Indulge in a $35,000 Wine Weekend on Florida's Exclusive Private Island

A full weekend of access to rare wines and Michelin starred chefs is on offer this February 5-8 at Little Palm Island, Florida’s only private island resort. Priced at $35,000 a couple, the three-night Vintner’s Voyage experience promises access to top wines and chefs in a idyllic setting. Desmond Echavarrie, master sommelier and founder of Scale Wine Group, notes, “The wines featured in this journey represent not only the pinnacle of Napa Valley quality, but rare, family-owned estates that open their cellars only to close friends. This is an insider experience, one that remains inaccessible even in Napa itself.” With only 25 bungalow suites on property, guests can anticipate a weekend of unplugged and intimate encounters. Indeed, one can only access the island via boat or seaplane. There are no televisions in the guest suites (Wifi is available though), only turquoise waters and ocean breezes are the diversions here. Featured luminaries include Michelin starred chef Julien Lefebvre (L'Âtre in Normandy, France), Master Sommelier Desmond “Des” Echavarrie, Champagne Jacquesson and Eisele Vineyard. The weekend starts with a multi-course Dual Chef Dinner. Chef Lefebvre, recognized for his innovative approach and commitment to seasonal ingredients, will collaborate with the Island’s culinary team to present an a series of dished paired with wines from Scale Wine Group’s deftly curated portfolio. Wine takes center stage on Friday as Echavarrie leads a series of private tastings and masterclasses, guiding guests through distinctive selections from his portfolio. Dinner that evening will highlight The Pinault family’s Champagne Jacquesson—one of Champagne’s most historic houses—and Eisele Vineyard, a notable producer in Napa Valley, along with small lot wines from winemaker Sam Kaplan (Memento Mori, MAXEM, Vida Valiente). Guests will also enjoy a private show by Grace Potter, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter—known for her blend of rock, blues, soul, and Americana. Culinary masterclasses are on tap for the final day as Chef Lefebvre shares French techniques in a series of interactive classes. Guests will get a chance to try their own hands at Lefebvre’s signature dishes such as truffle-stuffed poultry ballotine and roasted lobster with a silky MAXEM Pinot Noir 2022 reduction. In between meals, classes and wine tastings guests can paddle around the resort’s mangroves, settle into a beachfront chaise or partake of a locally inspired treatment at SpaTerre. The more ambitious might even try sunrise yoga or pop into the fitness center. Unlike a trip to wine country, this dining and tasting experience brings the experts together in a cocoon of privacy—delivering the idyllic features of a private island but stocked with boutique wines and staffed with Michelin rated experts and Master Sommeliers. Managing Director at Little Palm Island, Seán Carney says it best, “This is a great opportunity to experience Little Palm Island in its most intimate and uninterrupted form. Beyond simply a series of tastings or dinners, it offers an immersive retreat featuring Michelin-caliber cuisine, boutique wines and direct interaction with industry masters, all unfolding across an entire private island.”