Season 10 Press Coverage

As Festival del Sole marks its tenth season in the Napa Valley, media coverage of the "celebration of the art of life" has been extensive. Here is a sampling of articles from around the country.

August & September ~ KRON4 calls Festival del Sole "simply scintillating"; Haute Living reporter calls it "by far my best festival experience."

July ~ Departures lists Festival del Sole on its prestigious Culture Calendar for July, saying it "has something for every kind of visitor," alongside other major world events and festivals. The San Jose Mercury News profiles two "local musicians" who are featured in this year's festival, Constantine Orbelian and Gordon Getty, while noting that there are "many other treats from a galaxy of stars" this year. This year's auction lots are reviewed by Arts Beat LA and Haute Living ("the 12 lots that you need to bid on now!"). SFGate reviews season highlights and notes that the festival has, for ten years, been " a nexus for the performing arts, food and wine... and fairly decent scenery to boot." GBOpera offered in depth reviews of Opening Night with Nadine Sierra and Brian Zeger, Midori and Abdrazakov with the RNO, and Moscow Nights.

Other publications publishing season highlight articles in July include Robb Report ("Festival del Sole Pairs Fine Wine with Intoxicating Performances"), Napa Valley Life, the Napa Valley Register, the San Francisco Examiner, Forbes and Pure Luxury. The Press Democrat offers a lengthy round-up of the festival's many "free and family-friendly concerts."

June ~ This month, Gentry magazine gives a shout out to Festival del Sole, saying it "will surely raise your culinary (and cultural) game," while Nob Hill Gazette rightly notes that "there is nothing quite like Festival del Sole." Napa Sonoma Magazine published its Top Ten Reasons to visit Festival del Sole in 2015. Also in June: Festival del Sole listings were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Luxury Magazine, The Press Democrat, VIA, the magazine of AAA, See California, Napavalley.com, Contra Costa Times, and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

May 28 ~ In reviewing three "Festivals to enjoy with that Cabernet Sauvignon," Divina Infusino at the Huffington Post calls Festival del Sole "the most prominent social/cultural gathering of Napa's summer season."

May 8 ~ Haute Living offers a review of the festival's "10th Landmark Season... an affair you definitely won’t want to miss."

May 1 ~ Napa Valley Life lists Festival del Sole in its monthly events calendar, with a prominent photo of last year's concert featuring the debut of the LA Virtuosi Orchestra.

April 28 ~ The Napa Valley Register interviews Festival del Sole General Manager Sonia Tolbert in its 10 Questions format.

April 26 ~ The San Jose Mercury News includes Festival del Sole in a round-up of summer Napa Valley music and wine events.

April 24 ~ The Santa Rose Press Democrat announces that music icon and legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert and his wife, singer Lani Hall, will be appearing at Festival del Sole, performing works from their latest album, Steppin’ Out, plus an array of jazz and Brazilian rhythms..

April 22 ~ The San Jose Mercury News' Georgia Rowe calls the festival "a classical music and ballet showstopper," and provides an enthuastic round-up of the tenth season's offerings. The story was picked up by other sites, including the Sacramento Sun Times, Newsreality.com, and Paradise Post.

April 21 ~ The Kevin Spacey announcement gets coverage in Viben on Films and Sally's Place.

April 14 ~ We Blog the World raves about Kevin Spacey at Meadowood, saying it "should be a glorious alfresco evening."

April 8 ~ Napa Valley Register reports the Kevin Spacey announcement, as do a variety of other media outlets, including Yahoo Finance, KFDA, Newslocker.com, Wine Geographic, NapaValleyNow, LocalWineEvents, The American Tune Tribune, GoogleNews and CelebrityPicnic.

April 3 ~ Examiner.com reviews the coming season and calls Festival del Sole "a great summer celebration of exquisite wine, superb food, opera, ballet and wellness." St. Helena Star reports on the festival's first Sun Run, as does Paul Franson's Napa Life.

April 2 ~ Haute Living and 7x7 swoon at the announcement that Kevin Spacey will headline this year's Annual Festival Gala.

April 1 ~ Napa Valley Register provides coverage of the first annual Sun Run, taking place in Yountville on Saturday, July 18, at 8 am, and benefitting the Napa County Alliance for Arts Education for Napa County K-12 public schools. 

March 18 ~ The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and Napa Valley Register both announce programs and details of the coming season. The story is also picked up by Reuters, Yahoo Finance, Morningstar, Gastronomique Envogue, and Winebusiness.com. The Register article also runs in the St. Helena Star.

March 16 ~ Haute Living lists 10 Reasons Not to Miss Festival del Sole this year.

March 3 ~ St. Helena Star announces that pre-sales of festival tickets have begun. AXS article by Fran Miller says that Festival del Sole, together with Bottlerock and Yountville Live, have put Napa on the music map.