Napa is in CreativeFuture’s home state, but we have never had such a difficult time with an arts roundup. How were we supposed to write when all we could think about was delicious wine, pressed from fresh grapes grown in crisp mountain air and California sun?

As our parents told us, work is not supposed to be fun. Somehow, despite the bottle of unopened Cabernet Sauvignon taunting us from the bookshelf, we have managed to carry on.

Napa Valley is in its wine era, but it has previously been known for prunes, leather goods, wheat, beef, and woven baskets. You can learn more from the Encyclopedia Britannica and Napa County Historical Society.

Thanks to local creatives, Napa Valley is also a wonderful destination for enjoying the arts. Here are some of the people and places that have made Napa Valley so amazing!

House of Far Niente (est. 1885)

Ah, il dolce far niente, “the sweetness of doing nothing” – We have no idea what that is like, but the Italian saying inspired John Benson (d. 1910) to buy a picturesque plot of land in Oakville after the San Francisco Gold Rush. Of course, Benson himself had little experience doing nothing, since he planted 60,000 grapevines, fought the phylloxera root louse, and persevered despite an earthquake and fire. But the fruits of his labors have been enjoyed by many others, especially since Far Niente opened to the public in 2004.

On a visit to the winery, you should do some tasting, of course, but you can also enjoy the beautiful grounds, stroll around the lake, admire the classic car collection in the carriage house, and explore the hillside caves. They were built over a period of 20 years, from 1980-2001. One of their marvels is an underground wine library modeled on the Baptistery of St. John in Florence, Italy. Before leaving the estate, ask about the cork trees Benson grew from seed, because some have survived to the present day!

Sharpsteen Museum of Calistoga History (est. 1978)

How did an animator from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs end up founding a museum with an exhibit on the Donner Party? Well, thus is the story of Ben Sharpsteen (1895-1980). He fell in love with Calistoga as a boy during family vacations, grew up to become an animator, and was recruited by Walt Disney. After making films like Pinocchio and Dumbo, Sharpsteen turned his talents to a museum of Calistoga history.

A series of dioramas illustrate key moments from the town’s past. One shows a Hot Springs Resort circa 1862; another shows Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island (1883), on his honeymoon at a mining camp. Why, his wife appears to be wondering, didn’t he bring me to the hot springs? There is also a permanent exhibit of Sharpsteen’s oil paintings, which depict early cars, tractors, and planes. See if you recognize his style in the films on Sharpsteen’s IMDb page!

Harlan Estate Winery (est. 1984)

Producing one of the finest Cabernets, Harlan Estate in Oakville played a key role in raising California wines to international prominence. We are not currently in the market for a bottle, since the price runs upwards of $700 and can climb as high as $1600. But when we make our blockbuster, we want a picture of us passed out on a mountain of empty bottles.

The Harlan Estate is not open to the general public, but we are angling for an invitation. That’s why we have started addressing our CEO as Empress. If we can flatter our way into her entourage, we might someday get to taste wine by her dear friend Robert Levy, Harlan Estate’s Founding Winemaker. Meanwhile, we’re saving up for a bottle of the Mascot Cabernet, invented by Will Harlan as a more affordable alternative to his father’s signature label. It still costs around $200 per bottle, but we think we should be able to treat ourselves by our next birthday.

Pride Mountain Vineyards (est. 1989)

After raising two children, Jim and Carolyn Pride bought some beautiful land high in the Mayacamas Mountains, right on the border between Napa and Sonoma Counties. The property had previously been the site of Summit Ranch, and the ruins of an 1890 stone winery can still be seen. The ruins are best admired during a picnic lunch, because they are right amidst the vineyards, near tables and a tree swing. Why not have a glass or two of Pride Wine with lunch – perhaps the 2024 Chardonnay, which has aromas of “fresh fruit with the slightest kiss of toasted sweetness”? Don’t mind if we do!

The view is spectacular, of course, because Pride Mountain Vineyards is 2000 feet above Napa Valley. The altitude also contributes to the distinctive flavor of Pride wines: the grapes get 27% more UV exposure in the mountain sunshine than they would on the valley floor. When we try to follow the scientific explanation, our eyes start glazing over… but we would not mind another taste! Since Jim Pride used to be a dentist, we will justify every glass by claiming it is good for our teeth.

Nickel & Nickel Winery (est. 1997)

Many a restless Oklahoman has followed the path of Tom Joad to California: our Senior Writer, for instance, or more to the point, winemakers Gil Nickel (1939-2003) and Beth Yorman (b. 1949). After meeting through the landscape gardening business in Oklahoma, Gil and Beth moved to California, married, and founded Nickel & Nickel.  Gil previously partnered with Doug Stelling, owner of Far Niente, to revive winemaking there in 1979, so Gil has left quite a legacy!

The Nickels expanded their business in 1999, when they bought the 1884 Sullenger House and the surrounding property, hoping eventually to secure a permit for a new Oakville winery. They hired Vermont artisans called The Barn People to disassemble a 1770 barn from New Hampshire, ship the pieces across the country, and reconstruct the barn for use as an office and gathering place. Named after its first owner, The Gleason Barn adds rustic charm to the Nickels’ duly permitted winery.

Bouchon Bistro (est. 1998)

This Michelin-star restaurant in Yountville belongs to Thomas Keller, the award-winning chef behind The French Laundry, which is just down the street, and Per Se in New York City. Besides earning multiple Michelin accolades, Keller medaled gold in the food Olympics – it’s called the Bocuse d’Or – and received the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Classic entrees like roast chicken and trout amandine are typically available, but much of the menu changes with the season or for special occasions. The dark-chocolate mousse with pistachio cream caught our eye as we perused the menu for the week before Thanksgiving. In keeping with French bistro tradition, Bouchon serves Vin de Carafe, local wine drawn directly from the barrel. And while you feast, you can admire the lovely décor, commissioned from French painter Paulin Paris.

The Donum Estate (est. 2001)

Named after the Latin word for gift, this vineyard is famous for its Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and outdoor sculptures. Even though owner Allan Warburg believes that collecting art “makes no commercial sense,” he and his wife, Mei, do it as “a labor of love.” Since 2011, they have commissioned many site-specific works, as well as making a few special acquisitions, so that the Donum Collection® now comprises more than 60 sculptures.

One of the most iconic is Richard Harding’s Love Me (2016), a steel heart with a central crater. There’s also an amazing Louise Bourgeois sculpture titled Crouching Spider (2003), one of the Warburgs’ acquisitions, which they keep indoors for its preservation. The most recently commissioned work is Yang Bao’s Hyperspace (2024), a pyramid-shaped structure that plays music, somewhat like an avant-garde pipe organ. As you can already tell from these examples, the estate the Warburgs have built truly is a gift for visitors to Sonoma, under 15 miles west of Napa.

Calistoga Contemporary Gallery (est. 2025)

Robert Casterline, the owner of the new Calistoga Contemporary Gallery, has been making his name in the art world since 1993. Around the year 2000, he sold his first-in-class collection of Peanuts comics to help establish the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. In 2002, Casterline arranged a Chihuly glass exhibit for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He has owned galleries in Aspen and Chicago, selling works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and other geniuses of the 20th century.

Casterline’s latest business venture combines the love of art and wine. Treasures at his Calistoga gallery include sculptures by the local and very talented artist Guy Pederson. Pederson is a dear friend of CreativeFuture: We interviewed him in 2020 and have some of his intricate wire sculptures in our office. While you take in all the amazing works on display at Calistoga Contemporary Gallery, you can also experience Glass Canvas, a wine label created by Casterline.

Santé!

That’s our roundup! We will conclude by toasting your health – in French, because we are craving Sir Keller’s Gnocchi à la Parisienne.

We’ll be back soon with another roundup – unless we’re studying Sharpsteen’s style in Calistoga, drinking doctor-recommended wine at Pride Mountain (Disclaimer: No wine is doctor-recommended), or crushing grapes from Napa for the first CreativeFuture vintage.

Until next time, find some creativity wherever you can! #StandCreative