Heartfelt soul of Napa’s Festival del Sole

Like a fine vintage wine, the Festival del Sole has blossomed into a mighty summer music series celebrating the enological and cultural bounty of Napa Valley.

During its 10th anniversary season, the festival offerings have expanded in depth, breadth and deep-pocket fundraising for public school arts education programs, free community concerts and Napa Valley Youth Symphony scholarships.

Co-founded by entertainment lawyer Rick Walker and IMG Artists co-chairman Barrett Wissman, with the Russian National Orchestra as its “house band,” the festival’s initial incarnation counted partnerships with six Napa wineries and 22 valley venues.

“We’ve always strived to paint more colors on our canvas,” Walker said. “The first year, that canvas was blank. So we threw on colors which were mostly music, with a little bit of food and wine. But our common denominator has always been quality.”

Yet the festival is no mere patrons’ pleasure dome: This year’s midfestival gala, a swank soiree set upon the verdant grounds of Meadowood Resort, raised a record $1.6 mil in support of free music education for musically inclined Napa Valley youths.

By year two, the festival added the free Bouchaine Vineyards-sponsored Young Artists concerts and the Dede Wilsey Dance Series. Along the way, theatrical and visual arts experiences expanded into a free film series and excloo tours of winery art collections.

“The festival is now more than a concert and dinner. Each year we have more offerings of what we like to call ‘The art of life,’” Walker continued. “Our goal is to blend culture, integrating music with the spectacular food, wine and architecture of Napa Valley.”

Ten years in, Sole has definitely spread its wings. More than 100 wineries are now partners, along with numerous top toques, four-star restaurants and resorts, and expansive programming (at 37 unique venues) that includes a Neiman Marcus fashion show, chef’s cook-off, equestrian acrobatics, vineyard-side yoga, as well as diverse artists that, this year, included stellar sets by Herb Alpert, Kevin Spacey, Patti Austin and a world premiere of new choral works by composer Gordon Getty.

Getty and his wife, philanthropist Ann Getty, are such true believers (and generous donors) in Festival del Sol, that this tenth anniversary season was dedicated in their honor.

Following his premiere (rousingly conducted by James Gaffigan and featuring 160 musicians and singers) at Yountville’s Lincoln Theater, Getty was as giddy as a schoolboy who’d aced his exam when he took the stage for a standing ovation.

Getty was also on the bill for another concert in the exquisitely acoustic chapel of Mont La Salle, the historic and beatific setting for the Christian Brothers former monastery.

The RNO String Quartet performed Getty’s “Traditional Pieces” followed by a film clip from a new Peter Rosen documentary examining the composer’s symphonic life that debuts in December (prior to the American premiere of Getty’s “ Usher House” at San Francisco Opera).

Though Getty travels the world for music and serves as both a Festival del Sol patron and artist, his enthusiasm is genuine: “They’ve grown this into a darn good festival.”

The festival also garners faithful patronage from such stalwart supporters as Bouchaine Vineyard proprietors Gerret and Tatiana Copeland; Jan Shrem; vintner Bill Harlan and his wife, Deborah; vintner Dario Sattui; Athena and Timothy Blackburn; Anita and Ron Wornick; vintners Jean-Charles Boisset and his wife, Gina Gallo; trustee-vintners including Clarke Swanson, Kathryn Hall, Agustin Huneeus, Michael Polenske, Larry Maguire and Napa royalty Margrit Mondavi, who with her late husband, Robert Mondavi, first introduced elevated culture, via their annual summer jazz festival, to the valley.

These 10 chock-full days of festival programs require Olympian stamina. But Maria Manetti Shrem, a Festival del Sole founder, fan and longtime valley denizen with an exquisite spread she’s dubbed Villa Mille Rose, knows exactly how to tackle this event.

“Some folks grumble the schedule is too consuming. And often, I only get to Napa for a weekend,” she says. “But when I travel on an SFMOMA tour, every hour of the day is full. So I made a decision to perceive FDS as a vacation. And the great music, food and wine I experience elevates the soul.”

A notion also expressed by festival board chairman and vintner Darioush Khaledi, who was wowed by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City concert at Mont La Salle Chapel in Napa.

“I think this was my favorite concert so far,” he enthused, as we headed to an al fresco dinner nearby on the gorgeous grounds of the Hess Collection Winery.

“These are urban high-school kids. Who knows where their lives might’ve led if not for receiving music education in school?” marveled Khaledi. “Their outstanding performance tonight just proves that music has the power to change lives.”