Napa Valley's Most Intriguing 2025: Meet the Residents Shaping the Community's Story Page 5 of 5
Two key historical tastings involving Napa Valley frame the timeline of the book: the Paris Tasting of 1976 and the Judgment of Napa in 2021 to commemorate it, conceived and produced by the same organizers of the famous original event—Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher—with local expert Angela Duerr.
In both blind tastings, a Napa Valley Cabernet placed number one, above red wines representing some of the world’s best. These were Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 1976 and a TOR Beckstoffer To Kalon in 2021. Kenward notes, “We are very proud of this, and it shaped the epilogue of the book.”
For a luxury-focused readership, he offers candor, context, and a clear case for Napa’s continuing relevance: great sites, experienced hands, and demanding customers meeting at the right moment.
Cindy Pawlcyn, photo by Tim Carl
Cindy Pawlcyn helped write the blueprint for wine-country cuisine: seasonal, globally informed comfort food with serious wine lists and genuine hospitality. Mustards Grill remains a living institution—winemakers at the bar, families enjoying meals together, and dishes that defy fads while evolving at the edges.
Pawlcyn sums up her philosophy: “Only enough time in life for really good food,” she says. A mentor and a connector, she speaks compellingly about building supplier relationships, nurturing young cooks, and keeping a classic vibrant across decades of change. For followers, Pawlcyn offers continuity and warmth; for industry pros, tactical insight into menu development, cost discipline, and staff culture.
There’s a garden and tiny vineyard alongside the restaurant where Pawlcyn’s granddaughter is occasionally found wandering. Her personal story is also a love letter to Napa Valley’s roots: great food that welcomes everyone, paired thoughtfully with what the valley grows best.
Ivo Jeramaz, photo by Nicola Parisi courtesy of Grgich Hills Estate
Ivo Jeramaz, nephew of Mike Grgich, is the technical and philosophical engine at Grgich Hills Estate, overseeing regenerative farming across the winery’s estate vineyards and guiding a classic, age-worthy house style. Born in Croatia and trained under Grgich, Jeramaz is a thoughtful voice on soil health, canopy management, and fermentation choices that privilege balance over brawn. He can unpack why dry farming matters in Napa, how biodiversity benefits resilience, and what ripeness means in a warming climate. For readers, Jeramaz offers a grounded blueprint for sustainable excellence that’s neither dogma nor marketing—it’s decades of observation and iterative practice applied to one of Napa’s most storied estates.
Jeramaz says, “Regenerative farming is an homage to our family’s way of farming in Croatia—we did so without pesticides and worked in harmony with nature rather than in defiance of it. In this age of climate crisis, it’s more important than ever before to embrace routines that promote biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and social equity, which is why I’m such a passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture. Our style of low-intervention, natural winemaking allows us to create wines that are the truest expressions of the land they come from. My goal as a winemaker is to allow the grapes to speak for themselves, and in doing so, convey the uniqueness of their origins through aroma and flavor.”
Photo courtesy of Kelli White
Kelli A. White bridges roles as historian, critic, and educator. Her book Napa Valley, Then & Now , which is prized by collectors and sommeliers, remains the most ambitious single-region study of Napa’s vineyards, producers, and styles. Its pages chronicle the rise of Napa’s wine industry from its earliest days to its current glory, examining triumphs and failures along the way.
Her writing has appeared in World of Fine Wine, GuildSomm, Robb Report, Sommelier Journal, Le Pan, and Vinous, among others. In 2021, she was named a member of the Bay Area chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, and she currently sits on the board of directors for the Wine Writers’ Symposium.
As Director of Education at The Wine Center at Meadowood, White designs programs that help enthusiasts deepen their understanding of place, the art of winemaking, the physical enjoyment of wine, and cellar strategy. As evidenced by her latest book, Wine Confident , White is a lucid voice on the many ways a working knowledge of wine can improve one’s life. She also champions respectful, evidence-based discourse—inviting readers to taste broadly and think critically about Napa Valley’s next chapter.