The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) announced its high-powered list of revered vintners and Michelin-starred chefs participating in the 24th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival in January. This year’s honored vintner, Veronique Boss-Drouhin, and chef de cuisine, Paul Bartolotta, will be joined by an impressive roster of international talent to bring the theme, “Generosity in Full Bloom,” to fruition.
The three-day event begins with Meet the Kids Day, when festival-goers can hear from children supported by organizations that received grants from NCEF. The Meet the Kids Day luncheon vintners include:
- Beth & Mark Hanson of Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor, California
- Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of Château d’Estoublon in Provence, France
- Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines in Sonoma, California
- Craig Becker of Somerston Estate in St. Helena, California
As a world-class wine festival, it’s only natural that the weekend-long event—boasting vintner dinners at private homes and venues across Naples, a grand auction that raised a record-breaking $26 million last year, and a Sunday brunch celebrating winners of the auction lots and the community partners whose funds those will support—features a premier roster of participating vintners:
- Suzanne Deal Booth of Bella Oaks in Napa, California
- Elisabetta Gnudi of Borgo Scopeto e Caparzo in Siena, Italy
- Blakesley & Cyril Chappellet of Chappellet Vineyard in St. Helena, California
- Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion, France, and Château d’Yquem in Sauternes, France
- Blandine de Brier Manoncourt and Frédéric Faye of Château Figeac in Saint-Émilion, France
- Marielle Cazaux of Château La Conseillante in Pomerol, France
- Nicolas Glumineau of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac, France
- Alfred Tesseron of Château Pontet-Canet in Pauillac, France, and Pym-Rae in Napa California
- Carissa Mondavi and Chiara Mondavi of Continuum Estate in St. Helena, California
- Grace Evenstad of Domaine Serene in Dayton, Oregon, and Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France
- Andy Erickson of Favia in Napa, California
- Valerie Boyd & Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville, California
- Amanda Harlan of Harlan Estates in Oakville, California
- Christine & Salvatore Ferragamo of Il Borro Srl. in Tuscany, Italy
- Kelley & Jim Bailey of Knights Bridge Winery in Sonoma, California
- Carlton McCoy of Lawrence Wine Estates in St. Helena, California
- Ariel & Christopher Jackson of Lokoya Estate in St. Helena, California
- Alessia Antinori of Marchesi Antinori Srl. in Tuscany, Italy
- Alycia Mondavi, Angelina Mondavi, Giovanna Mondavi & Riana Mondavi of Mondavi Sisters’ Collection in St. Helena, California
- Christopher Lynch of Opus One Winery in Oakville, California
- Kary & David Duncan of OVID Napa Valley in St. Helena, California
- Maud Rabin of Rare Champagne in Champagne, France
- Shari & Garen Staglin of Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, California
But what’s wine without stellar food? Joining Bartolotta, who boasts two James Beard Awards, are similarly pedigreed chefs from around the nation who will journey to Naples to demonstrate the mastery of their craft. Participating chefs include:
- Tom Colicchio of Craft in New York, New York
- Clay Conley of būccan in Palm Beach, Florida
- Joey Edwards of Three Sisters at Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee
- John Fraser of Lilac in Tampa, Florida
- Markus Glocker of Koloman in New York, New York
- Danny Grant of Maple & Ash in Chicago, Illinois
- Brad Kilgore of MaryGold’s Brasserie in Miami, Florida
- Rogan Lechthaler of The Downtown Grocery in Ludlow, Vermont
- Matteo Lorenzini of Osteria di Passignano in Florence, Italy
- Tony Mantuano of Yolan in Nashville, Tennessee
- David Nayfeld of Che Fico in San Francisco, California
- Ben Norton of Husk Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee
- Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco, California
- Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Miami, Florida
- John Tesar of Knife & Spoon in Orlando, Florida
- Philip Tessier of PRESS in St. Helena, California
- Dustin Valette of Valette in Healdsburg, California
This year’s festival runs Jan. 26 to 28, 2024.
