Last Year's Chefs

Justine Miner

Justine is chef and owner of hip, swank and super cool RNM restaurant. She’s developed her own style of cooking – best described as a modern approach to classic dishes, based on seasonally-driven California ingredients and always with an original turn and an element of surprise. She’s won the coveted honor of San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star chef in 2003 and has been featured on the Food Network.

Mattin Noblia

Mattin is the chef and owner of Iluna Basque, one of the most unique and prominent restaurants in San Francisco. Born in a small village in Basque Country, located in southwestern France, he became enamored with cooking as a small boy while watching his mother cultivate “piment d’ espelette” –Basque chile. Mattin has studied under noted chef Dominique Jolie, and incorporates a fusion of French and Spanish flavors into his cuisine. Mattin is a contestant on this season’s Top Chef.

Ryan Scott

Top chef contestant from Season 4 and founder of Ryan Scott 2go- catering and instruction, Chef Ryan has worked with Charlie Trotter and Gary Danko.  He received critical acclaim for his California Mediterranean dishes, is known for creating amazing food and for infusing his events with great energy and fun. He believes in letting the seasons speak for themselves, and draws inspiration from produce picked at its peak of vitality. 

Srijith Gopinathan

Chef Srijith Gopinathan hails from Southern India, where began his career with luxury hotels. On the path to establishing his interpretation of food, he found himself at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park NY and in the kitchens of Raymond Blanc and Gary Jones at the famed Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxford England (a Two Michelin Star Restaurant). Executive Chef at the Campton Place since February, he has been wowing diners and winning the affection of long time Campton Place patrons.

Last Year's Wineries

In the words of Robert Parker; “Spottswoode’s winemaking team, owner Beth Novak, winemaker Jennifer Williams and winemaking consultant Rosemary Cakebread, represents a trifecta of talented young women. When the history of Napa’s great vineyards is written, the 40-acre Spottswoode Vineyard, tucked behind the quaint town of St. Helena, will be counted among the finest grand cru vineyards of the region. These wines have always been good, but over the last decade, the quality has soared, no doubt because of a much more strict selection in the vineyard as well as in the winery.”

       

The Duckhorn Wine Company includes three winery estates in two picturesque valleys ~ Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx and Goldeneye Winery from the Napa and Anderson Valley appellations. You will be able to enjoy all three at Sip & Savor. For nearly three decades, the commitment to crafting wines of distinction has remained at the heart of the Duckhorn Vineyards philosophy. As its Napa Valley estate properties continue to mature, the winery will continue creating world-class wines from exceptional vineyards.

In Wine Spectator's Top 50 Cabernets issue, James Laube says that Staglin's "owner's commitment to quality has paid off in recent years, making it one of Napa's hottest estates. Poised to challenge the best."  Staglin is making magnificent wines from their Rutherford vineyards – Napa Valley’s premier Cabernet appellation.

Quintessa

Fine wine is a reflection of place.  Located in the heart of Rutherford , one of Napa Valley’s greatest appellations, Quintessa is a carefully crafted, family run winery producing the best expression of this extraordinary vineyard each year.  Their Cabernets have been rated “Top Cabernet’ by Wine & Spirits Magazine.   

The Swanson products and philosophy celebrate decadence with a wink -- the sublime mixing of the high with the low.  Founded on a passion for evolving the existing standards of wine and food, the Swanson family continues to expand the simple and sensual pleasures of life through their wines. With an eye toward quality, relevance and innovation, they are enticing a whole new audience with a progressive approach to wine, food and the good life. 

Antica Terra is a rugged 40 acre parcel nestled in the Eola Amity Hills AVA of Williamette Valley.  Winemaker, Maggie Harrison, produces complex, distinctive and singular wines that express the unique character of the Willamette Valley.  Antica Terra wines are simply described as “killer”!

Former Pax assistant winemaker Duncan Arnot Meyers and cooper Nathan Roberts produce beautiful, terroir-driven, varietally pure small production wines. The focus is on small lot, vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignons and Syrahs from some of Northern California’s most incredible vineyards. They launched in 2003 and have been slowly, steadily gaining cult status. Arnot-Roberts – Syrah was recently selected as the top new-world Syrah over $20 in a blind-tasting involving more than 60 entrants.

Located in beautiful Sonoma County, Carica Wines uses grapes from an outstanding vineyard called Kick Ranch. They are very much a “hands on” winery - hard not to be, when the grower and the winemaker are the entire winery team. Carica’s wine making goal is to create the highest quality wine whose characteristics reflect a sense of place of origin or terroir. Great intensity is a hallmark of their wines, but never at the expense of the critical balance between fruit, acid, and tannin that distinguishes truly great wines. Their Sauvignon Blanc has received high praise from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiasts and was a Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Falcor believes that quality starts in the vineyard, and selects vineyard locations best suited to each wine variety.  Falcor’s award-winning, small production wines are fruit forwarded and are superbly balanced by oak while possessing superior nuance and complexity. 

Robert Parker describes FAILLA as “… a top-notch source of high quality, European-inspired wines that combine flavor, intensity and elegance.” Ehren Jordan was the San Francisco Chronicles “Winemaker of the Year” in 2008 and “#1 Wine of the Year” by the Wine Enthusiasts.

Crafting fine wine requires relentless commitment.   Hall Wines constantly evolve time-honored methods to incorporate the most innovative processes and technology in their quest to perfect the art of winemaking. Hand-sorting of the fruit at harvest, gentle gravity-flow delivery of the grapes to each tank, small-lot production capability, and the highest quality barrels—these are just a few of the tools that Hall winemakers employ to create the finest wine possible.  Hall’s estate vineyards encompass more than five hundred acres of classic Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Jax Vineyards

Jax is a boutique winery located north of downtown Calistoga. Their signature wine is the small production, estate Cabernet Sauvignon produced by winemaker Kirk Venge. They’ve also received critical acclaim for their non-estate Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc – Y3 produced by winemaker Rob Hunter.

JC Cellars is a producer of hand-crafted single vineyard wines specializing in Syrah, Petite Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel.  Renown for Rhône style wines, and hailed as one of the masters of zinfandel, JC Cellars founder and winemaker Jeff Cohn marries his passion for classic French style winemaking with a spirited Californian sense of innovation to craft elegant wines that showcase terroir.

Kind Cellars produces handcrafted, limited production premium Napa Valley wine.

    

Ladera has been recognized by many of the top publications in the world for their ability to create exquisite wine. Some of the most regarded enthusiasts in the wine and restaurant industry look to them year after year to set an example on Howell Mountain and in the Napa Valley. Their wines are produced in a gravity feed winery built in 1886, and barrel aged in the 18,000 sq. ft. of caves on the property. They have recently released another label introducing their Sonoma property “Pillow Rd. Vineyard” which will be featured as well.

Located at the historic Cedar Knoll Vineyard and Winery, silver medal winner at the 1889 Paris Exposition, Palmaz makes hand crafted wines.  The wine never comes in contact with a pump. It is the gentle handling in their 18 storey, underground, gravity flow winery that gives Palmaz wines their unique “hand-made” quality and rare elegance.  Madeline Tiffon, Master Sommelier of Matt Prentice Restaurant Group, says. “This wine would warm the bones and the heart with its powerful, expansive flavors.”

Last Year's Food

Inspired by modern technology, TCHO chocolate offers delicious chocolate varieties inspired by the modern age. With different colors, patterns, hip packaging and premium coacoa beans from prime coacoa producers around the globe, this chocolate company is making a name for itself in the gourmet chocolate niche.

Just Desserts was founded in San Francisco in 1974 with a family cheesecake recipe and a passion for making the most delicious, highest quality dessert on the planet. Over the years, Just Desserts has grown into a Bay Area household name garnering a passionate and loyal following and has earned many awards including the 2008 Best Baked Good for their all-natural brownie bites. Just Desserts bakes 100% natural, premium desserts from scratch and decorates by hand and never use any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, bleached flour or hydrogenated shortentings.

Whole Foods sells the highest quality natural and organic products.