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In the News & Press

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Nov. 202008

NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL STOKES AUCTION FEVER WITH PRICELESS AND UNIQUE LOTS

Aug. 182008

RESTAURANT LEGENDS, TV CHEFS AND RISING-CULINARY STARS TO PREPARE THEIR FAMOUS CUISINE AT 2009 NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL

Jun. 082008

WORLD FAMOUS CHARITY WINE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD FEB. 6-8, 2009 IN NAPLES, FLA.

Mar. 052008

NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL PROCEEDS OF $17.3 MILLION AWARDED TO CHILDREN’S CHARITIES

Dec. 282007

GRANTS OF $10.8 MILLION AWARDED FOR IMMOKALEE CHILDREN’S INITIATIVES BY THE NAPLES CHILDREN AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Dec. 262007

AUCTION LOTS FULFILL FONDEST PASSIONS AT 2008 NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL

Dec. 172007

THREE VERY SPECIAL AUTOMOBILES TO SET HEARTS RACING

Sep. 072007

WORLD’S MOST ESTEEMED VINTNERS SAY “YES” TO LEADING CHARITY WINE FESTIVAL

This year’s Honored Vintners, Shahpar and Dariou

This year’s Honored Vintners, Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi, together with Chef de Cuisine Dustin Valette, will headline an all-star lineup of world-renowned winemakers and celebrity chefs at the Naples Winter Wine Festival, with over 45 vintners and chefs also joining the 2026 celebration. 🥂✨

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival is Carissa Mondavi of Continuum Estate in Saint Helena, California.
Carissa Mondavi is a fourth-generation winegrower at Continuum Estate, involved in communications, marketing, hospitality and sales. Her love for wine began at the family table, inspired by her father’s passion, and was deepened by summer internships in the cellar and vineyards. Inspired daily by the team, the vineyards and the wines themselves, Carissa cherishes the culture of wine and how it brings people together. As her grandfather Robert said, “Interest is not enough, you have to be passionate!” She continues to contribute passionately to her family’s vision and legacy in wine.

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Jacob Brown

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Jacob Brown of Lazy Bear in San Francisco, California.
Jacob Brown began his beverage career as a ski bum bartender in Park City, Utah, where he discovered his passion for wine through the Introductory Sommelier Course. He moved to Austin, Texas, working his way up from dishwasher to beverage director at restaurants including Counter 3.FIVE.VII and the ELM Restaurant Group. Today, Jacob is head sommelier at San Francisco’s acclaimed Lazy Bear, curating beverage pairings for the tasting menu while pursuing his Master Sommelier Diploma. A dedicated wine professional—and lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan—he’s always chasing the perfect pour (and a Super Bowl win).

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas.
James Beard Award winner Chef Dean Fearing is the culinary icon behind Fearing’s in Dallas, known for his southwestern cuisine and dedication to locally sourced ingredients. A Culinary Institute of America graduate and “Pioneer of American Cuisine,” Dean spent over two decades as executive chef of The Rosewood Mansion before opening Fearing’s in 2007. He’s starred on Dean’s Cuisine, cooked for presidents and celebrities, authored The Texas Food Bible, and off the plate, performs with his all-chef band, The Barbwires.

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners i

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners includes Aymeric de Gironde of Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion, France.
Born into a family of winemakers and cognac distillers, Aymeric de Gironde began his journey with Hennessy in New York before joining Krug in France, expanding its presence across Europe and the U.S. In 2006, he took on a new challenge in Bordeaux, overseeing commercial and marketing efforts alongside AXA Millésimes. Six years later, Aymeric was invited by Michel Reybier to lead Château Cos d’Estournel, where he brought his vision of excellence and innovation to one of Saint-Estèphe’s most celebrated estates.
That same pursuit of purpose led him to Château Troplong Mondot, where he now serves as General Manager—honoring its heritage while shaping a new, contemporary chapter.

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Mark Bright

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Mark Bright of Saison Hospitality in San Francisco, California.
Mark Bright discovered his passion for wine at 15 while traveling through Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. His career began as a sommelier in Las Vegas and San Francisco, earning early recognition from Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator. Today, he is co-founder and beverage director of Saison Hospitality Group, home to Michelin-starred restaurants, a boutique winery and a rare wine brokerage—all built on quality and sustainability.

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee and Joey Edwards of Three Sisters at Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee.
Cassidee grew up gardening, canning and cooking—always inspired by seasonal ingredients. After training at the New England Culinary Institute and working across the globe with the Four Seasons, she joined Blackberry Farm in 2010, becoming executive chef in 2015. Known for her Foothills Cuisine®, Cassidee has earned national recognition, including multiple James Beard Award nominations.
Joey discovered his love of cooking early, turning creativity into a way to bring people together. After training at Le Cordon Bleu and honing his craft in top kitchens, he joined Blackberry Farm in 2013, later returning as sous chef under Cassidee Dabney. In 2020, Joey transitioned to Blackberry Mountain, where he brings his passion for cooking and foraging to life as executive chef of Three Sisters.

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners i

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners includes Candice Bernard Cathiard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan, France and Cathiard Vineyard in Saint Helena, California.
Candice, niece of Florence and Daniel Cathiard, grew up in France watching her family’s passion for winemaking at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Inspired from an early age, she went on to build a career in hospitality with Marriott hotels across France, Spain and Florida. Now based in Napa Valley, she leads hospitality at Cathiard Vineyard, overseeing direct-to-consumer sales and cultivating lasting relationships with clients and collectors.

Calling all volunteers! Our volunteers are an inva

Calling all volunteers! Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the NWWF’s impact on the children of Collier County, and we thank you for your desire to be a part of the team. 💚 Volunteer applications for the 2026 Festival are now open! Learn more & contact us here: napleswinefestival.com/volunteers

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Pablo Braida

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Pablo Braida, MS of Pret-a-Vin Consulting in Augusta, Georgia.
Pablo Braida, Master Sommelier, grew up in Córdoba, Argentina, before a career in hospitality took him to London and later Napa Valley, where he began his studies with the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2022, he became the first Argentinian and one of only a handful of South Americans to achieve the prestigious Master Sommelier title. Today, Pablo is VP of customer relations at Estate Wine Brokers in Austin, where he shares his passion for rare and collectible wines.

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Stephen Coe of Ciba Matta and 1756 Grotto in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Chef Stephen Coe is a nationally recognized, award-winning chef best known for defeating Bobby Flay on Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay with a rematch on the way. A graduate of Johnson & Wales, he’s a 4x Chopped champion, 7x World Food Champion and Olympic medalist. Owner of The Early Bird Café in Kingston, MA, and two award-winning food trucks, he was voted ‘Best Chef South of Boston’ in 2022 and 2023. Chef Coe also hosts Dangerous Eats, recently starred in A Taste of Love, and has a new cookbook, Lobsta Love, launching this fall.

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival is Grace Evenstad of Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery in Willamette Valley, Oregon and Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France.
Grace and Ken Evenstad founded Domaine Serene in Oregon’s Dundee Hills in 1989 with a mission to produce world-class Pinot Noir. Today, under Grace Evenstad’s leadership, the winery spans seven estate vineyards and over 360 acres of vines, including holdings in Burgundy, France, making them the only Oregon-based vintners with estates in both regions. Following Ken Evenstad’s passing in 2020, Grace continues their shared vision, crafting elegant, complex Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that reflect the finest terroirs of Oregon and Burgundy.