The light in Sonoma at five o'clock does something to a conversation.

Four days. Small-batch vineyards. The kind of afternoon that turns into evening.

The Napa Edition

A Look Back - October 2026 Wine Country

The light in Sonoma at five o'clock does something to a conversation. October gets to Sonoma late, and that was especially true this year as we experienced beautiful late summer weather. The harvest was in and the vines were just turning copper at the edges, and we had four days in a private estate above the valley - stone, old oaks, and a kitchen island that ended up holding the charcuterie and most of the conversation. White orchids and champagne on ice, because somebody had thought about it that morning. Nina opened the first evening with six wines.

She holds WSET Level 3 and nobody hands her a script, so the tasting was hers and it went long.

And if you love big and bold reds, Stone Edge is my favorite. Our guide Philippe walked us out into the vines before anybody poured anything. While we tasted quite a bit, including a delicious summer white, the star of the weekend was a 2012 Stone Edge Cabernet that Philippe opened special for us - not something you order off a list. We had lunch along the river in Napa at Angèle under the sunflowers and the pumpkins. We enjoyed the range of sparkling at Domaine Carneros, where you come up and the valley is just there. Naturally we had to have some caviar to really round out that experience. With a smaller group, we went up the hills the next day to Bella Grace and then Rombauer, a popular spot for Chardonnay lovers and accessible for most.

There were chef prepared meals, slow mornings with coffee in the sun, some fantastic pool time, and evenings around the fire pit.

Strangers on the first night. Not strangers by the last one.

The hosting is the experience. That part doesn't change.

A vineyard with rows of grapevines supported by trellises, surrounded by trees, with hills in the background and the sun setting, casting a golden light.
A group of people sitting around a wooden dining table in a wood-paneled room, with a man in a teal shirt standing and speaking, holding a wine glass. The table has wine glasses and utensils, and the room is decorated with framed pictures and a chandelier.
Wine tasting setup with a wooden table, four bottles of Fanti wine, eight empty wine glasses, tasting notes, and an indoor setting with large windows and outdoor view.
Colorful hot air balloon floating over a landscape of trees and distant hills during daytime.
A wine cellar with wooden wine racks filled with bottles. There are large bottles displayed on a table near the back wall. The room has a yellow wall and a stone floor.
Wine barrels stored in a cellar with a tunnel-like ceiling and dim lighting.
A large, elegant mansion with multiple windows and a decorative balcony, surrounded by lush greenery, flowers, and terraces, set under a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up of a small fountain in a park with tall grass and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Close-up of a bunch of ripe purple grapes hanging from a vine with green leaves in the background.
Assorted appetizers on a white plate, including a breaded and fried item with greens on top, a chocolate-dipped treat with nuts, a piece of blue cheese with herbs, and small salad portions, with wine glasses in the background on a wooden table.
A dining room with a long table set for a meal, surrounded by beige upholstered chairs. The table has a white tablecloth, wine glasses, silverware, and floral centerpieces. Large windows provide a view of a vineyard and rolling hills outside, with natural light illuminating the room.
A house with beige siding, four white-framed windows, a stone chimney, and a garden with a white tree sculpture and various green plants under a clear blue sky.
A wooden cheese platter with assorted cheeses, dried apricots, blackberries, and a small bowl of berry preserves, set on a rustic outdoor table with wine glasses and bottles in the background.