The latest coverage of the sweeping federal investigation into wheelings and dealings within Napa County government and industry comes via the Los Angeles Times way down in SoCal. Their headline reads: “Mystery among the vines: Why is the FBI probing some of Napa Valley’s fanciest wineries?” Reporter Jessica Garrison seems especially fascinated by the local wine empires being looked into by the feds. From the Times story: “Highway 29 winds along the floor of the Napa Valley through Yountville and St. Helena and up into Calistoga, passing by vineyards that produce some of the most celebrated and expensive wines in the world. … And lately, for locals anyway, it is also the source of a pressing mystery: Why have so many of the fancy wineries along this road — and their rich and powerful owners — been named in federal subpoenas that were served late last year on Napa County? ‘Please provide any and all documents relating to the following individuals, entities, and/or projects,’ one subpoena says, before unspooling a roster that reads more like a high-end tourist brochure than what is normally found in a court docket. Among the glittering names whose county records are being sought are Hall Wines, known for its bold cabernets and luxe St. Helena winery with a towering statue of a silver rabbit. … Caymus Vineyards, whose cabernet is a frequent favorite of Wine Spectator, and owner Charles J. ‘Chuck’ Wagner are listed in the records request, as are Wagner’s son, Charlie Wagner, and his vineyard, Mer Soleil. The inventory of luminaries rolls on: Robin Baggett, a former general counsel for the Golden State Warriors, and his Alpha Omega Winery. Dave Phinney, whose ‘Prisoner’ label changed the industry. Grant Long Jr. and his wineries Aonair and Reverie II. Jayson Woodbridge and Hundred Acre. Darioush Khaledi and his namesake winery. And on it goes — 40 people and businesses in total, including Napa’s exclusive Meritage Resort and Spa. The subpoena seeking records on the wineries and their owners, dated Dec. 14, 2023, is filed under the name of Patrick Robbins, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California. It also references an FBI agent, Katherine Ferrato, who has experience working on complex financial crimes.” Read the full LA Times story for more dirt on the feds’ winery-centric subpoena, along with a few other sister subpoenas: one about the Upper Valley trash agency, one about the private Napa County Airport and one about the county’s farm bureau, “which in recent years has become a powerful political voice on behalf of wineries.” The intrigue is endless! (Source: Los Angles Times; paywall)

Those of us taking part in “Glory Hole Watch 2024” are waiting with bated breath as the water line at the Lake Berryessa reservoir in the Napa Valley comes closer and closer to spilling into the mouth of a very special pipeline sticking out of the reservoir. Locals and fans call it the “glory hole,” but really it’s a giant spillway installed to drain the reservoir when it gets too full — meanwhile creating the visual effect of a hungry black hole in the surface of the lake. It’s really quite a cosmic scene. And as of Thursday afternoon, the hole is within half a foot of achieving its famous formation, according to Solano County’s water agency. (Lake Berryessa reportedly provides water to a few rural communities in Napa County, but mostly serves the people of Solano to the south.) This spectacle hasn’t occurred for around five years, since 2019. Which is also an indication of a larger trend: The rain gods have been good to us over these past couple winters. “Lake Berryessa is oh-so-close to glory days,” the Napa Valley Register reports. “Water as of Wednesday was within a foot of the morning glory spillway, which is nicknamed the ‘glory hole.’ The 72-foot-diameter concrete funnel sends water to the opposite side of 300-foot-tall Monticello Dam and into Putah Creek, assuring the dam isn’t overtopped. People traditionally throng to eastern Napa County see a sight that last happened in 2019. But, with the lake poised to spill, wintertime storms are petering out. ‘It’s probably going to take a good storm, 2 to 3 inches, to get over the edge and get the ‘glory hole’ spilling,’ Chris Lee, general manager of the Solano County Water Agency, said on Tuesday.” So we’ll see if the next week or two of light, on-and-off rainfall is enough to eke out a win. One could even think of the Lake Berryessa glory hole as our own local version of Punxsutawney Phil: If the hole spilleth in on itself at the advent of spring, this shan’t be a drought year. Fun, right? (Source: Napa Valley Patch & Solano County Water Agency & Napa Valley Focus & Lake Berryessa News via Facebook & Napa Valley Register; paywall)