PHINNEY and FRIENDS

Dave Phinney has plenty of interests beyond wine. He expresses them through a multitude of business ventures united by his creative drive. With a lot of the projects, he explains, "there's either a personal connection to me, or somebody does work that I admire.”

Each project seems to springboard him to another. After spending so much time in Vallejo and developing Mare Island there, he ended up owning the Vallejo Admirals, an independent professional baseball team. A plot of his land needed some walnut trees cleared now he's aging the wood to put into a high-end shotgun project. Another piece of land led to raising cattle-he's feeding them grape pomace, to see how it can affect the taste of the meat, and looking into artisanal leather crafting. Phinney also shines in these creative collaborations.

-M.W.

Blanchard's Fried Chicken

With his sell-out fried chicken pop-ups on Fridays in Napa, master sommelier Chris Blanchard made his mark with fried chicken in 2017. Blanchard takes his inspiration from the famous New Orleans Dooky Chase's Restaurant, perfecting a recipe that matches the soulfulness of his muse.

Now Blanchard's menu and recipes-including fried chicken sandwiches and traditional Southern sides-are available within the Savage & Cooke distillery. "Fried chicken and whisky are a natural pairing," says Savage & Cooke general manager (and wife of the fried chicken master) Lauren Blanchard.

The eatery includes a full bar, offering a range of spirits alongside Savage & Cooke pours and inspired craft cocktails.