N. Kerbi Photo

For the first time in their 100-year history in the Napa Valley the Pelissa family will finish harvesting their white grapes before September 1. Lately, we’ve been reflecting a lot on the family history; in addition to building a new rock cairn to celebrate its centennial on Saturday, August 28th the Pelissa family threw a party for friends and family to celebrate its 100th harvest. Family including Andrew Pelissa’s heirs and Napa Wine Company partners (pictured, left to right) Marilyn Pelissa Harris and Dawne Pelissa Dickenson (seated), David Hoxsey, Jennifer Harris Jakoby and Andrew Hoxsey. Members of the family of Andrew Pelissa’s sister, Anna Pelissa Navone, also attended the fête, including Bob Navone, Genevieve Navone Leitner and Jill Harshbarger.

Friends including George Yount’s great-great-great granddaughter, Tony Porterfield, and an heir of Jean Brun, Suanne Ferry, attended, along with Michael and Isabel Mondavi (Robert Mondavi Winery), Marc & Janice Mondavi (Charles Krug Winery), Jeannie Phillips (Screaming Eagle), writers Paul Franson, George Starke and John Intardonato, supervisors Diane Dillon and Bill Dodd, California Senate hopeful Pat Kruger and many other friends from the Yountville and Oakville communities.

Along with delicious appetizers and Napa Wine Company wines, guests viewed a gallery of historic photographs and were given copies of “100 Harvests: The Pelissa Family in the Napa Valley.” Author Anthony Kilgallin was on hand to sign copies. In a toast to the family he said:

“At this very moment in Greece 113 males are awakening for the race of their lives beginning at Marathon and concluding twenty-six miles later at the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. All aim to recreate the run of Pheidippides in 490 B.C. as he sped to declare that the Greeks had triumphed over the Persians in battle.

Two centuries later, 217 B.C., Rome battled a Carthaginian invasion from the Alps at Lake Trasimene. Rome finally won but realized it needed much more protection here in north western Italy. Roman settlers were offered 35-acre homesteads in Liguria free of charge. Twenty-one centuries later, 1903, the Ligurian born Joseph Pelissa bought 35 acres of arable Calistoga for a single $10 gold coin...payment in full.

Tonight we drink 2001 Napa Wine Company wines and celebrate the Pelissa Heritage and especially the Pelissa Pentarchy (The Rule of Five). Dawne, Marilyn, Andrew, David and Jennifer are Five Interlocking Familial Rings. Added to this strength is the indisputable knowledge that throughout the centuries the Pelissa rootstock has flourished by marriages to equally powerful rootstock. Howard, Ren, Nancy, Angela and Hansi are the real and ideal running mates to Dawne, Marilyn, Andrew, David and Jennifer. Therefore I propose a toast to the 100 Harvests on record, to the next century of achievements, and to the entire Pelissa family, our Double Gold Olympian Winners of 2004.”

Thank you to all who have made the last 100 years of the Pelissa family history great and to all who will contribute to the success of the Napa Valley in the future. Napa Valley’s Oakville appellation, home of the Napa Wine Company and our Pelissa and Rock Cairn vineyards, was recently named THE premier wine appellation of the world by Wine Spectator magazine. We are honored to be a part of the Oakville and Yountville wine growing communities and are blessed and somewhat amazed to be such a significant part of the valley’s history.

Read Anthony Kilgallin's Book "100 Harvests: The Pelissa Family In the Napa Valley" Online!
Napa Wine Company's Andrew Hoxsey earlier this year hired family friend and amateur historian Tony Kilgallin to research and write the family story for publication as part of his family's celebration of their centennial anniversary of harvesting in the Napa Valley. Click here to read the book online. You can also order your very own copy of the book by calling Napa Wine Company at 800.848.9630.