Press Room

Contact:  Monty J. Sander
vox 707.253.8503
fax707.253.8501
emaxmonsan@aol.com

HISTORIC NAPA MILL OFFERSTOTAL ENTERTAINMENT ON THE NAPA RIVER
RESTAURANTS, MARKET AND PLAZA TO OPEN

May, 2002, Napa Valley California - The historic Napa Mill projection the Napa River is nearing completion of the multi-faceted, two-and-one-half acre riverside entertainment complex.  Originally built in 1884 and designated a National Registry Historic Landmark, the Napa Mill project is the largest historic redevelopment undertaking in the history of Napa.  The Napa River Inn, Napa’s only upscale boutique hotel, opened in June, 2000. Two new restaurants are slated to open in July and August and the long-awaited gourmet market complex will open by July.  Rounding out plans for a total-entertainment property, the Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival will make its2002 summer home on the Riverbend Plaza stage and romantic Venetian gondola rides on the Napa River begin May 4.

Restaurants.  Greg Cole is moving his popular Celadon restaurant to the Napa Mill and will be open for business in early July.  Chef Cole has been cooking in the wine country for nearly twenty years.  A 1983 graduate of the Culinary Institute of Americaat Hyde Park, he came to Napa Valley to work in the kitchen of Domaine Chandonwith Chef Philippe Jeanty.  He went on to positions as chef at Pasta Prego and Piatti-Sonoma. 

In September of 1996 Chef Cole and his wife, Elizabeth Fairbairn, opened Celadon restaurant in downtown Napa, specializing in "global comfort food." Celadon has been widely acclaimed both locally and nationally. Celadon received a three star rating in The San Francisco Examiner and four stars in The Santa Rosa Press Democrat. In 1998 Chef Cole was selected as one of the twenty-four "hottest young chefs" in America by The Wine Spectator magazine. USA TODAY chose Celadon as one of the 'ten great places to dine at the bar' in the December 8, 2000 edition. Celadon received the Zagat Survey "Award of Distinction" for 2001 and has been a Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" recipient for the innovative and eclectic wine list.

One of the legendary Bay Area restaurant families is opening Angéle, an elegant “French farmhouse” restaurant at the Napa Mill.  Claude Rouas, first known for his original L’Etoile in the Huntington Hotel in San Francisco, with daughters Bettina and Claudia will open their new venture in mid-August.  Rouas is a principal, the vice-president and a founder of the internationally acclaimed Auberge du Soleil resort as well as the Ristorante Piatti group.  Mr. Rouas trained at Maxim’s and the Hotel Meurice in Paris and is a member of the Restaurant Hall of Fame.  Daughter Bettina has been responsible for the front-of-the-house in some of the most famous dining establishments in the Napa Valley, in-cluding The French Laundry, Bistro Jeanty, and most recently, as general manager of the popular Bistro Don Giovanni.  In addition to her role at the new restaurant, Claudia Rouas will continue as Vice President-Retail Operations for Niebaum-Coppola Estate.

Market.  Jill & Jim Brandt, owners of restaurants in San Francisco, have a planned opening date of July 1 for the Napa General Store at the Napa Mill.  Their concept is best summed up bythe their tagline "where the wine & river meet."  The 4,530 square foot space being completed by the Brandts will include “gourmet-to-go” as well as onsite dining both inside and on the riverside terrace.  The Napa General Store will feature offerings from the brick pizza oven and wood-fired rotisserie, a Bonavita coffee/espresso bar, a 28-foot wine bar, delicatessen, as well as gourmet packaged foods and specialty merchandise.  Creative picnic baskets to-order and gourmet-to-go fare ready to pick-up will be available for the busy home entertainer, and Napa General Store will offer regular tastings of featured seasonal products.  In addition, the Napa General Store can cater private events inside the market or on the Riverbend Plaza.

Venetian Gondolas.  Aprile & Angelino Sandri, Gondola Servizio, began cruises on the Napa River from the 4th Street dock near the Napa Mill in authentic Venetian gondolas on May 4.  Angelino immersed himself in the construction and operation of gondolas in Venice for 15 years before bringing his dream to the US.  The Napa River will be one of only three locations in the United States where guests can ride in a genuine gondola made in Venice.  And with Angelino at the helm, his educational background in theatre will guarantee an authentic experience.  He has a complete collection of historic costumes and sings Italian folksongs as well as operatic selections.  Gondola Servizio will offer half-hour ($55) and full-hour($125) river packages and will begin romantic packages with picnics from Napa General Store beginning July 1. 

Entertainment. The Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival has moved to the Napa Mill for its 2002 season and will perform As You Like It and Othello on the outdoor stage of the Riverbend Plaza beginning July 19.  Guests staying in a limited number rooms in the building overlooking the Riverbend Plaza stage will have private “opera box seats” with their theater package.  Food from Celadon and the Napa General Store will be available for pre-theater al fresco dining.

The Napa River Inn as part of the entertainment consists of 66 luxury rooms on the picturesque two-and-one-half acre riverside site.  All accommodations at the Napa River Inn include complimentary California breakfast at Sweetie Pies Bakery, also onsite, or the Napa General Store and many have fireplaces and river views.
Services available to the Napa River Inn guest include in-room massage and signature concierge services for the Napa Valley’s wide range of winery, restaurant, golf, hot-air ballooning, glider and horseback riding opportunities when making reservations.

Greenhaus Spa onsite at the Napa River Inn features a broad scope of health and beauty spa treatments, including facials, masks, peels, waxing, massage, wraps and a complete program of spa packages. 

Open Window Gifts & Flowers rounds out the amenities avail-able at the Napa Mill property.

With the nearby $70million COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts only a short walk away, the Jarvis Music Conservatory up the street, the Napa Valley Opera House restoration just two blocks away and the Napa Wine Train across the river, hotel guests have a wide selection entertainment.

Visitors may arrive at the Napa Mill project via boat on the Napa River and use the City of Napa River dock.  The newly approved $250,000,000 Napa River Restoration Project, to be completed over the course of the next seven years, will add a series of river trails, water access and nature hikes to the broad complement of activities for Napa River Inn guests.

The Napa Mill is located at 500 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559.  For more information, please call 707.251.8500, toll-free877.251.8500 or visit the website at www.napariverinn.com.