Photo Credit: Natalie Schrik for Drew Altizer Photography
On Saturday, October 4, Sullivan Rutherford Estate hosted an intimate gathering celebrating the intersection of fine wine, world-class artistry, and hospitality excellence, beginning with a rare creative experience led by celebrated Oaxacan artists Jacobo and María Ángeles.
Their intricate alebrijes, hand-carved and vividly painted wooden figures, have been exhibited internationally, including a large-scale installation at Rockefeller Center in New York. Guests at the event were guided through a private painting session, creating their own pieces under the artists’ personal mentorship.
At noon, the estate opened its lawn for an elegant reception and luncheon. Winemaker Jeff Cole, General Manager Joshua Lowell, Director of Sales and Client Relations Erin Callahan, and Managing Partner Juan Pablo Torres Padilla hosted a multi-course seasonal luncheon prepared by Executive Chef Jim Leiken of Poetry Inn Napa Valley.
With nearly three decades of experience alongside culinary icons Daniel Boulud, Michael Anthony, and Cindy Pawlcyn, Chef Leiken crafted a menu that reflected the terroir and spirit of Sullivan’s wines—served among the vines and golden hillsides of Rutherford.
Guests were also treated to a special tasting of Loco Tequila, an ultra-premium agave spirit celebrated for its craftsmanship. Sara Rowan, general manager of Loco Tequila USA, unveiled the collaboration between Loco Tequila and the Ángeles family: four distinct bottle designs, each representing a creature found in the agave fields: a coyote, a serpent, a hummingbird, and a bat. Each bottle is paired with a matching alebrije, symbolizing the seamless blend of Mexican artistry and agave tradition.
During dessert, guests savored Loco Ámbar, a rare blend of Loco Blanco aged in four distinct barrels: French oak, Pedro Ximénez sherry, tawny port, and Irish whiskey, creating a profile both agave-forward and complex.
Callahan took a moment to acknowledge the heart behind the estate’s excellence—its hospitality team. From Jill Trego, the estate’s head concierge and experience curator, to Eddie Gutierrez, head of hospitality, and team members Laura Cropper, Maya Moreno, Cuquita Dalla Brea, and Sonia Pulido, every detail reflected their dedication to creating an unforgettable experience for guests.
Collectors also had the rare chance to acquire a hand-painted three-liter 2017 J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the only bottle hand-painted by Jacobo Ángeles, and a limited three-pack of 2015 J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot, each bottle signed by the Oaxacan artists, as well as by Winemaker Cole and Chef Leiken.
Among the notable attendees were Sonya Molodetskaya, Laura DePasquale, MS, Hugo Colpart, Elmy Bermejo, Elmy Bermejo Jr., Scotti Stark, and Agnes Cohade, all sharing in a day that celebrated the artistry and hospitality at the heart of Napa Valley.