Sir Richard Branson and Teresa Rodriguez Williamson on Necker Island

In life, there are some moments that you will never forget. Like, buying your first car and seeing your favorite band in concert. Well, I had a day that I will never forget. Yesterday, I spent the day with Sir Richard Branson on his private island Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands (BVIs).

I am part of a press group that was invited to the BVIs to experience The Winemakers Dinners. There are four events that are a series of six and seven course gourmet dinners with each course paired with one or two great wines poured by the winemakers and held throughout the BVI in three private island settings and at a private estate between July 16th and 19th.

This event was the brain child of Ajit Mathew George, Managing Director, Nail Bay Resort to create new and innovative fund-raising events to benefit various charities in the BVI. The goal was to attract support from both outside and within the British Virgin Islands while at the same time promoting this destination to potential new visitors. It is a brilliant idea and one that raised $25,000 last year for the BVI Red Cross, St. Mary’s School, Virgin Gorda and St. George’s School, Tortola.

Sir Richard Branson and Teresa Rodriguez Williamson

The first fundraiser that the BVI Charitable Fund organized was the 2008 Winemakers Dinners plus a VIP Reception. This was held over nine consecutive days in Summer 2008 throughout the British Virgin Islands and attended by 608 people who came from such diverse locations as France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and United States in addition to the BVI. During the course of the 2008 Winemakers Dinners, the twelve visiting chefs from around the world with the assistance of four local chefs prepared 2,420 dishes serving 55 unique courses of gourmet meals that were paired with 888 bottles of fine wines poured by seven visiting winemakers from Germany and Italy.

This year’s Winemakers Dinners are such a success, that they are already planning another one in December. If you want to attend (which I highly recommend!) you can check it out here.

During the lunch events and dinners, we are staying at Nail Bay Resort, in a wonderful, big condo overlooking the Caribbean.

This is a truly magical trip and we have been meeting some incredible people form around the world. So, if you are into food, wine, sun, sea, and celebrating – then this is THE trip for you.