Welcome - Academy 2026 Mid-Year Meeting Napa

“Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Dear Academy Family,

Ginger and I would like to invite you all to join us in Yountville, CA, in the heart of the Napa wine region, for our 2026 Mid-Year Meeting. Our host accommodations for this exciting week of events, the renowned Estate Yountville, is a "romantic and luxurious lifestyle destination set on a picturesque 22-acre village within a village." Step outside the well-appointed Estate Yountville, and you will find a wonderfully intimate, walkable community measuring only 1.5 square miles, filled with fabulous restaurants, a plethora of vineyards, local galleries, and boutique shops offering a multitude of choices for Napa keepsakes.

Start your morning with a visit to the famous Bouchon Bakery owned by renowned chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry. With offerings of one-of-a-kind breads, pastries, and coffee, place your order, find an outdoor bench, and relax as you savor the sights of this community's peaceful main street. But go early, this gem is no secret to visitors or locals alike.

All things "outdoors" can be found and enjoyed in the community of Yountville and its surrounding area. Cycling and walking trails, hot air balloon rides, art and sculpture walks with rotating exhibits featuring local and world-renowned artists, golfing, and nature and wildlife viewing are just a few offerings that might interest any visitor to the area.

We hope to provide you, our Academy family, with the opportunity for memorable tastings at vineyards offering highly allocated wines, some unknown to many who visit Napa.

As for dining in Yountville, the sky is the limit! Known as the "Culinary Capital" of Napa Valley, one might find choosing a dining experience an impossible task! With offerings of farm-to-table ingredients, nationally recognized award-winning chefs, and exceptional restaurant ratings, one can never go wrong with any choice made.

So much to see and do, and with so little time, please join us in taking advantage of everything the Napa wine region has to offer. Whether it's enjoying wonderful speakers, fabulous wines, and gourmet food, or just being together with your Academy family, we promise Napa will be a memorable experience.

We hope to see you there,