Programming for the Five-Day Food and Wine Festival Announced
November 29, 2016 — Napa, CA – Visit Napa Valley, the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, has officially announced the programming for Flavor! Napa Valley, which returns March 22 – 26, 2017. The complete Flavor! Napa Valley schedule, as well as exclusive hotel packages at Silverado Resort and Spa may be found at FlavorNapaValley.com.
Flavor! Napa Valley, which takes place during Napa Valley’s “Cabernet Season,” November through April, celebrates Napa Valley and CIA graduate chefs and winemakers and includes cooking demonstrations, intimate winemaker workshops, a “Grand Tasting,” and exclusive experiences that bring out the best flavors of the legendary Napa Valley.
Individual tickets for the five-day food and wine festival, which support programs and scholarships at The Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone Campus in St. Helena, CA, will be available for purchase online beginning January 10, 2017 at FlavorNapaValley.com.
A highlight of Flavor! Napa Valley 2017 events include:
- Wednesday, March 22, 2017 – “First Taste – A Downtown Social,” presented by the Downtown Napa Association 6 – 8:30 p.m.; price is $95 per person
Celebrate under the stars at the Culinary Institute of America’s new downtown campus at Copia in Napa with more than 15 of downtown Napa’s best restaurants and more than 40 Napa Valley wineries. Copia will be transformed into an epicurean marketplace where Napa chefs will showcase their favorite dishes paired with unexpected wines. The evening will also include live entertainment and the opportunity to bid on Magnum editions of rare wines during a silent auction. Participating restaurants include Angele Restaurant; Annie The Baker; Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca; Bounty Hunter; Compadres Rio Grille; Jax Diner; Kitchen Door; Miminashi; Napa Cookie Company; Napa Valley Wine Train; Norman Rose Tavern; Nuri; Silverado Resort & Spa; Tarla Mediterranean Bar & Grill; Torc; and The Restaurant at CIA Copia.
- Thursday, March 23, 2017 – “Chef and Winemaker Golf Tournament and Reception” Registration and breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m.; tee-off is at 10 a.m. and the reception is 2:30 – 4 p.m.; price is $175 per person
Join local chefs and winemakers for a day on Silverado Resort and Spa’s championship golf course. The event includes a continental breakfast and 18 holes of golf featuring specialty beverages and Silverado Resort’s famous “burger dog.” The post-tournament reception provides guests with the opportunity to mingle with the chefs, winemakers and fellow golfers while enjoying some of Napa Valley’s finest wines and appetizers.
- Thursday, March 23, 2017 – “Napa Valley Icons Dinner” presented by the Silverado Resort and Spa 6 – 10 p.m.; $295 per person
Guests will celebrate the food and wine icons of the Napa Valley at the Silverado Resort and Spa while honoring legendary winemaker Heidi Barrett. Participating chefs include Host Chef Jeffrey Jake from Silverado Resort and Spa; Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski from State Bird Provisions and The Progress; Ken Frank from La Toque; Michael Schulson from Schulson Collective; and esteemed CIA graduate Waldy Malouf.
- Friday, March 24 – “Rising Stars of the Napa Valley,” presented by Robert Mondavi Winery 6 – 10 p.m.; $195 per person
While the Napa Valley is home to some of the world’s most legendary culinary and winemaking talent, this dinner at Robert Mondavi Winery will showcase and honor the next generation of rising talent. Young chefs and winemakers, including Host Chef Jeff Mosier from Robert Mondavi Winery; Josh Balague and Ethan Speizer from upcoming restaurant Nuri; Curtis di Fede from Miminashi; Kiroyuki Kanda from Kenzo; and Sharon Li of PRESS restaurant, will create the menu.
- Saturday, March 25 – “Legendary Napa Valley, The Grand Tasting”
VIP admission is 6 – 7 p.m.; general admission is at 7 p.m. VIP tickets are $225 per person and $175 per person for general admission.
The sixth annual Grand Tasting at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena allows guests to taste their way through the Napa Valley with a selection of sweet and savory bites from more than 25 Napa Valley restaurants, paired with wine from more than 80 Napa Valley wineries. Guests may also partake in cooking demonstrations in the CIA kitchen. Participating restaurants include Angele Restaurant; Annie the Baker; Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca; Brasswood; Cococlectic; Harvest Table; Jax Diner; Lucy Restaurant & Bar; Napa Cookie Company; Norman Rose Tavern; Oak Avenue Catering; PRESS Restaurant; Sam’s Social Club; Silverado Resort & Spa; Tarla Mediterranean Bar & Grill; The Farm at Carneros; The Meritage Resort and Spa; The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil and VINeleven.
- Sunday, March 26 – “Bubbles and Brunch” 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $135 per person
Flavor! Napa Valley concludes with a savory brunch at one of Napa Valley’s most renowned sparkling wine houses, Domaine Chandon. Guests will enjoy dishes from some of Napa Valley’s top brunch destinations and chefs, accompanied by a selection of Domaine Chandon’s still and sparkling wines.
Flavor! Napa Valley also includes Napa Valley Wine Tours; Terroir to Table events, Chef Demonstrations, and Wine Classes. Wine class highlights include “Sparkling Wines, Still Wines and the Rosé Revolution,” “Cult Wines and Food Pairings,” “Ghost Wineries of the Napa Valley,” and “Collectible Wines from the To Kalon Vineyard.”
Visit Napa Valley is proud to announce the event sponsors for Flavor! Napa Valley 2017:
- Founding Sponsor: Silverado Resort and Spa
- Presenting Sponsor: Downtown Napa Association
- Jeroboam Sponsor: Bright Event Rentals
- Double Magnum Sponsor: Celebrity Cruises
- Double Magnum Sponsor: Mr. Espresso
Media sponsors include The Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, Diablo, Napa/Sonoma, Where, Dot429, San Francisco Travel.
Visit Napa Valley, the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, is the event presenter and founder of Flavor! Napa Valley. Andrew Freeman & Co. is responsible for event sponsorships and programming, and Dominic Phillips Event Marketing (DPEM) is responsible for concept design and production. Net proceeds from the event support programs and scholarships at The Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone Campus in St. Helena, CA.
About The Culinary Institute of America
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers bachelor’s degree majors in management, culinary science, and applied food studies; associate degrees in associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; and executive education through its Food Business School.
About Visit Napa Valley
Visit Napa Valley is the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect and enhance the region’s position as one of the world’s premier wine, food, arts and wellness destinations. The area, known for its legendary hospitality, is also internationally recognized as one of only nine “Great Wine Capitals” and has more Michelin Stars per capita than any other wine region in the world.
The Napa Valley, conveniently located just an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of the following distinctive towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford/Oakville, Yountville, the city of Napa, American Canyon, and the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa.
The Napa Valley Welcome Center, located at 600 Main St. along the riverfront in downtown Napa, provides visitors with expert Concierge services from Napa Valley Ambassadors who offer complimentary Napa Valley Guidebooks, maps, brochures and winery tasting passes. The Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., also offers complimentary Wi-Fi and a mercantile shop featuring locally sourced gift items.
For additional information on the Napa Valley, or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore www.VisitNapaValley.com, join “The Napa Valley” on Facebook, and follow @VisitNapaValley on Twitter.
