Elite Traveler Fall 2024

INFLUENCE PARTY

Celebrating Napa Valley winemaking with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Elite Traveler joined forces with our Spring issue partner, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, to share the story of its trailblazing Napa Valley red wines that took on the old-world producers with its California Cabernet Sauvignon and won. A small selection of our ultra-high-net-worth readership enjoyed the summer sunshine on the Rodeo Terrace of the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, where Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars curated a tasting of its most prestigious labels paired alongside a custom menu. Hostedby Elite Traveler 's SVP of Multimedia Corey Zaretsky, the event also celebrated our partnership with the bona fi de Napa Valley winemaking legend with a presentation of our Spring Adventures issue.

The wines were paired with specially curated dishes that took guests on a journey through the decades and championed the best of Napa Valley produce. To complement the night’s exclusive festivities, the event also showcased a selection of haute jewelry from Adam Neeley. The California-based jewelry designer and gemologist specializes in bespoke commissions and crafts fewer than 20 high jewels per year, many of which take several years to complete. Neeley brought pieces from his latest collection for guests to try on, including one-of-one designs like the stunning Rivieira Cu ff , crafted from his trademarked SpectraGold™ and brilliant-cut white diamonds. stagsleapwinecellars.com; adamneeley.com

Leading the wine tasting was Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars' head winemaker, Marcus Notaro, who has almost 30 years of experience in red wine. Notaro joined Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 2013 after developing his winemaking style in the state of Washington. Notaro’s passion for Cabernet Sauvignon and his intricate understanding of its complexities shone during the evening that included four of his favorite vintages from the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars collection. This included S.L.V. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from 1987, 1993, 2010 and 2021. It was the S.L.V. that originally catapulted Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars into legend when its 1973 vintage beat the great Bordeaux houses in the Judgement of Paris in 1976.

All images VIPguests gathered at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, for an extensive tasting led by Stag's LeapWine Cellars' head winemaker, Marcus Notaro

PhotosBFA