Discovering the Napa Wine That Evokes Memories of Your First Love

The scorching summer makes the Bay Area perfect for outings. This weekend, will your holiday be filled with political headlines or glued to the TV for the World Cup? KTSF Go carefully selects fun and delicious destinations every weekend. Enjoy the beautiful California sun and temporarily set aside social media and TV news. Seize the good weather and go out! Our editor recommended Taste of Napa, highlighting the exciting events in the Bay Area this week.

The event takes place at The Meritage Resort and Spa, exuding a resort-like atmosphere, featuring the finest and highest-quality wines and foods from the Napa region. You can taste a variety of them during the event. If you want to know which wineries and restaurants in Napa are worth visiting, coming here allows you to enjoy the cuisine and fine wines of 80 wineries and restaurants, allowing you to refine your palate and find your favorite flavors.

The annual Taste of Napa event aims to celebrate the rich resources of Napa, the homeland of wine, selecting the best in the wine and hospitality industries to provide wine, food, music, and laughter, accompanying you to enjoy the full Napa vacation atmosphere. In addition to the event on the day, there are music activities throughout the week. For details, please visit Taste of Napa. There's always something worth discovering!

During the event, many residents of the Bay Area eagerly participated, and one of the popular booths was Empress M Restaurant. During lunchtime, when spring rolls and dumplings were served, prepared in quantities of seven to eight hundred portions, they were sold out in less than 20 minutes. It seems everyone has an appetite for Chinese food; accustomed to cheese with wine, they surprisingly prefer Chinese spring rolls and dumplings, which pair well with the available wines. Margaret, the owner of Empress M, mentioned that the restaurant is not only loved by Chinese tourists but also by people of various ethnicities and Bay Area locals, finding it very appealing! Empress M is currently the only top-tier Chinese restaurant in Napa, with an elegant interior design featuring Hermès orange tones complemented by ancient Chinese paintings of Empress Wu Zetian, creating a unique style and becoming a popular spot for many influencers on platforms like Xiaohongxhu!

Appellations Cellar's debut at Taste of Napa marked a significant milestone for Ivonne Zhu. As a rare female winemaker and the first Chinese-American woman to make her mark in Napa's winemaking scene, her journey is truly inspiring. Originally trained as a lawyer in China, Ivonne's life path led her to the United States, where she courageously embarked on a new life in Napa Valley. With her refined palate and unwavering commitment to quality, she founded her own winery, a journey fraught with challenges. Appellations Cellar has earned accolades for its impeccable winemaking craftsmanship and distinctive flavors, particularly highlighted during this year's Taste of Napa event.

The booth featuring Chinese wines stood out prominently, capturing the attention of numerous attendees. Appellations Cellar not only showcased its meticulously crafted wines but also offered a glimpse into Wine Maker Ivonne's role as both an entrepreneur and a trailblazing female winemaker. Her story not only symbolizes success but also serves as a poignant testament to multicultural harmony and personal resilience of being an immigrant to America. Such opportunities not only elevate the brand's presence but also enrich the local community with a vibrant tapestry of Chinese cultural heritage.

One of the entry-level wines, the 2022 Appellations Cellar Semi Sweet Gewürztraminer, is particularly loved for its slightly sweet initial taste, perfect for enjoying chilled like the reminiscent flavor of first love—sweet yet not cloying. A perfect wine for a couple enjoying their romance or a tech executive on the road, it generates a lasting impression, surpassing many experiences with champagnes and roses. Its value for money truly competes with more expensive wines, proving that true connoisseurs not only appreciate costly wines but also unearth excellent ones—a rare opportunity indeed.

KTSF Go offers readers a rare chance to enjoy Wine Maker Ivonne's wine. Visit the official website of Appellations Cellar now, add your favorite wines to your cart, and enter the discount code: KTSF to instantly enjoy a 10% discount. We sincerely recommend the 2022 Appellations Cellar Semi Sweet Gewürztraminer, with its refreshing and palate-cleansing taste, paired perfectly with BBQ barbecue for the Mid-Autumn Festival, sure to garner unanimous praise from friends and family!

Ken Savage, the organizer of the Taste of Napa event, shared that this annual event typically takes place during the summer. This year, it featured a jazz band and attracted 1300 attendees. Privately, he hinted at plans to invite a Chinese band next year to introduce a new cultural vibe to Napa, although specific details about the bands are currently under wraps. Besides wine tasting, the event also offers lively and entertaining party activities, providing Bay Area residents with a diverse array of holiday options to stave off boredom.

But if you can't wait until next year, why not join the "Bay Area Wonders" Experience Day on September 7, 2024 during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival? Held at Elliston Vineyards in Sunol, California, just a half-hour drive from Fremont, the event promises not only a rich wine tasting experience but also a captivating performance by ideaband, a highly regarded Chinese-American band. The band pays homage to the legendary "idea house" bar in Taiwan from the 1970s and 1980s, a hub for local musicians.

This event is a must-attend not only for the Chinese Americans living in the Bay Area but it welcomes all to experience the rich heritage of Chinese culture. Join us on September 7th for the "Bay Area Wonders" Experience Day, where you can enjoy fine wines, delicious cuisine, and captivating music, making it an unforgettable Mid-Autumn Festival celebration!