His 1905 Georgian town house defines that nexus. Crabb. Alexis Swanson Traina, creative director of her family's winery, Swanson Vineyards, lives a life that is rich in delight. (Trevor found a Proustian double-peacock bench at Steinitz in Paris to set against it.) (Photo by Darryl Nitke). For the familyfull-time residents, weekenders and summer folk alikeNapa Valley has evolved into a, Jimmy Choos Beach Capsule Presents Bold Summer Essentials, California Classic: The First Truly California Sports Car, Daniel Arsham, The Artist Breaking the Mold. Music, entertainment, wineries and golf are among IfOnly's other categories. It's the end of a long day that some would find exhilarating, others exhausting and Traina simply typical. ", His first Big Idea came in the mid-'90s, when he tried to buy a cordless telephone. It also helped that Getty "runs a true atelier, filled with acres of ancient textiles, books, and furniture from every corner of the Earth." Alexis parents, Elizabeth and W. Clarke Swanson, uprooted their family (Alexis sisters, Veronica, a clothing designer, and Claiborne, a photographer, are based in New York) from Naples, Fla., in 1985, when they purchased 100 acres on Oakville Cross Road and started Swanson Vineyards. This website is a curation of past articles. It looked like a beautiful time was had by all. As my temporary unemployment began, I knew I wanted to use my free time to tell the story of the valley, and to do it in a way that would illuminate the fact that life here is no longer centered exclusively on wine. Since then, the Trainas have made plenty of their own memories at the estate. Picking up where Robert Mondavi left off, the Harlan family has completely rewritten the playbook of American wine. In my awkward teenage years, I became obsessed with Lady Diana Spencer and insisted on having her same hairdo, eagerly spritzed with several bottles of Sun-In Not a good look in tropical climates, with braces. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The holidays are defined by so many charming rituals and ceremonies that become a part of the fabric of our senses, memories and associations an endless stream of magical moments sprinkled over five weeks. In fact, we planned a big outdoor christening, but it rainedand it never rains in Napa. The quick-thinking couple cleared out all the furniture in the seldom-used formal parlor to allow about 60 guests to gather inside for the ceremony. When did Trevor Traina get divorced? "I had a dirt bike and loved exploring the mountainside on it." In a sister manse, Ann and Gordon Getty have assembled one of the world's most bewitching treasure houses, and the Trainas' elegant nonagenarian friends Adolphus and Emmy Andrews live nearby in a style that is frankly Whartonian. Meadowood just opened their new spa, and it is pretty incredible and special. Tooling around in old cars is something of a family tradition and acutely reflective of the kind of idyllic, nostalgic existence Alexis and her husband, Trevor, the founder and CEO of the charity site IfOnly, and their two children, Johnny and Delphina, lead in the valley. There were no databases of products where you could compare television sets or phones and that sort of thing. From Napa With Love by Alexis Swanson Traina From Napa With Love , Traina's book is a small (97 inches) paperback tome meant to be easy to throw into a suitcase for a quick trip to the Valley. confetti, party hats, miniature American flags and a collection of tap-dancing shoes for after-dinner amusement. Here, the eighteenth-century Portuguese chairs and seventeenth-century Chinese shrine set on a dramatic black-and-white marble checkerboard floor are brought vividly into the twenty-first century with the bold vertical stripes of Keith Tyson's monumental History Painting (Baden-Baden, 1942). On October 10, she emailed us an .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}update after evacuating from Yountville, and this week, she sent us news that she and a number of local winemakers, chefs, and other concerned citizens (including many profiled in this story) have partnered with Tipping Point to form Napa & Sonoma Relief, a fund that will provide support to those most impacted by the fires. Trevor in turn applauds his wife's "fabulous and whimsical eye," informed by legendary decorators including Tony Duquette, Michael Taylor, and Thomas Britt. " Alexis Traina, "My summer bags are always bursting with Veronica Beard dresses, bathing suits and jean jackets. THROUGH WINE." -ALEXIS SWANSON TRAINA, SWANSON VINEYARDS CREATIVE DIRECTOR SWANSON SIP SHOPPE is delightfully whimsical Shoppe, a candy store for adults, showcases sips of Swanson Vineyards' nest library vintages . Subscribe. In the magnolia-scented heights of San Francisco's Gold Coast, the air seems more rarefied. As a child I knew I wanted to do what my grandfather [Robert] and father [Tim] did. Historically, its mind-blowing, she says. "We didn't want to fix everything; we wanted to maintain the patina while adding vitality." Alexis Swanson Traina, Contributor. All I knew about Napa was what I learned watching Falcon Crest. Alexis, meanwhile, grew up in a series of homes that were the bravura handiwork of her godfather, the decorator Thomas Britt, working with her mother, Elizabeth Swanson, whom he describes as "high-octane creative. One of my very favorite parts of the holiday season is the revolving door of sweet tokens, gestures, and gifts delivered by friends and family. , $25) released in September, takes readers on a whimsical armchair tour of the valley through the eyes of some of its most notable denizens (filmmaker Roman Coppola, wine proprietress Ann Colgin, artist Ira Yeager and the like) with scrapbook-style itineraries, entertaining tips and a glimpse inside Alexis magical life at the end of a private road off Highway 29. When I was growing up here, we had this thing we called scary walks, and after dinner wed go out with our flashlights and walk through the vineyards. WHILE ON THE TOPIC OF decorating with chinoiserie wall panels, came across the wonderful Victorian-style summer home of tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina and his wife, Swanson Vineyards creative director Alexis Swanson Traina, an hour outside of San Francisco. Home Design Inside the Home of San Franciscos Most High-Profile Couple, For tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina and his wife Alexis Swanson Traina, a historic Napa Valley home is an ideal respite from city life. His own parents bought the land around 1969 from the Rainier Brewing Company. "The house is the embodiment of that commitment to each other. Located inOakville, in the Napa Valley, the home was built in the 1860s by H.W. His late father, John, was a San Francisco shipping magnate, art collector and legendary bon vivant. Something special that you can build anticipation for. [13] His hobby is collecting photographs, an exhibition of his collection in summer 2012 at the Fine Arts Museum was discussed in the media. "Most of the luminaries are doing this for charity, so most, if not all, of their part is usually donated," Traina explains. Tokalon, as the house is named, was Trevor and his brother Todds childhood home, and, long before that, the original residence of one of Napas founding pioneers, H.W. Some of my annual favorites include the spectacular homemade fudge from our favorite nun; the sweet, seedless Satsuma oranges from our neighbors; the addictive salted Virginia HUBS peanuts from good friends; and lastly, the Enstroms world-famous dark chocolate almond toffee from my aunt. Theyre not necessarily light weight or modern but they say: Ive arrived, and Im ready for some serious fun. As a child, my family lived in a small town in southwest Florida, where my after-school friends were the elderly ladies of the neighborhood who taught me everything I know about dark chocolate, cards, port wine cheese, housecoats and men. Each property offers a different backdrop that suits the personality of its owner. "Eventually my father said, 'You have a dozen employees now--it's time to get an office.' Wake up to the day's most important news. She specializes in portraiture and creates images that feel like intimate X-rays, pictures full of textured physical details set against back-drops of personal history. Aside from being a wine connoisseur, author, and entrepreneur, Traina is also a well seasoned traveler, and now that the official first day of summer is around the corner, she wants to share her favorite summer travel essentials. My whole life I have wanted to be an ambassador because it was what my grandfather did, Traina told The Chronicle before his departure. Buy Me! ", After Seagram's, Traina returned to the Bay Area to attend Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Its a space that was designed for good times; Trevor and Alexis, who met via a family dinner thrown by their parents at the nearby Bistro don Giovanni, were married in the backyard, where they entertain frequently. They are the quietest places on the property. Theres a 57 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider under a row of royal palms, a 67 Volkswagen Beetle next to a hedge of purple hydrangeas, a cherry-red Fiat Jolly (a wedding gift from her late father-in-law) in the garage, and a spacious nine-seater VW bus, for when she really needs to spread out. She claims the long, unpaved, tree-lined driveway as being her favorite spot on the property. I tried my hand in the vineyards and the cellar but found my niche in marketing. Children duly arrived; the couple moved in two weeks before their second child, Delphina, was born (her elder brother, Johnny, is now two). It. She resides in San Francisco with her family. Here, time slows down, and things like cars, wine and friendships evolve and improve with age. " Alexis Traina, Suzie Kondi makes these amazing French terrycloth jumpsuits that are an easy, comfy travel essential. I thought that at the time I would never have the kind of wallet to have a great collection, so I turned to photographs." With cheeky wine labels like Help Is Here, Expensive and Mazel Tov, Modern House Wines epitomizes Alexis oenophile ambition to take away the stuffiness and formality around wine culture. I worked late at night, on plane rides, or whenever I could find the time, and designed the book with my longtime graphic designer, Alyssa. Lanier Residence was a stunning, historical backdrop for our cover shoot with Katie Holmes More, The St. Regis New York Debuts a Chevalier Suite, Kelvin Harrison Jr. Is Riding the Fame Wave, Dont Miss The VeuveClicquot Polo Classic, Cartier Design: A Living Legacy Opens at Museo Jumex, Julia Roberts Expands Her Role As Chopards Global Ambassador, Were Over The Moon About This New Travel Registry, Our Favorite New Tech Gadgets and Devices Right Now, Carbone Opens in The Dallas Design District, Stylish New Reads From Louis Vuitton and YSL, Get behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram. Traina firmly believes in taking Richard Branson's "funtrepreneurial" approach to his businesses. The scion of one of San Francisco's grandest families, Trevor Traina was born into a family that arrived here during the Gold Rush. Heres how. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The company offers one-of-a-kind items and experiences, from a $35 guitar pick signed by Chris Cornell (formerly of Soundgarden) to a $45,000 private training session with Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice--"luminaries," as Traina calls IfOnly's talent. The landscape architect Madison Cox, who created the elegant treillage-framed white gardens, suggested that the front doors be painted lacquer red, an antic touch that hints at the drama inside. Situated in Pacific Heights, one of the city's most rarefied neighborhoods, the home, which Traina shares with his wife, Alexis, and their two children, was decorated by his neighbor Ann Getty.. Trevor Traina is married to Alexis Swanson. Right now some 150 charities--including Meals on Wheels and Stand Up to Cancer--are benefiting from IfOnly. Thirty-two years ago my serial entrepreneur father, Clarke Swanson, got an itch, a romantic notion of the American dream, and in the blink of an eye purchased a hundred acres in Napa Valley, on Oakville Cross Road. It was some time before the couple worked out how they could unleash its possibilities. He sits on the board of six other nonprofits as well. Advertisement . I asked them to tell their Napa Valley stories and to describe the places, things, and experiences they love about the valley. Photo: Photographed by Drew Alter. Magic that celebrates ones surroundings. by Alexis Swanson Traina (Author) 68 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $2.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $26.94 Other new and used from $4.25 Napa Valley is a wonderland boasting beautiful weather, exquisite vistas, bespoke hotels, Michelin-rated restaurants, and world-class wineries. Aside from her professional title, she is also the wife of The HiNote CEO, wine connoisseur, and travel lover shares all her summer must-haves. He started as a feature writer in the People section, which was anchored by Herb Caen's column, and has written about people ever since. My parents house is an enchanted, imaginative and romantic world with donkeys, sheep, chickens, playhouses and banana trees along the Napa River, says Alexis. Today, it is all chintz and chinoiserie, bright colours and white wicker, lovely lattice walls and chic perfection . Her high-society family pioneered the frozen. Along with Britt, Ann Getty worked with the Trainas to realize their specific vision. The Trainas friends were treated to several parties, including a sit-down dinner with live accordion players, and tours of Viennas top attractions like the Palais Liechtenstein as well as a glimpse of the famed Lipizzaner stallions. And then one day, the pay phone rang in the hallway of my dormitoryit was my Dad calling, with news: Were moving. The wife and mother of two also runs a carefully curated Many of the guests stayed at the super-luxe Hotel Sacher Vienna, the birthplace of the famed chocolate and apricot cake, the sachertorte. It was the treat and experience of a lifetime.". In a Thursday morning ceremony at the historic Hofburg imperial palace in Vienna, San Francisco tech entrepreneur and socialite Trevor D. Traina was officially installed as the U.S. ambassador to. The 45-year-old tech entrepreneur had woken up in Los Angeles that morning, having spent the previous evening at the Oscars. C Publishing LLC 2023 All Rights Reserved, Alexis Traina on Raising a Family in Wine Country, father-in-law) in the garage, and a spacious, Tooling around in old cars is something of a family tradition and acutely. Below the house is something almost as dramatic: a 3,000-square-foot basement blasted out of solid granite to display the photography collection away from sunlight. Swanson Traina, the creative director of Swanson Vineyards, a sprawling estate known for . Michael Taylor decorated Trevors parents homes, and his grandmothers house in Newport, Rhode Island, was done in the 1960s by Valerian Rybar; Thomas Britt decorated the homes of Alexis parents. Being curious and eccentric was normal. "The salesman was this expert in a red blazer and name tag, and couldn't tell me the individual features of the different phones. ". He is a 1990 graduate of Princeton University with an MBA from UC Berkeleys Haas School of Business. . Those who can't find their dream experience in Traina's impressive lineup can fill out a "wish list." His passion for philanthropy, business and adventure converged in 2012 while he was looking for a Christmas present for his younger brother, film producer Todd Traina, a tennis fanatic. It goes with absolutely everything and brings me endless joy." So much of HiNote is about self expression in technicolor, and its the idea of being able to tell your story digitally.. "We wanted its look to give a nod to history and tradition, but also a sense of youth and wit." The home was built in the 1860s by H.W. Cory Empting got his first job at a vineyard at 15 and immediately became obsessed. I knew the house prior to the fire, and I was so crazy for it, says Alexis, who moved from Florida with her family to the region in the mid-1980s. We keep the valleys mechanics quite busy, Trevor admits. My fantasy was to be a gentleman farmer with three grapevines and art. Alexis Swanson Traina, the San Francisco-based author and renowned authority on wine, style, and entertaining, celebrates the launch of her new book, From Napa With Love. The Trainas also looked to some iconic tastemaking neighbors for inspiration. This is a BETA experience. Theres an appreciation for simple pleasures, like swimming at sunset, water-balloon fights, cookie baking and bike rides. "Trevor has vision that I don't," says Alexis. Getty's three full-time seamstresses were set to work on the Trainas' maharaja library, sewing a dense tapestry of the eyes of peacocks' tail feathers to its gently curving wall. Their life at the time was a whirlwind, as Trevor recalls. There was a knock on the door, and the company's photography conservator came in to offer a print for his office. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. This story appears in the November 2017 issue of Town & Country. Alexis Traina was reunited with her familyher sisters, fashion designer Veronica Swanson Beard and photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank, and parents were in Austria for the celebration. "He thinks on a much grander scale!". Trevor Traina, Alexis Swanson, Veronica Beard and Jamie Beard attend The Museum of The City of New York, The Directors Council 20th Annual Winter. Alicia Engstrom and Heather Pegg. Alexis Traina opens the doors to the best of wine country living, Words by KELSEY McKINNON Photography by DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN. The odyssey even involved an overnight stay in Pyongyang as a guest of the late Kim Jong Il, who, among other things, was a car aficionado. In 1997, the home was destroyed by an electrical fire (thankfully, no family members were present). of the instant wedding, the instant summer cellar, the instant pantry necessities, the instant dinner for two and the instant After graduating from Princeton and Oxford, he became a brand manager for Seagram's wine coolers in New York. "It was too good to be true," he remembers. That's the ultimate luxury.". Crabb, a Napa Valley pioneer who founded the To Kalon winery. And for the past few years, Traina has been holding that center--linking the Bay Area's tech titans with the city's Old Guard. I started by collecting American art in my twenties. But its not just milestones that make the house special; its also everyday moments. Trevor's latest Internet venture is DriverSide.com, a Web site focused on car maintenance. Alexis and I were married there on the front lawn, Trevor recalls, and our son was christened here. Crabb, a Napa Valley pioneer who founded the To Kalon winery. Alexis Traina, "Who isnt a sucker for a chic camo canvas bag for summer? To decorate his office while at Seagram's, Traina had chosen from the company's extensive collection a Nicholas Nixon photograph, "View West from Park Avenue and 55th Street, New York City." He is heir to a name that has long been synonymous with Napa. Traina has his own Napa vineyard, "but if you want to be friends with your wife," he explains, "you drink her wine. He says, In 1975, I bought an old cabin, put a cupola on the top, and called it Tucker Farm Schoolhouse to make it sound legit-ish. Downstairs in the green-and-white conservatory filled with lush trees, a Richard Serra circle painting and a giant skylight. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. By the time the company was sold, a few years ago, I was its longest-serving employee. Her husband echoes the sentiment. After Swanson Vineyards was sold in 2016, Traina continued to pursue her connection to the winery world, publishing her lifestyle guide From Napa With Love, which features coveted insight into the region's highlights, along with entertaining tips, recipes, and itineraries from Napa notables. The silver-haired free spirit is known for amassing one of the most legendary prop closets in the valley, filled with trinkets and tchotchkes to adorn her candy-colored tablescapesthink confetti, party hats, miniature American flags and a collection of tap-dancing shoes for after-dinner amusement. "The possibilities are endless," says Traina, who has already sold 2,000 experiences. " Alexis Traina, .css-1fgik18{color:#323232;display:block;font-family:NewParis,NewParis-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-font-smoothing:auto;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1fgik18:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.3125rem;line-height:1.2;}}Shop Our Favorite Saks Friends & Family Deals, Stylish Denim Jackets for the Transitional Season, Stylish Fisherman Sandals to Wear This Season, Heres Where to Get Taylors Single Era Heels, A Cult-Status Bag That Lives Up to Its Hype. I could often be found doing business at my roll-top desk, shuffling papers and stamping voided checks; flipping through Harpers Hideaway Reports researching my parents travels; or at my mothers knee in dusty antique shops, that always played quiet AM radio. To receive the latest beauty news, subscribe to our newsletter. With unparalleled photography, insightful journalism and sophisticated wit, it is the arbiter of Californias taste and trends. "She married a man with 300 photographs!" Says, Bill, pictured here with Deborah, Ultimately were building a culture around wine and hospitality that we all hope will last for generations. She is a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. "Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by the brightest and best minds that they know?". Trevors dads house is a 19th-century homestead with an old-fashioned water tower and a collection of carriages and gypsy wagons., For the familyfull-time residents, weekenders and summer folk alikeNapa Valley has evolved into a place that is about much more than wine, though there happens to be a glass at most meals. Hamish Bowles is entranced. Some of the trees are 130 years old. He will discuss Elsie de Wolfe's oeuvre with as much enthusiasm as the capabilities of his beloved Audi R8which he drove in the infamous Gumball 3000 Rally from Shanghai to Beijing, a trip that also involved one night in North Korea as a guest of Kim Jong Il (who loves cars). It is a perfect gift for this holiday season. A donor to Republican causes, Traina had sought the posting in Austria because his maternal grandfather, Wiley T. Buchanan, had served in the same post under President Gerald Ford. Back in 2020, Traina an author ( From Napa with Love ), former vintner and influential creative found herself glued to her phone, checking on friends and family via texts: "I'm embarrassed to admit the hours I spent reading and sending those blue and gray bubbles." Trevor wanted his entrance gallery, for instance, to suggest "the idea of a grand entrance in a Venetian palazzo leading up to the piano nobile." These two works formed the nucleus of a sophisticated collection that now spans the decades from Eggleston and Arbus to Gursky and Wall. I wondered if wed live near Lorenzo Lamas. Below, shop a few of the items that the talented multi-hyphenate will be bringing along with her on her summer adventures. It is an impressive roster. In the blink of an eye, Napa was no longerjusta destination for wine lovers but a haven for conviviality, hospitality, peacockery, tastemaking and soul-seeking. I had originally hoped to collaborate with my sister on the entire book, but she was 8 months pregnant when I wasoffered the opportunity, so we just worked on the cover andspecificportraits together. He chose Nicholas Nixon's View West from Park Avenue and 55th Street, New York City, and when the photograph came up for auction years later Traina acquired ittogether with a Weegee that had hung in the hall outside his office. Though Traina was approved by a unanimous voice vote of the United States Senate in March, he could not officially go to work in Austria until his credentials, in the form of a sealed letter from the president of the United States, were accepted by Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen, federal president of the Republic of Austria. I wanted to tell a new story about Napa Valley, one that illuminated the talent, spirit, and creativity that enriches our kitchen tables, wine cellars, homes, closets, book shelves, and celebrations. By boarding school, things had started to come around: Id found a new hairdo, zip code, Benetton, whole new set of friends, and pool of suitors. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Traina, 50, is the son of Dede Wilsey, longtime president of the board of trustees of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. "My name was still scribbled in pencil on the back," he says with a smile. For tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina and his wife Alexis Swanson Traina, a historic Napa Valley home is an ideal respite from city life Written by David Nash Read the Full Story ≫ Photographed by Douglas Friedman. "It used to be embarrassing to go to bars and demand Sunset Passions," he remembers, as he sips a glass of cabernet from his in-laws' Swanson Vineyards in the Napa Valley--his wife, a wry Southern beauty, is from the frozen-foods family. ), For Alexisthe daughter of Elizabeth and W. Clarke Swanson Jr., a renowned vintner, whose grandfather started the national food-production company that bears the family namewhats outside of the house is equally important. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. My sisters and I each found our creative passions early in life. Here, time slows down, and things like cars, wine and friendships evolve and improve with age. Alexis Swanson Traina, the San Francisco-based author and renowned authority on wine, style, and entertaining, celebrates the launch of her new book, From Napa With Love. Subscribe to our weekly emails for the hottest openings, latest parties and in-depth interviews with the people putting California Style on the map. She chronicled it all in a blog, Alexis' Napa for the Curious and Eccentric. In a Thursday morning ceremony at the historic Hofburg imperial palace in Vienna, San Francisco tech entrepreneur and socialite Trevor D. Traina was officially installed as the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Austria. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Consider, for example, some of her favorite pairings: Oreos and merlot, cake and Sancerre, barbecue chips and ros, chocolate bonbons and a bottle of Modern House Wines, a project that she started at Swanson in 2000 with the help of Andy Spade (another contributor to the book and one of her favorite partners in crime).