Langtry hires Camera as director of vineyard operations
Written by Editor
Thursday, 15 November 2007
MIDDLETOWN – Langtry Estate and Vineyards has hired veteran vineyard manager Richard Camera as director of vineyard operations.
Camera, formerly director of vineyard operations for The Hess Collection Winery, will be responsible for managing Langtry’s 400 acres of premium vineyards in Lake and Napa counties and for overseeing additional vineyard development of Langtry’s extensive estate property.
He also will be responsible for redeveloping the winery’s existing vineyards so that they can be farmed using sustainable and organic farming practices in the future.
Before joining Langtry, Camera worked at Hess in Napa for 13 years as vice president and director of vineyard operations, managing 750 vineyard acres in Napa County and 350 vineyard acres in Monterey County.
At The Hess Collection, Camera developed the winery’s American Canyon and Pope Valley properties from start to finish, including site evaluation, land preparations, managing water rights issues, vineyard architecture, erosion control, purchasing vineyard equipment, and utilizing sustainable vineyard farming methods.
Prior to joining Hess, Camera worked as vineyard manager at William Hill Winery in Napa Valley. He was previously a viticulturist for R.H. Phillips in Esparto. Early in his career, Camera worked for Galante Vineyards in Carmel Valley as vineyard and property manager, and for Renaissance Vineyard and Winery in Oregon House, Calif., as assistant vineyard manager.
Camera has a bachelor’s degree in geography from Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group and the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group.
Langtry Estate and Vineyards has extensive vineyard holdings in Lake County and is the oldest and largest winegrower in the region. The picturesque estate consists of 21,000 acres and straddles Lake and Napa counties.
Additional information on the winery is available at www.langtryestate.com or by calling 707-987-2385.
Langtry Estate and Vineyards is located at 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown
MIDDLETOWN – Westamerica Bank is scheduled to host the last business mixer for the Middletown Area Business Association (also known as "Middletown Merchants") on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendance is free and open to the general public.
However, RSVP'ing is encouraged. It is real encouraging to know who plans to attend before the event actually takes place. To RSVP to the event, visit www.squidoo.com/MABA and follow the instructions.
This event comes on the heels of a very successful promotion of the Hidden Valley Community Church's 17th annual Harvest Party, which drew endorsements from around the world.
"Christmas in Middletown" will be here Dec. 1. By clicking on the RSVP link for the business mixer, you can also RSVP to the upcoming Christmas festival as well. Both events are not to be missed and well worth your time.
Westamerica Bank is located at 21058 Calistoga Road, Middletown.
Online business network expands Middletown's reach
Written by Lamar Morgan
Sunday, 11 November 2007
MIDDLETOWN – Last year, when 30 Middletown High School students decided it would be nice to invite the Fox News Channel to Middletown for "Middletown Days," what group more than any other came to their aid? It was the Ryze Business Network – a free online business networking resource.
Believe it or not, members of this network from around the world began calling and e-mailing the Fox News Channel, encouraging them to make the trek to Middletown. And, as everyone who attended last year's parade knows only too well, Fox News came in the person of international news correspondent Adam Housley. He not only addressed the parade crowd, but told them they would be acknowledged by the network during the weather broadcast – all throughout that day!
Make no mistake, passionate people (regardless of where they live) can make amazing things happen ... even in Middletown.
Just last month, the Hidden Valley Community Church hosted its 17th annual harvest party on Oct. 31. The turnout by the community was impressive. Was it the new addition of the chili cook-off competition or the Mystery House that added to the event's popularity? Certainly the advance promotion by the local media was most helpful. But, don't discount the impact of the Internet and the Ryze Business Network – especially the network gifted to Middletown earlier this year by Althea Garner – appropriately called, "Project-Middletown."
This network is designed to draw attention to events and businesses located in South Lake County. However, the attention Project-Middletown draws is not limited to Lake County or even California. It is worldwide. Any business or organization is encouraged to freely use this network to promote itself.
Since Project-Middletown is a network itself and not simply a Web site, the promotion can be interactive. Not only can you freely post information, you can get feedback to your posting. And the feedback you get can be truly astounding.
Thanks to promotion through Project-Middletown, Ryzers from around the world actually RSVP'ed to an Evite online invitation promoting the harvest party – even though they could not physically attend. They simply wanted to encourage those here locally who could attend to show up.
Some Rysers went so far as to actually send audio clips and spoke words of encouragement. See for yourself. Visit www.squidoo.com/HVCC.
No doubt Ryzers will have had a hand in creating some international buzz for the Middletown Merchants Association's last business mixer of the year, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15th at 5:30 p.m. at Westamerica Bank, and "Christmas in Middletown," which happens throughout downtown Middletown on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For details on each event and to look at the RSVP registry, visit www.squidoo.com/MABA.
And, don't hesitate to add yourself to the registry list. Even if you are unable to attend, a "No" RSVP response with encouraging words for those who can attend makes a positive difference in overall attendance.
To learn more about Project-Middletown and to freely subscribe, visit http://middletownca-network.ryze.com. If you any questions regarding any of the websites, call 707-709-8605.
Classic TV show star featured on 'Power Networking'
Written by Lamar Morgan
Sunday, 04 November 2007
Jon Provost and his friend Barney. Courtesy photo.
LAKE COUNTY – Jon Provost, who starred as Timmy Martin in the “Lassie” series, is scheduled to be interviewed on the local online talk show, Power Networking, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.
Provost will be talking about his just-released autobiography, "Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story.”
This program will be recorded as a podcast and added to the iTunes Music Store Podcast Directory for distribution as well as on Talkshoe.com. Anyone with a phone and high-speed Internet access is encouraged to participate in the audience and actually ask Jon Provost questions.
All you need is your own personal invitation. To get that invitation, simply send an e-mail request to
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with "Provost Interview" in the subject line. A special email link will be sent to you to get on the show.
However, it is recommended that everyone desiring to be on the program visit www.talkshoe.com prior to Nov. 17 to freely register and play the Web site demos. That way you become familiar with how the system works.
You will be allowed to call in and access the talk show beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The show should begin promptly at 9 a.m. After about the first 15 minutes, the phone lines should be open for questions from the audience.
"Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story" is written by Jon Provost and his wife, Laurie Jacobson. Fall 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Jon Provost's debut as Timmy Martin on "Lassie."
At age 7, he was already a seasoned professional, having appeared in 10 films and TV shows with stars like Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Anita Ekberg and William Holden.
Both Hollywood and NY critics named him the top kid movie actor of 1958. Yet, while Provost portrays part of an idyllic television family, he and his own family were deeply and irrevocably changing as a result of his skyrocketing fame.
The exciting and chaotic life of TV's first child superstar is told against the backdrop of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood: the collapse of the studio system, the burgeoning industry of television, rock and roll, the Sunset Strip and a life as far from the Martin farm as Provost could get.
Peppered with names like Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Natalie Wood, Kurt Russell, Sal Mineo, Davy Jones and more, and combined with dozens of interviews with co-workers, peers, friends and fans, Provost's fascinating story gives a real insider's view of Hollywood, the lowdown on one of television's most enduring shows and the effects of fame on a typical American family.
Jon Provost's new book documents his life as a child star.
Langtry launches zero emissions vineyard tour program
Written by Editor
Monday, 29 October 2007
MIDDLETOWN – Langtry Estate and Vineyards has launched an exciting and innovative vineyard tour program at its winery estate just south of Middletown.
The new Langtry Vineyard Tour Program gives visitors the opportunity to customize their visit to Langtry Estate by selecting from two different tour options that focus on the vineyards, the history of the property and the wines.
This is the first time that the winery has offered property tours. Guests will ride in battery-operated Global Electric Motorcars during the tour. The vehicles are a clean, green transportation alternative.
Visitors with an appetite and a taste for adventure can opt for the Tephra Vineyard Lunch Tour, offered Tuesday through Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
This tour travels to the high elevation Tephra Ridge Vineyard, which boasts a spectacular view of Guenoc Valley. Guests are able to learn about the prized Bordeaux grape varieties that grow on Tephra Ridge. A lunch is then served at the vineyard, accompanied by a tasting of Langtry Estate and Guenoc wines. The cost for the Tephra Vineyard Lunch Tour is $40 per person.
For guests interested in Tephra Ridge but not a full lunch, Langtry Estate offers the Tephra Tour at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. This tour focuses on the vineyards and why they are the source of Langtry Estate’s best Cabernet Sauvignon. A wine tasting and cheese pairing are included with the tour. The cost for the Tephra Tour is $25 per person.
Reservations are required for the Langtry Vineyard Tour Series and can be made by calling the hospitality office at 707-987-2385.
