The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla., will host the Naples Winter Wine Festival from Jan. 26–28, 2018. This annual benefit for the Naples Children & Education Foundation brings together acclaimed chefs, winemakers and sommeliers to raise funds through a series of curated culinary and wine events. Highlights include The Vintage Cellar, a pre-festival wine tasting and luncheon at Blue Provence that will feature a vertical tasting of Opus One.
The festival begins with a Vintner’s Dinner, during which guests are chauffeured to one of 17 intimate dinners held in private homes and select venues throughout Naples. The weekend’s culinary lineup features a roster of international and U.S.-based celebrity chefs: Peter Brunel of Borgo San Jacopo in Florence, Italy; Mario Corti and Christoph Rainer of Luce d’Oro in Bavaria, Germany; Dominique Crenn of Atelier Crenn in San Francisco; Evan Funke of Felix in Venice, California; Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto in New York City; and Eric Ziebold of Kinship in Washington, D.C.
The festival also showcases a distinguished group of sommeliers and wine professionals. Attending sommeliers include Bob Bath from the Culinary Institute of America; Fernando Beteta of Tenzing Wine & Spirits in Chicago; Jason Heller of Scale Wine Group in Yountville, California; Jarad Slipp of RdV Vineyards in Delaplane, Virginia; Larry Stone of Lingua Franca in Salem, Oregon; and Emily Wines of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants in Oakland, California. Festival honors this year will include Michelin-starred chef Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko as chef de cuisine, and vintner recognition for David R. Duncan and Karynne Duncan of Silver Oak.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can expect tastings, chef-driven menus and exclusive wine experiences designed to support the foundation’s mission. The event’s combination of fine dining, rare wines and intimate settings creates an engaging atmosphere for collectors, food enthusiasts and philanthropists who want to enjoy world-class cuisine while contributing to local education and children’s programs.
Each year the Naples Winter Wine Festival draws a global roster of culinary talent and wine producers, offering rare pours, curated menus and unique auction items. The festival’s programming emphasizes exceptional pairings and memorable hospitality, with opportunities to meet chefs and winemakers, attend intimate dinners and participate in tasting seminars. Proceeds benefit programs that provide educational opportunities and support for children in the Naples community.
Guests planning to attend should expect a weekend filled with special events, from intimate, chef-hosted dinners to large-scale tastings and auctions. The festival’s elegant setting at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort provides a scenic backdrop for the gatherings and lends a refined, comfortable atmosphere for both daytime and evening events. Whether attending for the cuisine, the wine or the charitable mission, participants can expect a thoughtfully curated experience that highlights the best of culinary and winemaking talent.