Don't miss this opportunity to relish in the best that the wine and culinary worlds have to offer with our delectable winemaker dinner at Blackbird. Enjoy the special selection of white wines from  Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, while being accompanied by Winemaker, Natalie West, and enjoy an exquisite dinner from Executive Chef Travis Watson. The evening begins with a meet & greet reception on the patio, followed by a four course dinner in Blackbird. Each course is carefully curated by Chef Travis to perfectly pair with these superb wines.

About Natalie

Growing up on a small family vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, Natalie spent time helping tend to the vines and learned from a young age her love of vineyards and the wine industry.

After earning a degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis a Natalie worked several internships that led her to New Zealand, San Martin, Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley where she joined Ferrari-Carano in 2005 as an Enologist at the Prevail winery. Natalie became Assistant Winemaker for Ferrari-Carano red wines, and most recently was brought to the Estate winery in Dry Creek Valley to oversee the Ferrari-Carano white wine production.

Expect the unexpected during each new full moon with inventive cocktails by legendary mixologist Devon Espinosa. With personalized Tarot card readings and Runes readings, there's no telling what exciting experiences will unfold during the Cold Moon. Let your crazy out and vibe to Val-Mar Records spinning vinyl, play some classic board games and get lost in the experience.

This is a free event, but feel free to RSVP and follow Hotel Californian on Instagram for the latest news and highlights.

Don't miss this opportunity to relish in the best that the wine and culinary worlds have to offer with our delectable winemaker dinner at Blackbird. Enjoy the special selection of Banshee Wines, while being accompanied by Vice President of Wine Making Mari Wells Coyle, and enjoy an exquisite dinner from Executive Chef Travis Watson. The evening begins with a meet & greet reception on the patio, followed by a four course dinner in Blackbird. Each course is carefully curated by Chef Travis to perfectly pair with these superb wines.

Mari Wells Coyle

Raised in Bellingham, Washington, Mari Wells Coyle’s passion for the outdoors started at a young age. Surrounded by picturesque hills and local ingredients, her family celebrated every occasion with a seasonal meal and a special bottle of wine. With a love for both art and science, she was very intrigued by the study of winemaking. Moreover, she desired a career that would allow her to spend time outdoors in a beautiful setting. Mari joins Chateau St. Jean Winery as head winemaker and has developed a true passion for crafting Cabernet and Bordeaux wines and describes her main role as a winemaker “to bring the best fruit to the bottle. Every decision I make is a part of bringing the vineyards to the table in a meaningful way.”

A seasoned veteran with over 20 years of industry experience, Mari first earned her degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis, and accepted her first winemaking position at the age of 24. Since then, she has led several start-up wineries and helped iconic wineries meet modern industry standards which all have led her to Sonoma County and the iconic CSJ winery. Some notable wineries she worked at include David Girard Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards, and most recently One Hope Wine as the Executive Winemaker.

When she is not at the winery, Mari enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, their two sons, and their dog Snoopy. Originally from the Pac Northwest, she is a true outdoor enthusiast and can be found around Sonoma County enjoying biking, hiking, yoga, running, and white-water rafting.