Krewe du Vin

Introducing our 2008 Chefs & Vintners

Emeril Lagasse

Chef Emeril Lagasse is chef/proprietor of ten restaurants and the chairman of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which he created in 2002 out of his vision to provide education to children from disadvantaged circumstances, and to promote the culinary arts as a valuable part of arts education.

He and his restaurants have received accolades and awards for culinary expertise. He is a best-selling author of 11 cookbooks, and host of two Food Network productions, “The Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live.”
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Gemstone Vineyard - 2008 Event Bacchus

Part of the Krewe du Vin since 2005, we welcome Suzie and Paul Frank as the 2008 Event Bacchus. The Franks have shared dreams for more than 44 years of married life. Their fantasy of creating a unique vineyard became a reality 15 years ago as they planted their first vines on a stony slope in Napa Valley they called Gemstone. This remarkable site rewarded them with precious berries of intensely rich flavors to make their first release of Gemstone wine in 1997 and was immediately rewarded with 95 points. Gemstone, recognized for its deep layers of dark fruits, cassis and exotic spice, has sold out on release every year with an allocation waiting list.
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Chefs de Cuisine from Emeril’s restaurants

Carnivale du Vin is a unique time for all of Chef Emeril’s chefs de cuisine to gather in one location to serve the guests. Some of their most delectable and creative hors d’oeuvres are awaiting at the Bacchus reception.

David Slater, Emeril’s New Orleans
Michael Ruoss, NOLA
Spencer Minch, Emeril’s Delmonico
Heath Cicerelli, New Orleans Fish House
Sean Roe, Delmonico Steakhouse
Jason Glus, Emeril’s Orlando
Nicholas Shust, Tchoup Chop
Thomas Azar, Emeril’s Miami Beach
Steve D’Angelo, Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House
Jean Paul Labadie, Table 10

Au Bon Climat

Jim Clendenen was Carnivale du Vin’s first “Honorary Bacchus.” He created special label bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay/Tocai Fruilano for the events in 2005 and 2006. He has been making wine since the 1978 harvest, when he started at Zaca Mesa Winery, then continued to direct 3 harvests in one year in France and Australia, in 1981. The following year, with then-partner Adam Tolmach, he started Au Bon Climat, which now produces over 30,000 cases. Jim and the winery have earned numerous global accolades, including Food & Wine Magazine’s “Winemaker of the Year” 2001.
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Mario Batali

Mario Batali believes that olive oil is as precious as gold, shorts are acceptable attire for every season, and food, like most things, is best when left to its own simple beauty. To that end, Mario, together with his business partner Joe Bastianich, creates magic night after night in his many New York City hotspots, the flagship of which is Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. Mario has written five cookbooks and hosts two Food Network programs, “Molto Mario” and “Ciao America.” Carnivale du Vin welcomes Mario back for his 4th year as part of the Krewe du Vin.
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Bonny Doon Vineyard

Bonny Doon Vineyard, based in Santa Cruz, CA, was founded by Randall Grahm in 1983 and has long been an industry leader in innovative winemaking techniques, the deployment of non-standard cépages and very imaginative marketing. Bonny Doon’s goal is to produce honest and soulful wines, with minimal special effects. Since the adoption of biodynamic vineyard practice in 2003, Bonny Doon wines evidence a deeper sense of place, more complex varietal character and a noticeable minerality. Bonny Doon is a 35,000 case winery producing select super-premium wines, notably the Rhône-influenced Cigare series as well as monopole wines from Ca’del Solo.
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Broadbent Selections

In June 1997 Decanter magazine named Bartholomew Broadbent one of the “fifty most influential in the wine world…the faces to watch in the new millennium”. Today, he has expanded from his pivotal role in the breathtaking growth of Port and Madeira to “exert a profound influence on the US wine market”. Bartholomew, son of legendary Michael Broadbent, is now one of America’s leading wine importers, and he is amongst America’s top wine educators. He makes Port, Madeira and Vinho Verde in Portugal under the Broadbent name, and he is a 50% partner in Dragon’s Hollow, the pioneering winery in China. Some of the famous brands imported by Broadbent include Quinta do Crasto, Chateau Musar and Spy Valley.
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Caymus Vineyards

Thirty-five years after Wagners established Caymus Vineyards on their property, Chuck Wagner is in charge of viticulture and winemaking for Caymus, focusing exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon. The brand’s two labels — Napa Valley and Special Selection — have consistently been a favorite of critics. Special Selection is the only wine to have twice been named “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine.
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Ferrari-Carano

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, the dream and hard work of Don and Rhonda Carano, is located in picturesque Dry Creek Valley and is one of California’s finest wineries. Here visitors may taste world renowned wines, stroll acres of lush gardens and take in spectacular panoramic vineyard views. Ferrari-Carano owns over 1,400 acres of vineyards throughout Sonoma County’s most prestigious wine grape growing appellations including Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, and Napa/Carneros. At Ferrari-Carano visitors may taste classic wines in the wine shop or head downstairs to the Enoteca in the underground cellar to sample reserve and limited release wines, including the new brand, PreVail.
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Gale Gand

Recognized in 2001 as Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year by The James Beard Foundation and Bon Appetite magazine and in 1994 as one of Food & Wine’s Top Ten Best New Chefs, executive pastry chef Gale Gand was schooled at La Varenne in Paris before opening Trio, Brasserie T and then later the renowned four-star Mobil, five-diamond AAA, Relais & Chateaux Relais-Gourmand restaurant Tru with culinary partner Rick Tramonto. An accomplished cookbook author with six titles to her credit, including her most recent “Chocolate and Vanilla”, released in late 2006, she is currently working on her next cookbook about brunch, due for release in April 2009. Gand is the host of the long running Food Network’s “Sweet Dreams,” and has two shows currently in production, “The Heirloom Recipe Project” for PBS and “The Answered Chef.”
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Thomas Keller

Thomas Keller is as renowned for his culinary skills as he is for his ability to establish a restaurant that is both relaxed yet exciting. Keller began his culinary career at a young age, working in the Palm Beach restaurant managed by his mother. He relocated to France in 1983, where he worked in several Michelin-starred houses.

Jeff Cerciello

As Director of Casual Dining, Jeff Cerciello supervises culinary and kitchen operations at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon restaurants, Bouchon Bakeries and Ad Hoc. Cerciello works to create classic bistro cuisine and to provide a simple and authentic dining experience at Thomas Keller’s casual dining properties. Cerciello helped spearhead the opening of Bouchon in 1998 in Yountville, California.

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Kosta Browne Winery

Located in the heart of the Green Valley in the Russian River appellation, Kosta Browne Winery was founded by Dan Kosta & Michael Browne in 1997. The goal from the beginning was to produce world-class Pinot Noir from grapes grown in their home of Sonoma County. Today, Kosta Browne offers a wide variety of Pinot Noir. Focusing on varietal character and respect for the grape, Dan & Michael produce ten different Pinot Noirs from the Santa Lucia Highlands, Sonoma Coast and Russian River appellations.
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Michael Mina

Michael Mina continues to dazzle the culinary world with bold dining concepts that have contributed to San Francisco’s reputation as a world-class epicurean destination. He has also been an integral part of the making of the now esteemed Las Vegas dining scene. Mina has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Michelin two-star award and San Francisco Chronicle four star award for MICHAEL MINA in San Francisco, Michelin’s one-star award for MICHAEL MINA Bellagio in Las Vegas as well as induction into the American Gaming Association’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Rubicon Estate

Before joining Rubicon Estate as Gérant–General Manager in January 2006, Larry Stone was a member of the Board of Directors of the Coppola Companies, and had worked with Niebaum-Coppola Estate as an advisor. With New York restaurateur Drew Nieporent, Larry created Rubicon Restaurant, in honor of the Estate which he now runs, in San Francisco in 1994. Mr. Stone may be the most highly honored sommelier in America. He became the first American to win the title of International Best Sommelier in French Wines and Spirits in Paris and remains the only American to have earned the title of Maitre Sommelier from the Union de la Sommelerie Française.
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Williams Selyem

Bob Cabral has been involved in growing and making wine professionally since 1979 and has had an interest in wine and farming since his childhood helping his grandfather make wine. A fourth-generation family farmer and grape grower, he took all he learned at the family farm and applied it to his studies at Fresno State University, ultimately earning a Master’s Degree in Enology. Heading into his eleventh vintage at Williams Selyem, his winemaking philosophy hasn’t changed: “The key is to respect the vineyard and the fruit. Working with some of the best grower’s and vineyards in the world allows us to farm to the highest possible standards and provides us with the finest fruit available.
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