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Pre-Conference Activities Registration

“Organic Viniculture: Festive Lunch, Structured Tastings and Agricultural Intensive” takes place at the Ehlers Estate Winery located just off Main Street (Hwy 29) about 1.5 miles north of the The Culinary Institute.  http://www.ehlersestate.com/

"An Insider's Tour of Selected Napa Valley Wineries" will take place in the Napa Valley vineyards and wineries surrounding The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone campus on Thursday, April 2nd from 1 PM until 4 PM.

To register for these activities, please call the Continuing Education Department of The Culinary Institute of America at 1-800-888-7850 between 8 AM and 6 PM EST. Payment may be made with American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover.

More Information on the Pre-Conference Winery Activities:

  • Organic Viniculture: Festive Lunch, Structured Tastings and Agricultural Intensive
    • Cost: $75.00 per person. (Attendees must make their own way to the vineyard by noon.)
    • Description:  Please join the staff of the Ehlers Estate vineyard for a festive al fresco lunch, followed by an intensive look at organic farming practices and regulation, ending with privately conducted barrel tastings. The Ehlers Estate is owned in Trust by the Leducq Foundation and all proceeds from the Estate are used to support research into cardiovascular health at prominent medical institutions worldwide.
    • Location: Ehlers Lane, Right off Hwy 27 (Main Street, St Helena) 1.5 miles north of The Culinary Institute campus.
    • Schedule:
      • Noon - 1:00 pm - Lunch in Ehlers Estate Olive Orchard (rain alternative: The barrel room)
        Gourmet lunch provided by Ehlers Estate
        Lunchen wine: Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Ehlers Estate Merlot
      • 1:00 -1:30 pm - Tour of vineyard and discussion of biodynamic/organic farming practices as well as BD 500 and 501 applications, compost program and Stella Natura farming calendar.
      • 1:30p - 3:00 pm - Wine Tasting in Barrel Room
              i. Cabernet Sauvignon Clone Tasting
              ii. Vertical Tasting (2002 – 2006 vintages)
              iii. Barrel Samples
                    1. Cabernet Franc
                    2. Merlot
                    3. Cabernet Sauvignon
      • 3:00 pm - Return to Tasting Room for Browsing Store and Departure
  • An Insider's Tour of Selected Napa Valley Wineries
    • Cost: $50 per person (includes transportation, winery tours and wine tasting)
    • Description: Six groups of 20 will each visit two wineries, with a special opportunity to be greeted and toured by winemakers and winery owners, and taste wines not ordinarily featured on public tours. Groups will board small CIA-chartered buses. The number of groups will be determined by advanced (optional, add-on) registration.
    • Schedule:
      • 12:15pm: Registration for Pre-Conference Activity in the Greystone Atrium (please park at designated off-site lot and proceed via CIA shuttle bus to the Greystone campus)
      • 12:45pm: Board Winery Tour Buses at Greystone for Departure
      • 1:00pm: Buses Depart for Winery Tours
      • 1:00-4:00pm: Insider's Winery Tour (each group will visit 2 wineries)
      • 4:00pm: Winery Tour Buses Return to Greystone for General Conference Registration