As part of Caneel Bay’s effort to offer its guests more than just a typical vacation experience, the resort is hosting a winemaker dinner featuring Duckhorn wines at the resort’s Turtle Bay Estate House on May 15.
The dinner, which will launch the resort’s summer season, will feature co-founder and executive vice president of the Duckhorn Wine Company Margaret Duckhorn.
“We’re always thinking about what more we can offer our guests,” said Rosewood Resorts Director of Marketing Patrick Kidd.
“We want to give them something they can really sink their teeth into, above and beyond the regular resort experience of being on a beach.”
The evening will begin with a cocktail party, and multiple courses with wine pairings created by Caneel Bay’s executive chef Roland Czekelius.
The cocktail reception will honor Duckhorn, who established the Duckhorn Wine Company in Napa Valley in 1976.
“Splendid Reputation”
“The Duckhorn Wine Comp-any enjoys a splendid reputation in the Napa Valley region of northern California, where Margaret Duckhorn is known for her spirited philanthropy,” according to a Rosewood press release. “ A native of New York, Duckhorn established her eponymous vineyard with her husband in 1976, and has been active in the winemaking process since the first vintage.”
Dinner will then be served at 7:15 p.m., featuring three courses paired with Duckhorn wines, followed by a final course of artisanal cheeses presented on the verandah.
Pairing Caneel Bay and the Duckhorn Wine Company was a no-brainer, explained Kidd.
Focus on Merlot
“I think it’s fun to use the passion we have to form a parternship with Margaret Duckhorn and her wines,” he said. “Caneel Bay has such an amazing pedigree, and to pair that with the pedigree of Duckhorn wines just makes a lot of sense to us. I think it’s a wonderful thing to do.”
Duckhorn was one of the first California wineries to focus on merlot as a premium varietal, according to Rosewood’s press release.
“The vineyard’s seven meticulously farmed estates craft Bordeaux varietals, including cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and merlot, while the Paraduxx and Goldeneye brands encompass zinfandel blends and pinot noir, respectively,” states the release.
Series To Continue
The dinner series, developed by Caneel Bay Wine and Bever-age Director Eric Toles, will continue throughout 2007.
“We want to do many more of these events,” said Kidd. “One of our goals this year is to create a real calendar of events and promote things more in advance, so people will be able to coincide booking their trip with some of the events we’ll be planning. We have very sophisticated guests who stay at Caneel Bay, and we think these folks will really enjoy this.”
Reservations for the Duckhorn Winemaker dinner are limited to 64 people, with 44 seats reserved for resort guests. The evening is prix fixe at $150 per person, excluding gratuity.
For reservations or more information, contact the Caneel Bay Activities Desk at 776-6111.
