The Most Instagrammable Moments in May: Donum Art, ZD 50th, BottleRock Stars and More
Author:Annette HanamiDiscover Donum: A Place for Wine and Art
One of the most instagrammable estates in Wine Country, Donum Estate combines the best of world-class modern art, stunning architecture and a beautiful setting in Carneros few ever see. The public can experience all of this during the second annual Discover Donum on Saturday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spread across the expansive, 190-acre property of rolling hills, guests will be awed by the 40 monumental sculptures curated by the owners Mei and Allan Warburg. Their personal collection is focused, bold and statement-making with works including Keith Haring’s “King and Queen”, Ai Weiwei’s “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads” and Jaume Plensa’s “Sanna”.
By contrast is the architecture which blends in the landscape seamlessly. The Donum Home Hospitality space designed by Matt Hollis was inspired by the historic white dairy barns of Carneros, but is as modern as the art with a stylish interpretation of board-and-battan on the exterior and an ethereal skylit interior to showcase art. Guests will also have to opportunity to see the newly completed winery, also by Matt Hollis, which continues the modern barn theme this time, clad in functional yet fresh perforated steel.
Said President Anne Moller-Racke, “There is passion behind making and enjoying both wine and art. They both stimulate the senses and enhance the perception of this already beautiful landscape.” Tickets are $45 pp, proceeds from ticket sales go to Art Escape, a local nonprofit supporting youth art programs and summer camps. Check the website to book.
ZD Wines 50th Anniversary Views
For the DeLeuze family, it all began in Carneros in 1969. On its third generation, ZD Wines is one of the pioneers of modern Napa Valley winemaking producing fantastic Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon from their two estate vineyards in Carneros and in the heart of Napa Valley, Rutherford.
For this major milestone, ZD enlisted Napa Valley architect Wayne Leong to re-design the hospitality space in Rutherford for a more contemporary look. With a focus on winemaking and barrel-aging, two tasting rooms flank the glass-encased winery, unified by an oak grill ceiling with energy-efficient strip lighting that draws the eyes to the cellar. The front reception lounge is now more open and light-filled with tall glass doors and delicate but sculptural Vibia Wireflow lighting. Upstairs, the new Vineyard View Room & Deck provides stunning vistas through large sliding glass doors where guests can relax and taste their wines ($40 per flight).
While the ZD symbolizes “zero defects” a quest for technical perfection set by founder Norman deLeuze, an aerospace engineer, today, ZD seeks perfection in an innovative way, using craftsmanship and ecological approach to bring out the best expression of the wine. Early adopters of organic farming, as of the 2018 vintage, all of their vineyards are CCOF certified organic. One of the most unique Cabernets ZD produces that is rare in Napa Valley, is the Abacus, a multi-vintage, complex blend of their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that is barrel-aged via the ‘solera’ method, or fractional blending of every vintage since 1992 – 26 vintages. The Abacus, from barrel, and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wines are available to taste with The Abacus Experience, $1,000 for up to six guests. In addition to the Vineyard View Tasting, guests can also select the ZD Experience which includes a cellar tour, barrel sample and tasting with a selection of cheeses and charcuterie $125 pp. 8383 Silverado Trail, Rutherford.
Snapworthy Stars on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage at BottleRock Napa Valley
As integral to BottleRock Napa Valley as the music, the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage again amazes with network culinary stars such as Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons, multi-talented, award-winning musician and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood, Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski, Travel Channel star Andrew Zimmerman, and much more. Star chefs will leap into cooking demos and culinary antics with musicians, actors, athletes and other celebrities in unscripted, unpredictable and always entertaining ways.
“The Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, just like the entire BottleRock festival, celebrates the best of what can happen when food and music come together,” said Janet Hayes, President of Williams Sonoma, recalling memorable mash-ups between Martha Stewart and Mackelmore, Giada de Laurentis and Halsey and a record-breaking, World’s Largest Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg and chef Michael Voltaggio.
BottleRock Napa Valley 2019 is headlined by Mumford & Sons, Imagine Dragons, Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Pharrell Williams, Santana, Logic and more than 70 additional acts on five music stages, enhanced with a diversity of food, wine and beer from local purveyors available for sale. Limited 3-day and single-day general passes are available via the website.
Explore the Fine Art of Living with Jean-Charles Boisset in Northern and Southern California
Enter the glam world of Jean-Charles Boisset through a sensory immersion in food, wine and luxury décor at lavish dinners in stylish private estates throughout California in the “Alchemy of the Senses” tour. Mr. Boisset dives into the lifestyle with 25 wineries in California and Burgundy, three gourmet food shops and a growing collection of fine crystal, silver, place settings and objets d’art by luxury purveyors Baccarat, Lalique, Christofle, Saint Louis and Bernardaud. The ultimate dinners illustrate Boisset’s philosophy of enjoying life with emotion, explored in his new eye-popping, large-format book “The Alchemy of the Senses.” Upcoming locations are San Francisco pied-a-terre (May 7-8), Los Gatos (May 10-11), Los Angeles (May 14-15), Orange County (May 18-19), San Diego (June 7-8) and Pebble Beach (August 16-17). Check the website for details and to reserve.
