DiVine Conversations with Bonny Meyer from Napa Valley: Recent Episodes
Bonny Meyer
Bonny Meyer is the author of Perfectly Paired: The Love Affair Behind Silver Oak Cellars, a memoir of life, love and spiritual connection with Napa Valley vintner and winery legend Justin Meyer, co-founder of the famous Silver Oak Cellars which produced the Cabernet that became the benchmark for world class iconic Cabernet Sauvignons. Bonny’s family continues to produce Cabernet Sauvignon at Bonny’s Vineyard, from where she shares her insights, experience and love via DiVine Conversations with Bonny Meyer... from Napa Valley.
Suzanne Thorniley tells us how disappointment in election results first resulted in a lot of grumbling among friends but ultimately led to fulfilling and effective local action that lifted everyone's spirits and improved lives and opportunities. Everyone wants to live in a vibrant community. Joining and working together on non-partisan projects benefits both contributors and beneficiaries.
The leaves are changing colors and falling from vines, from trees, on hedges and in the hills. The air is crisp and clear and morning mist rises to meet the sunrise. Enjoy the Napa Valley as she shifts from the green leaves and deep blue grapes of harvest to the golds, reds and browns of autumn.
Napa Valley's fame was crafted by the forward-thinking vintners and farmers of the 1960s who dedicated themselves to greatness by helping each newcomer and each other rise to individual and collective excellence. This is a powerful lesson we can all emulate no matter what our area of focus.
Come along and join the excitement of our Bonny's Vineyard 2022 Cabernet Harvest! See the behind-the-scene preparations and systems that make it all possible then feel the energy as the grape picking crew moves quickly through the vineyard harvesting each and every cluster at its peak of perfection.
Join me as I take in the sights and sounds of the unique southwestern city of Santa Fe. I visit three centuries-old churches and the wonderful Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Just walking the streets and peering into the many shops is like being in an art museum. Invoke the smell of roasting chiles as you enjoy these images and you will experience the full flavor of Santa Fe.
Accepting an invitation to The Cotati Accordion Festival introduced me to an international cornucopia of music. The tunes ranged from Classical to Texas Country tunes, Polka, Zydeco, French country, Mariachi classics, Tango and more. The festival was way more fun and the music way more diverse than I had imagined. I am definitely returning next year!
My grandson Justin and I head off to Monterey for his scuba diver training and certification. There were moments of struggle but he and his dive partner prevailed in the end. A day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium was a great way to end our ocean adventure.
My sister Terri and I continue to explore the Empire mine, the machine shop, and the forge. We then move on to walk the community demonstration garden and cruise the twin cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City. All in all, it was a delightful introduction to this area where gold turned from dust and pine forest into quaint Sierra Foothill towns.
Join me and my sister, Terri in her new hometown, Grass Valley. There we enjoyed a watermelon cooler while planning our trip to the Empire Mine founded in 1850, the year California became a state and 49ers were rushing to find gold. After touring the mine museum, we toured the owner's cottage and surrounding gardens. Gold fueled a population surge, new towns, huge fortunes, city and country estates, and now familiar businesses like PG&E and Levi Strauss.
Meet Rob Barteletti who spends the better part of his day composing music using GarageBand on his Mac computer. Living with Parkinson's Disease for over 20 years meant that he could no longer play his piano and guitar but he found a way to create by stitching together loops and samples of digital music. Feel his enthusiasm for composing and enjoy his first ever music video - Serengeti.
Anything goes in the annual Calistoga 4th of July Parade; a truly fun and funky hometown production. It is heartwarming to see friends and neighbors willing to strut their stuff having a goofy good time doing it. This video is a tribute to small-town America everywhere where everyone applauds and cheers everyone.
Join me in the park as the residents of the Sausalito houseboat community share their dance-inspiring music, delicious food and impressive art with a little magic thrown in. Sometimes you never know about the hidden talents of the girl or guy next door until the invitation goes out and the table is set for fun!
The vines EXPLODE with life in spring! Beginning with bud break the grapevines transform from leafless wooden forms to a dense profusion of green leaves in the matter of a month. It feels like the shoots grow an inch a day while the clusters elongate and prepare to bloom. Take a walk in Bonny's Vineyard with me and experience the uplifting energy of life reaching for the sky.
Join Cindy, Kelly and I as Cindy teaches us how to make Ti Leaf Lei. Ti Leaf Lei are often given to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of friends and family. Cindy shows us how to easily make these lei at home. The leaves are harvested and pre-frozen to imbue maximum flexibility, making it possible for us to tie and twist the leaves into this classic rope-style lei.
Sarah McCrum offers expansive and extraordinary insight into the energy and benevolent nature of Money. Her consistent message invites us to realize that Money wants us to thrive individually and collectively and to support us as we engage in creative activities we love and exchange with each other. Transform your relationship with money.
Join me and whale videographer Everett Peacock as we stroll into the gentle shallows of Baby Beach to collect pure ocean water. Baking-dishes filled with this flavor-rich water will bake in Everett's DIY backyard solar oven. Within 10 days time, this pristine water will leave behind a gourmet treasure of the most delicious local sea salt effortlessly made by harnessing the Lahaina sun.
Join me and Jeff as we head out for a whale watch. We will see a baby playing and breaching over and over again and adults surfacing near our raft. Lastly, we will be treated to spectacular aerial footage from "Whale Dance" generously shared with us by Everett Peacock, TheFlyingHawaiian.com.
Hawaii is just as stunning from the air as it is from the beach. Come with me as we fly above Hawaii to visit my friend Dr. Ira Zunin on Oahu. We will fly by serene Molokai on our way there and back with her deep lava flow mountain gorges that look like Pele's long wavy tresses. The highlights of my time are a tour of Hawaii Kai in Ira's Boston Whaler and a visit to his integrative health clinic, Manakai O Malama. The flight back was a thrilling and beautiful end to a wonderful day.
What better way to celebrate being in Hawaii than going to a luau! At the Feast of Lele we journeyed through the South Pacific Islands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Samoa on the wings of unique but related languages, foods and dance. The similarities of these island cultures make it clear they share a common heritage.
Join Cindy and me as we explore Kapalua wedding venues for Jackie, her daughter Caitlin's best friend. Jackie was wanting to get married where she and Caitlin grew up together. Cindy and I had great fun scoping out these familiar places and looking at them with the new perspective that Jackie’s wedding offered us.
Come along as I learn how to operate our new Boston Whaler and ultimately venture from Sausalito’s Richardson Bay Marina out under the Golden Gate Bridge into the open ocean. Having been a sailor all my life this was a new and thrilling experience!
Celia demonstrates how to make her simple, healing Tortilla Soup. It is perfect for a winter’s day or anytime you are looking for chicken soup to feed body and soul. I always ask her to make her Tortilla Soup when I have a bad cold or just need a little TLC. So here it is, with love from Celia’s abuela in Michoacán to your kitchen.
The Kenny G concert was perfection! Rick and I started the evening at the new Napa Tiki Bar, Wilfreds, where we had Hawaiian food local style. The pineapple fried rice was particularly ono! Then we walked the short distance to The Blue Note where Kenny G began his concert walking through the audience. While Kenny's iconic smooth jazz filled the Napa Opera House his longtime backup band rounded out the sound with heartwarming gentle humor and musical rapport.
Join us at the Calistoga Spa for the Meyer Family Enterprises Christmas party. The hot pools were the perfect place to hang out and swap stories after our delicious dinner at Brasswood. Everyone loved continuing our dinner conversations while sitting around the poolside fire pit or soaking in the warm pools. Being at the Calistoga Spa brought back many great memories of teaching my children how to swim in the comfortable bathtub-warm water.
Join us as we come together for a Friendsgiving hosted by Kirsten and Adam in their Seattle home. It begins with adult beverages as we wait for our Covid Rapid Test results. Delighted anticipation is high as hot potatoes and butter are fed into Ben's potato cannon. The meal ends with pecan pie, chocolates, and my infamous Pumpkin Something.
Wilford Welch talks with me about his deep concern that humanity may not rise to meet the challenge of climate change in time to avoid catastrophic disaster. He offers his book "In Our Hands" free to anyone who wishes to download it from his website. Our future is clearly in our hands.
Join me for our local Dia de los Muertos celebration. It is full of music, decorated skulls, elaborate altars honoring family members who have died, revelers in costume with painted faces, and of course great food. I hope this video brings you delight and serves as an invitation to attend these festivities next year.
Just after the last grapes are harvested and before the first rains, we sow a carefully chosen seed mix that will germinate and grow over the winter into the early summer, contributing to healthier soil beneath the vines and attracting beneficial insects. Working with nature in this way contributes to a better environment and results in better, more delicious wines. Yum! www.bonnymeyer.com #PerfectlyPaired #StorybookRomance #NapaValley #BonnyMeyer #JustinMeyer #BonnyVineyard #Vineyard #ConsciousAwareness #MeyerFamilyCellars #SacredRelationship #SilverOak #Cabernet #Wine #California #soilimprovement #beneficialinsect #betterwine
Come with me into the Bonny's Vineyard garden as we harvest the last of the tomatoes and basil before the first frost ends the season. Then come into the kitchen as we demonstrate the fabulous and easy summer salad of Tomatoes & Burrata. This dish is probably the quintessential way to show off and enjoy beautiful heirloom tomatoes.Tomatos & Burrata - DiVine Conversations with Bonny Meyer
Catch the excitement and be part of the early morning and middle of the night harvest! After a year of hibernation, emersion, bloom, growth, véraison, and maturity, harvest is the penultimate day for the vines and those who have tended them.
My wedding anniversary inspired me to create this sweet remembrance video of my wedding day 49 years ago. Here's to love and to all of you who celebrate wedding anniversaries and sweet remembrance days like me and to all of us in our never-ending creation of new heartfelt relationships and beautiful memories.
Come along on a journey through time in the vineyard while we follow the beautiful and truly magical process of grape cluster maturation. Bloom is obvious but véraison? Well, you will just have to see for yourself why we get so excited about véraison in the vineyard!
Come along with me on my maiden kayak cruise touring our Sausalito houseboats from the water. Issaquah and Liberty Dock backyards feature kayaks, paddleboards, and boats instead of containers full of flowers. Come on in and join the fun! Anyone can rent a kayak or paddleboard in Sausalito at seatrek.com.
A quick visit to the garden and 10 minutes in the kitchen results in a deliciously savory meal or side dish of zucchini, a staple of Mexico, Italy, and the Napa Valley.
Ever wonder how a beautiful lush vineyard gets established? It all begins with careful planning; choosing the ideal rootstock, variety and clone then ordering benchgrafts from a grapevine nursery.The ground is prepared and cultivated then, finally, the baby vines are planted.
Sausalito Houseboats attract visitors from all over the world. Join me and Carole for a late afternoon stroll to enjoy the flower gardens and unique floating homes of Issaquah Dock.
Folk Music was the music of my time fueled by the popularity of The Kingtson Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and Pete Seeger. Justin and I sang their songs the first night we met at his birthday dinner. That evening of singing in harmony forged a solid friendship which grew into our lifelong love affair.
It is remarkable how much tender loving care a premium vineyard receives. Extraneous shoots are suckered, primary canes are tucked under trellis wires and the whole vineyard is monitored and managed for mildew and pesky weeds and pests. All these efforts come together to create delicious memorable Meyer Family Cabernets!
I love Slack Key Guitar! It is a unique musical form that arose out of the cowboy or paniolo culture of Hawaii's Big Island. Learn a little about the origin story and listen to master Uncle George Kahumoku while Ukulele player, Peter deAquino dances an impromptu hula.
A sad tale of injury and attempted restoration. Was it the fall or was it the surgeon that caused the demise? Is there a happy ending? Find out.
Bud Break is one of the most exciting and active times in the vineyard. It is the miracle of new life bursting open everywhere you look. It is the harbinger of spring and goes off like a frost alarm propelling farmers into action. This is your invitation to witness this miracle!
Come along with me and Cindy as we explore beautiful beaches of Makena in South Maui. Avoiding the wide open beaches of Big Beach and Little Beach, we stuck to the lovely little coves bordered by lava rock outcroppings. Here we found swimmers, snorkelers, fishermen and plenty of wild chickens!
Join me as I make and gift a fresh flower Hawaiian lei. Buy a lei needle and enjoy this pleasant creative activity at home with flowers from your garden.
Delight in the unique Paper Art of Pat Gentenaar. Take an art tour of my Maui condo then explore how Pat uses paper pulp to create these images that are so alive. Pat is acknowledged worldwide for her unique process and extraordinarily dynamic art.
Come along on our whale watch adventure, joining me, Carole and Wilford as we observe Hawaii's humpbacks tend to newborns and engage in dating whale-style. The annual whale migration and ocean nurturing and mating rituals are likely more ancient than we humans watching the spectacle.
Take a tour of Maui missionary history through some of the churches they built. Arriving from 1820 through the 1890s, Christian missionaries had a huge influence on spiritual beliefs and the daily life of the Hawaiian people.
This is your invitation to virtually visit the island of fragrant flowers, tropical breezes and the sounds of slack key guitar and ocean waves. Relax as you hear the story of my first arrival and a tribute to the healing power of Magical Maui.
Peace is my only goal. My only job is to see the light in you. These are two great lessons my dear friend Jerry Jampolsky taught me that have enhanced my life.
Cindy & Bonny "talk story" about how Christmas is celebrated by families in the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is a rich mixture of peoples from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Japan, China, The Philippines, Portugal, Mexico, and the US Mainland. Each family brings cherished foods from their cultural home to the Christmas table.
Christmas Hawaiian-style includes fresh roasted macadamia nuts and celebratory foods from the "mixed plate" of Hawaii's residents. Santa wears an aloha shirt and arrives in an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins. Of course!
Breathe in the quiet energy of fall in the vineyard. The vines remind us that it is time to stop, rest, rejuvenate and restore in preparation for next spring.
Discover the secrets of the best refried beans on the planet - Celia Beans! The ingredients are simple but it is my ultimate comfort food. From my friend and housekeeper Celia Rios.
Take a joy ride with me in Justin’s 1928 Model A Pickup as we celebrate his November birthday!
Join me in celebrating fall with Walnuts and Rosemary from the garden and Chardonnay from Meyer Family Cellars. A sante'! To your health!
Every October we look forward to harvesting walnuts. The limbs are shaken, walnuts fall (sometimes on our heads!) and bins of walnuts are ready to share with friends...and ravens.
Sunny Sausalito Houseboat Community Concerts - a unique response to COVID. Hoping this will inspire you to create something magical and nourishing to the spirit in your community making life better for us all.
Bonny’s Vineyard Cabernet Release Day is a once-a-year special event. Our Covid-Careful protocols made this day even more special as our limited number of guests were treated royally with beautiful wines and food personally delivered by winemakers Matt and Karen Meyer to their tables under the grape-covered trellis.
From delighted excitement to sad resignation all in one day. A non-harvest we will never forget. Both vines and personal resilience grow ever stronger.
I ran away from home. I needed to be away from the smoke, fires and the emergency of our latest Napa Valley climate calamity. Knowing I should not be alone, I reached out to good friends and now rest in the shelter of their sweet love.
Love is the most powerful force in the universe, yet we are too often confused about what it really is. How to get it. How to give it. How to allow it to move within us.
Follow me as I go into the Bonny's Vineyard garden on a mission to make Garden Gazpacho. Master gardener, Ismael talks about the vegetables he is growing for the Oakville Grocery, Harvest Table, my Gazpacho and the salad he is making for lunch. Later I am in my kitchen demonstrating how easy it is to throw these summer vegetables into the blender to make the most delicious Gazpacho!
During one crazy weather week here in the Napa Valley, we cooled the vineyard and lighted the way under surreal orange skies for the beginning of grape harvest.
Bonny and her friend psychologist Mary Kay talk about the stages of disaster recovery. So helpful for both those who are in the process of recovering and those close to them. These stages are similar to the experiences of anyone suffering loss of a job, health, a loved one, or any major life change.
Excitement is high as harvest preparations for Meyer Family Cellars begin with Matt Meyer and Val Quintero loading bins onto a trailer headed to Meyer Family Cellars in Yorkville. Harvest begins with Chardonnay, Sarah Rose' and Sauvignon Blanc. Bonny's Vineyard Cabernet will follow. Smoke from the fires is dissipating and neighbors report that grapes are coming in clean and delicious.
The valley is quiet with a blanket of smoke and sadness. The wildfires have brought a breath-holding hush over Napa Valley, and we are finding our way through community grief and loss and mustering our courage to stay strong.