A Wine Country Weekend That Hit All the Right Notes

On July 17, Festival Napa Valley—one of wine country’s most anticipated events—held its annual Arts for All Gala on the grounds of Nickel & Nickel, just behind the winery’s historic 19th-century homestead. In support of the organizing association’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, and the expansion of its year-round educational programs in Napa County schools, the evening’s culinary experience—designed and executed by Tyler Florence—and live auction were followed up by an performance by Grammy-winning country music star Trisha Yearwood.

Surpassing all expectations, the auction raised $3.75 million, beating last year’s record total by a cool $1 million. Top performing lots included a seven-night stay for up to eight guests at Tatiana and Garret Copeland’s Toucan Hill Villa in Mustique that, thanks to a bidding war, was tripled and offered to three lucky bidders for a total of $410,000. Another experience whisking one couple from Paris to Monaco for the 2023 Formula One Grand Prix—donated, in part, by Athena and Timothy Blackburn—brought $120,000, and a six-night culinary-inspired stay at Casali di Casole in the Tuscan countryside—courtesy of Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi—went for $140,000.

Returning for its 16th season—and regularly referred to as the “10 best days of summer” —this year’s Americana-themed festival (with programing through July 24) celebrates the best of the entire county through live music and impeccable food and wines. The opening weekend began with a Friday night performance at Charles Krug by Festival Orchestra Napa—conducted by Carlo Ponti, Jr.—as part of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Vocal Arts Series, followed by a sold-out patron dinner at Hall Winery. Saturday afternoon’s itinerary included the Taste of Napa—held at The Meritage Resort and Spa—where VIP guests were treated to delicious bites and a selection of reserve wines from Ackerman Family Wines, Alpha Omega, and Chanel-owned St. Supéry, among others. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City performed an inspiring program at the CIA at Copia that evening which included both the debut of Gordon Getty’s "Young America," and the world premiere of Nia Imani Franklin’s "Polaris." Afterward, patrons made their way to Quintessa for yet another sold-out dining experience under the stars.

Among the weekend’s revelers: Gordon Getty, Maria Manetti Shrem, Carlo Ponti, Jr., Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, the Honorable Trevor Traina and Alexis Traina, David and Mary Beth Shimmon, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, former mayor Willie Brown, Sonia Molodetskaya, Jack and Pam Preston, Dagmar Dolby, Philip and Carol Norfleet, Lisa Zabelle, and Cindy Rachofsky, as well as event board members including Robin Baggett, Kathryn Walt Hall, Lauren Ackerman, Oliva Hsu Decker, Leslie Frank, W. Clarke Swanson, Michael Polenske, and Maggie Oetgen.