A Sensational Season of Wine Country Events
A Sensational Season of Wine Country Events |
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Your Hosts2008 Festival Hosts Meet Festival hosts at the events: Host Chef Christopher Manning, Executive Chef, étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon; St. Supéry Winery's Host Winemaking Team headed by CEO Michaela Rodeno and winemaker Michael Beaulac; and Host Artist Jessel Miller, nationally know watercolor artistist, author, and owner of Napa Valley's Jessel Gallery, invite you to join us! Host Winemaking Team ~ St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery
Michael Beaulac, Vice President and Winemaker, St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery, heads the St. Supéry winemaking team to be honored throughout the 15th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival's Sensational Season of Events in 2008. Michael will serve as host along with CEO Michaela Rodeno. Michael brings more than 16 years of winemaking experience to St. Supéry. His charisma and sheer love of winemaking have won over consumers, trade and media nationwide. His interest in wine began while working in the restaurant industry in Portland, Maine. Longing to learn more about winemaking, he moved to Northern California in 1989. After a year learning the ropes at Laurier Vineyards & Winery, he joined Murphy Goode in Sonoma County as assistant winemaker and was later promoted to winemaker of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. After eight years with Murphy Goode, Michael was recognized by Napa Valley's prestigious Markham Vineyards, where over the next four years, his responsibilities included winemaking, vineyard management and production of all Markham brands, including Glass Mountain Quarry and La Jota. Michael joined St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery in November 2001. As the leader of the winemaking team, Michael is responsible for the entire portfolio of St. Supéry wines, developing blends for the Napa Valley, Elú and Virtu, and Limited Edition wines. Of his winemaking style, he says, "I subscribe to the school of honoring the grape variety's fruit integrity, which has long been a philosophy in place at St. Supéry. I enjoy working with Bordeaux varieties, and working with St. Supéry's three estate vineyard properties." Michael holds a Bachelors Degree in U.S. History from the University of Vermont. He lives in Santa Rosa with his wife, Cathy, his son, Eric and daughter Esther. In his free time he can be found in the winter months on the ski slopes in Lake Tahoe with his family. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is pleased to honor St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery as Host Winery in 2008. Be sure to visit the winemaking team at Festival events ~ and attend the Festival's Art Competition Exhibit at the winery, from February 9 through March 30, 2008. Host Chef ~ Christopher Manning,Executive Chef, étoile at Domaine Chandon
One of America's most promising young culinary stars, Christopher Manning, Executive Chef, étoile at Domaine Chandon, serves as Host Chef of the 15th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival in 2008. As evidenced by his presence during Festival events and cooking demonstrations in 2007, he and his team will offer dynamic interaction that adds pizazz to events throughout the 2008 Season. Chris brings a sophisticated balance between classic Old World technique and dynamic New World style to étoile. "I take advantage of fresh and seasonal California ingredients, many from local purveyors," he says. "While classic French influence is evident, I also incorporate subtle flavors and textures that surprise and excite the palate and complement both still and sparkling wine." Chris respects both the simply fresh as well as the richly luxurious ingredients he works with. His classic technique and contemporary cooking style meld with his passion for wine to create an Epicurean experience that offers the best of California's Napa Valley. A native of Montana, Chris exhibited a passion for cooking at an early age, creating dishes for his family as an after-school hobby. At age 10, he had a defining moment after tasting escargot and was anxious to discover more of the culinary world. One might think growing up in Big Sky Country would place an aspiring chef at a disadvantage to peers hailing from more cosmopolitan environments, but Chris' Montana childhood, which involved plenty of fly fishing and big game hunting, gave him an early respect for the land, or terroir, that is essential to the appreciation of fine food and wine. Throughout high school, Chris worked in the kitchen of the Montana Grill, a local favorite. After graduation, he decided to turn his passion into a serious career, and enrolled in culinary arts classes. An instructor recognized his potential and took him on a culinary excursion to Europe, where they dined at distinguished restaurants and attended classes at the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking schools in Paris, London and Florence. This worldly immersion into the culinary scene dramatically transformed his view of food and cooking and he became fascinated with new ingredients and new techniques. Upon returning home, Chris became sous chef at Quincy's at Marina Cay, one of Montana's top fine dining venues. He then enrolled at San Francisco's prestigious California Culinary Academy, where he earned a professional degree in 2000 and worked under acclaimed chef Laurent Manrique at Campton Place in San Francisco. While honing his culinary skills, he developed an interest in wine and relocated to the Napa Valley where he could fully appreciate the lyrical interplay between food and wine in the midst of one of America's culinary Mecca's. In 2001, Chris joined The Restaurant at Domaine Chandon where his talent was quickly recognized. In early 2005 the company sent him to Moët & Chandon in Epernay, France to further refine his culinary skills under legendary chefs Pascal Tinguad and Bernard Dance. While in Europe, he also dined at Michelin-starred restaurants. The experience added yet another dimension to his keen sense of food and wine pairing. Chris took on the position of Executive Chef in the summer of 2005. The restaurant was relaunched as étoile in July, 2006. Chris will host an incredible line up of chefs and winemakers for Le Grand Dîner à Domine Chandon, the Seasons' gourmet seven course food and wine extravaganza at étoile on February 29 ~ an evening not to be missed! Artist of the Year ~ Jessel Miller
Jessel Miller, Artist of the Year in 2008, has been a friend of the Napa Valley Mustard Festival since its inception. A portrait artist for 15 years, she owns the largest gallery in Napa Valley and operates it with her son, Ryan Miller. She paints amazing, vivid views of the wine country and she writes and illustrates "Read Aloud Books for Children and Adults". Jessel's 1998 Napa Valley Mustard festival painting, Madame Mustard, inspired a series of three books titled Mustard ~ A Story about Soft Love and Strong Values, Journey to Love, and Lessons from Old Souls. She won the American Book Award for Excellence in Literature in 2002 for Angels in the Vineyards. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival Board of Directors invited Jessel to return as the Festival's featured artist in celebration of its 15th anniversary, and to create Mustard Goddess to watch over 2008 festivities. "The Napa Valley Mustard Festival has been a blessing for businesses and non-profit organizations during this time of year when the grape vines are dormant," she says. "The hustle and bustle of the harvest season brings thousands to Napa Valley, while prior the Mustard Festival no one knew about the beauty and peace of this spectacular season. I am proud to support The Festival and to be a part of it. We know that Mustard Goddess will do her job helping to promote our Season of Sensational Events!" Jessel was born in a small town in Northern Ontario, Canada in 1949. Her Father was a country doctor/artist and her mother was the singer, poet and entertainer in the family. Jessel was an extremely shy and withdrawn child (hard to believe when you meet her now). Jessel had her first one-person show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1980 with painting of famous personalities including Maya Angelou and Herb Caen. As Napa had always reminded her of her small town roots, in 1984 she picked up her life and opened the Jessel Gallery in Napa, California. Her latest endeavor, in addition to starring as the 15th annual Napa Valley Mustard festival Artist of the Year, is a dream for Jessel. She sings back-up vocals for world-class performer Terry Bradford, Celine Dion's former vocal partner. "Terry is a good friend and I am blessed to be a supporter on his road to global recognition," she says. Through her writing, art and vocal skills, Jessel carries the treasures of her childhood out into the world. " I feel fortunate to have lived before television and computers. My childhood was a time of make-believe, imagination and creativity. Visiting with neighbors and friends was an everyday occurrence; a simple life was with respect and compassion for all." Jessel will accompany Mustard Goddess to Festival events including Mustard Magic, Le Grand Dîner, and The Mumm Napa Photo Finish, where it will go to the highest bidder at approximatley 10 pm on March 29, 2008.
"Mustard Goddess" is featured on 2008 Festival marketing materials and merchandise; posters are available for purchase online here at mustardfestival.org. See Also:
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