Local Event

Winemaker Popup! WHITEHALL LANE

Cost: $60

About This Event

Whitehall Lane Winery isn't just another Napa Valley label — it's a 3-generation family legacy rooted in the Rutherford AVA. For decades, the Leonardini family has crafted some of the region's most acclaimed wines: world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and what many consider one of Rutherford's finest Sauvignon Blancs.

Every bottle starts with 100% estate fruit from their Napa Green–certified vineyards, farmed using sustainable and organic practices. It's a soil-to-bottle commitment to quality that shows in every glass.

Winemaker Jason Moulton is bringing that same accessible, unpretentious approach — the one that earned Whitehall Lane the title of "Best Tasting Room in Napa Valley" — straight to Santa Monica. This is Whitehall Lane's first Los Angeles Grape Night popup, and your chance to taste 3 generations of family winemaking without the drive to Napa Valley!

Expect elegant reds, crisp whites, and the stories behind each one. Limited to 40 guests. We will be tasting through 5 of their acclaimed wines.

VENUE + FOOD

We will be taking over the patio, which has its own entrance, and is conveniently located near the valet.

Chelsea Restaurant in beautiful Santa Monica serves acclaimed New American cuisine shaped by global influences. Purchase from their full menu all night — pair Whitehall Lane wines with chef-driven dishes on their beautiful patio.

The Wine Lineup

2025 Semillon (retail $35)

On the nose, this wine evokes baked apple pie, Anjou pears, lemon peel, starfruit, melon, fresh cut hay, and a touch of wheatgrass. Its palate is texturally driven, giving round and waxy impressions coupled with fresh yellow nectarines, citrus, sweet tarts, roasted hazelnuts, and finishes with a salinity that makes you want fresh oysters to pair with it.

2024 Dijon Clone Chardonnay (retail $70)

This Sonoma Stage Vineyard Dijon Clone Chardonnay from the Petaluma Gap AVA has attractive aromas of grilled yellow nectarines, lemon curd, baked apples, sweet lemongrass, butterscotch, fresh croissant and hints of crushed limestone. It is built to be a full-bodied, rich and sophisticated Chardonnay with a long, creamy finish. Its palate offers Golden Delicious apples, Bartlett pears, fresh baked biscuits, marzipan and a roasted hazelnut finish. 

2024 Avec Amis Pinot Noir (Tasting room only!)

An expressive, limited-production red wine crafted from estate fruit, primarily sourced from cool-climate vineyards in the Petaluma Gap.

2023 Mancino Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon (retail $78)

The 2023 Mancino Lanciatore is a stunning wine of power and concentration. Its name translated from Italian means “left-handed thrower” and is an ode to our proprietor Thomas Leonardini Sr. and several other left-handed Leonardinis. On the nose, it evokes rich aromas of black cherries, crème de cassis, figs, black olives and hints of tobacco leaf. Its palate provides smooth, plush tannins alongside blackberries, mixed berry cobbler, almond croissant, dark chocolate and a touch of cinnamon. This wine has big shoulders, and we recommend decanting for a few hours before enjoying it, or cellar for 10-15 years.

2023 Leonardini Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (retail $90)

This 2023 Leonardini Estate wine is a complex Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend. It begins on the nose bursting with black currants, fig, blackberry jam, vanilla bean, clove, nutmeg and a touch of star anise. Its balance and mid-palate are most notable, providing smooth, plush tannins alongside its dense fruit character. On the palate, it delivers black cherries, raspberry croissant, plums, toasted brioche, baking spices, bay leaf and graphite. The beautiful underlying tannin structure, complexity and ample fruit will evolve over time and age gracefully for 15-20 years. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

6pm: Doors open

6:30pm: Intro by host sommelier Elias Cuevas. Then Jason gets on the mic! First of 5 wines is poured.

8:30pm: Event ends and the party continues inside the Chelsea bar!Use referral code NAUSHADEB at check out for a discount to first time purchasers!

MUST BE 21+

RESTAURANTS FOR MENU IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM ALL EVENING

LIMITED TO 40 GUESTS ONLY!

Tags

• event
• wine tasting
• santa monica
• Things to do in Santa Monica, CA
• California Wine & Food Events
• Santa Monica Wine & Food Events