1 the miracle of NAPA VALLEY
It may sound foolish to call Napa Valley lucky. The revered wine country seemed anything but in October, when wildfires ravaged more than 200,000 acres in Northern California, claiming thousands of homes and dozens of lives. But when the flames were finally doused and the smoke at last cleared, the valley floor, as if by some divine intervention, remained virtually untouched. Though surrounded by seared slopes and scorched trees, Napa itself—along with its scenic vineyards and glamorous resorts—appeared, however implausibly, as picturesque as ever.
Luck aside, Napa Valley has the resilience of its dedicated citizens and first responders to thank for its good fortune. A passionate committee of leaders, vintners, and luminaries, including everyone from chef Thomas Keller to designer Ken Fulk, banded…