NAPA VALLEY - A magnitude 3.2 aftershock shook Napa, California, on Sunday. There have been more than 90 aftershocks since a magnitude 6 earthquake hit one week ago. Wine country survived, and now winemakers want tourists to pour back in. Yusuf Topal's restaurant is in the heart of Napa Valley's wine country. Over Labor Day weekend, he would normally have over 100 reservations. "When I look at reservations for next few days, I see 20 to 30 people. So we lost 75 percent of our customers," Topal said. Buildings continue to get red-tagged -- meaning they're unsafe for occupancy -- and one of those is Velo's Pizzeria. So co-owner Daniel Sarao moved his wood-fired oven to the street. "We're gonna do pizza by the slice, pepperoni and cheese," Sarao said. Food may fill the soul, but wine is the lifeblood here and despite suffering $50 million in losses, almost all - 95 percent - of Napa's wineries have reopened. They're hoping for more tourists like Calvin Evans, visiting from … [Read more...] about Big aftershock rattles nerves in Napa Valley
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David Beckham Buys Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) Napa Valley Vineyard
Last Updated Feb 9, 2011 4:02 PM EST SLIDE 2 of 7 NEXT >> Napa Valley Vineyard Given to: Victoria Beckham(aka Posh Spice) From: David Beckham When: April 2008 Less than a year after moving to Los Angeles to play for the LA Galaxy soccer team, David Beckham celebrated his Posh wife’s birthday by presenting her with a Napa Valley vineyard, according to Forbes. The price tag was reportedly in the seven figures. The celebrity couple, whose net worth is approximately $225 million, joined a slew of other stars with a passion for the vines, including Madonna, Dave Matthews, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Newton-John, Dan Aykroyd, and even former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Up Next: $84 Million Yacht Go Back: Olive Tree … [Read more...] about David Beckham Buys Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) Napa Valley Vineyard
Robert Mondavi’s Napa home set for auction
Robert Mondavi is the man who put Napa Valley wines on the map, and his innovative techniques and flair for marketing made the wine label famous around the world. He passed away in 2008, leaving his sprawling estate to his heirs, and they put it on the market for a cool $25 million. Two years later, the home is set to hit the auction block with a reserve price of just $13.9 million - an $11 million discount. The 11,500 square foot home sits on 56 acres of land in Napa, Calif., and features 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. The home was designed by renowned architect Cliff May, considered by many to be the father of the modern California Ranch home. In addition to stunning views and two acres of land suitable for growing grapes, the home offers an open floor plan that is perfect for entertaining guests. The home's finishes are impeccable throughout, but a few of the most notable features include an iconic Cliff May fireplace, a 50-foot indoor swimming pool and a … [Read more...] about Robert Mondavi’s Napa home set for auction
Grapes of Wrath: A tale of money, wine and murder in Napa
It was a business deal right out of a Hollywood movie. An investor in a Napa Valley winery ponied up $800,000 cash in an effort to make a fortune in the wine business. What he didn't realize then was that he was investing in his own murder. "He shot me! He's coming after me in his truck," investor Emad Tawfilis shouted to a 911 dispatcher as he triemod to outrun Robert Dahl through the California vineyard. Napa no stranger to tragedy As California's wine country begins to rebuild after wildfires that tore through it last fall, Tracy Smith and "48 Hours" investigate the unlikely showdown between Tawfilis and Dahl that gripped the region three years ago. It's a case that exposes the unusual relationship between Dahl, an entrepreneur drawn to the glamour of the Napa Valley wine scene, and Tawfilis, a wealthy Silicon Valley businessman willing to turn over his nest egg – in cash stuffed in a gym bag – to the entrepreneur with big plans. "Money is intoxicating… … [Read more...] about Grapes of Wrath: A tale of money, wine and murder in Napa
Gabrielle Collection taste+ a Must Visit Food & Wine Experience for a Taste of Napa Life
Gabrielle Collection taste+ a Must Visit Food & Wine Experience for a Taste of Napa Life For many of us, the recent farm-to-table movement came as a welcome culinary revolution. But there are few for whom meals prepared lovingly by hand, using fresh organic ingredients harvested from the garden, was part of our upbringing. Gabrielle O’Connell’s mother, a food and wine chemist in France, prepared food this way as part of her core belief in pure farm fresh ingredients. The Napa food enthusiast has never looked back. Her husband, Wayne O’Connell, also celebrates his heritage, specifically his grandfather Pietro, who planted his vineyard in California soil and established the O’Connell Family winemaking legacy in 1906. Together, Gabrielle, Wayne and their welcoming staff, have created the most eclectic and hospitable tasting experience in the entire Napa Valley. Think of it as a perfect pairing; heirloom wines matched with artisanal creations such as a … [Read more...] about Gabrielle Collection taste+ a Must Visit Food & Wine Experience for a Taste of Napa Life