The Nimbash event is a fundraiser for Nimbus Arts. Above, a spectacle from the 2021 gala.
Earlier this year I attended my first ever Nimbash in St. Helena where I discovered that all the rumors over the years were right. As the annual fundraiser for community nonprofit Nimbus Arts, it was quite the “bash,” with gourmet bites, bubbles and art being bandied about as beaucoup bucks were dropped in the name of the arts. The setting bordered on magical as people took the “cloudland” theme to the extreme at Charles Krug Winery, where guests could contribute to a massive mural, create pottery and artful shadow boxes in between sips.
I typically attack scenes of such abundance by seeking out unique flavors and pours that defy the norm. This isn’t always the easiest task in a valley where wineries multiply at a rate that feels akin to the speed at which poppies pop-off come springtime. But early in my quest, I encountered my first hit at The Terraces, when I was offered a taste of the 2022 Estate Sparkling cider. I’m no stranger to their small lot wines, having been a fan of their zinfandels which are the epitome of refinement and decadence, but this fresh, crisp sip was something else entirely. Produced in the Méthode Champenoise style this sparkler drank more like champagne than any cider I’ve ever tasted. Blended from 40 different varieties of dessert and heritage cider apples from trees on the Rutherford property, the taste was pure sunshine with a smooth, dry finish. It’s hard to impress at a dinner party in these parts but if you are on the hunt for something distinct that is sure to be a conversation starter, this might be the perfect excuse to pucker up and swig something special this summer.
Bring in the buffalo
After three years of successful pop-ups and a mission to make Filipino cuisine exciting and accessible, French Laundry-trained alum Jade Cunningham makes a splash with the opening of Napa Valley’s first Filipino restaurant, Carabao. Just like the national animal of the Philippines the space is named after, Carabao (a hardy species of water buffalo), is already making waves with a diverse menu, artful interiors and A-plus service. With only 12 tables and rave reviews abounding, it’s quickly become one of the hottest (and hardest) seats to score.
Cunningham was plucked from her hometown of Bulacan in the Philippines at the age of 16 when she was selected for an international training program in Cincinnati, working as culinary assistant. She later earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management at La Consolacion University Philippines. After graduating, she returned to the states and became a line chef at the Meritage Resort and Spa. When the pandemic turned the world upside down, Cunnigham didn’t let that stand in the way of her culinary intentions—she began volunteering at the French Laundry, working alongside chefs Thomas Keller and David Breeden, and advanced quickly to commis and then chef de partie.
In 2022, she launched a late-night popup that regularly sold out at different spots around the valley while steadfastly gaining a loyal following from those thirsting for authentic Filipino cuisine. Inspired by those successes she left the French Laundry to actualize her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar store. Offering small bites alongside family-style sharable plates, the eclectic menu elevates classic Filipino flavors, with a fresh and modern twist. Dishes like the crispy Kare Kare, and sizzling sisg (crispy pork belly) were top-notched alongside other dishes like the spaghetti, which featured homemade pasta in a sweet Filipino Bolognese with Wagyu hot dogs, and street corn done in a decidedly different yet familiar way.
Auction Napa Valley
Now in its 45th year, Auction Napa Valley soared by raising $6.5 million to benefit Napa Valley Vintners’ Youth Wellness Initiative. Proceeds from the event will support critical youth wellness programs across Napa County, including everything from access to care on school campuses to mental health services and after-school enrichment programs like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley. As a two-parent working household that has relied heavily on our local clubhouse since my kids were in kindergarten, the yearlong program helped us survive and enabled them to thrive.
The Barrel Auction, which kicked off the weekend-long event, drew nearly 2,000 to Louis M. Martini Winery, which flaunted traces of a younger crowd than previous in years past, causing me to speculate if this could be foreshadowing yet another shift in wine drinking culture. This could be a welcome change during a time when tasting rooms continue to struggle and younger generations have tended toward ready-to-drink options, seltzers or abstaining all together.
As a woman whose young adult drinking repertoire leaned heavily on Stoli vanilla vodka and soda—most often slurped on beach blankets during summers spent in the Hamptons, when my friends and I considered wine to be four letter word—middle age has taught me that tastes, trends and hairlines are forever changing.
