Napa Valley Entertaining is the first book to bring readers behind the scenes to dozens of wine country parties, with inspirational entertaining ideas and wine-friendly recipes.
St. Helena, Calif. – July 18, 2017 – Home to some of the world’s greatest wineries and restaurants, for decades Napa Valley has helped to set the standard for entertaining. From grand, lavish events to intimate alfresco gatherings among the vines, Napa Valley Entertaining offers an insider’s guide to the graciousness of wine country. Written by renowned Napa Valley hostess Blakesley Chappellet, with images from award-winning photographer Briana Marie Forgie, Napa Valley Entertaining is a spectacular chronicle of the hospitality that Napa Valley is famous for. This stunning 240-page, full-color coffee-table book takes you inside the world of Napa Valley entertaining, with fascinating stories about the people and places that define the valley’s rich tradition of hospitality. Filled with dozens of wine-friendly recipes, tips on entertaining, and imaginative ideas for setting a beautiful table, Napa Valley Entertaining is the ultimate how-to manual for creating inspired celebrations. Retailing for $60, Napa Valley Entertaining will be officially released in October 2017, but is available now at select wineries and retailers, and online at www.NapaValleyEntertaining.com.
“Napa Valley has entertaining at its very heart,” says author Blakesley Chappellet, who has hosted events for Academy Award–winning actors, Grammy-winning musicians, CEOs and countless others over her 20 years in Napa Valley. “Napa Valley Entertaining is about the people of the valley, our shared love of great food and wine, and the connection to the land that inspires our celebrations. It is also about the idea that the essence of great entertaining is being authentic, and creating unique experiences that are passionate and genuine.”
Napa Valley Entertaining provides a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of several of the valley’s greatest hosts, from relative newcomers to second- and third-generation vintners. The book includes vignettes about an array of unforgettable events, including a Victorian-themed Valentine’s dinner, a gelato social for grownups, a lobster feed with St. Helena’s fire chief, a classic Southern meal, and a delicious “swine and wine” harvest feast, among others. With 370 original photographs, each story in Napa Valley Entertaining is chronicled with gorgeous images shot on location at some of the most beautiful homes and wine estates in Napa Valley by photographer Briana Marie Forgie. Along the way, Napa Valley Entertaining also provides helpful tips on decanting, adding drama to the table, planning a romantic date night, and even advice on choosing stemware from George Riedel, the tenth-generation owner of Riedel Crystal.
“While creating this book, I was inspired by how each of the hosts we featured brings their own personal touch to entertaining,” adds Chappellet. “Even though all of the hosts are bound by one common thread—their desire to create a unique and memorable experience for their guests—they each find unforgettable ways to achieve this vision. I know that readers will be inspired, as I have been, by the breathtaking settings, beautiful tables, sumptuous food, and wonderful details these hosts have created. Napa Valley Entertaining is both a feast for the senses, and an invitation for food and wine enthusiasts everywhere to discover new ideas that they can incorporate into their own entertaining.”
Prior to moving to Napa Valley, Blakesley Chappellet had successful careers in marketing and the non-profit sector, including roles as a senior vice president at Bank of America, and as the executive director of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation. A dedicated philanthropist, and a passionate member of the Napa Valley community, she serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations, and over the past decade has helped to raise nearly $25 million for local charities. She lives on Pritchard Hill with her husband, second-generation vintner Cyril Chappellet.
A Napa Valley native, Briana Marie Forgie is an acclaimed photographer known for her food, wine and event photography, lifestyle portraits, and commercial imagery for cookbooks and other high-end publications. In addition, she volunteers her time by photographing for nonprofit organizations around the world. Forgie was named “Napa Valley’s Top Photographer” by Napa Valley Life magazine.
Napa Valley Entertaining was published by Historic Hospitality Books, an imprint of Southwestern Publishing Group (Nashville, TN).
Napa Valley Entertaining
ISBN: 978-0-87197-644-4
10-1/4” x 11-1/4”
240 Pages
$60.00
www.NapaValleyEntertaining.com
