From Your Publisher

It's hard to believe it's been ten years since Navek Ceja became Napa Valley
Life's first "Intriguing Napa Valley Resident Worth Getting to Know." Since
then, we have honored over 225 people, businesses, families and places that
help make this Valley so astonishing and inviting. It's funny, too: every
year people add the word "most" to our Intriguing title, but since the
beginning it has always been intriguing people that have a good story. I'm
often asked who has been my favorite Intriguing Person. That's hard to say,
because each person has a unique tale and all were worth a full length
feature story. Instead, we are only able to give a snapshot of the honorees' lives. I have stayed in touch with many of them, and they have become
friends, including Ambassador Kathryn Hall and photographer Charles O'Rear.
This issue is why I do what I do. People's stories fascinate me and often
inspire me to try something new. It's my honor to share this year's
Intriguing People with you. As we have for the last five years, we have
included an Intriguing Family, Business and Place that offer something
unique. I'm also thrilled to showcase Honig Winery's creative postcards as
they enter their 30th Anniversary this year.
Writer Ryan Ayers also takes a look back at how the Valley has intriguingly
changed in the past ten years. It's amazing to realize what can be done in a
decade. Downtown Napa is emerging from its dusty past, and it's moving to
see so many new restaurants‹like Eiko's, our Intriguing Business ‹tasting
rooms and hotels breathe new life. For the first time this year a temporary
ice rink has been erected to add to the excitement, and the second year of
the Napa ArtWalk has been installed.
Probably the most intriguing thing for me is to see all the collaboration
being done to make this Valley more Thriving and Sustainable. Stay tuned for
more stories on that in 2012. In the meantime, enjoy this holiday season,
discover some new intriguing things about the Valley and do what you can to
keep the positive spirit moving into 2012.

Your Publisher,
Kari Ruel