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Wine Country CA Defined – Great Place to Gather

In 1968 I took my first excursion to Napa, CA and witnessed the fervor for the new winery called Mondavi. I was instantly hooked on Wine Country as a destination. Later, working in the travel industry, I brought many groups and companies from the travel industry to Napa to experience the culture and paraphernalia of the Wine Country. So let me present my take on Wine Country. Both counties offer different hospitality and atmosphere, but both are genuinely royal.

Over the years, people unfamiliar with Northern California wine country always ask, “What’s the difference between Napa and Sonoma counties for my gathering?” I wrestle with this question on a daily basis. If you’re focused on high-end experiential corporate ‘happening/events’, the best location for a business meeting or board meeting or any off-site meeting really depends on the purpose or objectives of the event.

Napa County’s success is the result of a perfect storm: the convergence of oversized ego(s), marketing genius, success in Paris, big name players (private and corporate) and a very defined geographic region. If any of these elements had been lost in the ’70s and ’80s, Napa would probably have less of a cache today. On the other hand, Sonoma County was California’s first wine-growing region. It is 3 times the size of Napa County, enjoys a scenic 55-mile coastline, and is dominated by established lineages of family-owned vineyards and wineries. But each, with its differences, offers a great place to experience…a great board meeting, a great team building exercise, a great incentive program, as we say, “a pinnacle experience.”

Today’s Napa was born out of a well-executed marketing strategy to make Napa an icon of culture, wealth, corporate presence and food, while focusing on wine. It was/is “the place to see and be seen”. Like Sonoma, Napa has a great infrastructure that caters to corporate and leisure events; it is much more concentrated. Some say that Napa’s success is due to the prophecy of one man: Robert Mondavi. On the other hand, Sonoma is all about generations of families working the land and producing the widest range of varietal grapes and wines without much fanfare, but with just as much sophistication. Because Sonoma is so large, compared to Napa, it has many significant appellations that are disparate and do not merge into a single defined area like Napa. With about the same number of properties and activities as hotels and luxury properties, its diversity extends over a larger area that includes the Redwoods, the ocean, and the inland valleys. Sonoma and Napa are also defined by their commitment to nature. (More on that in a moment).

Both counties have their fair share of high-end stand-alone ‘destination resort’ properties (including hotel, spa, fine dining, and golf amenities, all on-site). Napa and Sonoma are equally populated with prestigious hotels and upscale chef/restaurants. Finally, activities are plentiful to support large corporate gatherings. For example, winery tours, hot air balloon rides, golf, green winery/vineyard tours, etc. Going a step further, there are excellent options for small corporate gatherings using exclusive private estates with all the amenities, such as a private chef.

The food remains a big draw and reason for a Wine Country gathering. For starters, I mention the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa and Ramekins in Sonoma. The Culinary Institute of America is all about training professional chefs and Ramekin’s is dedicated to a cooking school experience for people interested in cooking as a vocation. Both are excellent facilities for team building exercises. If there are requirements for a private/personal chef; Napa and Sonoma are rich in renowned chefs. Of course, The French Laundry is the only 3 Michelin star restaurant in the Wine Country; well worth the experience. Together, in the 2007 Michelin Guide, Napa and Sonoma had a total of 10 restaurants rated 1, 2, and 3 stars (4 in Sonoma and 6 in Napa). Interestingly, about 35% of all Bay Area and Wine Country Michelin rated restaurants are located in Wine Country. Not bad for farming communities!

If you are involved in a company that supports the “green, sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic” movement, coming to Wine Country will be your nirvana. There are 13 wineries in Napa certified by the Napa County Environmental Administration as “Green.” The federal government has certified 150 Napa and Sonoma vineyards as “organic.” A lesser known certification that has been around since 1928 in Europe is a bit more esoteric; Demeter’s “Biodynamic Certification” is a grape production method that goes far beyond organic and into the realm of ecosystem management. I know of 8 vineyards that are certified as “Biodynamic” vineyards. The first such vineyard to be Demeter Biodynamic in the US was the Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma County. Whether you want to experience a green winery, an organic winery/vineyard, or certified biodynamic grapes, Wine Country is hallowed ground. Of course, hundreds of wineries are certified by the State of California as “Sustainable.”

Finally, is there a connection to the success of Napa and Paris? The year 1976 is the year to remember for Napa and the Wine Country. Well, this was the year that California wines broke through the proverbial glass ceiling of viticulture in Paris. In that French competition, Napa’s Chateau Montelena Winery’s 1973 Chardonnay (made with Sonoma County grapes) was judged best white wine by French judges. Chateau Montelena was competing against 4 French wines and 6 American white wines. At that same tasting, Napa’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Souvenian also took top prize. This pivotal tasting event was recreated at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 1996 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the event. At that time, bottles of the first-place wines, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, were accepted into the Museum’s collections.

Still want to know more? Choose one of the following books for an interesting read.

Napa-by Mr. James Conoway (available in paperback)

The House of Mondavi, by Ms. Julia Flynn Siler (available in paperback)

The Wine Bible-by Mrs. Karen MacNeil (available in paperback)

A Tale of Two Valleys, by Alan Deutschman

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