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Naples Children Foundation
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    The Naples Winter Wine Festival is ranked among the top 10 arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans. This ranking by the Luxury Institute is based on exclusivity, quality and prestige.
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      Revered Group of Featured Sommeliers to Showcase Their Talents with Some of the ...
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Apr. 192015

Results of a good cause, by the numbers

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Apr. 172015

NCEF Hires New CEO

Apr. 152015

Lucrative wine fest organizers sip new CEO

Apr. 142015

Naples Children & Education Foundation Appoints Maria Jimenez-Lara as CEO

Apr. 142015

Naples Children & Education Foundation names new leader from its own ranks

Apr. 132015

On the Move – Maria Jimenez-Lara

Apr. 112015

Depression doesn’t equal violent person

Apr. 092015

A Desire to Help The Naples Winter Wine Festival Pours On The Charity

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Sarah Foote

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Sarah Foote of Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona.
Raised on a farm in Illinois, Sarah developed an early love for the land and the craft behind great food and wine. A Level 2 Certified Sommelier, she’s worked at The French Laundry and even made wine in New Zealand before bringing her expertise to Castle Hot Springs. Since joining in 2020, she’s curated the resort’s 5,300-bottle cellar and designed Harvest Restaurant’s award-winning wine list—earning Wine Spectator honors three years running. Blending technical knowledge with storytelling and warmth, Sarah believes wine is best enjoyed with laughter and curiosity.

Joining the distinguished Vintner lineup for this

Joining the distinguished Vintner lineup for this year’s Festival are longtime supporters Valerie Boyd & Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville, California.
A lifelong farmer, Jeff Gargiulo’s passion for the land led him and his wife Valerie to Napa Valley over 30 years ago, inspired by family vintners Belle and Barney Rhodes of Bella Oaks Vineyard. Guided by their mentorship, the Gargiulos purchased their first Oakville vineyard, Money Road Ranch, in 1992, followed by 575 OVX in 1999.
Since their first vintage in 2000, Gargiulo Vineyards has earned its place among Napa’s most respected Cabernet producers. Today, Valerie, Jeff, their daughter April and the team continue crafting wines that reflect the pure essence of their Oakville roots.

Congratulations to Carol and John Walter, Naples C

Congratulations to Carol and John Walter, Naples Children Foundation Trustees, for being named one of Gulfshore Life’s Men & Women of the Year 2025! Through their active involvement and environmental advocacy, Carol and John Walter demonstrate a steadfast commitment to preserving the Gulf’s unique landscape and sustaining the natural treasures that define our community.
📸 @omarcruzphoto

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Rogelio Garcia of Auro in Calistoga, California.
Executive Chef of Auro at Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, Rogelio Garcia blends classical French technique with Mexican and Japanese influences, celebrating the beauty of Napa’s land and ingredients. Born in Mexico City and raised in Napa, his culinary journey began as a teenage dishwasher and led to Michelin Stars at multiple restaurants—including Auro, Calistoga’s only Michelin-starred dining experience. A 2024 James Beard finalist for “Best Chef: California,” Rogelio’s debut cookbook, Convivir, honors his heritage and his deep connection to the farms, fields, and friendships that inspire his cuisine.

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Thank you to Naples Children

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Thank you to Naples Children Foundation Trustees and 2026 NWWF Co-Chairs Nena and Bill Beynon for the trick-or-treats they surprised the NCF staff with this morning!

Raise your glasses! The 2026 Naples Winter Wine Fe

Raise your glasses! The 2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival is only 3 months away! This year’s theme “Picture This” reflects the NCF’s mission of transforming the lives of children in need. It is a call to imagine and to believe in what is possible when compassion meets action. The theme challenges Festival supporters, vintners, chefs and donors to picture the impact their generosity can have in creating a world of endless futures for children in our community. We can't wait to see you January 30, 2026 through February 1, 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.

Picture this! A heartfelt thank you to Naples Chil

Picture this! A heartfelt thank you to Naples Children Foundation Trustees and 2026 NWWF Co-Chairs Ashley and Adam Gerry for the sweet treats they surprised the NCF staff with this morning. Our team is working extra hard as we prepare for the Festival—only three months away!

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Lindsey Fern

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Lindsey Fern of Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania. After falling in love with wine while backpacking through Europe and Africa, Lindsey built a global career in hospitality—from London to Miami. She joined The Inn at Little Washington in 2014, becoming the only female wine director of a Three Michelin-starred restaurant in the U.S. Now director of wine & spirits at Nemacolin, Lindsey—a mother of two and Advanced Sommelier—sees wine as a beautiful mix of art, history and science, and loves connecting guests to the stories behind each bottle.

Joining the distinguished Vintner lineup for this

Joining the distinguished Vintner lineup for this year’s Festival is Naoko Dalla Valle and Maya Dalla Valle of Dalla Valle Vineyards in Oakville, California.
Founder and visionary behind one of Napa Valley’s most beloved wineries, Naoko Dalla Valle has spent over three decades crafting world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from her Oakville hillside vineyard. A passionate farmer and hands-on vintner, Naoko continues to shape the legacy she began in 1986—now alongside her daughter, Maya.
Second-generation winemaker and Dalla Valle’s wine director, Maya Dalla Valle brings global experience and a deep family connection to the vineyard she grew up on. With degrees from Cornell and Bordeaux Sciences Agro, and training at world-renowned estates, Maya now carries forward her family’s Napa Valley legacy with vision and heart.

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Joe Flamm, Culinary Director of Day Off Group, in Chicago, Illinois.
Joe Flamm oversees Chicago favorites Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse. A South Side native and winner of Top Chef Season 15, Joe honed his craft in some of Chicago’s top Michelin-starred kitchens, including Spiaggia, where he served as executive chef.
Inspired by his Italian roots and the bold flavors of Croatian cuisine, Joe opened Rose Mary in 2021—named after his grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose. Since then, he’s expanded Day Off Group’s portfolio with BLVD Steakhouse and the Roman-inspired il Carciofo.

Congratulations to Ashley Gerry, 2026 Naples Winte

Congratulations to Ashley Gerry, 2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival Co-Chair, for being named one of Gulfshore Life’s Men & Women of the Year 2025! "These innovators, changemakers and tastemakers are shaping philanthropy, design and culture across Naples, Marco Island and beyond." Ashley’s philanthropic leadership and creativity continue to inspire Southwest Florida. 💖
Photography: @omarcruzphoto

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Erik Elliott

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Erik Elliott, MS of Lawrence Wine Estates in St. Helena, California.
Master Sommelier and Heitz Cellar Estate Director Erik Elliott has built a career defined by passion and purpose. A Philadelphia native and Temple University graduate, Erik fell in love with wine while working at Del Frisco’s Steakhouse. He sold everything to move to Aspen, joining the world-renowned wine program at The Little Nell, where he rose to lead sommelier. After years exploring Europe’s top estates, he traded the mountains for Napa Valley, becoming estate director at Heitz Cellar in 2019. In 2022, he achieved his longtime dream—earning the title of Master Sommelier and reimagining luxury hospitality at Heitz Cellar.