Sitting down to write my first blog, I am struck by the thought that if you spend any time exploring California, you’ll find a place to fall in love with. Everyone who comes here does. It might be a stretch of coastline, a secluded spot in a redwood forest, or a vineyard in wine country. I’ve lived in California for the better part of 60 years and I’ve discovered more than a few spots that inspire, amaze and fulfill me. One of these spots is a stunning stretch of hillside land on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley, and another is on the secluded shores of Tomales Bay near Point Reyes.
As a vintner and a restaurateur, I’ve been lucky to be able to make both of these places a part of my everyday life. In the mountains of Napa Valley, I built my home and planted vineyards for my winery, Kuleto Estate. On Tomales Bay, I recently realized a 30-year dream by renovating 10 Depression-era seaside cottages to establish a small hotel and restaurant at Nick’s Cove.
In their own ways, I think both of these places reflect what I value, and my rather rustic idea of the California good life. They also bring together my multiple passions as a fisherman, farmer, restaurateur, foodie and winemaker. Nick’s Cove appeals to the side of me that embraces the laid-back coastal lifestyle—that sublime idea of sitting on a dock, staring at the silver water as you wait for the fisherman to come in with the fresh catch for dinner.
In contrast, the vineyards, orchards, ranch and organic gardens of Kuleto Estate allow me to embrace two of my other passions: growing things, and sharing the things I grow with others. There is something immensely rewarding about making a dinner using only ingredients farmed and raised on your own land, and serving it with wines made from grapes grown on vines that you helped to plant. For me, this all ties in to the fresh, local and authentic take on food and wine that is such a rich part of California’s culinary identity. But that’s a story for another blog…