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Inside a #FOMO-Inducing Napa Valley Wine and Dine Experience

Sponsored: a trip to Blackbird vineyards with Bon Appétit and BMW.
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Nader Khouri

What happens when BA takes a few of our friends to Napa and attempts to drink our way through Blackbird’s best vineyards and eat our way through Matt Lightner’s newest menu? We wind up really, really full (and happy).

Don’t worry, we’ve compiled the highlights of the excursion in all their cascading hills, expressive sips and two-Michelin star meal glory.

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    In Vino Veritas

    Award-winning winemaker Aaron Pott takes guests to Shifflett Estate Vineyards, the first stop on the private tour.

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    The Ultimate Driving Machine

    Guests drive to Stagecoach Vineyard at Atlas Peak in the BMW 7 Series Ultimate Driving Machine.

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    Gang’s All Here

    Guests arrived at the Blackbird Vineyard Oak Knoll House and Big Barn to sample the wines they had been learning about.

    From left to right: Nataly Cavagnaro and Manuel Sattig from BMW, Winemaker Aaron Pott and BA’s Deputy Editor Andrew Knowlton

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    It’s A Best-Cellar

    The 2014 Blackbird Vineyards Arriviste Rosé on display at the Blackbird Vineyard Oak Knoll House and Big Barn.

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    It's Wine-O’Clock Somewhere

    Greg DeLeo, Marketing Director at Blackbird, gets ready to give guests a taste of the 2014 Blackbird Vineyards Arriviste Rose.

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    California Dreaming

    Blackbird Big Barn where guests sampled the 2014 Blackbird Vineyards Arriviste Rosé, the 2013 Blackbird Vineyards Arise Proprietary Red Blend and the 2012 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration.

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    Wine and Dine

    The day culminated with an evening at Ninebark, chef Matt Lightner’s new restaurant in Napa, where guests indulged in a custom menu featuring custom wine pairings from Blackbird.

    From the left to right: Matt Lightner, BA’s Deputy Editor Andrew Knowlton

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    Don’t Clam Up

    The menu kicked off with Clam Flatbreads that included pickled manila clams, watermelon radish, chervil, parmesan on grilled flatbread.

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    Best Dressed

    A salad of lettuce roots and broccoli, smoked cheddar cheese, green goddess dressing was paired with the 2014 Blackbird Vineyards Arriviste Rosé.

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    Grape Expectations

    Guests sipped on the 2014 Blackbird Vineyard Dissonance Sauvignon Blanc.

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    Eye on the Prize

    The main included an Aged Rib Eye with a gravy of smoked and toasted grains that was paired with the 2012 Blackbird Vineyards Paramour Proprietary Red and the 2008 Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian Proprietary Red.

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    One-of-a-Kind Gifts

    Guests received limited edition engraved bottles of the 2013 Blackbird Vineyards Arise Proprietary Red Blend as a parting gift.