirabelle in Beaver
Kicking off the Festival will be a special tasting of wines from Stag’s Leap Creek, CO
Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena. The tasting will commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, one of the most momentous events in
wine history, when these two American wineries bested the top châteaux and
domaines of Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind tasting, catapulting California
wines onto the world stage. Ted Baseler of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Bo
Barrett of Chateau Montelena will be in attendance, along with Steven Spurrier,
who created and hosted the original event, and George Taber, who covered the
event for Time Magazine and wrote a best-selling book about it.
In addition to these terrific vintners, the Festival will feature more than 20
chefs from 17 cities across the United States who have gained critical acclaim

8 Life in Naples | November 2015