Luminary Seeks to Foster Community and Create Bespoke Experiences Through the Lens of Wine, Food, and Connection
Napa Valley, CA (April 23, 2024) – Lawrence Wine Estates is pleased to announce the inception and launch of Luminary Napa Valley, a private lifestyle club that unites the company’s collection of historic Napa Valley wineries and grants insider access to highly curated, one-of-a-kind experiences and white-glove concierge and sommelier services.
A community of connoisseurs, collectors, and adventure-seekers will convene throughout the year for unforgettable gatherings in the Napa Valley and abroad, offering opportunities to build meaningful and lasting relationships. Benefits include private dinners with world-renowned chefs, the LNV Private Reserve Bottling Program, rare wine releases, international getaways and more. Luminary is inspired by the great dinner parties and social circles formed by founding Napa Valley winemakers, led by Carlton McCoy, Master Sommelier and Lawrence Wine Estates CEO.
For McCoy, it was important for Luminary Napa Valley to go beyond a traditional wine club to create bespoke wine, food, and culture experiences to inspire and meaningfully engage with invited members within the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio.
“We recognize that our guests seek out the best in not only wine, but food, travel, art, and more,” said McCoy. “We want Luminary to be a one-stop-shop for unforgettable cultural experiences, and for each member to truly feel a part of this community, rooted in discovery and Napa Valley stewardship. I am inspired by historic and current day luminaries who sought out to innovate and achieve greatness, regardless of their field. In addition to these special curated experiences, I am also eager to see how Luminary fosters meaningful conversations and a celebration of craftsmanship.”
McCoy, alongside Lawrence Wine Estates winemakers, look forward to connecting with members during The Luminary Collective Harvest Celebration. This weekend will be the keystone kickoff to Napa Valley’s much anticipated Harvest Season with bespoke experiences taking place at Ink Grade, Burgess, Stony Hill, and Heitz Cellar from Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 1. Notably members will be invited to the third annual La Paulée at Stony Hill in fall 2024, where the winery will honor the historic Burgundian tradition with a feast to celebrate the bounties of harvest.
A standout, one-of-a-kind offering for Luminary members is the LNV Private Reserve Bottling Program, including a personalized custom blending session with an esteemed LWE winemaker and culminating in a private label 25 case allocation of Napa Valley wine. Participants will work with a winemaker to source grapes from the estate or estates of their choice, crafting wine from the renowned vineyards of Heitz Cellar, Burgess, Stony Hill, and more.
With two tiers of membership, Luminary will afford guests access to the best of wines, events, and international travel. Luminary was created to connect, inspire, and reward the most loyal members across the luxury collection of wineries. They will have the opportunity to unlock additional benefits with increased status. The first key collaborators include the following:
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: for an inaugural offering, McCoy will host a 10-night international wine experience aboard Ilma, the company’s second superyacht, from Barcelona to Lisbon in October 2024. The voyage will feature wine-paired dinners showcasing Lawrence Wine Estates, along with tastings and winery visits ashore in some of the world’s premier wine regions. Lawrence Wine Estates worked with partner Parea Travel, who specializes in ultra-luxury experiential travel programs, to develop a curated itinerary.
- Lexus: A portfolio-wide sponsor with benefits, including transportation between LWE Napa properties, and event activations for Luminary members.
- Black River Caviar, Urbani Truffles, and Michelin-awarded Chef Jonny Black from Chez Noir, were featured in Luminary’s first intimate dinner series. For the first time, wines from Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Ink Grade, and Haynes Vineyard were showcased at one dinner for an unforgettable five course tasting menu, masterfully paired with only the best vintages. Best of all, guests were amongst the winemakers who crafted them.
Following Luminary Napa Valley’s Launch, McCoy and his team will focus on forging more collaborations and curating future events. Those interested in more information can visit each estate’s membership website page: Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Ink Grade, Burgess, and Haynes Vineyard.
About Lawrence Wine Estates: Lawrence Wine Estates is the global leading portfolio of historical and multi-generational fine wine estates. The portfolio that Napa Valley needed, their iconic producers include Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Haynes Vineyard, Ink Grade, and Brendel. The treasured history of each estate prioritizes traditional winemaking philosophies and biodynamic farming techniques to create pure and balanced wines of the highest quality. With six estates in the Napa Valley and one in Bordeaux, a visit to each property provides guests with world-class, luxury experiences. Lawrence Wine Estates is led by Master Sommelier and Chief Executive Officer Carlton McCoy, Jr.
About Luminary Napa Valley
Luminary Napa Valley is Lawrence Wine Estates’ private lifestyle club that unites and celebrates members across our luxury collection of historic Napa Valley wineries. As members continue their journey with Lawrence Wine Estates’ wineries, they unlock access to Luminary benefits including highly curated, one-of-a-kind experiences, rare wine releases, international getaways, private concierge services, and more.
