Capstone California Educators Immersion Tour 2025
January 19-25, 2025
San Francisco, Livermore, Napa Valley, Sonoma County
Welcome to California
This Capstone Immersion Tour will bring together 24 leading educators from around the globe for a meaningful and memorable week of learning, exploring, and experiencing. The week will offer a deeper understanding of California wines.
This site provides the itinerary, helpful travel information & tips, and California wine resources. The week before your trip, this site will also link to a digital wine catalogue on the Bottlebooks platform. The platform will provide the full list of 175+ wines you will taste throughout the week. We will share more information and guide you through the tool so you can maximize the functionality.
The Jay Hotel, San Francisco
- Guest arrivals at SFO and Uber or taxi to The Jay hotel (433 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111)
- Independent evening in San Francisco to acclimate
- See a list of near by restaurant recommendations
Sunday, January 19
Depart San Francisco from The Jay hotel at 8:30am (with Luggage)
Overnight at the Archer Hotel in Napa, CA
Wente Vineyards
Tour Welcome, Masterclass, Lunch
9:30am
Welcome to California
10:30am-1:00pm
MASTERCLASS: History of California in 12 Glasses with Evan Goldstein MS
1:00pm
Casual lunch with the Wente family
2:30pm
Depart for Napa Valley
Evan Goldstein MS
Wine Writer, Educator, and Master Sommelier
Evan Goldstein, MS, is one of the nation’s most prolific food and wine industry veterans. His food and wine career started at age 19 in the kitchens of the Restaurant Le Saintongeais and the Hotel Lancaster in Paris, Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, and Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkeley, California. In 1984 he joined his mother Chef and Author Joyce Goldstein in opening the celebrated San Francisco restaurant Square One where as sommelier his wine lists received a myriad of awards.
Hotel Check-in & Break
4:00pm-5:00pm
Please meet in the lobby at 5:00pm for departure.
Heitz Cellar
Afternoon Salon
5:30pm
Napa Valley Early Vineyard Designates
Host
Carlton McCoy MS, President & CEO of Heitz Cellar
Ink Grade
Dinner
7:00pm
Iconic Vineyards in Napa Valley with Carlton McCoy and Evan Goldstein
Monday, January 20
Depart the Archer hotel at 8:30 AM
Overnight at the Archer Hotel in Napa, CA
Louis M. Martini Winery
Masterclass
9:00am-11:00am
MASTERCLASS: Cabernet Sauvignon Exploration with Kelli White
Presenter
Kelli White, Director of Education at The Wine Center at Meadowood
Kelli White
Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley
Kelli A. White is the director of education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley. She was the senior staff writer at GuildSomm from 2017 to 2019. Her writing has also appeared in World of Fine Wine, Robb Report, Sommelier Journal, Le Pan, Vinous, and other publications. At Vinous, Kelli was a key member of the maps team & worked with Italian cartographer Alessandro Masnaghetti to map many of Napa Valley’s appellations. Her book, Napa Valley, Then & Now, was first published in 2015.
Frog's Leap Winery
Vineyard Walk & Lunch
11:30am
Vineyard Walk & Sustainability Discussion
12:30pm
Casual Lunch & Tasting with guest winemaker from Spottswoode Winery, Beth Novak
2:00pm
Depart for hotel
Break at Hotel
2:30pm-4:30pm
Please meet in the lobby at 4:30pm for departure.
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Salon & Dinner
5:00pm
Salon: Other Than Chardonnay, with St. Supery
6:00pm
Dinner: Unexpected Varieties
Tuesday, January 21
Depart the Archer hotel at 8:30am (with Luggage)
Overnight on the Sonoma coast at Bodega Bay Lodge in Bodega Bay, CA
Schug Winery
Masterclass
9:00am-11:00am
MASTERCLASS: Chardonnay Exploration with Peter Granoff
Peter Granoff
Master Sommelier, Wine Educator & Speaker
Peter Granoff, a Master Sommelier since 1991 and James Beard Award winner, co-founded Virtual Vineyards, pioneering online wine sales and secure e-commerce. He has taught for the Court of Master Sommeliers and Culinary Institute of America, and co-owns Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant. Peter also consults on wine, technology, and innovations like Coravin..
Freeman Winery
Lunch
12:00pm-3:30pm
Chardonnay & Pinot Pairing Lunch with Evan Goldstein & West Sonoma Coast Producers
Bodega Bay Lodge
Salon & Dinner
6:00pm
Salon: Winegrowing in the Wild West Sonoma Coast with Jasmine Hirsch (Hirsch Vineyards) & Ted Lemon (Littorai)
7:00pm
Dinner: The Impact of the Pacific on the CA Coastline, with Evan Goldstein
Wednesday, January 22
Depart the Bodega Bay Lodge at 8:30am (with Luggage)
Overnight in northern Sonoma County at H2 Hotel in Healdsburg, CA
La Crema at SaraLee's Vineyard
Masterclass, Vineyard Walk & Lunch
9:30am
MASTERCLASS: Pinot Noir Exploration with Karen MacNeil
11:45am
Vineyard Walk & Soils Discussion with Scott Knippelmeir (viticulturist and soil specialist)
12:45pm-2:30pm
Casual lunch
Karen MacNeil
Speaker, Author & Consultant
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year, the Louis Roederer award for Best Consumer Wine Writing, and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” Karen has been named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.”
Silver Oak Alexander Valley
Salon & Dinner
5:00pm
Salon: Silver Oak Over Time, with winemaker, Nate Weis
6:30pm
Dinner: Hillside, Ridgeline & Mountaintop Vineyards in Sonoma County with Evan Goldstein and Jeff Cohn, winemaker at Jeff Cohn Cellars
Thursday, January 23
Depart H2 hotel at 8:45am
Overnight in northern Sonoma County at H2 Hotel in Healdsburg, CA
Ridge Lytton Springs
Masterclass
9:00am-12:00pm
MASTERCLASS: History and Evolution of Zinfandel across California with Evan Goldstein & winemaker panel
Casual Lunch & Afternoon on the Town Square
12:30pm
Casual lunch at Healdsburg restaurant, Lo & Behold
Afternoon
Break & Educator Interviews at H2
Panel Discussion at H2
Afternoon Salon
4:45pm-6:45pm
“Trending Now”
Moderator: Esther Mobley, senior wine critic at the San Francisco Chronicle
Panelists: Elaine Chukan Brown (wine writer & educator), Kelli White (wine educator), and Evan Goldstein MS
Friday, January 24
Depart H2 hotel at 9am with Luggage
Overnight at The Jay hotel in San Francisco, CA
DeLoach Vineyards
Masterclass & Lunch
9:30am-11:30am
MASTERCLASS: California’s Spirit of Innovation with Elaine Chukan Brown
11:30am
Casual Garden Walk & Lunch
Elaine Chukan Brown
Writer, Speaker & Global Wine Educator
Elaine is as a writer, speaker, and global wine educator working at the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in wine. She has been Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter, and a contributor to Wine & Spirits Magazine, The Oxford Companion to Wine, The World Atlas of Wine, and Academie du Vin Library On California and On Burgundy. Currently, she reviews Napa Valley wines for Wine Enthusiast, judges the Texsom Awards, and is a board member of Wine Writer Symposium.
Travel to San Francisco
1:30pm-3:30pm
Hotel Check-in & Break
3:30pm-5:30pm
Please meet in the lobby for a 5:30pm departure.
Finale Dinner
Ungrafted, San Francisco
6:00pm
History in the Making
with Chris Gaither MS & Evan Goldstein MS
Saturday, January 25
Farewell Breakfast & Guest Departures
Capstone Community Conversation & Farewell Breakfast
Ansel I and Foyer, The Jay Hotel
9:30am-11:00am
A democratic wine education program
Meeting room: Ansel I and Foyer
Breakfast will be set buffet style in the foyer with the meeting in the adjacent Ansel I room.
Capstone California
Brush up on your California wine knowledge before the trip by digging into the Capstone California study guides and resources.
What to wear
Afternoons and evenings can be cool and windy, especially in coastal areas. Bring a jacket or sweater with you at all times.
- Casual, jeans ok. Please dress for vineyard & winery visits with sturdy footwear – closed toe shoes
- Winery Dinners: Smart casual (Tip: Avoid wearing heels)
What to bring
- Passport / ID for hotel check-ins
- Credit card for incidentals / personal use when you check in
- Electronic chargers, adapters, back-up battery packs
- Curiosity, Positive Attitude & Questions!
Tips
- Join the tour WhatsApp group for helpful reminders. Check back for a link to join here.
- Traveling in a group is even more pleasant if we do not have to wait for anyone. We kindly ask everyone to be on time.
What is covered in your stay
- Hotel stays, group transportation, transportation to and from SFO
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
What is not covered
- Personal incidental expenses – spa services, mini-bar, room service, etc.
- Additional hotel room nights and transportation outside of the pre-arranged conference and regional tours.
- Travel Insurance – we recommend you take out travel insurance as Wine Institute is not able to do this for you.
Meet your fellow travelers
Discover our incredible lineup of Capstone educators from around the globe. Get to know your fellow travelers and the tour guides who will accompany you throughout the entire week.
California Wines Representatives
Traveling with the group for the full week
Danielle Giroux
Trade Director, Canada
1 (416) 997-7468
Madoka Ogiya
Joint Trade Director, North Asia and Australasia
+81 80 3388-3262
Celeste Finn
Capstone & Systems Specialist
1 (246) 230-7589
California Wines Home Team
Traveling with the group for part of the week and available should anything arise
Honore Comfort
Vice President, International Marketing
hcomfort@wineinstitute.org
Kate Venugopal
Director, International Marketing
kvenugopal@wineinstitute.org
Diane Berardi
Operations & Member Relations Manager, International Marketing
dberardi@wineinstitute.org
Wine, Dine & Tag!
While you’re enjoying the tour, don’t forget to connect with us on social media! Share your photos and tag us to join the conversation. Use our official tour hashtag: #CapstoneTour2025.
Facebook & Instagram: @CaliforniaWines
LinkedIn: @CapstoneCalifornia
And don’t forget to include:
#CaliforniaWines
#CapstoneCalifornia
#CapstoneTour2025
Stay connected with the broader Capstone educator community
If you haven’t already, be sure to join the Capstone Educator WhatsApp group! It’s a great space to connect with other Capstone educators, share photos, updates, and stay engaged with the expanding Capstone community. The group includes both seasoned and beginning Capstone educators – all are welcome!
Share your tour photos and videos
Share your tour photo and video highlights with fellow tour guests by uploading them here. (Link coming soon!)