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April, 2000, St. Helena, California - Culinary Chair and Chef Holly Peterson Mondavi has pulled out all the creative stops in her preparation for the 20th Annual Napa Valley Wine Auction. Auction Chair Nancy Andrus, Co-founder and Executive VP of Marketing at Pine Ridge Winery, has selected the "Kaleidoscope 2000" theme to reflect the unique role glass has played in winemaking, and Chef Mondavi has found inspiration.
Chef Mondavi's Friday Night Black-Tie Vintners' Gala at Meadowood, Napa Valley, is only one of two exciting feasts under her command during the weekend. The Vintners' Gala will begin with a sparkling wine reception and caviar amidst the fantastic glass installations of internationally recognized glass artist Dale Chihuly. Attendees will then move to designer Joey Cunningham's vision of the "celebration of glass" in the big tent where Chef Mondavi will serve a four-course dinner that continues to celebrate the theme.
Taking inspiration from a popular art series by Chihuly, the evening's menu begins with "Seaforms," a composed lobster meat, wasabi tobiko, zucchini, fennel and jicama salad with a fragrant kaffir lime oil and ginger essence. For the first time, wines will be paired with the courses, offering a different wine for each course. The opening seafood salad will be served with Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Grigio.
A wild mushroom lasagne with basil and golden beets is the basis for the second Chihuly- inspired dish, Wild Mushroom Chandelier. This rich and elegant offering will be served with Napa Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The entrŽe celebrates the "Kaleidoscope 2000" theme with spring lamb on a multi-colored palate of carrot puree, fresh soy beans and minted rosemary leek ribbons with red wine turnips. This course will include the annual parade of the "big bottles," with each vintner-hosted table showcasing its own Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfindel or Meritage.
Another first for the Napa Valley Wine Auction, dessert will be accompanied by a live concert - a performance by the sensational Patti LaBelle. Inspired by her performance as well as Chihuly, the presentation of the Meyer lemon mousse with cassis will be a delicious and beautiful surprise for all. Moscato, Late Harvest and Borytisized Dessert wines will accompany.
Saturday night's post-Auction feast will be no less spectacular. Chef Mondavi has arranged to have whole sides of salmon roasted on stakes over open fires, Native American-style. A long strip of golf course turf at Meadowood will be taken up to provide the base for more than eight cords of oak, alder and cedar. The bonfires and the roasting of salmon for 1500 will provide a memorable and appetizing spectacle for all.
A trio of salads, including new potato and spring pea, cucumber dill and roasted red peppers with baby corn on the cob will round out the evening's bountiful menu. A rhubarb and berry galette with long-stem strawberries and crŹme fraiche will revive attendees for the dancing to follow.
The 20th annual Napa Valley Wine Auction celebrates the distribution of $20 million, contributed collectively in as many years, to local non-profit health care, housing and youth development organizations in Napa County. Now the world's largest and most successful wine charity event, the Auction attracts about 1800 attendees from throughout the world and is annually supported by more than 1000 community volunteers.
Contact: Monty Sander or Tom Fuller
707.253.8503 or 707.253.0868
monsan@aol.com or tafuller@pacbell.net
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