This second gathering is contingent upon member signups as we soft launch the group. Tell a fellow oenophile, collector and/or wine snob about this group!

Welcome to The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen Wine Snobs! If you have a serious passion for all things wine, this is the group for you. Whether you’re an avid oenophile, wine collector or sommelier, join us for monthly tastings, wine dinners and discussions on the finest wines from around the world. Expand your palate and mingle with fellow wine aficionados in relaxed and social settings in some of the finest locales in Naples to include Wine Spectator Award restaurants as well as the homes and cellars of our membership. Let’s uncork, unwind, and explore the wonderful world of wine together. Cheers!

The inaugural gathering of Gentlemen Wine Snobs included an illustrious assortment of Cabernet Sauvignon wines from California regions including Napa Valley, Alexander Valley Sonoma and Paso Robles. Alpha Omega Era from 2011 kicked off the evening, followed by a 2016 Oliver’s Blend by SkipStone. Last and not least, a 2016 Cardinal by The Farm in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. The Gents enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and decadent chocolate soufflés to cap off a wonderful evening of wine and discussion.

For our second gathering of Gentlemen Wine Snobs…Group members are encouraged to bring a bottle of Chardonnay from their choice of place and vintage.

RSVP by email: gentlemenWineSnobs@exceptional-wine-experiences.com along with your contribution to our Corkage Fund or Membership if applicable (pay below). Food and Beverage at your own cost due and payable to our server at conclusion of gathering.

A bottle of 2013 Chardonnay from School House Vineyard, a tiny wine producer located in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley, CA will be one of the bottles served and discussed.

The School House Vineyard Story…

School House Vineyard is nestled among the cool, lushly forested slopes of Spring Mountain, where Langtry and Spring Mountain Roads intersect, at an elevation of approximately 1500 feet. The vineyard takes its name from the 1880s one-‐room school house which graced the property until it was consumed by fire in the mid 1980s. That school house has lent its name to this fascinating and unique property which has quietly produced very small quantities of some of the most sought after Napa Valley wines
since the mid-‐1950s. Steeped in Napa Valley history, School House is the ultimate cult wine producer, cult before cult was cool!

In 1940, John’s father purchased the property of 160 gross acres, of which 35 acres were un-irrigated vineyard. In 1940 the only operating vineyards on Spring Mountainwere Herman Hummel’s Vineyard (now York Creek), John M. Gantner and Nancy Walker, tackle all of the vineyard operations at School House Vineyard where they make their home. John and Nancy implement the dry-farming technique in order to intensify the character of the wines, sacrificing quantity in order to maximize quality. Their
passion for the grapes they nurture, coupled with their strong connection with the land is beautifully revealed in the expressions of the wines produced from the vineyard.

The Importance of Dry Farming

Dry-farming is an important factor in creating rich and complex wines, justifying our faith in old farming methods. Today School House is the only fully non-irrigated vineyard left on Spring Mountain. On the upper portions of the mountain, water is very scarce with many wells run dry with rife competition for water resources. Many of today’s estates have to truck in water for not just their vineyard needs, but also to satisfy home and winery uses. This situation is worrisome and its severity is compounded by our recent successive years of drought. Perhaps some of our neighbors will become dry farmed, like it or not.

Temporary Location is Bleu Provence downtown Naples. A multi year recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award.