Meadowood
Napa Valley Launches Exclusive Wine Education
Program Designed by Gilles de Chambure,
Master Sommelier
St.
Helena, CA; May 29, 2007 Meadowood Napa
Valley, Americas premiere wine country destination
serving discerning travelers for more than
25 years, announces the establishment of
a new Wine Education program created by
the propertys Director of Wine Education
Gilles de Chambure, a member of the Court
of Master Sommeliers, and one of only 79
Master Sommeliers in North America.
Meadowood
is the only resort in California that has
a full-time wine educator promoting the
enjoyment of wine on many different levels.
Gilles de Chambure, MS weaves the historical
and cultural aspects of growing and making
wine in Napa Valley into fascinating tastings
and excursions. Employing his knowledge
and talents he creates exclusive, innovative
wine education experiences that are always
custom-tailored to the interests of the
individual guests. The wine education series
also includes mealtime food and wine pairings
and itineraries for escorted winery visits.
Meadowood
has a long history of being central to the
community of Napa Valley vintners, says
Gilles. The wine education program builds
upon the propertys unique position through
diverse experiences that connect our guests
to wine, making wine interesting for them
and encouraging them to develop and trust
their own tastes and opinions about wine.
They will be able to take the information
theyve learned with them and the next time
they open a bottle of wine, it will bring
back the memory of Napa Valley and their
time at Meadowood.
To
whet the appetite for the regions stellar
offerings, Gilles has instituted an Afternoon
Wine Reception where all guests are invited
to join in for a complimentary tasting of
two outstanding Napa Valley wines, one red
and one white. This reception is a wonderful
opportunity to become acquainted with Meadowoods
resident wine professional, share experiences
and enjoy spirited discussions about wine
and colorful stories about local vintners.
More
in-depth programs on the property include
a series of hour-long tastings and educational
sessions with Gilles that can be held fireside
in The Restaurant Bar, outdoors under the
shade of an oak tree or in a private setting
such as a the patio or terrace of a guests
lodge.
Understanding
& Enjoying Wine is designed for those
looking to begin their exploration of wine
and offers an introduction to the world
of wine tasting, grape varietals, grape
growing, reading wine labels, wine storage
and service and an overview of Napa Valleys
appellations. The cost for this program
is $120 per person, including wine.
Exploring Napa Valley further familiarizes
guests with the offerings of Napa Valley.
The tasting begins with an overview of Napa
Valleys history, geography, climate and
wine growing regions and continues with
a tasting that illustrates the diversity
of Napa Valley wines in the form of a flight
of varietals from different appellations.
The cost for this program is $150 per person,
including wine.
The
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon tasting is
designed for guests with a passion for the
king of reds. During this session, Gilles
highlights the diversity of Cabernet Sauvignons
produced in various Napa Valley appellations
by contrasting districts such as Rutherford,
Oakville and Stags Leap to mountain areas
such as Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain
and Diamond Mountain. The cost for this
program is $175 per person and includes
three wines.
As
part of the Wine Education program, Gilles
has also created lunch and dinner Mealtime
Wine & Food Pairing experiences that
feature an exploration of wine and food
dynamics. For each session, Gilles selects
the wines to accompany each of the chefs
perfectly prepared courses and guides guests
through each fabulous meal, course by course,
engaging participants in a lively discussion
about how each wine enhances the flavor
of the dish and how flavors in the dishes
enhance the enjoyment of the wine. Lunch
wine & food pairings are held in The
Meadowood Grill and include a three-course
meal with wines paired for $150 per person.
Dinner wine & food pairings are held
in The Restaurant at Meadowood and include
a four-course meal with wines paired for
$250 per person.
Along
with experiences on the property, Wine Education
at Meadowood includes two types of experiences
that whisk guests off the Meadowood estate
to esteemed Napa Valley wineries, many closed
to the public or open by appointment only.
Winery excursions are planned by the full
day or half day.
Escorted
Winery Visits provide a guided exploration
of vineyard and private wineries with tours,
tastings and a break for a casual lunch
or picnic. Along the way, Gilles provides
an introduction to Napa Valleys climate,
geography and viticulture as well as a discussion
of local history and a current snapshot
of whos who in the world of Napa Valley
wine.
The
Wine, Architecture & History excursion
is a guided tour of Napa Valley led by Gilles
that highlights the architectural diversity
found throughout the region. From the Valleys
beautiful 19th century gravity-flow wineries
to contemporary projects built by noted
international architects, youll come to
know renowned Napa Valley vintners through
their architectural visions.
Half-day
excursions run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and
full day excursions run from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. The cost of a half day is $600 plus
lunch, driver and winery fees; the cost
of a full day is $900 plus lunch, driver
and winery fees.
About
Gilles de Chambure, MS
Born in France to a family with vineyards
in Burgundy and Bordeaux, Gilles de Chambure
possesses a multi-faceted international
wine background that includes time spent
as a ngociant, bottling vintage Armagnac
and Calvados in France and wine in South
America, and as a senior wine educator with
Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley. He is a teacher
for the Court of Master Sommeliers and a
frequent lecturer at major wine conferences
such as the Masters of Food & Wine and
the Ahwahnee Vintners Holiday in Yosemite.
In
2000 Gilles became the 44th person in the
United States to complete the Master Sommelier
program and the 100th in the world. He is
also a Certified Wine Educator and served
on the Board of the Society of Wine Educators
from 2001 to 2003. Gilles earned a diploma
from Wine & Spirit Education Trust in
London in 1996 and sat the Master of Wine
examination in 1998, writing his thesis
on California Zinfandels. He has also completed
the Office International du Vin (OIV) Wine
Marketing Program at University of California,
Davis, and the Bordeaux Institute d'Oenologie
sensory evaluation curriculum.
About
Meadowood Napa Valley
Meadowood is settled among 250 private acres
in the heart of Napa Valley, Americas premiere
wine growing region. The estate is a center
for social, cultural and viticultural life
in the valley and is known for its beautiful,
natural setting, gracious hospitality, classic
architecture and traditional pastimes including
croquet, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking,
bird-watching, fine dining, and the enjoyment
of wine. Also a private club, Meadowood
counts Napa Valleys most prominent vintners
among its membership. A Relais & Chateaux
property, Meadowood is one mile east from
downtown St. Helena and 18 miles north of
Napa. For reservations or more information
on Meadowood please call (800) 458-8080
or visit www.meadowood.com.
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