I must admit, when we settled on the theme for this issue of Inside Napa Valley — History to Harvest — I was unsure of my connection to the subject at hand. I, like most people, have an appreciation for history and the lessons we can learn from our past. However, I have yet to really set foot in a Napa Valley winery, let alone ones with decades of history behind them.
My personal history of agricultural reporting comes from working in Yolo County, where processing tomatoes — yes, this is a specific type of tomato — and almonds are top crops year after year. The wine industry is a whole new ballgame. And I have a lot to learn.
There is plenty of time to remedy this, of course, and as a newer Napa resident, I am in the perfect position to do so.
This lack of first-hand experience led me to lean on staff photographer Nick Otto and St. Helena Star editor Jesse Duarte to figure out which wineries to feature. Nick has visited numerous vineyards, during harvest and otherwise, and Jesse has been around for years, watching the Upvalley wine scene evolve. With their advice, and the help of freelance writer Jessica Zimmer, this issue delves into the history of Schramsberg Vineyards, Trefethen Family Vineyards and Lang & Reed. This trio merely scratches the surface of the Napa Valley’s wine history, but it is my hope that the next time readers drive past a vineyard or see these wine labels on a grocery store shelf, that they will have a deeper appreciation for the craft of winemaking.
Please enjoy our Fall/Winter 2024 issue.
