Destination Cellars Announces Winery Partner Awards

By: Destination Club News
Date: December 4, 2009

Closing in on 2010, Destination Cellars, the only destination club focused on luxury wine and dining, has announced their inaugural winery partners of the year. The club selected its winners through several criteria, including:

• Feedback from clients regarding winery visits and experiences
• Partner's willingness to participate in Destination Cellar events
• Partner's charitable contributions
• Partner's eagerness to be involved in new programs and offerings
• Highly acclaimed and rated wines

With over 100 winery partners around the globe, Destination Cellars had the enviable task of reviewing each to ascertain their National and International Winery Partners of the Year.

National Winery Partner of the Year - Lail Vineyards

Well over a century old, Lail Vineyards has "repeatedly gone above and beyond to support Destination Cellars and our clients over the last two years," said David Keuhner, the club's Founder. The Napa Valley based winery is led today by Robin Lail, who began her five year apprenticeship in 1977, beginning an extensive career that includes co-founding Dominus in 1982 and Merryvale Vineyards in 1983. In 1995, Lail and her sister, Marcia Smith, sold their interests in the two wineries and established Lail Vineyards.

"Today we make four wines," said Lail in a recent video produced with Destination Cellars. "We make two Cabernets and two Sauvignon Blancs. I am really thrilled with the wines we are making. Just the business of being able to do it. Just being able to make this wine, to carry forward this tradition."

International Winery Partner of the Year - Altesino

Hailing from Montalcino, Italy, Altesino and Mr. Guido Orzalesi have delighted members of Destination Cellars throughout the year, going the extra mile for wine enthusiasts. Opening the doors to his personal home and spending hours teaching clients about the wonderful Brunello wines, Orzalesi holds a doctorate in law from the University of Florence. Working in real estate, Orzalesi would join Claudio Basla in 2003 at Altesino, bringing his passion for food and wine to the winery.

With a mission to "provide wine, food and travel enthusiasts exclusive and personalized access to the most prestigious and elusive vineyards and winery properties around the world," Destination Cellars was founded in 2006 and remains one of the most active clubs in the destination club industry. In 2009, Destination Cellars sponsored golfers Parker McLachlin and Meaghan Francella, partnered with JG Black Book, helped support early detection and a cure for melanoma, and are currently working on a new online proprietary portal.