Unique Experiences

Item Description

This Experience Includes:

Private VIP tour and tasting at Fantesca Estate & Winery (Winemaker Heidi Barrett)
Private VIP tour and tasting at Cardinale Estate (Winemaker Christopher Carpenter)
Private VIP tour and tasting at Corra Wines (Winemaker & Owner Celia Welch)
A souvenir barrel head signed by all 3 cult winemakers
8 consecutive hours of chauffeured luxury sedan service
3-night stay in a 1-bedroom suite at the Westin Verasa Napa Hotel in downtown Napa
Round-trip coach class airfare for 2 within the 48 contiguous U.S. to San Francisco or Oakland, CA
Booking & concierge service
 

Enjoy a unique opportunity to visit a trio of wineries and sample wines made by the finest winemakers in Napa Valley: Heidi Barrett, Christopher Carpenter, and Celia Welch. These three winemakers combined have earned several perfect 100-point scores from the major wine critics. 

You and your guest will receive a personal private tour at each of these wineries and taste highly allocated wines, several of which are not available to the general public. While the winemakers are often around their winemaking facilities, this experience doesn't guarantee meeting any of the winemakers. Note: This experience is available to U.S. residents only.

As a token of the good things to come, all three of these cult winemakers have signed one barrel head for you that will be shipped to your home. This handsome piece of winemaking history will look spectacular hanging in your home cellar!

Visit the Cult Winemakers Vineyards of Napa Valley:

Fantesca Estate & Winery (St. Helena)
In 2004, owners Susan and Duane Hoff launched Fantesca Estate as a boutique Napa Valley winery dedicated to creating distinctive wines which, like the Fantesca character of Renaissance Italian theater, are rich with allure and excitement. Not open to the public, the estate vineyard and winery operation encompasses 53+ acres (nine of which were planted for Cabernet Sauvignon and one acre for Petit Verdot), located in Napa Valley's Spring Mountain District just a mile above the historic town of St. Helena. Their cross-shaped wine cave, rumored to be an abandoned silver mine, stretches 298 feet through Spring Mountain's eastern ridge and provides ample room to age Fantesca's boutique-style Napa wines, currently housing Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay vintages. Fantesca produces just over 800 cases of Cabernet and 1,000 cases of Chardonnay each year.

Winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett:  
In 2008, Fantesca proudly welcomed an exciting new addition to their winemaking team, celebrated veteran winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett, whose stellar Napa Valley resume includes winemaking stints at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, and her own La Sirena. Fantesca's Chardonnay is the only Chardonnay that Heidi makes. Heidi is the only winemaker in the world to receive five perfect 100-point scores from the major wine writers. Wine critic Robert Parker refers to her as "The First Lady of Wine".

Cardinale Estate
Begin your visit to the Cardinale Estate with their Intrada Sauvignon Blanc. As you are introduced to the Estate and their hilltop facility your host will point out the mountain appellations that come together to create their limited production, Cardinale. Your exploration will include a tasting of their current release Cardinale as well as a library vintage to discover this wine’s unique marriage of power and finesse. During your private tasting, a selection of artisan small bites will be provided to complement the wines and your Estate Host will explain the artistic sensibility of the winemaker as well as the wine’s full expression of its mountain terroir.

Winemaker Christopher Carpenter:
Over the past two decades, Chris has earned a reputation for taming Napa Valley’s mountain tannins and creating legendary Cabernet Sauvignon.  He believes in maximum attention in the vineyards and minimal intervention in the winery to create the purest expression of place.

Corra Wines (St. Helena)
After more than 20 years as an independent winemaker and consultant, Celia Welch launched her own brand, Corra, in 2004. Corra Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in miniscule quantities each year, using exceptional Napa Valley vineyard sites located on the rocky slopes of Pritchard Hill, and on the western benchlands of Oakville and Rutherford. While production may be limited, strongly favorable reviews of Corra have sent it onto the radar screens of wine collectors both nationally and internationally. Named for the Celtic goddess representing prophecy, Corra Cabernet will age with grace and confidence. Corra is not open to the public.

Winemaker Celia Welch:
After a number of years working in California and internationally, Celia has developed a consulting portfolio of top-shelf estate vineyards from Napa to Calistoga and all points in between. Celia has either consulted or made wine for over a dozen of Napa Valley's most coveted brands, such as Scarecrow (100 points from Robert Parker for the 2007 vintage), Staglin Family Vineyard, Lindstrom, Keever Vineyards, and D.R. Stephens. Celia was named Food & Wine Magazine'sWinemaker of the Year in 2008.

Beau Wine Tours
You will receive eight consecutive hours of chauffeured luxury sedan service, subject to availability; inclusive of all service fees, PUC insurance, fuel and driver’s base gratuity. Located in the heart of Wine Country, Beau is the premier wine tour service in Napa and Sonoma Counties. Beau’s drivers are experts on the wine country area and can make winery recommendations based on your particular taste and interest.

Westin Verasa Napa Hotel
Enjoy a 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom suite (one king with sofabed and kitchenette) with over 700 square feet of welcoming luxury and views of the Napa River or historic downtown. Located on the riverbank in the heart of downtown, this Napa Valley hotel is within walking distance to more than 15 Napa Valley wine tasting rooms, 30 Napa restaurants, and surrounded by plenty of boutique and specialty shopping. Enjoy the heated saltwater pool, whirlpool, the Westin WORKOUT® Fitness Studio, access to the resort’s private bocce ball courts and nightly wine-tasting reception in the lobby.
 
Blackout dates: Friday and Saturday nights in September and October; Memorial and Labor Day weekends, special events including NASCAR races, Napa Jazz Getaway and Live in the Vineyard.

NOTE: Napa is approximately 1.5 hours north of San Francisco and Oakland.

Airfare
This package includes round-trip coach class service for two from any major metropolitan airport in the 48 contiguous United States to San Francisco or Oakland, CA, subject to availability.

Airfare must be booked within one year from the date of purchase. Airfare taxes and a $25 per person processing fee are the responsibility of the purchaser. Blackout dates: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s weeks.

Business and First Class upgrades are available at the time of booking for an additional fee. Use of frequent flyer miles for upgrades is dependent on specific ticket restrictions as determined by the airline’s frequent flyer program.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Must be booked a minimum of 60 days in advance. Reservations are subject to availability and hotel may be substituted for comparable or better property. Certificates cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed. All purchases are non-refundable. Packages cannot be resold. Ground transportation is not included unless where specified.