Grand Tasting
62nd Annual Grand Tasting | 2026
By attending this remarkable event, guests join a community of wine enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of Napa Valley winemaking.
Wineries and Their Wines
* indicates Wine Alliance member
ARNS NAPA VALLEY; Sandi Belcher, winemaker
2022 Petaluma Gap Chardonnay
2015 Napa Valley ARNS Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Beaulieu Vineyard; Nate Weis, winemaker
2024 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2017 Napa Valley Georges de Latour Private Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
Tevor Durling, winemaker for these wines
Beau Vigne; Julien Fayard, winemaker
2023 Napa Valley Cult Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Buehler Vineyards; John Buehler, winemaker
2022 Napa Valley Papa's Knoll ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon
David Cronin winemaker for this wine
Castlevale; Angelina Mondavi, winemaker
2021 Chiles Valley "Defender" Proprietary Red Blend
Claudio Family Cellars; Chris Jones, winemaker
2023 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Franc
2023 Napa Valley Vintner's Select
Fisher Vineyards; Adam Goodrich, winemaker
2021 Napa Valley Coach Insignia Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Napa Valley Coach Insignia Cabernet Sauvignon
Forgotten Union Wines; Benjamin Leachman, winemaker
2024 Los Carneros Firetree Vineyard Chardonnay
2021 Oakville Old Federal Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Gallica; Rosemary Cakebread, winemaker
2025 Oak Knoll Ryan's Vineyard Chenin Blanc
2023 Oakville Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
*Green & Red; Aaron Whitlatch, winemaker
2023 Napa Valley Chiles Canyon Vineyards Estate Blend Zinfandel
2019 Napa Valley Tip Top Vineyard Zinfandel
Michael Penn, winemaker for this wine
Grgich Hills Estate; Ivo Jeramaz, winemaker
2023 Los Carneros Miljenko's Selection Estate Grown Chardonnay
2015 Rutherford Miljenko's Selection Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
GRO Wines; Lars Bjorkman, winemaker
2023 Mount Veeder Haspel Vineyard Chardonnay
2022 Calistoga Frediani Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Keenan Winery; Michael Keenan, winemaker
2021 Spring Mountain Mailbox Vineyard Merlot
2014 Spring Mountain Mailbox Vineyard Merlot
Levendi Winery; Alison Doran, winemaker
2023 Napa Valley Estate Chardonnay
2022 Oak Knoll District Odysseus Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon
Lewelling Vineyards; Haley Wight, winemaker
2023 Saint Helena Wight Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Saint Helena Wight Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
LORENZA; Melinda Kearney, winemaker
2025 Lodi Rosé of Cinsault, Grenache, Morvedre, Carignan
2024 Mokelumne River Bechtold Cinsault
% 2024 Lodi Sparkling Blanc de Blanc
Louis M Maritni Winery; Zach Watkins, winemaker
2023 Napa Valley "The Gryphon" Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Mike Martini, winemaker for this wine
Marineau Mills Vineyards; Ashley Hepworth, winemaker
2024 Rutherford Chardonnay
2023 Calistoga Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Missing Thorn; Aaron Pott, winemaker
% Still White - Riesling
% Sparkling Rosé - Zinfandel
PARADIGM; Mark Fasi, winemaker
2022 Oakville Paradigm Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Mark Fasi, winemaker for this wine
2015 Oakville Paradigm Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Heidi Barrett, winemaker for this wine
PÉJU; Sara Fowler, winemaker
2025 Rutherford HB Vineyard French Columbard
2022 Napa Valley Fifty/Fifty Red Wine
Piña Napa Valley; Anna Monticelli, winemaker
Wines TBD
Pride Mountain Vineyards; Matt Ward, winemaker
2024 Napa Valley Chardonnay
2023 Napa County Cabernet Franc
Progeny Winery; Sean Capiaux, winemaker
2021 Mount Veeder Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Mount Veeder Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Robert Biale Vineyards; David Natali, winemaker
2025 Oak Knoll District Clementina Greco Bianco
2024 Saint Helena Old Kraft Vineyard Zinfandel
Rockmere Vineyards; Jeff Ames, winemaker
2022 Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 Napa Valley Rockmere Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery; Michael Scholz, winemaker
2023 Napa Valley Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cold Concrete Sauvignon Blanc
2019 Napa Valley Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Scalon Cellars; Julien Fayard, winemaker
2021 Coombsville "Priority Red Blend"
2021 Coombsville Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Schwarze Vineyard; Dan Person, Winemaker
2021 Los Carneros Blanc de Blancs
Shifflett Ranch & Vineyard; Sarah Donley, winemaker
2021 Oak Knoll District Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Oak Knoll District Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Will Segui, winemaker for this wine
Snowden Vineyards; Diana Snowden Seysses, winemaker
2022 Napa Valley Los Ricos Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Napa Valley Los Ricos Cabernet Sauvignon
Spottswoode; Aron Weinkauf, winemaker
2024 Napa County/Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
2023 Saint Helena Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Sterling Vineyards; Lauren Kopit, winemaker
2025 Calistoga Sauvignon Blanc
1987 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Bill Dyer, winemaker for this wine
Teaderman Vineyards; Tom Rinaldi, winemaker
2023 Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
2017 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
The Yount Room:
Cain Vineyard & Winery; Chris Howell, winemaker
2022 Spring Mountain District Estate Cain Five
2012 Spring Mountain District Estate Cain Five
Conn Creek Wines; Jean Hoefliger, winemaker
2021 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Elizabeth DeLouise-Gant, winemaker for this wine
2005 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Mike McGrath, winemaker for this wine
Cornerstone Cellars; Kari Auringer, winemaker
2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Jeff Keene, winemaker for this wine
Tomorrow Cellars; Tracy Sweeney, winemaker
% 2024 Lodi Rhône Blanc
% 024 Lodi Sparkling Blanc de Rhône
Varozza Vineyards; Jack Varozza, winemaker
2024 Saint Helena Sauvignon Blanc
2011 Saint Helena Petite Sirah
William Cole Vineyards; William and Cole Ballentine, winemakers
2022 Napa Vajley Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Napa Valjey Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon
* Wine Alliance member
% alcohol-free wine
Books on Wine
Books on Wine Sale
Thursday, Friday, December 4 & 5 from 10:00 am to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 from Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Books on Wine Sale - wonderful bargains
For students, gift-givera, practitioners and collectora
Local, International, Unusual, Signed & Scintillating
Come SHOP
All proceeds benefit the Napa Valley Wine Library Collection.
Books on Wine
Evening with Author Elaine Chukan Brown
Reception: 5:00 p.m.
Program: 5:30 p.m.
Please join us for this exceptional opportunity to meet author and educator Elaine Chukan Brown. Currently, Elaine is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and contributor to numerous wine compendia. Chris Howell, Winemaker and General Manager, Cain Vineyard & Winery, will interview Elaine, a world advocate for organic winegrowing. Cain's own farming practices were certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers in 2015.
The Wines of California "A concise, complete, smartly delivered and cohesive book for serious readers and students of wine. Focusing on the world's fourth largest producer of wine California the book takes readers on a journey through the Golden State's wines, paying due attention to famous wine destinations such as Sonoma and Napa as well as introducing readers to exciting lesser-known regions to explore."
Wines at the reception include Sauvignon Blanc from Frog's Leap Winery, certified organic in 1989, Barney's Backyard Petite Syrah from Turley Wine Cellars, certified organic in 1996, and Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Five.
Join Us
Event Registration is now CLOSEDBooks on Wine
Evening with Kelli A White
And her new book, Wine Confident; There’s No Wrong Way to Enjoy Wine in conversation with Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:00 p.m.
Fireside Chat
Book sales and signing with the Author
Kelli White is the Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood and the author of her award-winning Napa Valley Then & Now published in 2016.
In 2021, Kelli was the keynote speaker for our Annual Wine Seminar, "Napa Valley's Old Vines and the Wines They Give Us," and gave a wonderful history of wine grapes in the Valley.
Last year, in 2023 Kelli was in conversation with Karen MacNeil for a fireside chat at The Napa Valley Reserve in recognition of the publication of the third edition of Karen's The Wine Bible.
Now, on November 15, 2024 Kelli takes part in another fireside chat at The Reserve, as its subject, in celebration of her recently published, Wine Confident: There's No Wrong Way to Enjoy Wine.
Wine Seminar
2024 | Annual Wine Seminar
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Historic Alluvial Fans of the Mayacamas in the AVA’s of Oakville, Rutherford & St. Helena
An extensive exploration of this exceptional terroir on the Napa Valley's westside with winemakers guiding our way, glass by glass as their 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is poured.
Moderator:
Tegan Passalacqua
Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands
Panelists:
Corison
Cathy Corison, Owner & Winemaker
Inglenook
Jonathan Tyer, Associate Winemaker
Scarecrow
Celia Welch, Winemaker
MACDONALD
Graeme MacDonald, Owner & Winemaker
Spottswoode
Aron Weinkauf, Winemaker & Vineyard Manager
VHR
Bruce Phillips, Owner & Vintner
Chef-prepared buffet lunch to follow.
Program support provided in part by a grants from Napa Valley Vintners Association and Riedel Crystal of America.
Visual Oral Histories
Screening Visual Oral History: Silver Oak
Jeff Davis interviews David Duncan, CEO, Silver Oak.
A reception at the winery with Silver Oak wines and appetizers is followed by the screening. Q&A's with David and Jeff conclude our program.
During his interview, Jeff learned that "Through it all, Silver Oak has endured and is more progressive than ever!"
Books on Wine
Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards
Frances Dinkelspiel, author of Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:00 p.m.
Distinguished journalist and author Frances Dinkelspiel discusses wine fraud and greed as she brings us up to date on Mark Anderson, her miscreant subject of Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California. Frances's research was done in part with the Napa Valley Wine Library Collection.
As Chris Howell of Cain Vineyard and Winery has put it, "Wine and fraud have been together since the beginning." Convicted arsonist Anderson died last March after nearly $250M in inventory had gone up in flames in his wine storage facility on Mare Island. Collectors, wine shops and wineries lost entire vintages and libraries in the safekeeping of Anderson, including wine from Frances's own family cherished for over a century. Please join us for a stirring presentation of a dark, tantalizing dimension of the business of making wine.
With wines from three wineries featured in Frances's book: Long Meadow Ranch, Saintsbury and Viader; and a book signing with the author after her talk.
Books on Wine
Common Ground: Charting the Future of the Napa Valley
With author Richard Mendelson and Kelli White, Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Wines by The Napa Valley Reserve
Appetizers from Meadowood
Program: 6:00 p.m.
Richard Mendelson in Conversation
with Kelli White
Book sales and signing with the Author
In the splendidly vinous setting of The Napa Valley Reserve, Richard, long-time Advisory Board member and local resident since 1986, shares with Kelli his sense of place and challenges he sees ahead for a commitment to excellence in farming, winemaking and the quality of day-to-day life in our Valley.
An internationally noted wine lawyer and author, Richard founded and directs the Wine Law and Policy Program, School of Law, UC Berkeley. He also lectures at UC Davis and the Universities of Aix-Marseille and Bordeaux.
Books on Wine
LODI!: The Definitive Guide and History of America’s Largest Winegrowing Region
Randy Caparoso, author of LODI!: The Definitive Guide and History of America’s Largest Winegrowing Region
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:00 p.m.
Both a photographer and journalist, Randy has been chronicling the vinous action of the Lodi AVA and the 7 AVA's within it since 2010 for the Lodi Winegrape Commission. (These AVA's date from 2005.) Randy's subject is germane to Napa Valley, given its many Lodi connections and years of sourcing Lodi fruit for its winemaking.
(Nearly 1/5 of all California winegrapes come from the Lodi AVA.)
Louis M Martini first bought Lodi fruit in 1906. Bob and Peter Mondavi moved from Minnesota to Lodi with their parents and sisters in 1921 to grow winegrapes. Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Saint Helena in 1993 and began making old vine wines from Lodi in 1996.
With wines from Lodi poured by their winemakers Melinda Kearney of Lorenza Wines and Tegan Passalacqua of Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands
and a book signing with the author after his talk.
Other
The Art of Eating: the Life of MFK Fisher
A documentary film by Gregory Bezat
6:00 p.m. Reception
6:30 Panel discussion
7:15 Break
7:30 Film Screening
A founder of Napa Valley Wine Library, Mary Frances, as MFK was known, was an active faculty member of the Wine Library's wine education classes and helped establish the Napa Valley Library Collection of wine-related materials at St. Helena Public Library.
Panelists were filmmaker Greg Bezat; Mary Frances's daughter Kennedy Golden; food and wine writer, editor, author, and symposia founder Antonia Allegra; food and wine writer and editor Jerry DiVecchio. Q&A's from both panel and audience were astutely moderated by distinguished wine writer, editor and author Bob Thompson.
Frog's Leap Winery provided a matchless setting for the al fresco evening paired with wood-fired pizza, popcorn, a fresh fruit punch, and Frog's Leap wines. The beauty of the surrounding gardens and wafts of fermenting Sauvignon Blanc created a brimming basket of Napa Valley hospitality. THANK YOU, Tori and John!
Books on Wine
Reception with Karen MacNeil in celebration of her third Edition of The Wine Bible
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Program, Interview and Q&A's
On a mild winter's evening, in celebration of the third edition of The Wine Bible's publication, author Karen MacNeil was in conversation with Kelli White, Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood. In the Hospitality Barn of The Reserve Napa Valley, a firelit reception with Champagne and The Reserve wines preceded Karen's storytelling in response to Kelli's adroit questioning of Karen about her career and the new edition. Book sales and signing with the author concluded a most memorable evening with these two distinguished wine mavens.
As a benefit of membership, there is no charge for the evening but seating is extremely limited and an RSVP is required to reserve your place on a first come, first served basis.
Books on Wine
Tor Kenward, TOR Wines owner and author of Reflections of a Vintner: Stories and Seasonal Wisdom from a Lifetime in Napa Valley
5:30 p.m. Reception in the Courtyard
6:00 p.m. Program in the Napa Valley Wine Library Wing
In his Reflections, Tor writes of an ever-developing vinous and culinary education, innumerable friendships begun, and a bird's eye view of Napa Valley as it grows from less than 50 wineries in the 1970's to nearly 1,000 today. Tor had spent nearly 30 years at Beringer when he and his wife Susan founded TOR Wines in 2001.
At our reception, TOR wines will join Barney's Backyard to savor along with cheese and crudité. Tor was a great friend of Barney Rhodes (the first president of NVWLA and its vineyard's namesake) so it will be a most felicitous pouring. Tor said he is really looking forward to seeing friends and neighbors and having lots of Q&As.
Perspectives
Marc and Angelina Mondavi discuss the 75th Anniversary of CK Mondavi and Family
In 1946, CK Mondavi, a new line of affordable, everyday wines was released, the first wines to have the Mondavi name on the label. During this Perspectives event Marc Mondavi and his daughter Angelina will share details of CK Mondavi & Family's 75 years in the wine industry. The 3rd and 4th generation Mondavis look forward to continuing the family legacy well into the 21st century.
