Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/348155
B M & T ••• May/June 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 14 ley.com/wineries-jamieson_ranch_vineyards_518.htm "We picked Jamieson because we knew we would get folks from the Bay driving up that day. It's the southern most winery in Napa Valley. It's the quick- est to get to for a quick day trip. It's the closest winery to the Bay area. Next, the setting is spectacular. Third, they have the room to expand this thing. They have these big open fields." Culbertson chose the Lincoln Theater because it was both large enough and intimate enough for the atmosphere he wanted to create. "Lincoln Theater is not too big," said Culbertson. "There is no bad seat. The sound is perfect. It looks great. I like mixing it up. I like having events indoors and outdoors. Thursday night is going to be Jazz Legends Night. It will be more inti- mate. It's harder to command the attention of an outdoor audience. So to see an Earl Klugh, Dave Grus in and a Ritenour (Lee) it was appropriate to be in a the- ater. I wanted funk night to be it's own thing – lets keep that in the theater. I've started these Thursday and Friday night traditions. Saturday and Sunday is all kinds of stuff." The Jazz Legends Night will also include special guests Eric Marienthal and David Benoit. The Friday Night Funk Night on June 13 begins with a silent auction bene- fit ing the GRAMMY Foundation and complimentary wine tasting for all atten- dees. The auction will be followed by performances by The Ohio Players and special guest comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans. Culbertson is very clear about why he wanted to produce such an event. "I wanted to create one that was unique and different and that's what I did," said Culbertson. "A typical jazz fest goes something like this - You show up, there are 10,000 people sitting outside, nine acts come on, they play and then they leave. Mine is not like that whatsoever. Ours is an intimate show in theaters each night. Everyday we have an outdoor party then go to a winery and play in a wine cave. We hang out at night with artists and fans. Last year on Friday we played golf. We also had a cigar event at a port winery. It's just all t hese different, inter- esting things. Everybody that comes gets an access card – a two for one tasting. Come and do some wine tasting. There's food, wine and golf. We're doing it Napa lifestyle. It's not a jazz festival, it's a lifestyle event. It's completely unique. No one else is doing anything like it." Like the Pinot Noir he formulated, Culbertson is convinced he's hit on just the right recipe to m ake his jazz getaway a success. "When I came up with this concept, it was about being creative, being awe- some and creating stimulating experiences," said Culbertson. "It's about a hear- ing, sight, taste and sensory overload for five days." www.NapaVaalleyJazzGetaway.me exactly what I wanted. I had been randomly thinking about things. June 2012 was the first one. It was small, maybe 250 people in a theater. We didn't want to go crazy year one because you never know. We announced it and it sold out in a week - four months in advance. That's when we decided to expand it. Although we're now using larger venues, it will still have an intimate feel. Napa is about feeling the outdoors. We are going to seat people in between grapevines. If you're on the edge reach out and grab some grapes." The marriage of wine and jazz suits Culbertson well. Culbertson, the founder and artistic director of the Getaway, isn't just taking in the scenery in Napa Valley. He immersed himself into the region and recently introduced his own Culbertson Pinot Noir, which he custom blended in partnership with Jamieson Ranch Vineyards and Reata Wines of Napa, California. "It kind of made sense having these festivals," said Culbertson. "I've been a wine lover for so many years. I know what I like. The more I tasted and tried and understood, the more I wanted to do something. Especially since having the festival, it was good to have product out there. Everything there is something I'm excited about. I had t he opportunity to work with Jamieson Ranch, which was exciting. The Jamieson Ranch put out Reata Wines." For Culbertson, developing his wine was both fun and enlightening. "I got to blend six different Pinot grapes to create this one wine," explained Culbertson. "It was an educational process. They have six different grapes, taken from a specific part of land. They have a distinct characteristic. You can create a full flavor. One by itself isn't that good, but blending it makes it very good. For a few hours I would sit there and taste each one individually. This one is more cherry and has a fruity explosion. I wrote down what I thought. After I tried all six, I rated them from my favorite to my least favorite. Then I thought about which percentage of each would work. It was 50% of this and 25% of t hat. We mixed it up and I tried it and then I slightly changed it, making it better and bet- ter. If that didn't work, I'd just say, 'let me try it again.' It's very cool to have a wine. It's me. It's nice." A contemporary jazz/R&B/funk musician, instrumentalist, producer and performer from Decatur, Culbertson, who has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 16 years, plays the keyboard, piano, trombone , drums, bass, trum- pet, euphonium and percussion. Oh, and he also has a passion for getting away and a passion for wine. The official Getaway host hotel is The Westin Napa Verasa. The shows taking place on June 12 & 13 are at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, which holds 1,200 and the June 14 and 15 shows are on the grounds of the 300-acre Jamieson Ranch Vineyards. http://www .visitnapaval-