PRIVATE WINEMAKER DINNERS
ON FALSE RIVER
Friday, April 12
Start your wine weekend with a Winemaker’s Dinner on Friday evening, where you'll be hosted at a private venue in Pointe Coupee Parish! Featured wine pairings will be offered with select menu items. You may visit our website for details on venues and chefs to choose from for the evening. Options to purchase wine from select wineries will be available that evening. Must be 21 to attend. In order to create a unique experience highlighting winemakers’ presentations and food pairings, a limited number of guests will be at each residence or restaurant. Only 250 tickets are available for the Winemaker's Private Dinner.
*Entrance for one to the wine event and Sparkling Wine Reception on Saturday is included in the $275 ticket price.
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6:30-9:30 | Winemaker's Dinner
Locations Vary
Registered guests will receive addresses to the assigned location the week of the event.
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The Ewing Home
This historic home is situated atop a hill with endless views of the river. Carefully updated to preserve the homes history, it becomes the perfect backdrop for a winemaker dinner.
CHEF: FAIRE FOODS
Information coming soon.
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WINEMAKER: JENNY LYNN
Inspired by our love for pinot noir and chardonnay, our family sought out to create wine that harnessed the spirit and subtle nuances of each vine and barrel. All of our small lot wines are sustainably farmed, handpicked, and basket pressed. Our determination to produce varietals from the most highly sought after vineyards and to capture their beauty is what makes Olet'te and Tribe and Arrow wines unlike any other.
The Langlois Home
Nestled in the heart of historic downtown New Roads, the Langlois' home offers breathtaking views of False River. With an open and inviting floor plan, the Langlois home provides a warm atmosphere to sip and savor a winemaker dinner.
CHEF: SUSANNE DUPLANTIS
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WINEMAKERS: REYNOLDS AND LANG & REED
Reynold's Family Vineyard
As you might have surmised by the name, we are a family business. We live here and work here and, over the years, have managed to fashion our dream into a wondrous life in Napa Valley. Our wines are driven by superior vineyard location, fanatical vineyard management, minimalist winemaking, and a bias for learning from experience. We believe in harvesting at the peak of ripeness to create wines that are intensely flavored, luscious and approachable on release. We’re not as big or as famous as some of the wineries down the road and that suits us just fine. We hope you’ll find your way here.
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Lang & Reed
Located at 1244 Spring St in St Helena, CA, Lang & Reed is one of the few wineries in Napa Valley to specialize in 100% Cabernet Franc and explore the distinct charms of Chenin Blanc. They have long been inspired by and passionate about giving these varieties an opportunity to shine - true to type, pure in flavor. The wine producing Skupny family has been creating expressive wines that are enjoyable to drink since 1996. Winemaking is a form of storytelling for the Skupny family, and Lang & Reed wines tell a tale of a multi-generational family business and their wonderful wine-filled life together.
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False River Chateau
Enjoy a wine tasting and fine dinner at the ultimate southern escape with comfort and style waiting to welcome you to the beautiful home on the banks of False River. The gorgeous home has upscale amenities, with elegant decor and furnishings.
CHEFS: CODY & SAM CARROLL
Chefs Cody and Samantha graduated from culinary school in January 2010, and just three months later, transformed a former drive-thru convenience store in New Roads into Hot Tails; a rustic, South Louisiana style restaurant. The establishment was intended to be an outlet for the crawfish being raised on their families farm, but has evolved to include a full menu of their versions of Louisiana classic dishes and elevated comfort food. Their dishes have been referred to as “Hardcore South Louisiana cuisine.”
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WINEMAKER: HOPE & GRACE
Derived from a dream over a decade ago to a thriving artisan winery in Yountville, CA Napa Valley... Hope & Grace began its journey as a winery in 2001 with a small production of Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands.Today we are a modest producer of 3,000 cases annually; focusing on limited production, single vineyard, 100% varietal Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & Dry Riesling.
The Eaton Residence
The Eaton Residance was originally a schoolhouse in the mid 1800's. Lt. Governor Hewitt Bouanchaud and his wife purchased the school house around the turn of the century and transformed the school into their family home. He died in 1950 and then Pointe Coupée Sheriff (Foster) F.A. Smith and wife Gena Kearney Smith (niece of Hewitt) purchased the home in 1952. They had a special love for the home since they had both attended elementary school there. The Smiths lived here until 2002 when Sheriff Smith passed away. At that time Greg Eaton of Baton Rouge purchased the home from the Smith family as a second home.
CHEF: TRENT BONNETTE
Trent Bonnette is a Country Roads Small Town Chef winner for 2022. Bonnette merged with Broken Wheel Brewery in 2021, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in him closing his restaurant, Brown Bag; but, "...it's been the most amazing thing that we've ever done..." Broken Wheel Brewery is first and foremost a restaurant that happens to also brew craft beers you won't find anywhere else. Bringing a Louisiana flare to many different types of cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients, Trent Bonnette certainly knows what he's doing.
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WINEMAKER: MANNY FRIAS
In 1977, Our Family purchased 100 acres in the iconic Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. We planted just 5 acres in 1985 and launched FRIAS Family Vineyard with our first vintage in 1987. FRIAS now has 13 acres of hillside vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Second generation brothers Fernando and Manny Frias Jr. are at the helm of this artisanal family winery. Todd Heth has been our winemaker since 2004.
Ma Mama's Kitchen
On the quaint main street of downtown New Roads, Louisiana, Ma Mama’s Kitchen is a hip and lively eatery that, despite the sound of its name, is neither Italian restaurant nor country cookin’ café. It stems instead from a commitment to made-from-scratch dishes that don’t scrimp on real ingredients. Just like your mama’s.
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It’s no surprise then that this hangout is run by a mother-daughter team. Chef/owners Donna Ewing and Kim Park, Ewing’s daughter, have cultivated a culinary style best described as an amalgam of French, Italian, Creole and traditional New Orleans. Ma Mama’s features interpretations of always-welcome standards such as Oysters Rockefeler, crawfish bisque, soft shell crab and turtle soup with sherry. ​
CHEFS: DONNA EWING & KIM PARK
Our food philosophy here at Ma Mama's has always been both serious attention to freshness and an underlying responsibility to a rich heritage of Creole/Italian cuisine in New Orleans.
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After marrying and relocating to Pointe Coupee Parish, those food traditions became intertwined with the Cajun flavors here, which takes us to the present. Thanks to the loyalty and support of my family, and especially my daughter who is my partner, and the undying support of our community, we have been able to create an authentic creole, cajun restaurant in New Roads.
WINEMAKERS: PAULA KORNELL & PEJU
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is the namesake brand of one of Napa Valley's leading women in wine. With two sparkling wines that draw on California's past while attracting contemporary lovers of champagne and bubbles in general. Paula builds on the legacy of her family's winery Hann's Kornell Champagne Cellars, the first to use 'methode champenoise' in California.
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Named "BEST WINERY IN NORTH AMERICA" by the Discoverer Blog, PEJU Winery began with Tony Peju daring to sell wines in an informal facility: the garage at their vineyard estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. A lengthy legal battle ensued and Peju persisted: this became the catalyst for Napa County to create the legal definition of what a winery is which was adopted in 1991. It is no wonder that Tony is called "The Father of Custom Crush."
Vintage Magnolia
Experience an intimate winemaker dinner at the Vintage Magnolia House, an 1800's historic home that has been re-imagined. Breathtaking and magical gardens on both the front and back of the home capture her beauty perfectly creating a unique and elegant atmosphere. Enjoy a private dinner in their outdoor gardens while feasting on a four-course meal paired with wines from our visiting Napa Valley winemakers.
CHEF: DANIEL DREHER
Executive Chef Daniel Dreher, a seventh generation St. Francisville native and graduate of the John Folse Culinary Institue, hails from a rich culinary heritage with a focus on French cuisine. Under the mentorship of Chef Bryan Carr in St. Louis, Missouri, he honed his skills before returning to his roots after seven years to be close to family and raise his children in his hometown. Having owned and operated Fresh Kitchen in Baton Rouge for 4.5 years, Daniel subsequently joined the team at Restaurant 1796 as the Executive Chef. Realizing a longstanding dream, he is dedicated to contributing to his community, deeply rooted in his family's multi-generational connection to St. Francisville.
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WINEMAKERS: GRETCHEN BRAKESMAN & SEAN FOSTER
Gretchen Brakesman | Red Thread
One fateful night in San Francisco, two star crossed lovers (Gretchen and Brian) met at Slims, located in the Mission District. Unbeknownst to either of them they were destined for a life together. Who knew that a night out in San Francisco could change our lives so drastically. We are both forever grateful for the mythical red thread that is connected to Gretchen's finger and Brian's ankle.
With Brian's fastidious approach to winemaking & vineyards and being a Napa Valley native and Gretchen's ability to sell ice to Eskimos and manage 7 projects at once, it seemed like a great time to complete our thread. We love what we do and we think you will experience that through our wines. Enjoy!
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Sean Foster
Farmstrong and Vintone are wines that are authentic, unique, and without pretense. Owner, Sean Foster, works directly with growers to produce these wines, and the grapes are sourced from Napa, Mendocino, Suisun and Contra Costa counties.
Sean has been making wine since 1992, living and working in Napa. Formerly he was the Senior Winemaker for Merryvale Vineyards and Starmont Winery, and Winemaker at Peju Winery.
The Gummow Home
Information coming.
CHEF: CITY PORK
Information coming.
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WINEMAKER: ALAN VIADER
At the heart and soul of Intentus Fine Wines is our owner/winemaker. Originally from Argentina, Alan grew up in the small community of Deer Park working on his family's vineyard. Over the past 20 years, he has been fortunate enough to farm and make wines from some of the world's best winegrowing regions alongside some incredible winemakers. Alan started Intentus Wines with the intention of handcrafting great wines and with the purpose of giving back to first responders.
The Douglas Home
Need information
CHEF: CHRISTY
The proprietor of Wind & Sea Catering, Christy Chustz Nezgodinsky, is a graduate of LSU and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, Pasadena, California. She has several years of experience working for Wolfgang Puck Catering, among other local venues. She has a passion for quality, style, and flavor in her menu planning and culinary services.
WINEMAKERS: KEVIN MILLS & 985
An Oklahoma boy, Kevin and his family have been growing grapes in the state’s Canadian River Valley since 1977. After time in the vineyards and four years in a US Army tank, Kevin attended Grayson County College’s Viticulture and Enology program in Denison, TX. At around this same time, Kevin founded Canadian River Winery making wines from his family’s grapes. Kevin’s journey to Napa Valley began when he met Tony Peju at a wine event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Tony offered him a job working harvest. Beginning in 2002, Kevin worked under winemaking mentors Sean Foster and Sara Fowler at Peju Province Winery. In 2007, Kevin was named winemaker at Trinitas Cellars where he produced an extensive portfolio of award winning wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage Red Blends. In 2020, Kevin launched out on his own to create vibrant wines that express his love for adventure which includes sailing the San Francisco Bay and riding his motorcycle across the USA.
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The adventure of 985 started with great friends who share a passion & love for Napa Valley & its wines. With meticulous care, Vineyard Nine Eight Five sources fruit from some of the best vineyards in Napa Valley to craft wines of outstanding quality and excellent value.
The Bennett Home
Information coming.
CHEF: JOHN FOLSE
Information coming.
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WINEMAKER: iiiRows
What began as a shared passion of three Louisiana friends for enjoying great wine has grown into a labor of love. Throughout our journey in winemaking the number ‘III’ has been our North Star. Three friends. Three cities. Three families. Three children. Three varietals. III Rows. Under the guidance and expertise of our winemaker, Kent Jarman, we harvest our fruit from select vineyard sources and begin the process of custom crush, fermentation, barrel aging, and finally, bottling at Somerston Vineyards. His hands-on approach is instrumental in producing these high quality wines.
