Pups and Star Power

I’m always surprised by the creative moves wineries make to stand out in a sea of many. One clever turn comes from Silver Trident Winery in Yountville, that takes “dog-friendly” to new levels with the addition of its latest tasting, Puppy Pairings. While dog owners enjoy “The Flight of Five” ($50) or “The Potato Chip Extravaganza” ($50) wine tastings, furry counterparts can nosh on a flight of their own with a coursed tasting including a banana-cake flavored “puppycake,” a “grrr-nola” flavored dogbone-shaped cookie, a peanut-butter-oat flavored wineglass-shaped cookie and a take-home Silver Trident water bowl for $20 (with the purchase of a human tasting). The treats come from the family-owned and -operated Paws Gourmet Bakery in Silverdale, Washington.

“We get a ton of inquires as to whether or not we allow dogs at the Silver Trident Tasting Home,” founder Bob Binder said in a statement. “Although our reply has always been that ‘we’re dog friendly, if your dog is friendly,’ we’ve decided to elevate the experience for everyone involved, especially our four-legged furry friends. Everyone walks away with a huge smile on their face, and that’s ultimately what it’s all about.”

In addition to being pup-friendly, Silver Trident appeals to the design savvy, thanks to a collaboration with Ralph Lauren Home Collection and other renowned artists and galleries to create a tasting environment where everything from the furniture, fixtures, floor coverings and artwork to the serving trays and crystal wine goblets are available for purchase.

Another player in the creative space is the new Serge Sorokko Gallery & Martin Ray Vineyards Tasting Room where contemporary art and wine collide in downtown Napa. The 4,500-square-foot indoor-outdoor space, designed by architect Craig Steely, features floor-to-ceiling retractable glass walls, and exhibits a rotating collection of American and European contemporary mixed media art alongside a variety of single vineyard wines. The space is co-owned by lauded gallerist Serge Sorokko and Martin Ray Vineyards proprietor Courtney Benham. The gallery features work from renowned artists Donald Sultan, Ross Bleckner and Hunt Slonem, as well as Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, whose intricately painted paper sculptures were a part of a 2010 exhibition at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor museum. In addition to the main gallery and tasting salon, visitors can tap into the Martin Ray food program, as well as booking private art viewings and larger group gatherings in a special exhibition area behind the main gallery. The arced steel wine bar, a work of art unto itself, will showcase a revolving door of wines including a sparkling brut rosé, alongside cabernets and pinots from Napa Valley and Russian River. Stepping outside the norm, the gallery and tasting room will stay open until 10 p.m.

Star power

Napa Valley has always been a magnet for the rich and famous—be it Oprah and her crowning of Model Bakery’s English muffin as king of the land, or racing legend Mario Andretti and Oscar-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola getting into the wine biz. Napa is where celebs come to play. Earlier this summer, Hollywood lights shone upon Chimney Rock Winery, which hosted episode 3 of Gordon Ramsay’s new Fox series, Food Stars. The cutthroat competition put food-industry entrepreneurs through various challenges including creating a wine blend and food item to pair with it, as well as conceiving of and pitching a sales-and-marketing strategy to Chimney Rock winemaker Elizabeth Vianna and a panel of wine connoisseurs. Vianna said in a statement, “Gordon was an absolute delight to work with and it gives me great pleasure to be able to share the beauty and the bounty of the Napa Valley to viewers all over the country! This experience will go down as one of the most magical experiences in my career.”

Happily ever after

My final news bite is a tasty one. When Ciccio in Yountville took a hiatus in 2022, foodie tears were shed and I cursed COVID and all the closures it’s caused. But like all fairytales, the story had a happy ending when the popular Italian eatery reopened this spring under the new management team of Christopher and Martina Kostow. It took me more than two months to score a reservation but, as always, it was worth the wait. The original restaurant concept from owner Frank Altamura and family (who remain owners), still stands with chewy, bubbly-crusted pizzas, homemade pastas, a killer Caesar and additions like the meatball-stuffed peppers. The fact that you can actually book a reservation is a welcome change as the wait for a table used to soar beyond two hours during peak seasons. Beyond the standout food, what also remains is the casual, clamoring vibe (of which Yountville could use more) that has always made this spot feel like home to locals and tourists alike.