Dine with the Winemakers: An Insider's Napa Valley with Chris and Josh Phelps

Experience Napa Valley through the eyes of two generations of winemakers whose lives have been shaped by the region's vineyards, people, and traditions. Hosted by acclaimed father-and-son duo Chris and Josh Phelps, this intimate dining experience invites guests beyond the tasting room and into the inner circle of Napa Valley wine culture.

Each experience takes place in a location personally selected by the Phelps family—perhaps a private vineyard owned by longtime friends, an iconic Napa Valley restaurant, a hidden winery cellar, or another setting rarely accessible to the public. Wherever the location, the evening is designed to feel like a gathering among friends, centered around exceptional food, remarkable wines, and meaningful conversation.

Throughout a multi-course menu curated by Chris and Josh in collaboration with the host chef, guests will enjoy a progression of wines from both Ad Vivum and Grounded Wine Co., showcasing two distinct expressions of modern California winemaking. Chris Phelps brings more than four decades of experience, from his formative years in Bordeaux and his tenure as the founding winemaker of Dominus Estate to the creation of Ad Vivum, his highly acclaimed, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville. Josh Phelps represents a new generation of Napa Valley vintners, having built Grounded Wine Co. around relationships with trusted growers throughout California, Oregon, and Washington while remaining deeply connected to the community where he was raised.

As each course unfolds, guests are invited into an engaging conversation about wine, farming, hospitality, and the evolution of Napa Valley itself. Chris and Josh share personal stories of harvests, mentors, vineyard discoveries, and the relationships that define the wine world, while offering insights into tasting, collecting, and understanding great wine. Depending on the setting, the experience may include a vineyard walk, barrel tasting, library vintages, or introductions to local growers, chefs, and artisans who form part of the Phelps family's extended Napa network.

You will be notified 5 days in advance of the location.