The four-day celebration of land, culture, and craft featured award-winning winemaker Jesse Katz immersive wine pairings and the Hawaiian debut of the Collage collection complemented by the Sonoma-inspired culinary artistry of Chef Dustin Valette
December 8, 2025 (Kailua Kona, HI) — Aperture Cellars and Chef Dustin Valette of Valette Hospitality concluded the inaugural Kona Village ‘Āina Reserves Weekend with a series of extraordinary wine-driven experiences that transported the spirit of Sonoma County to the shores of Hawai‘i. The four-day festival, held December 4 through 7 at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, celebrated land, stewardship, and culture through immersive programming that intertwined Hawai‘i’s culinary heritage with both the precision of Aperture’s wines and the ingredient-driven artistry cooking of Chef Dustin Valette.
This year marked a defining moment for Aperture whose founder and winemaker Jesse Katz was recently named Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year for 2025. Jesse introduced guests to Aperture’s acclaimed portfolio, including rare estate selections, the Soil Series collection, and the Hawaiian debut of Collage, the most ambitious and artistically driven wine in the brand’s portfolio to date. Adding to the momentum, Aperture was recently ranked No. 14 on the World’s 50 Best Vineyards list, earning the Highest New Entry Award and further cementing its rise as one of the most influential wineries in the world.
From the opening ‘Aina Reserves Weekend Ohana Cocktail and Dinner Hour on December 4, the synergy between Sonoma and Hawai‘i was immediately felt. Guests gathered on the Moana Pool Deck as Jesse and Dustin welcomed them with pours of Aperture’s Chenin Blanc and Bordeaux Blend. Hawaiian-inspired canapés showcased the region’s agricultural richness, including oysters with shiso mignonette, roasted lamb meatballs with jalapeño chimichurri, and hearts of palm and avocado ceviche. The freshness of island cuisine paired seamlessly with the tension, minerality, and lifted aromatics that define Aperture’s cool climate wines.
The next day, sustainability took center stage during a thoughtful conversation at the Kona Village culinary gardens and farm, where Jesse and Dustin joined Kona Village Managing Director Daniel Scott and Director of Wine Joaquin Torres for a dynamic exploration of the future of responsible farming, sustainable luxury, and the values that unite Sonoma vineyards and Sonoma culinary culture with the land practices of Hawaii. Set within this beautifully cultivated landscape, the dialogue illuminated the deeper purpose of the festival and reaffirmed Aperture’s enduring commitment to conscientious farming and Valette Hospitality’s philosophy of sourcing with intention and cooking in harmony with the land, wherever the journey leads.
The weekend’s signature moment arrived during the intimate five-course winemaker dinner at Moana on Friday evening. Featured chef, Dustin Valette, collaborated with the resort’s culinary team to craft a menu rooted in Hawaiian flavors and ingredients. Each course was paired with a rare Aperture wine and guided by Jesse, who shared detailed insight into the farming and artistic decisions behind each bottling. Highlights included kampachi crudo with roasted honey pineapple paired with the 2022 Chenin Blanc, blue prawns with toasted kombu oil paired with the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, duck trio paired with the 2023 Aperture Estate 1912 from treasured heritage vines, and a Snake River Farms Wagyu New York paired with the 2021 Bordeaux Blend. The evening concluded with a celebratory large format pour of 2018 Devil Proof, a surprise moment that underscored the intimacy and generosity of the dinner.
On Saturday night, guests gathered beneath the glowing kiawe tree grove for the Island Roots dinner, a menu prepared with traditional imu cooking techniques. The event marked the Hawaiian debut of Aperture’s new Collage collection, bold and boundary-breaking luxury wines that redefine the boundaries of artistry and craftsmanship. Collage is the culmination of over a decade of precision farming, winemaking innovation, and creative vision. Inspired by the avant-garde, this wine celebrates the intersection of cultural significance, creative expression, and the rich diversity of its origins. The wines paired with dishes such as wagyu tartare on brioche, chilled spiny lobster with Regiis Ova caviar, and brown butter poached filet mignon. Sonoma precision met Hawaiian depth, creating a dinner that honored both land and culinary heritage.
Throughout the weekend of festivities, Aperture’s Soil Series wines were featured by the glass across the resort, creating a property-wide celebration of Sonoma winemaking woven into daily guest experiences.
“Sharing our wines in a place as deeply connected to the land as Hawai‘i felt incredibly meaningful. Sonoma and Kona Village may be far apart, but they share a reverence for terroir, craft, and stewardship that resonates in everything we do at Aperture. The weekend brought those parallels to life through food, wine, and storytelling, and I was honored to contribute to such a thoughtful celebration of place.” — Jesse Katz, Founder and Winemaker of Aperture Cellars
The inaugural Kona Village ‘Āina Reserves Weekend showcased Aperture’s world class portfolio at a moment of global recognition for the winery. As Aperture continues to elevate Sonoma County on the international stage, the gathering at Kona Village offered an inspired expression of its identity through the lens of Hawaiian culture, sustainability, and culinary artistry. Chef Dustin Valette’s ingredient-driven approach brought a complementary dimension to this narrative, translating Sonoma’s culinary spirit in a way that deepened the connection between the wines, the place, and the people who gathered to experience them.
ABOUT APERTURE CELLARS
Aperture Cellars, founded in 2009 by first-generation winemaker Jesse Katz, is dedicated to crafting a range of expressive, world-class Bordeaux-style wines from Sonoma County’s premier cool-climate vineyard sites. Working with over 200 vineyard acres, including the Aperture Estate, located in Healdsburg, California, and home to a 24,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art winery and a 4,000 sq. ft. hospitality space with art gallery, Aperture serves as an incubator for artistic and vinous expression.
Rooted in his early adventures to legendary vineyards and wineries around the world with his father, celebrated photographer Andy Katz, Jesse cultivated an enviable international wine education and was inspired by the terroir, balance, and creativity of wine making that has set him on a path he has pursued ever since. Each wine label features an original Andy Katz photograph demonstrating every Aperture wine as an expression of art both inside and out. With inspiration driven from the physical aperture of a camera, an ode to Jesse’s father, the estate’s buildings showcase dramatic angles, clean lines and a focus on natural light. The estate translates the global experience and vision of father and son into architecture.
Aperture meticulously oversees every aspect of farming across their Sonoma County properties, including their winery estate in Healdsburg’s Russian River Valley appellation and their Alexander Valley estate property of Farrow Ranch. The winery has set numerous records from consumers and wine critics, earning dozens of 100-point scores, including the first perfect score ever for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in the Alexander Valley appellation. In addition to hosting daily wine tasting experiences (by appointment), Aperture Estate is available to host custom events and private experiences.
For more information, please visit https://aperture-cellars.com.
ABOUT KONA VILLAGE, A ROSEWOOD RESORT
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, is an iconic hideaway rooted in Hawaiian legacy, where the rhythm mirrors the slow, rolling waves along the secluded Kahuwai Bay. Immersed in the moʻolelo (stories) of the Native Hawaiians who came before, this ancient fishing village upholds their long-etched values, carrying a deep commitment to ‘ohana (family) with profound Hawaiian hoʻokipa (hospitality of complete giving). Spanning 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape on the Kona Coast, this reimagined classic channels inspiration from the land’s storied history, local sensibilities, and natural elements to illuminate the ancient Kaʻūpūlehu’s past, present, and future. Every element of the property has been carefully curated to celebrate the quintessential elements of the original Kona Village Resort that made it so beloved and to demonstrate a profound connection to and appreciation of the habitat and heritage of its one-of-a-kind location.
Spearheaded by Hawaiʻi-raised architect, Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects, and designed by San Francisco-based interior design firm, NICOLEHOLLIS, these offerings include
150 traditional guest hale; five restaurants and bars, including the original resort’s beloved Shipwreck and Talk Story bars; and Asaya Spa, Rosewood’s integrative wellness concept designed to support mind, body, and soul. A commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the property. The resort is powered 100% by solar energy, and several buildings have been designed for LEED Gold Certification, while an on-site cultural center further provides both visitors and locals with perspective into the rich natural and cultural significance of the surroundings. Kona Village’s ownership group is led by global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson, which has partnered with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts on the management of the resort.
ABOUT ROSEWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages a global collection of 39 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts, and residences in 23 countries. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture, and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong and Rosewood São Paulo. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for ownership or rent in extraordinary destinations within the brand’s wide-ranging portfolio. Rosewood Residences are defined by the brand’s commitment to Enriched Living through thoughtful details and experiences that enhance the quality of life while evoking a sense of discovery and inspiration.
For more information, please visit rosewoodhotels.com
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ABOUT VALETTE HOSPITALITY
Valette Hospitality is the vision of Chef-Vintner and Sonoma County native Dustin Valette, encompassing a trio of acclaimed wine country destinations in Healdsburg, California including Michelin-recognized Valette, The Matheson, Roof 106, and acclaimed, small-production wine label Valette Wines. Rooted in Sonoma County’s agricultural heritage and spirit of community, each concept celebrates micro-seasonal ingredients, expressive wines, and generous hospitality. Valette, co-founded with his brother Aaron Garzini, offers refined California cuisine with French technique and a signature “Trust Me” tasting menu in their great-grandfather’s former bakery. The Matheson is a modern multi-concept experience featuring fine dining, 88 wines on tap and a craft cocktail program, while its third floor Roof 106 serves wood-fired pizzas, seasonal small plates and cocktails in an open-air setting. Valette Wines, produced in collaboration with some of the industry’s most legendary winemakers, reflects Dustin’s passion for terroir and wine country living. Valette Wines is rich in winemaker craftsmanship and pairs seamlessly with each dining experience.
