NOV E M B E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 21 The 2014 harvest is complete, with the newly fermented wines resting in tanks and barrels throughout the Napa Valley. The region is preparing for days when the weather cools and brings with it much-needed precipitation. As many of us know, the late fall through early spring is an ideal time to enjoy all the Napa Valley has to offer. This is Cabernet Season, when the frenzied activities of harvest and crush have given way to a more languid pace and a terrific opportunity to get more intimately connected with Napa Valley’s renowned vintners, chefs and artisans. During Cabernet Season, the fireplace supplants the pool as the must-have amenity and the natural beauty of the valley shines through green hills crisscrossed by rows of rustic bare vines. In early spring, yellow mustard peeks through the vines, adding a splash of color to the landscape. It’s when chefs and restaurateurs create magical meals that perfectly pair with the great red wines of the valley. It’s a time when healing waters help restore the body and soul and when the valley’s art community showcases its talent through the film, fine, and performing arts. Film and Food and Wine, oh my! Cabernet Season kicks off with two exciting weeks in November, beginning with the Napa Valley Film Festival (see article in this issue) followed by Flavor! Napa Valley, a fiveday showcase of amazing food and wine that can only be found in the Napa Valley. Flavor! Napa Valley runs November 19 through 23, and is filled with a variety of activities to satisfy any food and wine lover’s dream. Flavor! Napa Valley has quickly established itself as one of the premier food and wine festivals in the country, and it’s no wonder why. With some of the world’s best chefs working alongside the finest vintners and winemakers, Flavor! Napa Valley offers events ranging from The Appellation Trail, a grand food and wine tasting, to intimate, hands-on experiences that offer a glimpse behind the curtain of America’s premiere food and wine region. Programming for the event shines a light on the very best of the Napa Valley’s culinary artistry. Area master chefs and graduates of The Culinary Institute of America, artisanal food purveyors, vintners, growers, sommeliers, and wine educators offer a variety of demonstrations, dinners, hands-on culinary experiences and more at various locations throughout the Napa Valley. Visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org for more information. The Holidays are Magical in the Na pa Valley Holidays in the Napa Valley are a magical time of twinkling lights, perfectly paired food and wine, the world’s greatest tractor parade and a New Year’s toast with bubbly provided by some of the greatest sparking wine producers found anywhere. The valley’s warm and welcoming communities offer one-of-a-kind hometown holiday experiences that span from elegant to quirky and magical to romantic. In the Napa Valley, the Holidays kick into high gear on Friday, November 28 as the charming town of Yountville transforms into a luminescent winter wonderland with the beginning of its 26th Annual Festival of Lights. On December 6, the Napa Historic B&B Holiday Tour & Taste event in downtown Napa provides an opportunity to visit many of Napa’s grand and historic Inns that are decked out with festive lights and entertainment, including live music, choral ensembles, pastry demonstrations and more. Also on December 6, Calistoga’s 19th Annual Lighted Tractor Parade is the ultimate smalltown holiday celebration. Celebrating the valley’s agricultural heritage, this fun and quirky parade features vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks, and construction equipment bedecked with dazzling lights, all parading down Calistoga’s charming main street to celebrate the Holiday season. Santa himself makes a special appearance during the parade, rain or (moon) shine. This popular Napa Valley event, which gets bigger and better each year, is perfect for the whole family. Beginning the first week of December, Downtown St. Helena, with its charming shops, wine tasting rooms and restaurants, lights up in a big way with visions of sugarplums, snowflakes and other winter sights projected on the façades of its historic vintage buildings, creating a magical stroll up and down “Napa Valley’s Main Street.” And what holidays would be complete without a grand feast or two. . . or twelve! From December 5 through 20, Meadowood Napa Valley’s Annual Twelve Days of Christmas offers the chance to experience the finest dining as eleven influential chefs from around the world join Meadowood’s three-star Michelin Chef Christopher Kostow to pair delectable courses with twelve legendary Napa Valley vintners. The New Year Brings Ne w Experiences Welcome 2015 at one of the many New Year’s Eve parties that dot the valley. From black tie sit-down dinners with dancing to energetic music fest concerts to low-key celebratory dining, there is something for everyone’s level of participation. But save some room for indulging in the wonderful world of truffles at the Fifth Annual Napa Truffle Festival, January 16 through 19 in downtown Napa (see article in this issue). Then rest up for Napa Valley Restaurant Month in February, but more on that next time. It’s Napa Valley Film Festival Napa Valley Museum in Yountville Time for some post-harvest downtime in the Napa Valley Cab Season Di Rosa Preserve in Napa
NVLife_NovDec_2014
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