Festival Returns…

Courtney Foley

One of the best food and wine festivals is just around the corner, the South Beach Food and Wine Festival Feb 20-23.  While the Grand Tasting tent on the beach is my favorite event, there are always a ton of terrific food and wine events throughout the festival. One such event this year is a tasting highlighting California chardonnay hosted by Foley Family Wines & Spirits’ Executive VP Courtney Foley – Exploring Chardonnay Regions in California through the Lens of Foley Wine & Spirits – Friday, Feb 21 at 2 PM at the Eden Roc Miami Beach.

 

As a Second Generation and Vintner and Executive Vice President serving on the executive committee, Courtney collaborates with site managers in all facets of the business to lead the successful execution of the family vision and business goals, while ensuring sustainability and quality production are prioritized throughout the organization.

 

Joking that she joined Foley Family Wines when she was born, in addition to her ownership role, Courtney has worked in sales, production, winemaking, distribution, communications, events, and consumer engagement. Courtney holds degrees in History and Geology from Whitman College, along with a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law with an emphasis on Environmental Law.

Experience California Chardonnay from a diverse range of growing regions across the top AVAs: Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the terroir, climate, and the winemaking technique that makes each wine unique in an intimate setting with Mari Wells Coyle, VP of Winemaking, Foley Family Wine & Spirits.

Chalk Hill Tasting

Featured Wines:
1. Silverado Vineyards Estate Grown Chardonnay, Carneros 2021
2. Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay, Chalk Hill 2022
3. Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2022
4. Chalone Vineyard Estate Chardonnay, Chalone 2022
5. Lincourt Steel Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 2023
6. Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2023

SOBEWFF

Since Courtney has an impressive background in wine, she was a natural to do the NSI quiz and we had some laughs and insights about the upcoming festival and where to go in Sonoma. Cheers and enjoy…
What was last night’s dinner? I was coming back from the Palm Beach festival and had dinner in the American Express lounge at the SeaTac airport. Wasn’t expecting much, but they had some vegetarian dishes for me and had some bok choy and kale mushroom dishes that were fairly tasty.
What’s your favorite music? It depends, but 90s rock still does it for me, with Nirvana leading the way.
What’s your favorite drink? I really like a splash or tonic, and Lighthouse Gin – a delicious, citrus-driven gin from New Zealand. This tonic- light version of an old favorite was named a “Gin and Sonic” by my sister, which has caught on with the rest of the family, much to many bartenders’ confusion.
Favorite thing about living and working in Sonoma? Sonoma is a stunningly beautiful county where people are as connected to the land as they are to their families, their professions and communities. This rooted attachment to the land creates a common interest in responsible and thoughtful development and protection of our wild, agricultural, and shared places, which as a previous Environmental History major and Geology minor, I appreciate.

SOBEWFF

Favorite place to dine in Sonoma? I love Baci Cafe and Wine Bar. Great comfort food and the couple who run it are like family and always give you a great hello when you show up.

Chalk Hill

What makes a great winery? I was previously the winemaker at Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery and tend to think in terms of what makes it so special (because it is). Currently, Darrell Holbrook, winemaker at the helm of Chalk Hill, just celebrated his 30th harvest at the property – working his way up from the cellar to head winemaker. His deep understanding of every inch of the property, including past clonal selections, deep understanding of each block, and each clone’s optimal ripeness sets his wines apart from the start. When you bring in his knowledge of winemaking techniques that were both successful and not so successful over the years, you have someone who has the attention to detail and deep understanding of place that helps to build a story that translates easily to people who visit Chalk Hill and taste the wines produced there.
Any wine, restaurant, trip on your bucket list? I got to go to Croatia last year and it was incredible. Got to taste some fine wine varietals that I had never heard of and it was a terrific experience. Highly recommend a trip to Croatia if you’re into wine.
Any brush with celebrity? I’m a pretty shy person, so not really into trying to hang out with stars. But had a great time with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in our private box when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup. Kept high fiving with them when they scored, just a fabulous night.
Final thoughts? Really looking forward to the South Beach festival, this year is my first time attending! It’s another opportunity to experience our wonderful industry through my glass and interact with consumers and my fellow trade partners in a fun and engaging location, with great food – which I always look forward to..