​Amidst an uncertain growing season, Richard Mendelson offers a forward-looking view of Napa Valley, emphasizing how the region’s history of resilience positions it well for the challenges ahead. Napa Valley has undergone a remarkable evolution, from the trials of Prohibition and phylloxera to the global triumph of the Judgment of Paris and the establishment of the Ag Preserve, Napa has always found strength through collaboration and a shared commitment to agriculture. While today’s pressures include climate variability, shifting consumer trends, rising costs, and significant vineyard removals, the valley remains steadfast, spurred on by its enduring advantages: exceptional land, multi-generational expertise, a culture of quality, and a community determined to protect what makes the valley special.

​To build on these strengths, Mendelson introduces a four-part framework designed to guide Napa toward a balanced, resilient future. The proposals include identifying and protecting the valley’s most sensitive ecological lands, developing a viticultural suitability system informed by modern science and GIS tools, implementing in-lieu fees to ensure net environmental benefits, and creating a Transfer of Development Rights program that supports both conservation and much-needed affordable housing. These tools, already successful in other regions, offer Napa a practical and proactive path forward, one that encourages smart growth, protects irreplaceable landscapes, and helps the agricultural economy adapt with intention rather than urgency.

​While the path forward requires change, Mendelson highlights the importance of celebrating and preserving Napa’s identity through a vineyard registry that documents vineyard histories, boundaries, and defining traits. This effort, alongside active participation in the county’s General Plan update, will help ensure that policies reflect both ecological priorities and agricultural realities. Napa’s capacity for reinvention has never been accidental, and with thoughtful planning, shared stewardship, and a commitment to balance, the valley is well positioned to thrive in its next chapter, strengthening the land, the community, and the legacy that future generations will inherit.

In Episode 21 of Grown in Napa Valley, the podcast celebrates the Napa Valley Grapegrowers' 50th anniversary by spotlighting two stories of resilience and reinvention. Ashley Anderson of Cain Vineyard shares her personal and professional journey farming organically on Spring Mountain, detailing the challenges of managing steep, terraced vineyards and navigating the aftermath of the devastating 2020 Glass Fire. Her commitment to protecting the land, nurturing the soil, and honoring the vineyard’s legacy shines through as she recounts the thoughtful replanting efforts and her team’s emotional connection to vines that survived against the odds. Ashley also reflects on the joy and collaboration of planning the Organic Winegrowing Conference, emphasizing the value of community in sustainable farming.
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The episode then shifts to V. Sattui Winery, where Tom Davies reflects on the winery’s own 50-year legacy. In a warm, lively conversation, Tom shares stories of his serendipitous entry into the wine world and how he and founder Dario Sattui built a business rooted in Italian hospitality and direct-to-consumer connection. He highlights the recent transformation of their tasting room into the Mercado del Gusto, designed to foster community and accessibility in contrast to the trend of exclusivity in Napa Valley. From launching natural and non-alcoholic wines to keeping tastings affordable and open to all, Tom’s vision is to keep wine—and the joy it brings—at the heart of Napa Valley life. Both segments underscore a shared commitment to stewardship, innovation, and heartfelt connection to land and people.

• "We farmed maybe more by heart than by bottom line… and that’s one of the reasons I’m lucky to be there." - Ashley Anderson 
• “These vines were like, ‘Please, just let me grow.’ And we couldn’t look at that and say, ‘Take them out.’” - Ashley Anderson 
• “Cain is a classic example of Napa Valley resilience… and now reinventing itself based on what we've all been faced with.” - Caleb Mosley 
• “Wine is about connection. It’s about being social. That’s what the Italian culture gives us—and what we want to share here.” - Tom Davies
• ​“We're not getting more exclusive, we’re opening our doors even wider. You can get a three-wine flight for free. That’s unheard of.” - Tom Davies
• ​“What the hell else are you gonna do with your time? A nice glass of wine with some great food and friends, that’s what makes life.” - Caleb Mosley

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley speaks with CAL FIRE’s Matt Ryan and JC Greenberg about the recent Pickett Fire in Calistoga and the evolution of wildfire management in Napa County. They recount how lessons learned from past disasters like the Glass Fire informed a faster, more coordinated response, aided by years of fuel reduction, maintained containment lines, and collaboration with Napa Firewise. New technology—including AI-enabled smoke detection, night-flying helicopters, and mobile retardant bases—has revolutionized early fire response. The chiefs emphasize that resilience depends on community-wide preparedness: defensible space, pre-fire planning, and responsible vineyard burn practices to prevent smoke impacts during harvest.
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The conversation then turns to Bill Hanna, Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, who reflects on his family’s 50-year partnership with Château Montelena and their deep roots in Napa farming. Hanna shares how trust, quality, and collaboration have sustained this grower–winery relationship across generations. Beyond the vineyard, he highlights decades of advocacy for farmworker housing and community well-being, noting Napa’s leadership as the only county where growers self-assess to fund workforce housing. Looking ahead, Hanna discusses the need for balance—between groundwater use, vineyard density, pricing, and long-term environmental stewardship—underscoring education and cooperation as the keys to Napa Valley’s enduring agricultural legacy.

• “We pulled out the Glass Fire playbook and threw everything at it — air tankers, helicopters, dozers — everything we’d learned over the past five years came together.” - Chief Matt Ryan
• “The work we did before the Pickett Fire — those containment lines, those partnerships — that’s what saved us. The real fight starts long before the flames.” - Chief Matt Ryan
  
• “The terrain was steep, rugged, unforgiving. Our crews hiked miles just to reach the fire’s edge. Every firefighter out there knew exactly what was at stake.” - Deputy Chief JC Greenberg
  
• “Defensible space doesn’t just protect your home — it protects your neighbors, your community, and the valley we all love.” - Deputy Chief JC Greenberg
  
• “What started as a handshake between my dad and Jim Barrett at Château Montelena turned into a 50-year partnership — and three generations of trust.” - Bill Hanna 
  
• “Our biggest challenge isn’t just drought or markets — it’s remembering that sustainability means balance: between the land, the water, and each other.” - Bill Hanna 
  

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley sits down with two local leaders to explore how deep-rooted community values and agricultural resilience shape Napa Valley. First, Terence Mulligan, President and CEO of the Napa Valley Community Foundation, discusses how the foundation serves as a platform for strategic philanthropy, especially in times of crisis. He highlights initiatives like the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund and the One Napa Valley Initiative, which have helped thousands of residents—particularly undocumented families—through disaster recovery and access to citizenship. Mulligan emphasizes the importance of community trust, the power of pooling resources, and the unique generosity of Napa Valley donors in supporting long-term solutions.
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The second half features Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, co-chair of Harvest STOMP, President of Yount Mill Vineyards, and a fifth-generation grape grower. She reflects on her family’s multigenerational commitment to viticulture, organic farming, and business innovation. Kendall shares her journey from compliance work to managing vineyard sales and growing the family business, while also serving on influential industry boards. She speaks candidly about balancing motherhood, leadership, and legacy, and underscores the importance of Harvest STOMP as a fundraiser rooted in community care. Her message is clear: to preserve Napa Valley's future, growers must lead with collaboration, gratitude, and a deep respect for the land and the people who tend it.

• "You shouldn’t need to be Bill Gates to make a strategic difference in your community." - Terence Mulligan 
• "Napa shows up—neighbors help neighbors, people turn up for each other, and that’s what makes this place magic." - Terence Mulligan 
• "We’re not just growing grapes—we’re growing a legacy, and it’s our job to steward it forward." - Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko
• "Harvest STOMP isn’t just a fundraiser—it’s a moment to remember who we are and why we’re all in this together." - Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko
  
• "Napa Valley is a team sport—from farmworkers to winemakers, we’ve built something remarkable here together." - Caleb Mosley 
  
• "We’re not just preserving a wine region—we’re protecting a way of life that generations have built and the next deserve to inherit." - Caleb Mosley