Napa Valley’s Meadowood
By: Helen Billings in collaboration with Meadowood Napa Valley
Situated 18 miles north of the city of Napa and one mile east of downtown St. Helena, California is a graceful 250 acre resort, Meadowood. Through the years, it has become a world-class destination, as well as a gathering place for Napa Valley vintners.
More like a private estate, Meadowood is a center for social and cultural life in the valley and is known for its beautiful and natural setting, gracious hospitality, classic architecture and traditional pastimes; including, croquet, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, full-service spa, fine dining and the enjoyment of wine.
An idyllic venue for your next executive retreat or team building meeting, Meadowood offers a host of cottages and suites, each with a unique ambiance and view ranging from the Tree Tops to Fairway to Hillside and Lawnview. With a total of 85 such accommodations one is assured a certain intimacy and privacy so desired for such essential company get-togethers.
In May of 2007, Meadowood Napa Valley announced the establishment of a new Wine Education Program created by the property’s Director of Wine Education, Gilles de Chambure, a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and one of only 79 Master Sommeliers in North America.
Wine events can be custom-tailored to the interests of each individual party. The resort often serves as a true “home away from home” for groups of wine enthusiasts and is ideally located in the heart of Napa Valley. This makes it the perfect “starting point” for days of winery tours and tastings. The wine education series includes mealtime food and wine pairings in The Restaurant – a fantastic way to showcase your company’s wines especially in such a fitting and pleasurable environment.
In depth, on property programs presently offered comprise of tastings and educational sessions with Gilles usually held fireside in The Restaurant Bar or outdoors under the oak trees.
Topics include:
• Understanding & Enjoying Wine
• Exploring Napa Valley
• The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting
• The Wine, Architecture & History of Napa Valley
For further group information, please consult your iMi Account Manager, call us at 770.928.1980 or visit www.meadowood.com.
Special thanks to Shawn Bendig, Group Sales Manager, Meadowood Napa Valley.
Gilles De Chambure, MS
Born in France to a family with vineyards in Burgundy and Bordeaux, Gilles De Chambure possesses a multi-faceted international wine background that includes time spent as a négociant, bottling vintage Armagnac and calvados in France and wine in South America, and as a senior wine educator with Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley. He is a teacher for the court of Master Sommeliers and a frequent lecturer at major wine conferences such as the Masters of Food & Wine and the Ahwahnee Vintner’s Holiday in Yosemite.
In 2000 Gilles became the 44th person in the United States to complete the Master Sommelier program and the 100th in the world. He is also a certified Wine Educator and served on the board of The Society of Wine Educators from 2001 to 2003. Gilles earned a diploma from Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London in 1996 and sat for the Master of Wine examination in 1998, writing his thesis on California Zinfandels.
A profound passion for wine, coupled with his immense knowledge and talent are obvious as he creates unforgettable experiences for small groups of visitors, “Meadowood has a long history of being central to the community of Napa Valley Vintners,” says Gilles. “The wine education program builds upon the property’s unique position through diverse experiences that connect our guests to wine, making wine interesting for them and encouraging them to develop and trust their own tastes and opinions about wine. They will be able to take the information they’ve learned with them and the next time they open a bottle of wine, it will bring back the memory of Napa Valley and their time at Meadowood.”