Bring Your Own Fun
Wine Spectator’s Bring Your Own Magnum parties in Napa and Sonoma mark the beginning of auction week
Usually California is warmer and drier this time of year, but cold and soggy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of vintners and wine industry insiders attending Wine Spectator’s annual Bring Your Own Magnum parties, held on consecutive evenings in Sonoma and Napa on May 31 and June 1. These annual events ushered in this year’s Auction Napa Valley festivities.
Though it rained off and on all day Tuesday, May 31, the skies cleared for the first party that evening at Hotel Healdsburg and the adjacent Dry Creek Kitchen in downtown Healdsburg. Hundreds of guests attended, including a who’s who of Sonoma vintners such as Ed Sbragia, Kosta Browne’s Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, William Selyem winemaker Bob Cabral, Jamie Kutch, Merry Edwards, David Ramey, Mike Benziger, Mark Lyon of Sebastiani, Kim Stare Wallace and Dave Wallace of Dry Creek and Dave and Patty Rafanelli.
Dry Creek Kitchen chef Charlie Palmer and his staff prepared a tasty selection of charcuterie, seafood and roasted meats, with Palmer personally carving honey-glazed pork served with a whole-grain mustard jus. There were plenty of wines to sample with the food, particularly Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels. Single-vineyard bottlings of 2008 Kosta Browne wines got plenty of buzz, as did the Bevan Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Showket Vineyard 2008. Siduri’s Adam and Dianna Lee were excited to sample two bottles of wine from two different producers but from the same vineyard 10 years apart, the 1995 De Loach Zinfandel Russian River Valley Pelletti Ranch and the Carlisle Zinfandel Russian River Valley Carlisle Vineyard 2005.
Captûre owners Tara and Ben Sharp brought some of their white wines to sample, including their debut 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. They were excited for their winemaking colleagues to try their wines. “It’s the highest compliment you can get,” said Ben.
Wednesday night's gathering at Tra Vigne in Napa was preceded by a day of unpredictable weather, including sun, rain and hail. But by party time, the skies cleared once again. The energetic crowd included Margrit Mondavi, Bill Harlan, Garen and Shari Staglin, Caymus’ Chuck Wagner, Doug and John Shafer, Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode, Delia Viader and Fred Schrader. Some traveling winemakers were also in attendance, including Pip Goodwin of New Zealand’s Palliser Estate and O. Fournier owner José Manuel Ortega from Argentina.
Wine poured freely from magnums provided by the guests, such as the Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley 2006, Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Hillside Select 2005, and included some older wines like Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 1987, Turley Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Grist Vineyard 2001 and Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Private Reserve 1990. Guests enjoyed pastas, wood-fired pizzas, quail, steak and calamari.
As the sun set, some guests found warmth in music from the live band and an active dance floor, others puffed on cigars, while others continued the search for rare and sought-after bottles of wine. Despite the definite chill in the air, people lined up at a gelato bar made from ice, many sampling the basil-chocolate chip flavor.
Most vintners didn’t seem interested in talking about the weather, instead enjoying each other’s company and each other’s wine. “We don’t have enough of this in our industry,” said winemaker Daryl Groom. “It’s so important, so let’s keep doing it every year!”
Adelina and Ulises Valdez of Valdez Family Winery. |
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David Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars and Merry Edwards of Merry Edwards Winery. |
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Sbragia Family Vineyards owner Ed Sbragia with William Foley of Foley Family Wines. |
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Carlo Mondavi with his fiancé Megan Bopes and Michael and Isabel Mondavi. |
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Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and Ric Forman of Forman Vineyard. |
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Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken and Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards. |
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Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode and Margrit Mondavi. |
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Chef Charlie Palmer serves the crowd. |
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Sam Bronfman of Bacchus Capital Management. |
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From left, Sue Cross of Cross Cellars, Susan Kenward of TOR Wines, Naoko Dalla Valle of Dalla Valle Vineyards, Mary Novak of Spottswoode and Margaret Duckhorn, co-founder of Duckhorn Vineyards. |
