Keller, owner of Bouchon restaurant in Yountville, has entered into an exclusive agreement to oversee all on-site special events and private dining at both Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa. All aspects of group dining will be addressed from intimate wine dinners and corporate events for 20 to weddings and charity balls for 1,000. 

"This year, more than 18,000 of the 50,000 guestroom nights sold by Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa will be occupied by upscale corporate and social groups, driving an increasing demand for catered events of the finest quality. The demand for one-of-a-kind Napa Valley destination weddings is also on the rise and the new alliance will be equipped to deliver that unparalleled experience," said Director of Sales & Marketing Stephen Andrews. 

"The venture is just a natural fit. It's the commitment of two organizations with a shared passion for excellence in service and hospitality," says Chef Thomas Keller. 

Echoing Chef Keller, David Shipman, Managing Director for Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa notes, "This long-term venture is about partnering with people who want to create world-class hospitality in Napa Valley." 

New 16,000-Square-Foot Alfresco Vineyard Pavilion Set to Debut 

The partnership coincides with the hotel's new Vineyard Pavilion, a premier 16,000-square-foot outdoor venue designed by nationally acclaimed landscape architect Jack Chandler of Jack Chandler & Associates. The Vineyard Pavilion, opening in early 2006, features a dual garden architectural design with a central flowing waterway surrounded by vineyards, flowering elm and magnolia trees. The two adjoining gardens of the Vineyard Pavilion offer distinctly different settings. The West Garden, with a bridal path and wedding pavilion, is ideally suited to grand events. The East Garden, with its Victorian gazebo, is perfect for more intimate functions and ceremonies. 

In addition to the spectacular Vineyard Pavilion, Vintage Estate also offers 10,000 square feet of other diverse and flexible event space in a choice of six distinctive venues, including well-appointed conference rooms and the 2,600-square-foot Historic Barrel Room. 

"We have a shared vision to establish a new standard for excellence in quality and distinctive service for special event and private dining in America's food and wine capital, Napa Valley. So if the finest epicurean experience is what you seek, come to Yountville -- that's our message," says Shipman. 

The new Bouchon-Vintage Estate Hotels Catering venture will maintain on-site management offices in Yountville. Daily operations will be jointly directed by Mary Crowe, General Manager for Vintage Estate Hotels; Nicolas Kurban, Director of Operations for Bouchon; and Jeffrey Cerciello, Executive Chef for Bouchon. Catered event and private dining menus will offer the renowned French cuisine of Executive Chef Cerciello. 

Located in the center of the Napa Valley town of Yountville, Vintage Estate Hotels operates the 112-room Tuscan-inspired Villagio Inn & Spa, its sister property, the 80-room French country-style Vintage Inn, and the historic Vintage 1870 specialty retail and office complex operated under the Vintage Estate brand.