étoile Restaurant Garners Prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award

For 21 consecutive years, Napa's only fine dining restaurant within a winery has maintained excellence in luxury.

Domaine Chandon, part of the LVMH Group, receives the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award, ranking its Michelin-starred restaurant, étoile, as one of the top restaurants in the country. The Napa winery has maintained this AAA Four Diamond designation since 1991. Domaine Chandon was the only restaurant in the Napa Valley to receive this distinction.

“Domaine Chandon is honored to be recognized by AAA’s respected Four Diamond Award,” said Matt Wood, Estate Director at Domaine Chandon. “I am extremely proud of our associates and their commitment to providing the highest quality service to our guests.”

According to AAA, the Four Diamond rating indicates the restaurant delivers "a distinctive fine-dining experience." "Menus reflect high degree of creativity and complexity using imaginative presentations to enhance market-fresh ingredients," the AAA website notes. Only 2.7 percent of the 28,000 restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean approved by AAA make the Four Diamond list.  The company evaluates more than 59,000 lodgings and restaurants, and rates them on a scale of one to five diamonds.

As the only fine dining restaurant within a winery in Napa Valley, étoile, the Michelin-starred restaurant at Domaine Chandon, is one of the area’s most celebrated destinations. Innovative cuisine by Executive Chef Perry Hoffman expertly paired with award-winning wines and sophisticated surroundings sets the stage for the ultimate wine and food experience. étoile’s unique position within a winery allows daily collaboration between the culinary team and Domaine Chandon’s winemakers, resulting in innovative, wine-inspired cuisine.

étoile Restaurant Maintains Prestigious Michelin Star

With the release of the 2012 San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country Michelin Guide, étoile Restaurant is proud of the restaurant’s sixth consecutive recommendation and third consecutive Michelin one-star rating. “It's fabulous recognition for all the hard work that Perry and the entire restaurant do on a daily basis. Of course hard work alone is not enough to achieve the coveted Michelin Star, it needs to be harnessed with creativity, leadership and a sensitivity for superior food and service.” says Domaine Chandon Estate Director, Matt Wood, “Kudo's to Perry for achieving so much before his 30th birthday.”

étoile Restaurant’s unique location within a winery allows close-knit collaboration between the culinary team and Domaine Chandon winemakers, resulting in innovative, wine-inspired cuisine in an elegant wine country setting. Chef Perry Hoffman has led the culinary team since 2007, having previously worked as sous chef at Auberge du Soleil and the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. A Napa Valley native, Hoffman literally grew up in fine dining restaurants. His grandparents, Don and Sally Schmidt, sold The French Laundry to Thomas Keller, who in turn put that restaurant—and the town of Yountville—on the map as a world-renowned culinary destination.

Additionally recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle (Top 100 Restaurants) and Wine Spectator (Best of Award of Excellence), étoile Restaurant now lets diners create their wine country epicurean experience at home with the Domaine Chandon Cookbook, featuring recipes for many of étoile Restaurant's most popular dishes.

"We are so excited to receive one Michelin star for the third year in a row." says Chef Perry Hoffman, "The team and I couldn't be happier!"

History of the Michelin Guide

The Michelin Guide originated in France and has been in publication for over a century. It is widely recognized as the leading voice in denoting the world’s finest dining establishments and hotels.

The guide uses star ratings to identify top hotels and restaurants. For restaurants, stars are awarded for the finest cooking, regardless of cuisine style, based on five criteria—quality of the products, mastery of flavor and cooking, “personality” of the cuisine, value for money and consistency between visits.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants

"This California restaurant is home to the youngest U.S. chef who has ever been awarded a Michelin star."

étoile Restaurant Maintains Prestigious Michelin Star

With the release of the 2011 San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country Michelin Guide, étoile Restaurant is proud of the restaurant’s fifth consecutive recommendation and second consecutive Michelin one-star rating. “étoile epitomizes the very best that Napa Valley dining has to offer,” says Domaine Chandon President Malcolm Dunbar, “and we’re honored Michelin has recognized this with a coveted star rating,”

étoile Restaurant’s unique location within a winery allows close-knit collaboration between the culinary team and Domaine Chandon winemakers, resulting in innovative, wine-inspired cuisine in an elegant wine country setting. Chef Perry Hoffman has led the culinary team since 2007, having previously worked as sous chef at Auberge du Soleil and the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. A Napa Valley native, Hoffman literally grew up in fine dining restaurants. His grandparents, Don and Sally Schmidt, sold The French Laundry to Thomas Keller, who in turn put that restaurant—and the town of Yountville—on the map as a world-renowned culinary destination.

Additionally recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle (Top 100 Restaurants) and Wine Spectator (Best of Award of Excellence), étoile Restaurant now lets diners create their wine country epicurean experience at home with the Domaine Chandon Cookbook, featuring recipes for many of étoile Restaurants most popular dishes.

History of the Michelin Guide

The Michelin Guide originated in France and has been in publication for over a century. It is widely recognized as the leading voice in denoting the world’s finest dining establishments and hotels.

The guide uses star ratings to identify top hotels and restaurants. For restaurants, stars are awarded for the finest cooking, regardless of cuisine style, based on five criteria—quality of the products, mastery of flavor and cooking, “personality” of the cuisine, value for money and consistency between visits.

Awarded one Michelin star - Michelin Guide, 2010

"étoile crafts its contemporary Californian menu around the wine experience and recommends pairings for every dish, both from the property's own label and beyond. The kitchen's accomplishments have a hint of French influence and a flair for originality worthy of its celestial name."

San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurants

"...and Etoile at Domaine Chandon, where Perry Hoffman is bringing the spotlight back to this venerable location."

Rising Star Chefs 2010

étoile Chef Perry Hoffman was named a Rising Star Chef according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Click here to view the article on Rising Star Chefs.
Click here to view the in-depth article on Chef Perry Hoffman.

Sunset Magazine, September 2010

A new twist on the classic chip: Étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon in Yountville, CA is crisping up lotus root, artichoke, and eggplant. Click here for the recipe.

Wine Spectator Awards étoile Restaurant Best of Award of Excellence

Click here to read more.

The New York Times T Magazine

The Place | Noshing in Napa