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.