BOUTIQUE NAPA & SONOMA WINERY TASTING
AT PETIT PHILIPPE’S FLAGSHIP STORE
Join us for a casual walk-around tasting featuring three outstanding boutique producers from Napa and Sonoma - Ackerman Family Vineyards, Rewa Vineyards, and Smith Story Wine Cellars. All have unique stories about how they broke into the wine world and fulfilled their wine dreams. Come meet the founders and leaders from these wineries at Petit Philippe’s brand-new flagship store in Myers Park. The ever-gregarious Chef Will Williams of Seasoned Provisions will delight you with light bites and cheese and charcuterie to pair with the wines as you mix, mingle, and sip with our special guests.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday, April 17
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Petit Philippe Fine Wine | 4001 Park Road Charlotte, NC 28209
Special Guests: Lauren Ackerman - Owner, Ackerman Family Vineyards
Joe Hinde - Director of Sales & Hospitality, Ackerman Family Vineyards
Alison Smith-Story - Co-founder, Smith Story Wine Cellars
Anthony Washington - Estate Director, Rewa Vineyards
Will Williams - Owner & Executive Chef, Seasoned Provisions
Tickets: $75/person plus tax
Gratuity is included in the ticket price, and $25 of each ticket is tax-deductible.
Must be 21+
PURCHASE TICKETS BELOW!
FEATURED WINES
Each winery will pour a selection of wines from its portfolio.
ACKERMAN FAMILY VINEYARDS
2018 Ackerman Cabernet Sauvignon, Coombsville
2018 Ackerman Memoire, Coombsville
SMITH STORY WINE CELLARS
2021 Smith Story Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River
2021 Smith Story The Boonies Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
2019 Smith Story Pickberry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain
2019 Smith Story Cabernet Franc, Sonoma
REWA VINEYARDS
2022 Rewa Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Coombsville
2021 Rewa Vineyards “Khanda” Red Wine, Coombsville
MENU
Cheese & Charcuterie Display
Artisanal Cheeses | Meats | Jam | Praline Pecans | Fruit | Toast Points
Shrimp Tartlets
Sazon Cream Cheese | Worcestershire | Lemon | Onion | Aji Verde
Strawberry Jam Pimento Cheese Crostini
Prosciutto Wrapped Pears with Arugula
Pomegranate | Chili Agave
Dietary restrictions may be accommodated with advance notice. Please indicate any restrictions the event organizers should be aware of at time of your registration/ticket purchase. Alternatively, please email info@charlottewineandfood.org to notify us at minimum 5 days prior to the event.
CULINARY & BEVERAGE TALENT
LAUREN ACKERMAN | OWNER - ACKERMAN FAMILY VINEYARDS
Lauren Ackerman’s career has evolved as a former tech entrepreneur-turned-vintner and philanthropist in the Napa Valley over 26 years. In the mid-1980’s, Lauren created a successful technology marketing organization, working with over 75 information technology companies in the US. Selling the company in 1988, she moved to the Bay Area from Southern California and became an international management consultant to companies such as Philips Semiconductor, Hewlett Packard and Motorola. In 1994, she ]moved to the Napa Valley when she and her former husband purchased a 16 acre vineyard property in the Coombsville AVA. They started making wine in 1995 and eventually began selling commercially, starting with the 2003 vintage. Today, Lauren owns/manages Ackerman Family Vineyards, a boutique producer of cabernet sauvignon wines from the organically farmed Stonehaven vineyard.
In 2010, she was inexplicably drawn to a dilapidated Victorian home in downtown Napa. After nine months of negotiation to buy it, she went to work painstakingly restoring what would become Napa’s only authentically historic home that is open to the public for events and wine tasting. Over the next five years, she restored this iconic house and opened it as “The Ackerman Heritage House” in 2015. Today, the Ackerman Heritage House is a beautiful event space for small weddings, corporate meetings, intimate food and wine experiences, afternoon tea and more.
With a passion for community building, business development, innovative education, entrepreneurship and strategic philanthropy, Lauren has worked with multiple non-profit organizations that range from art to ophthalmology, education and human trafficking. Currently, she serves on the boards of SEE International and Festival Napa Valley. Additionally, Lauren is a Member of the Society of Fellows with the Culinary Institute of America. In all, she has served on more than 12 boards in the Bay Area.
Recently, she was elected to be on the General Advisory Planning Committee (GPAC) 2040, a special committee of 15 members that advises the Mayor and City Council of Napa on strategic initiatives for the next 20 years of Napa’s growth.
JOE HINDE | DIRECTOR OF SALES AND HOSPITALITY- ACKERMAN FAMILY VINEYARDS
Joe Hinde is Ackerman Family Director of Sales and Hospitality. Joe is originally from Ohio but grew up in Sonoma Valley as his father was the former General Manager and President for several wine brands such as La Crema and Flowers Winery. His father’s experience provided Joe with wine industry knowledge from a young age.
Joe attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio graduating with a degree in Kinesiology. As he made his way home after college, he pursued working part-time for his father where he found his true passion in hospitality, food, and wine. He began his career working part-time as a tasting room host for a winery in St. Helena and also part time in production for Prospect Brands.
In 2017, Joe found his place with Ackerman Family Vineyards to pursue his passion for wine and love of people which makes him a great fit for the Ackerman Hospitality Team. He looks forward to educating our guests about Ackerman Family Vineyards wines, philosophy, and story behind the brand.
ALISON SMITH-STORY | CO-FOUNDER - SMITH STORY WINE CELLARS
With over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, Ali Smtih-Story is the passionate and creative co-founder of Smith Story Wine Cellars, a family-owned and operated winery that produces high-quality wines from California and Europe, where she leads the sales and marketing strategy, as well as the customer service and hospitality operations.
Smith Story Wine Cellars is the tale of true love. In May of 2013, Eric and Ali Smith eloped on the Big Island of Hawaii to say I Do; also where the name Smith Story Wine Cellars was conceived. Bay Area-born Eric and Fort Worth, Texas-native Alison met while both working for K&L Wine Merchants in Northern California over a decade ago. A friendship flourished while discovering wines from faraway lands, and visits to the Anderson Valley along with dear friends and their beloved dogs Henley and Lakota. “Drink what you love, love what you drink,” Eric often said to Alison while trying new wines over the years together.
Today they bring a combined 40+ years of wine industry experience to manage Smith Story Wine Cellars. Eric’s wine buying expertise and retail management lend a keen eye and discerning palate as he became the German, Loire, Alsace, Austrian, and Greek wine buyer for K&L. Ali’s hospitality, wine buying, consumer marketing and national sales experience completes the entire wine-supply-chain as she transitioned from her decade old company TexaCali Wine Co. to drive the vision and brand for Smith Story Wine. Smith Story Wine Cellars is based in Sonoma with a tasting room in Healdsburg.
In 2014 they launched "Farmers First" on KICKSTARTER and were fully funded in 30 days. Later that year, along with their dear Goldendoodle, Lord Sandwich, Ali Story founded a non-profit Socks For Sandwich, which donates new socks to the needy.
The birth of Smith Story Wine Cellars can be followed along the way as Eric and Ali write about their start-up experiences in The Chapters.
ANTHONY WASHINGTON | ESTATE DIRECTOR - REWA VINEYARDS
With over 25 years of restaurant experience, Anthony Washington has a deep knowledge of the wine and hospitality industry. Anthony has traveled the United States working in culinary meccas from New York City to Charleston to New Orleans to Napa Valley. In 2008, Anthony was hired as Sommelier of the venerable Augusta National Golf Club to run their legendary wine program.
He spent the next seven years managing the Club’s extensive wine cellar focused on Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, and California Wines. His responsibilities included the planning and execution of beverage service for all of the Club's events including the Masters Invitational Golf Tournament, as well as working closely with the Club members on their personal wine selections, and collaborating with the Club's wine committee. Anthony also worked as Director of Hospitality for Erin Hills, host of the 2017 US Open Golf Course, where he managed food and beverage service for their multi-venue Golf Resort. Anthony has consulted many years for the US Open and the US Amateur Championship on their food and beverage program.
In 2015, Anthony relocated to Napa Valley, California to join the esteemed Sommelier team at the 3-Michelin-starred The French Laundry where he provided hospitality and sommelier services. Anthony still resides in Napa where he joined Rewa Vineyards as Estate Director in 2019.
Anthony is a candidate for Advanced Certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers. He holds Hospitality and Revenue Management Certifications from Cornell University, a Ritz-Carlton Leadership Certification, and an Advanced Certification with Merit from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
WILL WILLIAMS | OWNER & EXECUTIVE CHEF - SEASONED PROVISIONS
For years, William has enjoyed bringing people together with his meals, believing that food is an important part of a person's life. He wanted to share his passion for hospitality with others.
In 2014, William created Seasoned Provisions, a private catering company, where he also provides private chef services and cooking lessons. He has been serving the Charlotte area since, establishing a reliable reputation for Seasoned Provisions.
Through Seasoned Provisions, William translates your needs into delicious food, ensuring each bite creates a memory. He studies each event, understands each guest, and carefully arranges excellent service and a delightful experience.
William studied at Johnson & Wales University, one of the best culinary schools in the country, and graduated in 2011. He became ServSafe certified in 2015. In 2017, William started appearing live on TV showing off his cooking skills.
Whenever he takes a break from the kitchen, William enjoys hiking, traveling, volleyball, and fashion.
PURCHASE TICKETS BELOW!
THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR!
