Looking to host among the vines? California’s many wine regions are buzzing with news, and they might just have the pastoral ambience you’re looking for. Check out the latest from California Wine Country in Santa Maria, Napa, and Lodi.
Set in the Santa Maria Valley on the Central Coast, Presqu’ile Winery is leaning into its creative side with the recent installation of an Inciardi Mini Print Vending Machine in its tasting room. Created by print artist Ana Inciardi, the vending machine dispenses original linocut prints inspired by food, wine, and everyday moments of joy. When attendees feed the machine with a quarter, a print selected at random is dispensed, enhancing the winery experience and giving guests a small, collectible work of art to take home as a keepsake.
“Art, food, and wine have always been deeply connected at Presqu’ile,” says Matt Murphy, the winery’s co-founder, in a prepared statement. “We’re excited to offer our guests another tactile, creative way to engage with the estate. The Inciardi machine is playful, thoughtful, and very much aligned with how we think about hospitality.”
Surrounded by lush landscapes, the winery has several event spaces available to groups. For a private outdoor oasis, The Garden Lounge seats up to 60 with a fire pit, bar, and comfortable lounge furniture. For more intimate events, planners might book The Viewing Terrace for 12-20 attendees, with 360-degree views of the vineyard, as well as the mountains and ocean beyond. Multiple setup options are available, and the space has a private restroom. Adjacent to the main tasting room, the winery also has a private dining room featuring expansive views of the Santa Maria Valley and Pacific Ocean via floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for board meetings, private dinners, and more.
A quintessential Wine Country experience, the Napa Valley Wine Train welcomed a new director of sales and revenue in mid-February. Mike McNeil will now oversee the company’s integrated commercial strategy, with a focus on growing group sales, private events, and affiliate partnerships as he continues to optimize revenue. McNeil holds a master’s degree in public communication from California State University–Chico and is currently pursuing both the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst and Business Intelligence and Data Analyst certifications through the Corporate Finance Institute of Vancouver, British Columbia. He also is a North Bay Business Journal Forty Under 40 award recipient and previously served on the executive board of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau as treasurer for the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
“My time with the Napa Valley Wine Train has been both inspiring and energizing, and I look forward to embarking on this next chapter in a new, expanded role, ensuring this iconic Napa Valley experience remains a top choice for celebrations and partnership‑driven programming,” says McNeil. “The team’s dedication to creating memorable guest experiences, whether for groups, events, or everyday travelers, makes it a privilege to contribute to its continued growth and evolution.”
The Napa Valley Wine Train allows guests to hop aboard a fully restored 100-year-old Pullman train car and travel through Napa Valley’s breathtaking landscapes for an immersive journey, while enjoying area wines and cuisine made from locally grown ingredients crafted by the train’s Chef Rodrigo Cuadra. For private events, groups of up to 350 can board for a memorable adventure, and planners can work with the train’s event services team to bring their vision to life with customized menus and more.
Over in the Central Valley, Visit Lodi launched the Lodi Meeting Incentive Program, which rewards meetings and small events held in the Lodi area Sunday-Thursday with up to $2,500 in credits to use with participating area vendors. To qualify, events must be new to Lodi, generate at least 50 paid weekday room nights within an official hotel block (with 25 rooms on peak night), and be registered with Visit Lodi before contracts are signed. The more weekday rooms you book, the more credit you earn. Planners can contact Visit Lodi for more information.
