Private Party in Napa

Posted by Marci on Dec 2, 2010 in | 5 comments

The sun set over the Napa Valley, its golden light bathing the green rows of vines. The hills surrounding the valley floor framed the beautiful scene as a soft breeze cooled the day’s oppressive heat.

Salsa music enlivened the front yard of the small home where the Perez family once raised their children when they came to Napa in the 1930′s. Here, three generations and a small group of friends gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Zinfandel and Cabernet, made from the grapes grown in the vineyard, complimented the beef brisket cooked in the smoker. Large platters of food covered the picnic tables. I sat under the oak tree, helping myself to a third portion of Spanish rice. I wanted to ask for the recipe but I feared knowing the ingredients – it tasted too amazing to be good for the arteries.

As the stars emerged in the dark sky, we moved our chairs to the vineyard. The first firework exploded over the vines in a sparkle of pink light. I sat for thirty minutes, the light illuminating my face, as the fireworks created their awe.

It’d been three weeks since I’d sat in the park in Sonoma and made my list of dreams. I’d written the dream to attend a private party at a vineyard in Napa and here I was. Better than the prestige of a fancy, big-name winery, I was surrounded by good people who welcomed me.

As I left that night, Cio, the winemaker, said to me, “We’ll see you next year. You have an open invitation.”

Sure enough, the following years I was back in the vineyard eating wonderful food, watching fireworks, drinking wine, and being surrounded by friends.

But this dream wasn’t finished. Two years later, the same friend invited me to attend a private renaissance party at a castle. Dressed in period clothing, we took a limo into the hills of Napa. For hours we watched jousting, drank wine, ate delicious food, and laughed.

I thought for certain that the dream to attend a private party in Napa couldn’t get any better than being in the Perez family vineyard or going to a castle, but I’ve learned that dreams are bigger than we can imagine them being. A friend decided to create my dream in a way he saw fitting. He took me to a private vineyard, not open to the public, for a picnic. From high on a hill, overlooking the valley, we drank wine, shared a picnic and watched the sun set. As darkness came, the stars and the full moon created our only light.

Each time this dream comes true, I wonder how my life became this amazing. I realize that it’s not just because I’ve chosen to pursue my dreams, but that by doing so I’ve met incredible people who’ve made my life fuller than I could’ve imagined.