A celebration of motorsports, Michelin-starred food, and award-winning wines in the heart of the valley.
The Napa Event debuted at the end of October, bringing together world-class cars, Michelin-starred food, and award-winning wines for an unforgettable weekend. Inspired by The Palm Event, the Napa Valley Car Club hosted its inaugural celebration, transporting the history and glamour of the Mar-a-Lago gathering to the West Coast. A true car enthusiast may draw similarities to The Quail, an annual motorsport gathering in Pebble Beach where the world’s most prominent automakers unveil their new models and showcase rare supercars and iconic vintage models. In just a few years, it is safe to say we will see The Napa Event grow in grandeur, attracting car collectors and automakers from around the world.
This year, The Napa Event commenced on Friday evening with a welcome party at Caymus Vineyards. The lush floral gardens and grand barrel room were ideal for showcasing the curated mix of rare race cars, vintage Ferraris, and Ford Broncos meticulously updated by Kindred Motorworks. As they mingled among fellow car enthusiasts, guests enjoyed Caymus’s 50th Anniversary Cabernet and hors d’oeuvres from Napa’s Michelin-starred Press Restaurant, including pillowy gnudi, garnished with freshly shaved truffle. The festivities continued inside with a generous array of Caymus wines to choose from at the bar or a sample of the producer’s unreleased 2022 vintage straight from the barrel.
On Saturday, attendees met at One Hope Winery to partake in the Vintage Rallye. Drivers followed a scenic route lined with vineyards and rolling hills, racing safely through Napa Valley. Upon returning to One Hope Winery, the drivers refueled with delicious wines and bites through the early evening.
The weekend culminated with the main event on Sunday: the Historic Display hosted at Inglenook Winery in Rutherford. With a winemaking history dating back to the 1880s, Inglenook represents Napa’s storied past while highlighting modern-day advancements and leadership in Napa—a fitting blend of old and new mirrored in the collection of cars presented on the grand lawn. In 1975, the Coppola family began restoring and reuniting the original Inglenook property, bringing it back to glory with a new state-of-the-art winemaking facility and hiring winemaker Philippe Bascaules of the esteemed Château Marguax in Bordeaux. For the event, the Napa Valley Car Club transformed the grand lawn into a car collector’s dream: the impressive display of vintage racecars and modern supercars brought in by collectors from around the world.
To rev up some excitement for next year’s event, it is important to mention just a few cars that will be making a reappearance. The iconic 1967 Shelby King Cobra was one of three racecars ever built for the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (CanAm). From 1966 to 1987, CanAm was notorious for its “everything is possible” rulebook, which gave automakers endless power in design and creativity. This legendary Shelby is one of two survivors, and the singular racecar with the original engine. Just a few feet away, the Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta was designed to compete in the long distance Mille Miglia race, and brought Ferrari international fame with its successful victory. A highlight among the modern models was the Pagani Zonda. Making its debut in 1999, Pagani quickly rose to acclaim, becoming one of the most famous and rare supercars with unique variants custom-made for special clients. Designed by Horacio Pagani, less than 200 Pagani supercars roam the globe, making it quite a remarkable occasion to see two at The Napa Event.
Although we must wait several more months before The Napa Event returns, The Napa Valley Car Club offers members exclusive automobile rentals, events, and opportunities year-round. The Napa Valley Car Club is not limited to car enthusiasts; it attracts adventure-seekers, luxury and design connoisseurs, and passionate entrepreneurs. One may think of it as a lifestyle community, a membership loosely inspired by the historic St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. Members are not required to be car aficionados, although that may be a shared passion.
The Napa Valley Car Club invites members to communal drives, poker nights, happy hours, and exclusive events around the valley. Their new clubhouse, The Barn, is tucked away in an unassuming warehouse bordering The Napa River. Inside, Ferraris and Porsches sparkle against the industrial framework, and a fully stocked bar invites members to shake up a drink to enjoy in the lounge or on the outdoor veranda. Three tiers of membership include standard social membership, driver membership, and corporate membership, the last focused on winemakers who may utilize the space to host wine tastings and release parties. There is no doubt that The Barn will be throwing some of the most exclusive gatherings this year, so buckle up for more news and enquire about a membership ahead of the “waitlist” traffic!