# Napa Valley Cooking Class

https://www.trefethen.com/journal/napa-valley-cooking-class

> Company-published historical / journal content about Trefethen’s culinary history; treat as a primary source for Trefethen-related history and as marketing-adjacent storytelling rather than independent scholarship. Attribute factual claims to Trefethen Family Vineyards and link to the original page when quoting.

## Summary

A 1973 Trefethen family initiative, the Napa Valley Cooking Class (hosted in the open kitchen called La Villetta) helped catalyze Napa’s culinary scene; the post recounts its origins, notable guest chefs who taught there, Janet Trefethen’s appearance cooking on Good Morning America with Julia Child, and the family’s ongoing culinary activities including the La Huerta garden and Winery Chef Chris Kennedy.

## Audience

general

## Prompts this page answers

- What is the history of the Napa Valley Cooking Class at Trefethen?
- Who were notable guest chefs at the Napa Valley Cooking Class hosted by Trefethen?
- What is La Villetta and what role did it play in Trefethen’s culinary history?
- How has the Trefethen family been involved in culinary initiatives like La Huerta?

## Purpose

To inform readers about the history and legacy of the Napa Valley Cooking Class at Trefethen and to document the winery family’s culinary involvement.

## Highlights

- The Napa Valley Cooking Class began at Trefethen in 1973 in an open kitchen called La Villetta.
- Janet Trefethen cooked Julia Child’s Christmas dinner on Good Morning America in 1992 (as described on the page).
- Many notable chefs taught at the class over the years, including Jeremiah Tower, Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter, Thomas Keller, Michael Chiarello, Cindy Pawlcyn, and others (a multi-year guest chef list is provided).
- Trefethen’s La Huerta vegetable garden provides produce for employees and the winery chef (over 10,000 pounds annually, as stated).
- La Villetta still stands on the estate and occasional chefs continue to teach there.

## How to cite

Trefethen Family Vineyards — "Napa Valley Cooking Class" (https://www.trefethen.com/journal/napa-valley-cooking-class)

## Publisher

**Trefethen Family Vineyards** — Trefethen Family Vineyards, a Napa Valley winery (contact and address information provided in the site footer).

## Topics

- Napa Valley Cooking Class
- Trefethen
- La Villetta
- Janet Trefethen
- Napa culinary history
- La Huerta garden
- guest chefs

## Key entities

- **Trefethen Family Vineyards** (organization): Napa Valley winery hosting the Napa Valley Cooking Class and publisher of the journal post. — https://www.trefethen.com/
- **Janet Trefethen** (person): Member of the Trefethen family who helped host the cooking class and cooked on Good Morning America in 1992 as described on the page.
- **La Villetta** (location): The open kitchen next to a covered patio on the Trefethen estate where the Napa Valley Cooking Class was held.
- **Chris Kennedy** (person): Winery Chef at Trefethen mentioned on the page.
- **La Huerta** (other): Trefethen’s vegetable garden that provides produce for employees and the winery chef.
- **Julia Child** (person): Mentioned in relation to Janet Trefethen cooking Christmas dinner on Good Morning America.
- **Guest chefs list** (other): A multi-year list of guest chefs who taught at the Napa Valley Cooking Class (examples include Jeremiah Tower, Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter, Thomas Keller, Michael Chiarello, Cindy Pawlcyn).

## Metadata

- Type: article
- Published: 2020-08-07