First-Class in Wine Country
By Meghan Schulze, Account Manager, IMI Agency | October 16, 2025
Meghan Schulze, Caroline Vargas, Andrea Schaefer at Foley Johnson
After a beautiful, long Labor Day weekend, the trifecta of NAOP – supplier, distributor, and agency account manager – took to the vineyards of Sonoma and Napa Valley to experience the best that Foley Family Wines & Spirits has to offer. Andrea Schaefer, Director of National Accounts On Premise, graciously hosted Caroline Vargas (Director of National Accounts On-Premise, Hotels of Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits) and myself (Account Manager at IMI Agency) for what can only be described as a first-class experience with the Foley Family portfolio.
It was the best jam-packed two days anyone could imagine.
A classic tasting at Ferrari-Carano welcomed us as we wandered the Italian-inspired villa, sipped Fumé Blanc, and admired a real, live cork tree. Trade Relations Ambassador Korina Heller, a native Californian, shared her expertise on the evolution of Foley Family Wines within the industry. At Chalk Hill Vineyard, Korina guided us from the main tasting room into an open-air Hummer, driving past Bill and Carol Foley’s family home, winding up the vineyard roads, and stopping at the Estate’s Overlook to take in breathtaking views. Have you ever tried a Sauvignon Gris grape? We highly recommend it.
Wrapping up day one at Chateau St. Jean for happy hour was exactly what the doctor ordered. If the word “chateau” appeared in the dictionary, St. Jean’s stunning property would surely be the picture beside it. Historic, European, and apparently haunted? The weather and wine were on point.
But the Foley family is more than just wine. Not only do they own and operate the Foley Family Entertainment Group – including the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team – but they embody the meaning of hospitality with every venture. MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, our humble home for the trip, is one of the Foley’s luxury hotels near downtown Sonoma that can only be described as a grand compound. The manicured gardens and patios, illuminated by string lights and fire pits, invited us to enjoy a nightcap and gourmet dessert by Executive Pastry Chef Amy Garcia at Layla, The Bar and Porch.
Wednesday brought us to the “Rodeo Drive of Wine,” St. Helena Highway. Foley Johnson is a passion project of Bill Foley and Carol [Johnson] Foley, focusing on a luxury Bordeaux style expressed in an intimate, boutique setting. Our host, Renee Romaneck, who felt like a distant family historian, delighted us with stories and poured a remarkable lineup of wines. We walked the vineyard, learning how terroir and soil shape the Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Peral (pear) Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon we were about to savor — and savor we did.
After an incredible lunch, Renee continued our private museum-like tour at Silverado Vineyards next to the Napa River. If you knew that Silverado Vineyards was established by the Disney family, congratulations – we certainly didn’t! It’s not a homage to the family name by any means, but once you know that little tidbit, you start to notice subtle influences here and there. And while Chalk Hill certainly impressed, Silverado may have offered the most stunning views of the trip. As we tasted through their iconic portfolio, Renee seamlessly became the group’s geographer, pulling out a topographical map to illustrate the progression of the region and the birth of Napa in the 1800’s.
I think the best description I can use to wrap it all up in a bow would be: an exceptional, enlightening, and intimate experience with some of the most impressive and enjoyable women in the business. Thank you for making us part of your family, Foleys!
