‘Āina Reserves Weekend celebrates sustainability, luxury and spirit of place

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, is partnering with two of Sonoma County, Calif.’s most celebrated talents to offer a once-in-a-lifetime gathering, where the luxury of discovery meets the legacy of place.

Kona Village ‘Āina Reserves Weekend debuts Dec. 4-7 at the resort in West Hawai‘i.

It’s an extraordinary 4-day celebration uniting visionary first-generation winemaker Jesse Katz of globally renowned winery Aperture Cellars and accredited Chef Dustin Valette of Valette Hospitality with the breathtaking beauty and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i.

Taking its name from the Hawaiian word ‘āina — or “the land” — and evoking a profound sense of nourishment, stewardship and connection to place, the weekend invites guests into a highly curated journey where world-class culinary artistry meets outstanding winemaking, all rooted in the principles of sustainability and respect for the land.

At the heart of the experience are Katz and Kona Village Director of Wine Joaquin Torres, who together will guide a select group of guests through exclusive new creative wine launches, rare offerings and island-inspired pairings.

“We are honored to inaugurate the Kona Village ‘Āina Reserves Weekend with two of Sonoma Country’s most exceptional talents,” said Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, Regional Vice President and Managing Director Daniel Scott in an announcement for the inaugural festival. “We are creating an intimate cultural moment that celebrates both the bounty of Hawai‘i and the innovation of world-class winemaking and cuisine. This is a rare opportunity to savor the best of both worlds in an unparalleled setting.”

Drawing from Aperture’s exclusive collection of soil series, estate and limited-production wines, the experience will feature benchmark expressions from Sonoma County’s most distinctive vineyards, highlighting the precision, artistry and sense of place that define the Aperture portfolio.

Elevating the weekend with an exceptional culinary dimension is Valette, celebrated chef-owner of the Michelin-recognized restaurants Valette and The Matheson in Healdsburg, Calif., who brings a personal connection to ‘Āina Reserves Weekend.

The festival embodies Kona Village’s signature approach to hospitality — immersive, authentic and deeply tied to the rhythm of the land.

Events will range from ʻohana cocktail hour to Chef Valette’s Friday winemaker dinner with Katz and Saturday Island Roots dinner featuring an exclusive debut of Collage, the winery’s groundbreaking new collection of creativity-inspired wines.

“We are thrilled to host this new experience as the exclusive wine partner for the inaugural Kona Village ‘Āina Reserves Weekend,” said Katz in the announcement. “To be able to showcase our world-class portfolio of Sonoma wines in Hawai‘i for this celebration is incredibly special and I’m delighted to share them in a setting that reflects both sustainability and luxury — values at the heart of what we do.”

Each experience will highlight ingredients sourced entirely from the Hawaiian Islands, spotlighting the intersection of refined wine craftsmanship and culinary richness of Hawai‘i’s land and sea.

“I’m excited to return to Hawai‘i,” said Valette, who was a chef at the Mandarin Oriental Honolulu early in his career. “That experience stuck with me. The way people in the islands think about ingredients, hospitality, the connection between food and place, it shaped how I cook. This weekend is a chance to bring Sonoma County to the table alongside incredible Hawaiian ingredients, paired with Jesse’s wines. It’s going to be special.”

The weekend will feature a range of experiences, some exclusively for resort guests and others open to the public.

Click here for a complete schedule of events.

Reservations for the Friday and Saturday dinners can be made by emailing konavillage.dining@rosewoodhotels.com or calling 808-856-0100.

Follow Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, on Instagram for more information and updates.

The resort is located at 72-300 Maheawalu Drive in Kailua-Kona.