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A
foggy day by the Golden Gate Bridge
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San Francisco Social Diary
by Jeanne Lawrence
Escape from Fog City. When summer arrives in San Francisco and
the fog rolls in, locals migrate north to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys
in search of warmer weather. Thus, the high social season begins – the
equivalent of New Yorkers escaping to the Hamptons.
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Napa
Valley here we come
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St.
Francis by artist Bufano at the Robert Mondavi Winery
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More
of Bufano's work soon to be on display
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Here’s
just a tasting of the summer do’s.
Hot Ticket. Foremost Ambassadors of California
wines, Margrit and Bob Mondavi invited friends
to their 36th annual Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Music Festival — one
of the hottest tickets in town. At 94 the ever
enthusiastic Bob is an inspiration to all and the throngs dropped
by to pay tribute.
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Bob
and Margrit Mondavi hosting dinner in the vineyards
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Following
tradition, the Saturday night event kicked off with the New Orleans
Preservation Hall Jazz Band playing on July 4th. This year’s
program included Latino superstar Julio Iglesias, singer/songwriter
Brian McKnight, British Pop Band Tears for Fears, Dave
Koz, India Arie, and Aimee Mann.
It’s a casual affair. You bring your friends and family, blankets and picnic
baskets, but not the wine. After all, this is the Mondavi winery. |
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Let
the music begin
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Margrit
Mondavi welcomes all
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Brian
McKnight
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Master
wine makers Jean-Michel Valette and Mark de Vere
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Mondavi
music lovers
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Three Generations of Antinoris
The
illustrious Florentine Antinori family, one of the leading
producers of fine wines in Italy since 1385, arrived in Napa
Valley to attend to their vineyard.
If you’ve visited Florence, you probably know their Renaissance Palazzo
in Piazza Antinori.
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This
way
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Today, Marchese
Piero Antinori is director and his three daughters Albiera,
Alegra, and Alessia are the 26th generation to be
actively involved in the company. The family continues to
make their mark on the world.
In typical Italian style, three generations of Antinoris made the trip: Piero,
his daughter Albiera, his son-in-law Dr. Fabio Guarducci (CEO of the recently
opened beachfront Grand Hotel Tombolo Resort, the first Thalassotherapy in Italy)
and three grandchildren, who speak English fluently, already!
One evening, under the California stars, the family hosted
an Italian style dinner with a view of the sparkling San Francisco
skyline.
Yet, early the next morning,
the Antinori clan set off for another adventure — a fishing trip in
Alaska for the youngsters. |
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| Clockwise from top left: The
Antinori Family; Tuscan Hills — No Napa; In Vino
Veritas; The Antinori Napa Winery. |
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Sunset
over the Vineyards
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Arriving
at Maria Manetti Farrow's Villa Mille Rose
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A Thousand Roses - and Some Olive Oil, Too
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Hostess
Maria Manetti Farrow
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Keeping with the Italian spirit of kinship, Florentine Maria
Manetti Farrow held a luncheon at her estate Villa Mille Rose
(Italian for a thousand roses) in Oakville, Napa Valley to honor
the visiting Antinori clan. It was strictly a family affair,
which included Margrit and Bob Mondavi who are like family to
Maria.
The alfresco buffet, set under the lilac arbor, featured mounds
of Italian specialties with deliciously ripe fruits and vegetables
picked that morning from Maria’s private garden. Also on
the table was Maria’s prize winning Villa Mille Rose estate
bottled olive oil and wine produced from her own vineyards.
Acknowledging the occasion, handsome Piero Antinori raised his
glass to toast, “the biggest honor of all is the privilege
of sitting next to the legendary California wine maker Robert Mondavi
from whom I have learned so much.” Those Italians are so
charming. |
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A
little wine among the Italians
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Molto
Delizioso
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Piero
Antinori, Margrit Mondavi, Maria Manetti Farrow, Robert
Mondavi, and Jeanne Lawrence
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Marchese
Piero Antinori, always the gentleman
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Beth
Nickels, proprietor of Far Niente Winery
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Toiling
in the field
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We
love Napa
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Sunset
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Politically Incorrect with Love
Down the road in Rutherford, James and Barbara Brookins-Schneider invited friends to their annual gourmet dinner at La Toque restaurant.
Everyone looks forward to this night as the couple brings out
some of the finest wines from their private collection of over
6,000 bottles.
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La
Toque Romantique |
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Hosts
Jim and Barbara Brookins-Schneider |
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Chef Ken
Frank made sure no one went home hungry. The first course
was Maine Lobster with Early Girl Tomato Confit and Opal Basil,
followed by Ravioli with Braised Berkshire Pork Shanks, Cranberry
Beans and Seared Artisan Foie Gras and Truffled Pig Jus.
But for the piece de resistance, Barbara selected Wapiti Elk from
New Zealand. “I enjoy being politically incorrect as I want
my friends to appreciate game … it’s healthier and
more natural with no preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones” Barbara
says.
Oh, the wine served included 2001 Grgich Hills Chardonnay, a 1985
Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello and Champagne Louis Roederer.
Since Barbara is a board member of the San Francisco Symphony the
big question that night was “How do I find tickets to the
Symphony’s sold-out opening night performance and dinner?” It
seems guest cellist Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Michael
Tilson Thomas were an especially big draw.
Connections, dear, connections — and
money doesn’t hurt, either.
Meanwhile, Jim, an avid hunter and fisherman, was dreaming about
his après opening night trip. Immediately after the requisite
symphony and opera galas, he departed for Canada, with bow and
arrow in hand, to hunt deer. Then he was on to Sustut in British
Columbia to try his hand at fly fishing for Steelhead Trout, hoping
to have same luck he did in Norway when he caught a 47 lb Atlantic
salmon “on a fly.” |
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Barbara
Brookins-Schneider with Amb. Howard and Gretchen Leach
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Mary
Pilara, Ellie Brown, and Andy Pilara
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La
Toque chef Ken Frank
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Stu
and Florianne Gordon with Trish and Don Stephens
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Ann
and Bob Fisher
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Christine
and Pierre Lamond of Sequoia Capital
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Barbara
Brookins-Schneider with
Serge and Tatiana Sorokko of Harper's Bazaar
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Jim's Big Fish Tale
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Sonoma Summer
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Ann
Paolini and David Lambert
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Let’s not forget life in Sonoma, Napa’s
next door neighbor. On a hot Sunday afternoon, energetic Ann
Paolini and
her handsome
husband David Lambert gave a small casual luncheon in the shade
of the garden of their historic Victorian home.
Ann, a VP at SF’s Neiman Marcus for six years, transferred
several years ago to the Dallas corporate office after getting
an offer she couldn’t resist.
But the couple had fallen in love with California, and whenever
they can, they fly to their home in Sonoma for weekends and a little
R & R. |
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Cynthia
and Alan Coleman
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Sunday
afternoon with friends
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