It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Migliavacca Mansion in Napa, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Napa, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I love Always Best Care! They are very responsive and very accommodating. The BEST CAREGIVER”
“Good place to work.”
“Shout out Chris Garcia”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like the caregivers to come more,”
“I am a current client of this provider They were able to help her clean up”
“I am a current client of this provider They keep her company and give her good”
“I am a current client of this provider They help the most with my projects in”
“I am a current client of this provider She is very private and tends to spend”
“I am a past client of this provider I like that they sent good quality workers”
“I am a current client of this provider My dad really enjoys them coming out and”
“I am a current client of this provider They are giving me respite care, and it's”
“I am a current client of this provider They provided aids quickly. They go out of their”
“I am a past client of this provider The caregivers helped my mom with everything she”
“I am a current client of this provider The people are very helpful. I haven't had”
“I am a current client of this provider It gives my mom and me a little”
“This place is great! I highly recommend for family care and employment”
“I have worked for Always Best care for over 7 years! I have always been”
“Great company! They care about their clients & their caregivers better than I've seen any”
“I am a current client of this provider The timeframe I have them come out is”
“I am a current client of this provider Their responses to our questions make our experience”
“I am a current client of this provider They're always open and nurturing. They listen and”
“I am a current client of this provider It helps my husband to have additional help”
“I am a past client of this provider I like the person who set up our”
“I am a current client of this provider They do everything I need them to do. I”
“I am a current client of this provider I have been using them for over a”
“I love Always Best Care! They are very responsive and very accommodating. The BEST CAREGIVER I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING IS JONEL LEE!! He goes above and beyond for not only my husband but our entire family! He makes sure he completes every household chore within his 7 hours! He’s amazing! He cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He does the dishes, the laundry, takes out the trash and makes sure he spends time with my husband. He genuinely cares about his clients, their needs and their families and their families needs! He is by far the best! I believe he should be the trainer for all caregivers! If everyone worked as hard and as compassionately as Jonel, you would never have another complaint. He’s truly sent straight from God! I just want to say after 10 years, I have finally found the perfect caregiver! Thank you Jonel!”
“Good place to work.”
“Shout out Chris Garcia”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like the caregivers to come more, but that's not in the budget. I like that the agency is really trying to give us good caregivers.”
“I am a current client of this provider They were able to help her clean up and take care of her hygiene. I like that all their staff is very friendly.”
“I am a current client of this provider They keep her company and give her good service. She feels safe with them. I like the flexibility.”
“I am a current client of this provider They help the most with my projects in my house, like organizing and filing things. I like everything. I am so pleased with them, they have good communication, and caregivers.”
“I am a current client of this provider She is very private and tends to spend a lot in isolation, with this person coming in every week it gives her conservation, and she has been much brighter. I like the caregivers' efficiency and punctuality, they are reliable.”
“I am a past client of this provider I like that they sent good quality workers when I need to work. I like that every time we needed nurses they came.”
“I am a current client of this provider My dad really enjoys them coming out and taking care of him. They are friendly, they are knowledgeable with their staff, and able to cover their shifts.”
“I am a current client of this provider They are giving me respite care, and it's the first time I can go out independently. They communicate well and are reliable.”
“I am a current client of this provider They provided aids quickly. They go out of their way to accommodate my scheduling needs.”
“I am a past client of this provider The caregivers helped my mom with everything she needed. I like that they were professional and on time.”
“I am a current client of this provider The people are very helpful. I haven't had any bad experiences. They are really good at what they do. We are happy to have them.”
“I am a current client of this provider It gives my mom and me a little piece of mind and relief. My dad feels comfortable as well. The service was quick and if the caregivers don't work out, they always give us somebody different. The scheduler works very hard. The caregivers are patient.”
“This place is great! I highly recommend for family care and employment”
“I have worked for Always Best care for over 7 years! I have always been happy with the professionalism provided by Management & staff! The flexibility and compassion has been exceptional, consistent and friendly. The manager really works hard to match the caregiver’s skills to the client! If you are someone wanting to be a compassionate & a quality caregiver, Always Best Care- Vacaville is a great place to work!”
“Great company! They care about their clients & their caregivers better than I've seen any other companies. The staff is amazing!”
“I am a current client of this provider The timeframe I have them come out is helpful for me. I like that they allow for the caregiver to be on a regular shift, and they go through background checks.”
“I am a current client of this provider Their responses to our questions make our experience positive. I like the flexibility and their quick response to emails and phone calls.”
“I am a current client of this provider They're always open and nurturing. They listen and willing to do whatever. It means a lot to my mom. They're very compassionate, open, and friendly.”
“I am a current client of this provider It helps my husband to have additional help outside our family. He looks forward to our caregiver coming to our home. They help him with daily tasks and housekeeping. The agency has been accommodating to me and my husband.”
“I am a past client of this provider I like the person who set up our services, and others were pretty responsive. I think that it was mainly that we could not get a caregiver that was a good match, the agency could only provide one and that was it.”
“I am a current client of this provider They do everything I need them to do. I like their work and I like their availability.”
“I am a current client of this provider I have been using them for over a year, I have gone from a wheelchair to being able to use a walker so the care has been different throughout. When I first got out I couldn't provide for myself at all so it was imperative. Now, I can provide for myself but they make my life easier by providing laundry services. I like the quality of the majority of caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Kennedy Park in Napa, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local La Toque or visit Trancas Street Historic Bridge, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Napa, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Napa, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Napa, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
New gin, vodka, whiskey and variety packs bring high-quality products and a compelling wholesale price to major retailersNapa, CA, and San Jose, CA, September 29, 2026 -- Just in time for OND, Napa Valley Distillery today introduced their new Distiller's Blend collection of three-packs. These high-quality variety packs are available in three-bottle mixed packs of Napa Valley gin, vodka, whiskey, or a mixed variety pack. The line was created for all major retailers seeking gift-ready spirits at the low wholesale price of $30 to $40 p...
Napa, CA, and San Jose, CA, September 29, 2026 -- Just in time for OND, Napa Valley Distillery today introduced their new Distiller's Blend collection of three-packs. These high-quality variety packs are available in three-bottle mixed packs of Napa Valley gin, vodka, whiskey, or a mixed variety pack. The line was created for all major retailers seeking gift-ready spirits at the low wholesale price of $30 to $40 per pack and are now available for major retailers via LibDib.
The launch of this collection marks a renewed push for Napa Valley Distillery whose plans to unveil a Distiller's Blend were interrupted when a fire left the distillery without a production facility. Napa Valley Distillery has since reopened and brings the Distiller's Blend product line to market with a sharper focus on price, presentation and scale. The products available in the collection are designed for high-volume retail environments, with pallets ready for floor placement and dedicated sell sheets that support buyers.
"Our goal at Napa Valley Distillery is to overdeliver on quality with a price per bottle that is incredibly hard to pass up," said Arthur Hartunian, Owner of Napa Valley Distillery. "These three-packs give retailers an attractive gift option and give shoppers a way to try more of our spirits in a cost-effective way."
"The combination of quality, packaging and aggressive wholesale pricing makes the Distiller's Blend a strong addition to retailers' spirits and gifting assortments this holiday season," said Cheryl Durzy, Founder and CEO of LibDib. "I'm incredibly excited to offer this compelling collection on LibDib."
To Purchase
Buyers simply sign up online at LibDib.com, create a free account and can purchase Napa Valley Distillery from their personalized LibDib brandpage.
About Napa Valley Distillery
Napa Valley Distillery produces a range of craft spirits, including gin, vodka and whiskey, in Napa, California. Learn more at napadistillery.com.
About LibDib
LibDib, LLC is a licensed wholesale alcohol distributor and technology innovator, offering a compliant three-tier distribution platform for wine and spirits makers of all sizes. LibDib simplifies the buying and selling experience. Learn more at LibDib.com.
libdib.com/
LibDib, LLC is a licensed wholesale alcohol distributor and technology innovator, offering a compliant three-tier distribution platform for wine and spirits makers of all sizes. LibDib simplifies the buying and selling experience. Learn more at LibDib.com.
NAPA VALLEY, CA — Most businesses put profits into one bank account. But the money spent at two sister thrift stores in St. Helena keeps the doors open for two good causes: charities including Parkinson’s programs and neighbors in need.Jennifer Wilken and Oria Goleno reopened La Bohème and Act Two, which both were slated to be closed.The takeover preserves two shops that serve different needs in the same community: La Bohème offers higher-end finds among Main Street’s boutiques, while Act Two off...
NAPA VALLEY, CA — Most businesses put profits into one bank account. But the money spent at two sister thrift stores in St. Helena keeps the doors open for two good causes: charities including Parkinson’s programs and neighbors in need.
Jennifer Wilken and Oria Goleno reopened La Bohème and Act Two, which both were slated to be closed.
The takeover preserves two shops that serve different needs in the same community: La Bohème offers higher-end finds among Main Street’s boutiques, while Act Two off Highway 29 supplies the eclectic and everyday necessities.
Together, they turn donated clothing, furniture, and housewares into support for charitable causes while helping neighbors afford what they need in one of the country's most expensive regions.
When a vineyard worker hesitates over a $25 pair of work boots, Goleno sees more than a shopper weighing a purchase. She remembers her father, who worked as a vineyard foreman in the 1970s and 1980s, and offers the boots for $10.
“That would work,” the man tells her. “Okay. Then take them for $10.”
Those exchanges explain why Goleno and Wilken took over the St. Helena thrift stores after Providence announced it would close them.
The women preserved places where neighbors furnish homes, buy clothing, and sometimes receive help they cannot afford elsewhere.
They also gave the stores a new purpose. Sales support the women's Goleno-Wilken Foundation, which directs money to Parkinson’s Association of Northern California as well as other causes. Wilken’s husband, Darrel, has Parkinson’s.
La Bohème sells donated goods amid downtown’s high-end boutiques. Its sister store, Act Two St. Helena Thrift, occupies a corner among vineyard and winemaking suppliers.
La Bohème tends toward higher-end merchandise. Act Two supplies everyday necessities, although its donations occasionally require an art expert, like when Goleno received artwork she suspects may be an original Picasso.
Other donations have included authenticated art, Bibles dating to the 1840s, and a jacket with dentures left inside.
“You never know what comes through here,” Wilken said. The goal remains the same, which is lifting up the people around them.
Before the takeover, Wilken had worked for Providence at the stores for about four years, and Goleno for three.
Goleno began researching nonprofit requirements after hearing that Providence had closed a Petaluma thrift store.
Initially, they thought the downtown shop might prove too difficult or expensive to keep. But, within a month, Goleno and Wilken had put together a business plan, created the foundation, and secured the funding they needed.
“Oria and I talked to Providence, and we told them our plan, and they were like, ‘Wonderful. That’s amazing,’” Wilken said.
The women obtained new leases, insurance, a license, and nonprofit status, and formed a board, a CPA, and a business owner.
“So we did a lot in under a month,” Wilken said.
At La Bohème, they moved every item out so the landlord could replace carpeting that had been there for 15 years.
Fresh paint, rearranged furniture, and a relocated desk changed the shop’s appearance.
“So it looks, like, much cleaner and brighter,” Wilken said..
On the second full day, and after a weekend soft opening, the store never emptied of shoppers.
“People are really excited that the door is open,” Wilken said.
For some customers, the stores fill needs that extend well beyond bargain hunting.
“My house is half furnished from here,” one longtime shopper said.
The same shopper described the regulars: “We have a family of people.”
One woman, Lulu, who had turned 97 a few days earlier, walked into the shop, followed by another regular Wilken called their “organizer.” Travelers also stop in.
Goleno grew up in a household of eight children. Customers’ stories sometimes remind her of her parents, prompting her to lower a price or give someone an item. A Sept. 24 Act Two offered shoppers 10 pieces of clothing for $10.
She also cared for her mother, who had severe dementia, for 15 years. That experience shapes her response when customers explain that they need linens while caring for a loved one. “You can take three or four sheets,” she tells them.
The women donate clothing to the high school’s drama department and plan to work with the food bank to provide dishes, utensils, pots, and pans alongside food distributions.
They are also working to help restart a Parkinson’s support group.
For Wilken, that cause starts at home. Her husband continues working and helping at the store on his days off. “So he has a second job now,” she said.
At the stores, the women have also adjusted their course while keeping a familiar community resource alive.
“So we’re just basically continuing on the legacy,” Wilken said.
Summit Lake and Smith-Madrone seek to keep doing what they’ve already been doing for decades — hosting visitors, holding events, and pouring wine — while their lawsuit against Napa County moves forwardOctober 1, 2026 (Napa, CA) — Two Napa Valley wineries filed three emergency motions on September 30 asking a federal court to stop Napa County from enforcing new restrictions on longstanding winery operations while their broader lawsuit against the County continues.The motions ask ...
Summit Lake and Smith-Madrone seek to keep doing what they’ve already been doing for decades — hosting visitors, holding events, and pouring wine — while their lawsuit against Napa County moves forward
October 1, 2026 (Napa, CA) — Two Napa Valley wineries filed three emergency motions on September 30 asking a federal court to stop Napa County from enforcing new restrictions on longstanding winery operations while their broader lawsuit against the County continues.
The motions ask the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to let Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery and Smith-Madrone keep doing business the way they always have — without a multimillion-dollar road bill, without new barriers to hosting visitors and events, and without threats of fines for pouring wine tastings by appointment, as both wineries have done for decades.
A hearing is scheduled for November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco.
“Our clients aren’t asking the Court to break new ground — they’re asking Napa County to honor what it has already acknowledged, in writing and under oath, for years,” said Joseph Infante, counsel for the wineries.
Summit Lake argues it’s being forced to pay for a problem it didn’t cause.
Napa County wants Summit Lake to spend more than $2 million rebuilding a shared private road to commercial standards. But according to Summit Lake, the County’s own stated reason for requiring the fix isn’t Summit Lake’s traffic at all — it’s the combined effect of traffic from more than a dozen other properties that also use the same road. Summit Lake says its own day-to-day operations wouldn’t add a single additional car.
In other words, Summit Lake argues, Napa County wants one small winery to pay to fix a road problem the County itself says is caused by everyone else. The motion argues this is not just unfair, but unconstitutional.
Summit Lake and Smith-Madrone also challenge how Napa County decides which winery gatherings are allowed.
The wineries say County rules already let them host certain kinds of gatherings — things like harvest celebrations, winemaker dinners, and food-and-wine pairings — as a normal part of running a winery. But, they argue, the County has been requiring the same burdensome approval process for these casual, everyday gatherings that it uses for large commercial business events.
The motion also challenges how the County decides whether a bigger business event gets approved at all, arguing the process lets county officials pick and choose based on what the event is about and who’s attending — the kind of decision the Constitution doesn’t let the government make.
Summit Lake and Smith-Madrone are also asking the Court to let them keep offering private, by-appointment wine tastings — a practice at the heart of how small wineries do business.
For Smith-Madrone, the motion argues that Napa County repeatedly told two federal courts — and admitted in sworn discovery responses — that the winery’s 1973 permit allows private, by-appointment tastings with no cap on the number of visitors. The County has since reversed itself, telling the winery it doesn’t actually know what the permit does and doesn’t allow.
For Summit Lake, the motion argues that its 1984 permit only bars tastings open to the general public — not private, scheduled appointments, which Summit Lake has offered for decades. The winery also challenges the County’s position that a decades-old estimate of “2” visitors per week, written on its original 1984 application, is now a hard cap it must never exceed — even though the application never used the word “maximum” or “limit.”
The wineries argue that much of this fight traces back to a basic problem: Napa County can’t say what many of its own winery rules actually mean.
According to the motions, County officials have admitted — in sworn court filings — that they have no definition for the terms at the center of these disputes, including “public tasting,” “private tasting,” “winetasting,” “advertising,” and “unsolicited.” Asked directly what these words mean, the County’s answer has been that it relies only on their “ordinary and commonly understood meaning” — not any written rule, regulation, or guidance.
Court records show Napa’s own planning staff warned the Board of Supervisors as far back as 2009 that the County’s winery rules could be “reversed or re-interpreted” at any time and risked being “considered arbitrary.” A 2015 memo to the Board described the same rules as “imprecise” and lacking “meaningful guidance.” And in 2025, Napa County’s own Civil Grand Jury — after a seven-month investigation — found that winery owners “have expressed confusion” about what counts as a tasting or event under their own permits, that permit conditions “vary almost on a winery-by-winery basis.”
The wineries argue that rules this unclear can’t fairly be used to threaten a business with fines or shutdowns.
Together, the three motions ask the court to keep things as they are while the larger case plays out. The wineries argue that Napa County’s recent enforcement push threatens operations that have gone on for decades, based on rules that are either unfairly applied or too vague for anyone to follow with confidence.
The underlying lawsuit, Hoopes Vineyard LLC et al. v. County of Napa, Case No. 3:24-cv-06256-CRB, challenges several aspects of how Napa County regulates wineries.
Plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Miller Canfield which has successfully litigated similar lawsuits across the country. More: https://www.millercanfield.com/
https://www.hoopesvineyard.comhttps://www.smithmadrone.comhttps://www.summitlakevineyards.comhttps://thomsonvineyards.comhttps://okellhillvineyard.com/
Napa's Schramsberg returned to a U.S.-China toast with a different sparkling wine than Nixon poured.NAPA VALLEY, CA — Napa Valley wine filled glasses at the White House’s recent dinner for China’s president, but Sonoma and Marin counties also had a part in the pour.Together, those local ties connect the dinner to a diplomatic toast that made history more than half a century ago.When Wall Street bankers, Silicon Valley moguls, Hollywood studio heads, and French luxury executives—including Jamie D...
NAPA VALLEY, CA — Napa Valley wine filled glasses at the White House’s recent dinner for China’s president, but Sonoma and Marin counties also had a part in the pour.
Together, those local ties connect the dinner to a diplomatic toast that made history more than half a century ago.
When Wall Street bankers, Silicon Valley moguls, Hollywood studio heads, and French luxury executives—including Jamie Dimon, Elon Musk, David Ellison, and Bernard Arnault—raised their glasses at the state dinner hosted by Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping, they held a Napa Valley sparkling wine chosen to recall a historic toast between the two countries.
Guests began with Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, a choice the White House linked to President Richard Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing.
The winery provided the connection, but the two toasts featured different bottles.
Schramsberg identifies the 1972 wine as its 1969 Blanc de Blancs, made from Chardonnay. Thursday’s Blanc de Noirs is made from Pinot Noir.
Schramsberg’s roots reach back to German immigrant Jacob Schram, who established a winery on Diamond Mountain in the 19th century. Jack and Jamie Davies restored the estate in 1965 and set out to produce sparkling wine.
Their Blanc de Blancs reached the dinner in Beijing seven years later.
Schramsberg says its sparkling wines have appeared at official state functions during every U.S. presidential administration since Nixon.
The winery’s Presidential Dinner Set gathers four wines it says have been poured most often at official U.S. functions: J. Schram Blancs, Brut Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, and Crémant Demi-sec. Thursday’s Blanc de Noirs does not appear in the four-bottle collection.
The set’s Blanc de Blancs shares the style of the wine served at Nixon’s 1972 dinner, though it comes from a different vintage. Schramsberg lists Chardonnay as the sole grape in the bottle currently sold in the set.
The collection also reflects the winery’s grape sources beyond Napa Valley.
Schramsberg lists fruit from Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Mendocino counties in three of the wines. Its Crémant Demi-sec contains Napa County grapes exclusively.
Melania Trump led preparations for Thursday’s dinner. The White House described its menu as a combination of American ingredients and subtle Chinese influence.
The first course paired a yellow squash velouté with wild mushroom fricassee, crispy pancetta, and scallion oil. The second brought sesame-crusted sea bass together with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant, and a fresh herb sauce.
Dessert combined vanilla crémeux and sour cherry confit with walnut frangipane. White House honey supplied the ice cream served alongside it.
Red carried through the East Room décor. Red blossoms filled urns, while red linens, dahlias, and ranunculus covered the tables. The place settings featured the Reagan State Service and vermeil from the White House collection.
October 1, 2026 (Napa, CA) — The Napa Valley Grapegrowers will host the 2026 ROOTSTOCK Conference on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. New this year, ROOTSTOCK will open with the inaugural State of the Valley, an annual presentation translating broader wine industry trends into what they mean for Napa Valley’s vineyards, acreage, winery partners, and agricultural community. Three trusted voices will offer a local look at where t...
October 1, 2026 (Napa, CA) — The Napa Valley Grapegrowers will host the 2026 ROOTSTOCK Conference on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. New this year, ROOTSTOCK will open with the inaugural State of the Valley, an annual presentation translating broader wine industry trends into what they mean for Napa Valley’s vineyards, acreage, winery partners, and agricultural community. Three trusted voices will offer a local look at where the valley stands today and what to plan for next, setting the stage for a day focused on the evolving vineyard workforce.
The 2026 ROOTSTOCK Conference then focuses on the workforce that sustains Napa Valley’s vineyards year-round, exploring how growers are adapting to a shifting labor landscape while supporting the people and practices that define quality winegrowing.
Key themes include:
ROOTSTOCK is designed for vineyard employers, grape growers, vineyard managers, and other winegrowing professionals committed to advancing Napa Valley’s viticultural excellence.
Registration: NVG Member Admission is $75.00 and General Admission is $105.00. Registration is available through November 5, 2026.
For more than 18 years, ROOTSTOCK has evolved to meet the needs of Napa Valley’s growers and industry leaders.
Register now and learn more at napagrowers.org/nvgrootstock.
About the Napa Valley GrapegrowersThe Napa Valley Grapegrowers is a nonprofit organization representing more than 600 vineyard owners and managers across Napa County. Dedicated to cultivating viticultural excellence and environmental stewardship, NVG provides education, advocacy, and community leadership to support the long-term viability of Napa Valley agriculture. Through its programs and partnerships, NVG works to ensure that Napa Valley remains one of the premier winegrowing regions in the world. Learn more at napagrowers.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
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