The excitement is building at Louis M. Martini Winery! It’s that time of year again where the Martini family and staff are busy as bees gearing up for their annual Fourth of July celebration which features delicious wines, live music and great food. And this year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever as 2010 marks the 15th anniversary of the Martini extravaganza. This patriotic event for the local community and visitors to the Napa Valley is one of the greatest fireworks demonstrations in Northern California!

It begins with a tasting of some of Martini’s newly released wines, paired with delicious hors d’oeuvres from a variety of St. Helena’s fine purveyors; Sunshine Foods, C.C. Blue Sushi, Market and Villa Corona. Louis M. Martini Winery has been making wine since the end of Prohibition in 1933 so they really know what they’re doing! Their limited production 2009 No. 254 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé is hand crafted in the micro-winery Cellar 254, it’s aromas of strawberry and honeysuckle signal the start of summer. Another great wine they’ll be pouring is the 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This rich and distinctive wine received 90 points from Robert Parker and will be a great complement to grilled meats off the barbecue.

For Founder’s Club members, they’ll be delving into the wine library and pouring older vintages of Cabernets and old vine Zinfandel at a reception hosted by third-generation Winemaker Mike Martini and his team. Then there’s a family-style Napa Valley BBQ dinner with homemade desserts and ice cream. Guests will be entertained by live music throughout the evening and the winery gardens will play host to activities for children.  After dinner, you just sit back, relax and be dazzled by the fireworks show as guests enjoy the very best views from the winery grounds.

Carolyn Martini, Louis M. Martini’s granddaughter and Community Affairs Director for the winery, explains why this evening means so much to her: “You cannot give too much back to the town that supported your family, watched you grow up, put up with you.  This is something I absolutely love.  This is something I want to give to my hometown. This party and fireworks has made 4th of July my favorite holiday.”

Carolyn first saw professional fireworks in Italy with her grandfather in 1962.  They were celebrating the birthday of the Virgin Mary with a parade, celebration and fireworks. She said to herself “Wow...I have to figure out how to get me some!”  In the early years the fireworks show was quite a small affair, just ‘torch and launch’ but with the support of good wine industry friends, Bob Trinchero and Jim Prager, it’s grown into one of Wine Country’s most spectacular evenings. Pyro-technician Bill Cook is responsible for choreographing the fireworks to music using state of the art computer technology.  Brilliant at what he does, he even teaches classes in designing fireworks shows and the Martini show is his one year long hobby. The music is also broadcast live on local radio 88.1 FM so don’t forget to tune in if you’re watching from your own backyard!

The Martini Fourth of July Celebration begins at 7 p.m. and concludes at 10 p.m. Tickets are $110 for the general public and $85 for Founder’s Club Members. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Wine Club office at 1-866-549-2582 or email info@louismartini.com. Tickets are also available for purchase on the website www.louismartini.com.

There’s always something worth trying at Louis M. Martini’s tasting room. Their Cabernet and Chocolates pairing is very popular, featuring award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons with artisan chocolate truffles from Annette’s of Napa. Just launched is their Cabernet Experience – what they like to call edu-tainment! It’s an in-depth tasting that takes guests through the finer points of Cabernet Sauvignon in an intimate and hands on setting. You learn why Napa Valley is one of the best places in the world for growing Cabernet and get to challenge your friends in their wine knowledge through an evolving series of games all focusing on the Napa Valley’s king of grapes!  A peek at some of the educational tools involved in will be available for guests at the Fourth of July celebration. This experience is $40 by reservation, please call 1-866-549-2582 further details. As Mike Martini says, “Cabernet Sauvignon…it’s what we do” so you can trust you’ll be in good hands here!