Last month I wrote about Roe V. Wade and a protest I found myself in the middle of in New York City. Not long after, I attended a local protest in Calistoga with my 8-year-old daughter who carried a sign that read “Spread Love,” as she chanted “our body our choice,” alongside more than 300 others that stood against the Supreme Court ruling. Days later, Napans, who are known for fighting for what’s right, rallied again to protest a less noble but affable cause. Rumblings began when New Belgium Brewing Co. took out full-page ads in the Napa Register to announce plans for a Voodoo Ranger 36-acre “beer” theme park.
While Napa County officials believe the concept is likely an elaborate (if not amusing) publicity stunt, it didn’t stop a new activist group, “Not in Napa,” from forming to protest the potential development project. This summer at the Napa Farmers Market the group passed out “Stop the Beer Park” yard sides along with 200 flyers and stickers and a QR code for interested parties to sign a petition against the theme park. Napa County planning commissioner David Morrison, wrote in an email, “There has been no application filed with the County. Nor is there a record of New Belgium holding a liquor license in Napa, according to a search in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s license database.” Morrison also stated the claims were likely a publicity stunt. Voodoo Ranger has yet to deny claims about the theme park which advertises a rollercoaster made of beer barrels, a wave pool filled with 130,000 gallons of IPA, and a beer flume ride!
Having worked in advertising in Los Angeles before making my way north I can say that this is one heck of publicity play, if Twitter is an indicator. The Brewmeister said in a tweet, “The buzzkills of Whine Country want to stop our IPA Action Park. Help us make it happen. Like and share to save the park,” which garnered more than 21,000 views.
One week after the first protest, Not in Napa held another, sparked when Voodoo tweeted that construction surveying at the sight (purported to be on the land where Trancas and the Silverado Trail meet) was set to begin. A sighting of a 53-foot Voodoo Ranger IPA Action Park truck at a parking lot on Soscol only added to the angst. Publicity stunt or not, Napans are always at the ready to protect what’s left of our world-class land.
Newsbreaks
In more ironclad news, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, which was started in 1973, recently sold to luxury brands group Moët Hennessy. Philippe Schaus, chairman and CEO of Moët Hennessy, said in a statement, “We will continue to develop this new House in the respect of the founder’s heritage and vision.” The Phelps’ estate hosts more than 30,000 visitors annually and sold more than 60,000 9-liter cases of wine this past year, including the high-end Insignia that typically retails for $315 a bottle.
Keeping with the acquisitions path, Santa Rosa-based Foley Family Wines acquired Silverado Vineyards in Napa Valley for an estimated price of $150 million. The deal is said to include 300 vineyard acres in addition to the Stags Leap District winery. Foley’s grip on the wine industry began 26 years ago and includes two-dozen wineries that span beyond Napa and Sonoma valleys and include the California Central Coast, Washington, Oregon and New Zealand.
Despite all the beaucoup bucks and high-powered deals, there are do-gooders growing between the grapevines. This summer Neal Family Vineyards announced they raised more than $200,000 for their Namesake Scholarship Program. The biodynamic Howell Mountain estate, which specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, started the fund in 2014 to support local, college-bound students interested in pursuing degrees in agriculture.
This year’s recipients were honored during the Neal Family Cellar Depletion dinner, which had a live auction, where all proceeds went to support the St. Helena Future Farmers of America (FFA) Program. Neal Family Vineyard’s vintner, founder and owner, Mark Neal said in a statement, “We have dedicated our lives to ethical farming practices to create the best organic and biodynamic wines our vineyards can offer, so it only makes sense to pay it forward. We look forward to continuing to help the next generation of farmers develop new skills and techniques to benefit agricultural practices for years to come.” The scholarship awards $2,000 annually to selected students who have attended four years of agriculture classes at St. Helena High School, while maintaining a 3.50 GPA and who have been accepted to attend a four-year university.
Whether it’s a beer-fueled theme park or preserving our agricultural landscape, the youth of today stand at the ready to protest for what’s right to ensure the legacy of our valley lives on and civil rights reign.
