Schramsberg Vineyards continues its streak of having its sparkling wines served at White House State Dinners, with the announcement that Schramsberg brut rosé was featured at the dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Monday.

Schramsberg wines have been served at 72 events hosted by every sitting president since Richard Nixon’s famous “Toast to Peace” with China’s Chou En-Lai in Beijing in 1972.

Chateau Montelena Winery has installed a 220 kilowatt solar electric system, which will supply 100 percent of its electricity needs for all operations at the nearly 125-year-old chateau.

Chateau Montelena’s system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 6,625 tons — an emission reduction equivalent to the air-filtering power of 40,000 trees — over the next 25 years.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1976 Paris Tasting, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has released 73 limited edition 3-liter commemorative bottles of the winery’s flagship wine, the 2003 Cask 23 cabernet sauvignon. Each of the hand-etched, painted and numbered bottles is housed in a custom walnut box, and is available to collectors for $1,976.

The design was inspired by a piece of artwork featured at the winery, a brass armillary sphere representing the Copernican theory of the solar system.

“Copernicus theorized that the Earth was not the center of our solar system, which was thought to be revolutionary at that time,” said Warren Winiarski, whose 1973 (thus the “73” bottles) Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon won best red wine in the now legendary tasting. “In the same way, the Paris Tasting had a revolutionary effect on the world of wine, astonishing aficionados and destroying some long-held beliefs and prejudices. It was the first new center and starting point from which many other regions, wines and countries were able to radiate and make their own mark on the ‘solar system’ of wine.”

Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon, made entirely from estate-grown fruit, is made only in exceptional vintages when Winiarski and Winemaker Nicki Pruss determine that the optimal expression of vintage and terroir can be achieved. It was first produced in 1974.

Rocca Family Vineyards and Cope Family Center offers a special tasting at Rocca’s tasting room at 1130 Main St., Napa, 5-9 tonight. Tasting fee is $10 with proceeds going to Cope. Rocca will also donate 20 percent of all sales made during the evening to Cope.

Stave Wine Lounge hosts Mahoney Vineyards Saturday, with all of Mahoney’s Carneros estate wines being offered for tasting, starting at 5 p.m. Fee is $10, and all of the wines will also be available for sale at special pricing. Stave is at 1149 First St., Napa.

The Napa Valley Vintners and Napa Valley Grapegrowers join forces for an “Afternoon in the Vineyards” Saturday.

Seven vineyards will be open 2-5 p.m., and the vineyard managers will talk about growing practices, solar energy, biodynamic faming and even how sheep help make great wine.

Open Vineyards include Grgich Hills Estate Vineyard on South Kelly Road in American Canyon; Trefethen Family Vineyards, 1160 Oak Knoll Road, Napa; William Hill Estate, 1761 Atlas Peak Road, Napa; Starmont Winery, 1451 Stanly Lane, Napa; Rocca Family Vineyards, at Silverado Trail and Yountville Cross Road; Frog’s Leap, 8815 Conn Creek Road, Rutherford; and Ehlers Estate, 3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena.

 

The E-Auction portion of Auction Napa Valley opens for bidding May 25. Those interested can register online now for a preview of the lots. More than 75 lots are offered, including wine, vintner-hosted events and dining experiences, and many of the wines are in the hard-to-find category. Info, www.napavintners.com

The Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation-MidAtlantic has appointed Tom Shelton, president and CEO of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, to its board of directors.

Shelton, who has been president of Joseph Phelps Vineyards since 1995, is a native of the Washington, D.C., area and spent many years working for Washington and Maryland wine merchants before moving to California in 1986. He was the emcee of the 2006 Taste of the Stars gala, Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation-MidAtlantic’s largest fundraiser.

 

Allan O. Hunter has joined the board of directors of Inertia Beverage Group, a provider of technology that assists wineries in managing direct sales.

Hunter was the co-founder of Rent.com, the nation’s largest apartment listing Web site, which was acquired by eBay in 2005 for $433 million. He also was co-founder of Oasis Residential Inc., a real estate investment trust, and has served as a director of the national Multi-Housing Council.

Rick Durette has been appointed vice president and national director of sales for Wilson Daniels Ltd. , a St. Helena-based sales and marketing company representing a number of prestigious wine producers in California, Oregon, France, Italy, Hungary, New Zealand and Australia.

The position is a new one. Durette served as vice president of sales for Wilson Daniels’ Western Division. He joined the company in 2006, after working with Artisan & Estates and Regal Wine Company of Jackson Enterprises. He has been in the wine distribution business since 1986.

Wilson Daniels also has added Castello di Volpaia, in the Chanti Classico region of Tuscany, to its portfolio. The winery is within the walls of the village of Volpaia, which was built in the 11th century.

Submit items for Toast of the Valley to On Wine editor Sasha Paulsen, spaulsen@napanews.com