Napa, CA, August 21, 2020 – Connecting through virtual experiences and sharing fine wine paired with a love for preparing unconventional fare and pushing the envelope for home cooking, Hoopes Vineyard is hosting a series of ‘Corks & Cookery’ events throughout September and October. Making gourmet farm to table cuisine more approachable to create and less challenging when it comes to pairing wine, Lindsay Hoopes, Second-Generation Owner and Proprietor of Napa Valley’s Hoopes Vineyard, was inspired to collaborate with many renowned chefs (including Tu David Phu, Michelle Minori, Casey Thompson, Reem Assil, and others) to host unique, innovative and intimate events; both as a way to support chefs whose businesses may be closed while offering something to uplift and unite the community. A portion of proceeds from each class will be donated to various charities.
In a climate where events are thought of as an indulgence of the past, Lindsay saw an opportunity to join forces with talents in the food world to offer a never-before-seen level of virtual food and wine pairing experiences. Providing next level education, participants will enjoy a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the kitchens of celebrated Chefs, learn their cooking techniques and master several impressive recipes. Hoopes Vineyard will ship complementing luxury wines and teach the ins and outs of wine pairings — all this without leaving one’s home. Happening throughout September and October, upcoming events include:
- September 6th – Top Chef Special With Chef Tu David Phu
Chef Tu David Phu, a featured contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, will share his family’s version of Cơm Gà, a dish composed of poached chicken, seasoned rice, a spicy dipping sauce, and a cucumber garnish. Participants will nail down the poaching method, learn how to power up rice with anything but water and mix up Nước Mắm Gừng – the ultimate dipping sauce. Compare the richness of the 2015 Genny’s Vineyard Chardonnay and the bright acidity of the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc play with the Cơm Gà or taste through a vertical of three vintages of Genny’s Vineyard Chardonnay, savoring how a barrel fermented white wine ages in the bottle and how the resultant flavors highlight nuances of the dish. Chef Tu and Hoopes Vineyard are both donating $10 each per sign up directly to Slow Food East Bay’s Sister Farms Project, in support of Asian Immigrant Farmers from Central Valley California who need our help.
- September 20th – Top Chef Special With Chef Tu David Phu
During this class, Top Chef Tu David Phu focuses on the Flavors of Southwest Vietnam. Find out how to make Gà Rang Me (Tamarind Chicken Wings), Bò Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew) and Bún nhâm (Spicy Coconut Rice Noodles). The featured Hoopes wines pairings for this class are the citrus-driven 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, the strawberry-laden 2017 Rosé and the beautifully bold Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Chef Tu and Hoopes Vineyard are both donating $10 each per class signup directly to Slow Food East Bay’s Sister Farms Project, in support of Asian Immigrant Farmers from Central Valley California who need our help.
- October 3rd – Top Chef Finalist Michelle Minori
Incorporating fresh and seasonal produce, this Michelle Minori/Lindsay Hoopes collaboration will get little ones excited about cooking and eating their vegetables, while appealing to parents with her Tomato Croquette with Padron Pepper & Almond Salsa. For local Napa folk, Hoopes will be offering a Harvest Box full of freshly picked vegetables from the Hoopes Oasis garden available for pickup, including all the featured farm-fresh fare. Join Michelle Minori, Lindsay Hoopes and her young son Rohan in the garden for this entertaining September event. Details to come! For each class signup, a donation will be made to Camp Edmo, focused on ensuring all children have equal access to STEAM & SEL programs that prepare them with both academic and social emotional skills.
- October 24th – Honoring Family through Global Cuisine with Oakland’s Best Chef Reem Assil
The Palestinian-Syrian Chef, Baker, Activist and Entreprenuer is the owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant inspired by her passion for Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround them. Named Oakland’s best chef in 2018, Chef Assil and Hoopes Vineyard Proprietor, Lindsay Hoopes, met in 2019 at the James Beard House when they had the privilege of honoring the matriarchs in their families through beloved dishes. They are reuniting on October 24th to enjoy Hoopes Vineyard Wines and assemble Samak B’tahini, Fish with Lemon Tahini Sauce and Fresh Herbs. An ode of Assil’s Grandmother, this interactive class highlights heritage, family influences and how they translate into food and wine.
- Date TBD – Elevated Home Cooking with Top Chef Casey Thompson
Perfect for home cooking enthusiasts, join Wine Country based Top Chef Alum Casey Thompson and Lindsay Hoopes as they forage for fresh ingredients in Hoopes Oasis garden and prepare a farm to table feast. Talented with many types of cuisine and styles of cooking, Chef Casey Thompson has spent years learning about food and wine pairings and developing relationships with local farms, artisans and purveyors. Always opting for sustainable proteins and local produce, this event is sure to be organic and delicious. Both dedicated to the preservation of our environment, join Chef Casey Thompson as they chat about eco-friendly initiatives and the importance of eating seasonally while crafting a sublime dinner paired with Hoopes opulent wines.
Who needs a reservation when you can Zoom Top Chefs and Wine Experts? Bring luxury home with Hoopes Vineyard wines and open the door to new cuisine with these interactive ‘Corks & Cookery’ experiences.
About Hoopes Vineyard:
Love and environmental health pulses through every facet of Hoopes Vineyard. So much more than just an award-winning winery, the Hoopes Family brand is the embrace of a family farm, a resort for rescue animals, a haven for regenerative agriculture and significant sustainability initiatives, a hotbed for innovative female winemakers, and the source of the best damn wine you’ll ever taste. At the heart of the multigenerational family business is a dedication to enriching local biodiversity, offering resilience to climate instability, and enhancing the vitality of Napa Valley’s farming communities. With beloved Dante, a bygone rescue dog, gracing the wine labels, the Hoopes family is “in dogged pursuit of perfect wines”, while valuing kinship, community, and our natural resources. Echoing their ethos, invite integrity and luxury into your home with Hoopes Vineyard wines
