Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, a clothing and equipment company, and renowned mountaineer and environmentalist, will be the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s Napa Valley Vintners’ (NVV) Green Winery workshop.

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Solage Calistoga. The program will also feature the launch of the NVV’s new Napa Green Certified Winery program, which is open to all Napa County wineries.

The Napa Green Certified Winery program, like the Napa Green Certified Land program, outlines a set of sustainable and green business practices that can demonstrate to regulators, consumers, distributors and Napa County citizens that certified wineries are implementing sustainable practices and protecting the environmental quality of the region. Napa County wineries interested in the program should plan to attend this introductory workshop.

Other speakers at the workshop include Russell Wegner, waste reduction consultant, on the topic of “greening” your winery special events; and Steve Lederer, Napa County director of environmental management, on the Bay Area Green Business program. A panel discussion, moderated by John Garn, also will be held with representatives from Chateau Boswell, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Hess Collection Winery, and Trinchero Winery, who are testing the NVV’s new Napa Green Certified Winery program.

The workshop is free for NVV members and $25 for non-member Napa County winery employees. Space is limited and reservations may be made by contacting Patsy McGaughy, 963-3388 or nvv@napavintners.com.

O’Brien adds three wines to its ‘romantic wines portfolio’

O’Brien Estate has added three new wines to its “romantic wines portfolio.” Perfect for Valentine’s Day, the wines include 2006 Flirtation Rosé and 2005 Seduction and 2003 Romance of the Heart, both Bordeaux-style blends.

 “Each of these new wines offers a stylish packaging design featuring messages of love and friendship,” said Bart O’Brien, owner of O’Brien Estate. “They are beautiful, estate-grown wines that add a wonderful touch of romance to Valentine’s Day.”

Now in its fourth vintage, Seduction was the first wine in the O’Brien Estate “romantic wines portfolio.” A critically acclaimed wine, it has won the affection of wine writers from such prestigious publications as Robb Report and Wine Spectator. Inspired by the success of Seduction, O’Brien expanded his “romantic wines portfolio” to offer those who enjoy O’Brien Estate wines a wider selection.

O’Brien Estate (formerly O’Brien Family Vineyard) is a family-owned winery located in the Oak Knoll District of southern Napa Valley. For more information, visit www.obrienestate.com.

Big Red Wine Celebration is Feb. 2

The Elizabeth Spencer Big Red Wine Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 2 in the tasting tent of the Elizabeth Spencer Tasting Room, 1165 Rutherford Road in Rutherford.

Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m. Throughout the day, Elizabeth Spencer staff will pour wines from their collection of big bottles and will also feature pre-releases of their cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and syrah. A signature wine, the 2005 Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, will be available in large format sizes including 6L, 9L, 12L and 18L bottles.

Also featured will be specially packaged single vineyard cabernet sauvignon from Mount Veeder along with their first Howell Mountain merlot, both in classic branded wooden boxes.

The cost is $20 per person. To purchase tickets, please contact Patti Podolski by Friday, Jan. 25 at 963-4762 or patti@elizabethspencerwines.com.

Pruning Contest scheduled for Feb. 7

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers will host the seventh annual Napa County Pruning Contest on Thursday, Feb. 7. The contest begins at 8:30 a.m. at Beringer Blass Wine Estate’s Gamble Ranch on State Lane in Yountville.

This annual event highlights the fine art, skill, and speed exhibited by those who work in Napa Valley’s vineyards. It is a time of competition and pride, where many vineyard managers hold competitions within their own company before sending their top pruners to the county competition.

Prizes range from $100 to $600 plus Felco shears, for all winners. The shears are courtesy of the event’s premier sponsor, Central Valley Builders Supply.

This year’s contest is made possible by the generous contributions of Central Valley Builders Supply, A&J Vineyard Supply, California Grapevine Nursery, California Grower Foundation, CropCare Associates, Harlan Estate, Premiere Viticultural Services, Sunridge Nurseries, Pahlmeyer Vineyards, Rainbow Ag Services, Snowden Vineyards, Sunridge Nurseries, Swanson Vineyards and Walsh Vineyard Management.

Those interested in participating may download entry forms at www.napagrowers.org or request an entry packet from the Napa Valley Grapegrowers at 944-8311. Entries are limited to two pruners per company and must be received by Feb. 1. In the event of rain, the event will take place on Feb. 8.

Schedule of wine tastings released

The St. Helena Star and the Napa Valley Vintners have released the schedule of blind tastings for Napa Valley wines for the upcoming months. All are held at the Rudd Center at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone.

The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 14, pinot noir;

March 20, chardonnay;

April 17, sauvignon blanc;

May 15, zinfandel; and

June 19, rose.

For information about submitting wines to be judged, please contact Terry Hall, Napa Valley Vintners, 968-4217 or thall@napavintners.com.

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