A Taste Of Wonder Awaits In A Unique Culinary Journey At Four Seasons Napa Valley

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is enhancing the wine tasting experience with its exclusive Wine Dinner Series at Auro, the Resort’s Michelin-starred restaurant. This series presents a unique culinary journey into Napa Valley’s celebrated wine culture, turning each dinner into an intimate exploration of the region’s terroir and culinary traditions.

Executive Chef Rogelio Garcia, a James Beard Award finalist, brings his unique perspective to Auro’s exquisite Michelin-star culinary journey. “For me, cooking is storytelling,” Chef Garcia explains. “This menu begins in the fields and farms of Northern California. It captures my joy of ingredient sourcing; the excitement of beginning a new season; the smell of the sea and the soil; and my friendships with our ranchers, farmers and fishermen.”

The seven-course prix fixe tasting menu embodies Chef Garcia’s philosophy of respecting ingredients and the effort that goes into bringing them to the table. Each dish highlights the best locally sourced ingredients, carefully paired with outstanding wines from renowned partners chosen by sommelier Derek Stevenson.

At Auro, we honour the ingredients and the labour that brought them to us,” Chef Garcia adds. “The tasting menu is a tribute to my evolution as a chef, influenced by the brilliant chefs I have had the privilege to work with. It is my hope that through gathering with friends and family around a meal, we can find common ground on the plate.”

These unique dining experiences highlight the personalized service, genuine warmth, and culinary artistry that are hallmarks of Four Seasons and its talented team. Each dinner offers a magical and individualized experience for every guest, elevating the event far beyond a typical wine tasting.

“Our Wine Dinner Series connects guests with the heart of Napa Valley,” says Robby Delaney, General Manager. “We’re proud to collaborate with some of the region’s most prestigious wineries to offer an intimate, educational, and indulgent evening that goes beyond typical wine tastings.”

Upcoming dinners will feature collaborations with renowned wineries, each providing a unique insight into the diverse terroir of Napa Valley:

• July 31, 2024 – Shafer Vineyards: Located in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, Shafer Vineyards is a family-owned winery celebrated for its premium Cabernet Sauvignon and dedication to sustainable practices.
• August 28, 2024 – Elusa Winery: Situated within the Four Seasons Napa Valley property, Elusa Winery, led by Jonathan Walden and Thomas Rivers Brown, offers handcrafted wines that express the distinctive terroir of Calistoga.
• September 25, 2024 – The Donum Estate: Located in the Carneros region, The Donum Estate merges world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production with an open-air sculpture collection, creating a unique blend of wine and art.
• October 30, 2024 – Hundred Acre Wine: Founded by visionary winemaker Jayson Woodbridge, Hundred Acre is renowned for its highly sought-after, limited-production Cabernet Sauvignons that consistently earn perfect 100-point scores and command some of the highest prices in Napa Valley.

From the first enticing amuse-bouche to the final indulgent bite, each dish in Auro’s Wine Dinner Series showcases culinary finesse and flavor harmony. Chef Garcia masterfully blends tastes, textures, and aromas, creating dishes that are not only delicious but also visually stunning. Each plate serves as a canvas for the finest locally sourced ingredients, crafted into inventive presentations that reflect the restaurant’s Michelin-star quality.

“The dinner itself is an experience that defies description,” says Chef Garcia. “It’s a journey that must be felt, tasted, and savoured to be truly understood. We’ve created something here that speaks to all the senses, telling the story of Napa Valley through every carefully crafted bite and sip.”

The ever-evolving menu at Auro highlights the best of Napa Valley’s seasonal produce, with a special emphasis on premium seafood and wagyu beef. Recent menu standouts include a 10-Day Dry-Aged Hiramasa, served with Tenbrink Farm Pluots and a Citrus-Tamarind Aguachile, paired with a 2023 Kenefick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc from Calistoga. Another highlight is the 21-Day Dry-Aged Kagoshima Japanese Wagyu, served with Golden Chanterelles and Summer Squash, which pairs excellently with a 2019 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. For dessert, offerings such as Tenbrink Farm Peaches with Straus Yogurt Sorbet and Marshall’s Farm Honey Vinaigrette celebrate the region’s sweet flavors, perfectly paired with wines like the 2019 Stony Hill Semillon du Soleil from the Spring Mountain District.

The Wine Dinner Series at Four Seasons Napa Valley is more than just a meal; it’s an intimate, educational journey that celebrates the region’s culinary traditions and winemaking artistry. As Chef Garcia puts it, “The dinner table is a sacred place, one where we are able to share our experiences and the stories that make us who we are today. It is in that spirit that I welcome you to Auro. It is a pleasure and a privilege to share this table with you.”

Savour the Stars: A Complete Napa Valley Experience

Guests can enhance their visit with an exclusive overnight stay package available on select dates from July 22, 2024, to December 31, 2025. This package offers a comprehensive wine country retreat, featuring a Michelin-starred dinner at Auro, set within a stunning vineyard. It provides an immersive experience that highlights why Auro is a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts in Napa Valley.