October 2024

FOOD • WINE • HARVEST

AMERICA’S FAVORITE PASTIMES

When Major League Baseball steps to the plate in Wine Country

Inside: Month In Numbers Uncorking Gen Z • Arandas Only In Marin • Econ 101

Food | Wine | Harvest Issue 2024

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CONTENTS

49 YEARS OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

October 2024 • Volume 49 • Number 12

LEAD STORY 24 The boys of sauvignon blanc When baseball blends with the mighty grape Bill Meagher WORK/LIFE 18 Balance 19 School 21 Home ownership 22 Retirement

FEATURE STORIES 34 We don’t need no wine-ducation Emily Fair Weber Millennials and Gen Z want to casually enjoy their wine 42 Tastes like home Jessica Zimmer North Bay food producers target a wider consumer base 50 The Carrot and the Stick Janet Perry Plant-based restaurants providing quality food to locals

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 5

72 62

60 67 DEPARTMENTS 12 The 707 Jason Walsh

COLUMNS 11

Editor's Note Jason Walsh An innovative magazine packed full of mouthwatering content Only In Marin Bill Meagher The shortcomings of a former president Tech Talk Michael E. Duffy Premium features of LinkedIn may lead to quicker employment Napa Insider Christina Julian Come Over October aims to re-kindle in-person connections over wine Econ 101 Robert Eyler What are the presidential candidates’ plans for the economy? Vine Wise Adam Lee The growing popularity of sauvignon blanc John Ash Poblano and smoked-chicken chowder In the Kitchen

The latest news from Sonoma and Napa counties

The 415 Jason Walsh The latest news from Marin County The Month In Numbers Jason Walsh A look at the key figures shaping life in the North Bay Great Tastes Alexandra Russell Bartholomew Estate Vineyards & Winery offers a tranquil escape Dine Wise Jason Walsh Arandas at the Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg

What’s Happening Upcoming North Bay events

71 72

On the Move

Biz Scene Guy Fieri fundraiser and Windsor Chili Cook-off Beyond the Boardroom Rosie Padilla Jon Sebastiani, founder and CEO of Sonoma Brands Capital

NorthBay biz (ISSN No. 1542-3549: USPS 097-770) is owned and published monthly (plus three bonus issues annually) by North Bay Media Group, LLC. Editorial offices are at 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA: (707) 528-4434. Sub- scription price is $35 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at Santa Rosa, CA 95402 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2022, NorthBay biz. Reproduction of this issue in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without written permission by the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NorthBay biz, 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA.

Printed by Publication Printers Corp., an FSC Certified printer. Please recycle this magazine.

6 NorthBaybiz

October 2024

Publisher

Lawrence Amaturo

Editor-in-Chief

Jason Walsh

Associate Editor

Rosie Padilla

Contributing Editor

Bill Meagher

Design Director

Anne Schenk

Administrative Assistant

Jodi Pasquini

Marketing Consultant

Lori Rooney

Writers Bill Meagher Emily Fair Weber Janet Perry Jason Walsh Jessica Zimmer Rosie Padilla Columnists Adam Lee Alexandra Russell Bill Meagher Christina Julian Jason Walsh John Ash Michael E. Duffy Robert Eyler Photographers Duncan Garrett Will Bucquoy

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October 2024

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Books Are Portable Magic Remember being read to as a child? M y mother read aloud to me, and one of my favorite books was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. But what I remember most was the sound of her voice, the rhythm of the words and what it felt like leaning into her, while she read aloud to me. The pages of those books she read transported us to faraway places—real and imaginary—and taught me about life and oPened my mind to all the possibilities. So when I became a mother, I began reading to my kids. And now I’m reading to my grandchildren every chance I get. As for my mom, now a great-grandmother, she still takes great joy in reading to the kids whenever she visits. Remember to take time every chance you get—eat, play, read. Reading helps build language and thinking skills, develops a child’s imagination and empathy for others, achieve better in school, and it’s a great way to spend time together. And best of all, reading aloud to your child makes memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. That’s what my mother was doing years ago when she took the time to read aloud to me.

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Editor's Note

Looks too good to eat Latest issue has fresh design, great food, tasty wine… and baseball! By Jason Walsh

L oyal readers to NBb may have noticed a few subtle changes in recent issues— some design enhancements, some editorial additions. 2025 will mark our 50th year in publication and, like many who hit the BIG 5-0 in the North Bay, we felt it was time for a facelift. We’re not talking full-on reconstructive surgery; sort of a nip here, a tuck there—more photos and images, visually driven lead pages to some of the sections, new editorial departments with interesting local information (see: The 707, The 415 , and The Month In Numbers) . I once recall an art director telling me publications redesign about every seven years on average—but from what I can tell, it’s a lot longer between updates and improvements in most cases. It takes a lot of work

and-wine focused issue is always a favorite for the staff—content is fun to write and visuals can be tantalizing. In addition to our typical food/wine coverage— In the Kitchen with John Ash , our Great Tastes and Dine Wise recommendations— we’ve got even more mouthwatering content. Contributing Editor Bill Meagher combines his two greatest passions— baseball and wine—in a piece detailing the many crossovers between Major League Baseball and wine country; writer Janet Perry presents

Welcome to our 2024 Food, Wine & Harvest issue.

the triumphs and travails of operating plant-based restaurants; while Jessica Zimmer traces the imprint of popular North Bay food products across the wider Bay Area. And if you’ve seen sky-is-falling headlines this year about younger beverage consumers forgoing wine in favor of other spirits—or simply avoiding alcohol altogether—local wine writer Emily Weber investigates the facts-vs.-fiction of what could be an alarming trend for the industry. So tuck in and enjoy a helping of our 2024 Food, Wine and Harvest issue. As always, we appreciate your feedback ( jwalsh@northbaybiz.com ) . g

and a lot of careful thought to re-envision something which readers have become accustomed to. I led a complete overhaul of the Press Democrat’s two weekly divisions—the Sonoma Index-Tribune and the Petaluma Argus Courier —about 10 years ago and they’re both still looking very 2015 these days. The advantage to being the only local publication that covers the entire North Bay of Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties is not only in the diversity of engaging content our area provides—but also in the plethora of amazing visuals at our disposal. Rolling hillsides, sweeping vineyards, the Golden Gate Bridge, miles of coastline—it can be easy for a magazine to look good around here. What else looks good in a place known for innovative cuisine and great restaurants? Food. This month’s food-

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 11

Jack London Park Partners named ‘nonprofit of the year’ by state Senator The dedicated staff and volunteers at Jack London State Historic Park, who daily answer the "call of the wild" to preserve the park’s natural character and recreational opportunities, were honored this month when state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) named Jack London Park Partners his Sonoma County Nonprofit of the Year. Jack London Park Partners has managed Jack London State Historic Park since 2012, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors each year. Dodd highlighted the collaborative nature of the nonprofit as a model of how to ensure the future of “cherished lands.” “With their excellent stewardship, we’ve been able to enrich the park’s welcoming and hospitable culture and pursue restoration projects for visitors to enjoy for generations to come,” said Dodd in a statement. The 48-acre state park opened in 1960. Jack London Park Partners assumed management during the state budget crisis of 2012 and has run the facility ever since, helping to increase annual park visits. It was the first nonprofit organization to take up management of a state park on behalf of California. The 707

The park features a home and other structures built before and after London’s 1916 death, as well as his gravesite. Park Partners organizes all functions; its network of hundreds of volunteers works to advance cultural and recreational programs, as well as create educational exhibits, displays and signs. Since taking responsibility for the park, JLPP has led the restoration of the cottage London and his wife Charmian lived in on their so-called Beauty Ranch, plus the re- imagined House of Happy Walls Museum, which interactively tells the story of Jack and Charmian London. The honor “fills the hearts of our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Matt Leffert, Jack London Park Partners executive director, in a statement.— NBb staff London Cottage in Glen Ellen.

County of Sonoma vows to go carbon neutral

Hold your horses, global warming. The County of Sonoma is going carbon-neutral… very, very soon. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in September approved a plan to render government operations carbon-neutral by 2030. The 167-page action plan provides a roadmap to reduce carbon emissions from county operations, increase carbon storage on county-owned lands, and make county lands and operations more resilient to wildfire, drought, floods and other climate hazards. The plan targets carbon, primarily in the form of carbon dioxide emitted by burning fossil fuels, because it acts as a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and plays a large role in global warming. (Carbon neutrality is realized when the amount of carbon taken out of the atmosphere is equal to the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.) “Addressing a problem as big as climate change can seem daunting, but this plan breaks down a massive challenge into a series of achievable and well-defined steps,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Lynda Hopkins in a statement. Implementing all of the plan’s near-term measures is expected to cost $38 million over the next two years. According to the county’s Climate Plan, average daily temperatures in Sonoma County have risen by 2.7 degrees since 1900 and are projected to increase by another 8 degrees by 2070.— JW

Average temps in Sonoma County are projected to rise 8 degrees by 2070

12 NorthBaybiz

October 2024

Heard of the ubiquitous “blue-light special” in sales departments? Vintage Wine Estates is in the midst of a rosé-light special—as a Delaware bankruptcy court this month gave the go- ahead for the Santa Rosa-based wine portfolio’s auctioning of millions of dollars in assets as part of its corporate restructuring. The court approved sales from a Sept. 17 auction, which saw Vintage move about $140 million in assets. Vintage Wine Estates—the parent company of such brands as BR Cohn, Girard and Kunde— announced in July its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure to address its debt obligations and begin selling off its assets. Vintage Wine Estates framed its outstanding debt as around $400 million, with assets of about $425 million. The company plans to sell about two dozen wineries, among other brands and assets. Among the bids for local and regional brands approved by the court were Clos Pegase and Girard wineries in Napa County, and BR Cohn, Kunde and Viansa wineries in Sonoma Valley, which went for $85 million to Dallas-based Adair Winery. Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Cosentino, Swanson, Bar Dog and Cherry Pie went to Foley Family Wines for $15 million. Additionally, California Cider Co., maker of Ace Cider in Sebastopol, went to Cider Leasing LLC for $7.63 million— JW Sold! Vintage Wine Estates auctioning begins

Vintage Wine Estates auctioned about $140 million in assets.

Sonoma County employees OK’d to create some content using ChatGPT

As part of a new policy regulating county employees’ use of artificial intelligence, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved guidelines to protect sensitive data and ensure AI usage complies with legal standards. The policy allows county employees to use certain generative AI products, such as ChatGPT, for tasks such as creating and editing emails and letters, sales and advertising materials, spreadsheet calculations, coding development or debugging, summarizing information and drafting policies, job descriptions, memoranda and similar documents. “We are on the cusp of the artificial intelligence revolution, and we understand the opportunities we have to harness this technology to realize efficiency and cost-savings for the public,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. However, continued Rabbitt, “there is a lot that we still don’t know about AI,” and the county should cautiously proceed “in a secure and ethical manner.” The guidelines require users to review and fact-check any output from AI technologies and to be transparent when content is drafted using AI technologies, according to a county announcement about the policy. The policy prohibits users from submitting personal or confidential information into AI technologies. “One of the key features of AI is its ability to memorize and learn from the information and data that is shared with it so, when AI has access to county data, even self- contained AI technologies that run on county-owned and -managed systems, it may share the sensitive data that was used to train it with others,” the announcement continued.— JW

County staff can now officially utilize AI.

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NorthBaybiz 13

Graton tribe buys Dillon Beach Nearly 500 acres of lightly developed land in coastal Marin will be preserved for “permanent conservation and stewardship” after the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria acquired the Dillon Beach Ranch property through a so-called “land back” transfer from the Western Rivers Conservancy. The property, which includes the town of Dillon Beach as well as portions of coastline and the Estero de San Antonio, has changed hands multiple times in recent years. After decades as a private cattle ranch, the Western Rivers Conservancy—a nonprofit which works with tribal nations to acquire water-adjacent land for the conservation of fish and wildlife— purchased the property in 2023 through funding assistance from Bay Area conservation agency the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This year, with additional resources from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Western Rivers worked with Graton Rancheria for the land-back conveyance of a total of 466 acres in Dillon Beach to the tribe. The Land Back Movement is a growing effort to reestablish Indigenous sovereignty over ancestral lands. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, whose tribe has indigenous roots throughout Marin and Sonoma, is also a partner with the National Park Service in management of the Point Reyes National Seashore. The 415

“This area and surrounding lands are within the ancestral homelands of the Coast Miwok, and our descendants are still present there today,” tribal Chairman Greg Sarris said in a press release announcing the acquisition. “We look forward to working closely with Western Rivers Conservancy and state partners to craft a durable management plan that forever preserves and protects Dillon Beach Ranch, the Estero de San Antonio and the irreplaceable cultural and natural resources they harbor.”— JW The coast of Dillon Beach is a popular getaway for locals.

Marin hot-tubbers find new way to party

If there are two things Marin County residents straddling the San Francisco Bay are known for—it’s boats and hot tubs. Enter: Bay Area Hot Tub Boat. Straight from the school of Two Great Things That Go Great Together—think PB&J, peanut butter cups, ranch dressing and pizza, etc.—is a new business that not only offers a hot tub on a boat, but a hot tub that IS the boat. “With their meticulously crafted vessels, Bay Area Hot Tub Boat invites the community to discover the water like never before,” reads a company press release. “These custom-built boats are engineered to provide the ultimate hot tub boat experience, by allowing customers to fully submerge and relax while they cruise in the water, on the water!” The hot-tub boat startup is partnered by Chris Ferren-Cirino and Matthew See, who say the floating tubs are the “perfect venue for celebrating birthdays, bachelorette/bachelor parties, date nights, and friend and family get-togethers.” Adds See: “The FOMO is real with our hot tub boats.” The tub boats include built-in coolers for beverages, as well as floating drink caddies. No boater’s license is required, they say. Ferren-Cirino and See are no strangers to promoting unique party vehicles. In 2014, they launched Sac Brew Bike, a “pioneering” party bike company that “introduced the thrill of pedal-powered parties” to the state capital. Bay Area Hot Tub Boat is inching into local waters slowly—it’s only available beginning Oct. 1, Fridays through Sundays at Marina Village Yacht Harbor at 1030 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda. Hour-and-a-half rentals for two to six people begin at $380. Visit bayareahottubboat.com — JW

Hot-tub-loving boaters, rejoice!

14 NorthBaybiz

October 2024

Major acquisition for Old Saint Hilary’s open space in Tiburon The bucolic Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Preserve, which overlooks the town of Tiburon, nearly doubled in size in September, following the finalization of an annexation of 110 adjacent acres. The parcel, situated in the hills above Tiburon, is “widely known as one of the last great urban open spaces in Northern California, but it was vulnerable to development for large homes and long targeted by the environmental community for preservation,” County of Marin officials said in a press release announcing the acquisition. The area is a popular hiking destination featuring views overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The Marin County Open Space District purchased the parcel for $42.1 million. The future of the land had been up in the air for decades. Referred to as the Martha property, located on an area of the Tiburon Peninsula known as Easton Point, it remained under the ownership of the same family for more than 100 years. Residents never knew whether the 110 acres would be developed for homes or left unscathed for the preservation of nature and recreational purposes, according to the announcement.

The preserve is named for Old Saint Hilary’s chapel, built in 1888.

In June 2022, the Open Space District approved a purchase and sale agreement that involved a two-year fundraising plan by Trust for Public Land. In November 2022, residents with the Tiburon Peninsula Open Space District approved Measure M, a $23 million bond for the parcel acquisition. Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Preserve is named for a white chapel built in 1888 on the southern end of the property. The federally threatened California red-legged frog is known to inhabit the preserve. A public celebration is planned for Oct. 26; event details will be posted on parks.marincounty.org. — JW

Plastic grocery bags banned once again

Plastic grocery bags banned once again.

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 15

The Month In Numbers

A look at the key figures shaping life in the North Bay

Sonoma County Underrepresented in Sonoma

The decrease in total value of commercial cannabis grown last year in Sonoma County compared with 2022. 31% The increase in total value of commercial winegrapes grown last year in Sonoma County compared with 2022 Wine up, pot down in Sonoma County

50% Proportion of student population in Sonoma County that is Latino

15% Proportion of elected school Sonoma County that is Latino

52%

representatives in

(Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

(Source: County of Sonoma)

Napa County

40 People or companies the DOJ

Supe in the soup in Napa

707-225-2019 Cell phone number of Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza targeted in a U.S. Department of Justice warrant for a wire-tap investigation into potential wire fraud in Napa County

named in a subpoena seeking info into the fraud investigation

Number of those subpoenaed who have donated to Alfredo Pedroza political campaigns

0 Number of times Pedroza is mentioned in the warrant

(Source: SF Chronicle)

Marin County

$433,000 Median home price in U.S.

Priced out in Marin

$1.5

Million Median home price in Marin.

$1.24 Million Median home price in nine-county Bay Area.

(Source: California Association of Realtors

16 NorthBaybiz

October 2024

WORK LIFE

Balance School Home ownership Retirement

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 17

Work/Life BALANCE

Off the Hook: The rise in ‘right to disconnect’ laws

By Jason Walsh

F ew workers literally “punch the clock” as they did in the old days—and even fewer do it figuratively anymore, either. With the advent of smart phones and texting giving supervisors near 24/7 access to employees, the modern workday has rendered many positions practically on call. Now some governments are requiring Scrooge to give Cratchit a little down time. France, Spain, Belgium and, just recently, Australia have all passed “right to disconnect” laws, which essentially grant employees the right to avoid work-related communication on their personal time. Supporters of such legislation say the laws are necessary to establish boundaries between work responsibilities and personal space. “Clocking off used to mean something in this country,” said Australia’s Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt in a statement. “It meant time with your kids, time with your friends or just time to yourself to relax.” But new technologies, combined with flexible and remote scheduling, have shifted the boundaries between when an employee can expect the workday to end—if ever.

Added Watt: “It should not be controversial that workers shouldn’t be required to do unpaid overtime.” Opponents argue such laws go too far. For instance, in case of an emergency, a boss contacting a staff member on a Saturday to troubleshoot a major problem shouldn’t be considered breaking the law. All told, 12 countries, have implemented a form of right- to-disconnect for workers since France became the first to do so in 2017. The United States may have its first test-case for “right to disconnect” laws, as California Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) last year introduced AB 2751, which would grant Golden State employees the “right to ignore communications from the employer during nonworking hours.” The bill allows exceptions for cases of emergency or for discussions about scheduling. “Workers shouldn’t be punished for not being available 24/7 if they’re not being paid for 24 hours of work,” Haney said when introducing the bill last year. AB 2751 has been stalled in committee since May, raising questions as to whether it has the support of the legislature to pass.

18 NorthBaybiz

October 2024

Work/Life/School

Cell phone restrictions to be required at schools

I n the old days, students used to bring an apple to their teacher in class. But these days, they’re bringing their Apple iPhone 16—and it’s a problem, according to Sacramento lawmakers, who just passed the state’s first student-cell- phone-use law. Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free Schools Act, was signed into law in September by Gov. Gavin Newsom, requiring school districts to establish smartphone restrictions by July 1, 2026. But many Marin schools are already ahead of the game, with a majority requiring students to place phones or smartwatches into caddies hanging on classroom walls or keep them in backpacks or lockers during class time. The Mill Valley School District, for instance, requires phones turned off and in backpacks from the beginning of the school day until classes are dismissed in the afternoon. In the wake of an assault on a girl by several girls at a Novato middle school—which was partly organized via cell phones—the Novato Unified By Jason Walsh

School District this year asked families to join a pledge not to give their children cell phones until high school. It’s part of what’s been dubbed a “wait until 8th movement.” AB 3216 follows other cell-phone legislation such as AB 272, which in 2019 gave California school districts the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. Now, it seems, state lawmakers are requiring them to do so. Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes. “Combined with the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the risks of social media, it is urgent to provide reasonable guardrails for smartphone use in schools,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the law.

Ten sneaky tricks students employ to use their cell phones in class • Dim the brightness on the phone • Change the texting notification • Turn off all sound • Use a neutral-colored cover so it blends in with desk • Place items such as books around phone • Use phone under desk or on lap • Use pen as a testing stylus • Hold phone at angle so screen is harder for others to see • Text behind an open book • Sit near the back of class Source: WikiHow

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 19

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Work/Life/ Home ownership

Home ownership out of reach for most Americans

H ousing affordability in the the pandemic and mortgage rates have risen steeply over the past three years, as the Fed tried to rein in inflation. It all began with a surge in demand for houses during the COVID-19 United States has taken a sharp turn for the worse in recent years, as house prices surged to historical highs during and after pandemic, when many Americans, flush with cash from government stimulus checks, reevaluated their living situation and sought more space amid stay-at- home orders and the sudden possibility of remote work. Further fueling demand were the historically low mortgage rates after the Fed had slashed interest rates to near zero at the onset of the pandemic. At the same time, supply of new and existing homes was very constraint, as construction was disrupted by pandemic restrictions and would-be sellers refrained from putting their house on the market during this uncertain time. This imbalance caused a rapid increase in home prices across the country, pushing many potential buyers out of the market, a trend that was exacerbated when the Fed started to tighten its policy stance in March 2022 in its efforts to cool inflation. According to data compiled by the National Association of Realtors, buying an average home is now out of reach By Felix Richter

massive affordability gap has opened up, as a required income of $120,000 stands opposite a median income of around $84,000—more than 40% shy of what would be needed.

for the majority of Americans, as the annual household income needed to afford a median-priced home without too much financial strain has shot up 60% since January 2022. Back then, the minimum income to buy a mid-range house—around $380,000 at the time— was $74,000, roughly in line with the national median income. Since then, a

October 2024

NorthBaybiz 21

Work/Life/ Retirement

By Jason Walsh Americans facing ‘retirement crisis,’ survey finds T he dream of spending one’s golden years traveling, adopting fulfilling hobbies and trying new restaurants is morphing into a distant dream for many Americans, according to a new survey. “An overwhelming majority of registered voters believe the nation is experiencing a retirement savings crisis,” say officials from investment company BlackRock, which commissioned the survey. The survey was conducted in August by Public Opinion Strategies (POS) and found that 90% of registered voters believe there is “currently a retirement savings crisis in America,” and only 22% are “extremely or very confident” about having enough money to live on through their retirement. The problem is largely down to Americans’ failure or inability in recent decades to save for the long term, according to BlackRock. As BlackRock Chairman Larry Fink wrote this year in his annual letter to stakeholders, “the first barrier to retirement investing is affordability.” “Four-in-10 Americans don’t have $400 to spare to cover an emergency like a car repair or hospital visit,” wrote Fink. “Who is going to invest money for a retirement 30 years away if they don’t have cash for today?” Nearly half of Americans aged 55 to 65 reported not having a single dollar saved in personal retirement accounts, Fink pointed out, citing U.S. Census Bureau statistics from 2022. Some of the findings in the survey are alarming: About 30% of respondents had no retirement savings to report; while 66% of voters have less than $150,000 saved (those same respondents estimated they’d need $2 million for a comfortable retirement). And, putting retirement savings aside, 26% of respondents did not have “any readily available savings” at all. Several demographic groups were far

more likely to have no retirement savings, POS found. That includes 53% of women ages 18-34, 40% of the Black community, 42% of women of color and 39% of rural residents. One of the sticking points, BlackRock found, is that even when companies offer a retirement-saving plan, nearly 20% of employees don’t enroll in them—and it’s largely not a conscious choice. It’s because employees aren’t adequately shown the process, or they’re busy with other responsibilities. This is why Fink has become an adherent to what University of Chicago economist Richard Thaler has called “nudges”—small changes in policy that can have big impacts on people’s financial lives. Which is why Fink urges companies to auto-enroll employees in 401Ks and their equivalents; studies show auto-enrollment increases retirement plan participation by nearly 50%. As it happens, starting in 2025, the SECURE 2.0 goes into effect. Enacted by Congress in 2022, most new 401(k) and 403(b) plans will auto-enroll employees— deferring between 3% and 10% of their pre- tax income to the investment plan, unless otherwise opted out by the employee. Such legislation, Fink says, is an indication governments can move toward becoming “laboratories for retirement.” “More should consider it,” he says. “The benefits could be enormous for individual retirees.”

10 states with the highest annual cost for retirement How much does one need to retire and still afford housing, groceries, transportation, health care, utilities, etc., in order to live comfortably from ages 66 to 80? It largely depends on the cost of living where you live. Based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the states with the highest annual cost for retirement: 1. Hawaii: $120,909 2. District of Columbia: $94,248 3. California: $83,279

4. Alaska: $79,249 5. Oregon: $78,439 6. New York: $77,911 7. Massachusetts: $77,122 8. Maryland: $73,111 9. Connecticut: $70,817 10. New Jersey: $67,764

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October 2024

Only In Marin

The business of elections By Bill Meagher

L ong time readers of this column, and you five know who you are, know I think very little of former president Donald Trump. And while there are hundreds of good reasons to think of old 45 as a loser, I didn’t care for him before he was elected. So, I’m being upfront about it as this column will look at possible business impacts of the presidential election, which at this writing is only weeks away. As a reporter, I wrote about Trump’s shortcomings as a businessman before

meaningful way. She maintains the federal government can offer tax incentives to builders willing to construct lower-priced starter homes and she wants to double the budget for businesses building affordable rental properties. She also wants to expand a program where the feds could help first-time home buyers with a down payment assist of $25,000. Harris also said it’s high time to make the review and

permitting processes for housing faster so product hits the market faster and costs are better contained. This idea will find favor in Marin, which has long been demonized as a place where project plans don’t grow whiskers, they grow beards like ZZ Top. She plans to cut prescription drugs costs and to work to contain healthcare costs. Her campaign has hammered away at insulin costs. While Trump talked about reducing drug costs, and signed a bill to decrease costs, those programs were blocked by the courts. Both Harris and Trump have advocated reducing taxes on tipped income for service industry employees, good news for Marin’s restaurant and hospitality workers. And Trump complained Harris coopted his idea. Which brings us back to the world’s largest victim. That sounds like a crack about Trump’s weight. It’s not, it’s about his bellyaching. Which could also be a crack about his weight. Your Marin Moment Stop me if you have heard this one before. BioMarin has laid off staffers. The San Rafael-based biotech company focused on producing medications to treat orphan diseases, has done a second round of layoffs. The first round, which took place in May, put 170 employees on the street. The latest pink slip parade was announced in August and will cost 225 staffers their jobs. “BioMarin is in the process of developing a new corporate strategy and a critical component of delivering on this strategy is to ensure that BioMarin is structured in a way that will position the company for continued success in the future.” Translation? The company is in a tug of war between Wall Street, management and investors over future drug direction, costs and profit margins. g

the country lost its collective mind and elected him president. This is a guy who bankrupted six businesses in the hotel and casino sectors. This really does take some doing as everybody knows games of chance favor the house, most folks lose, and yet people show up with fistfuls of cash every day. Lest you think he was just unlucky in the hospitality/gaming/unlucky sector, let’s explore other business ventures with his name on them. There was Trump Airlines that crashed after two years. Trump Beverages died of thirst. The Trump Game went belly up after Hasbro and Milton Bradley couldn’t sell it. Trump magazine never found its readers. Trump Mortgage went bust. Trump Steaks died hungry. Trump Vodka died drunk. Trump University flunked out. For a stable genius, that’s a lot of instability. But to be fair those failures took place while he was just a millionaire with other people’s money in his pocket. What about how the Trump presidency performed for the economy? The economy drifted as COVID hit and Trump moved at a glacial pace to sideline the disease, with job losses mounting. He did engineer tax cuts that benefited the rich and left the middle-class shifting budgets and wondering what happened. The Trump administration also favored attaching tariffs to imported goods from China, Mexico and Canada which impacted companies bringing in goods from abroad as well as raising prices on products using imported materials. The tariffs reduced real income on a national basis as well as hindering Gross National Product. Let’s turn our attention to the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The former prosecutor has said she wants to drop food prices that have soared from, take your pick, inflation or price gauging. This sounds pretty good, but it remains unclear how she will do that. Grocery stores have notoriously slim margins, so knocking prices down would have to happen at the companies producing and selling the products to stores, a more complex issue. Harris also wants to see more housing production in an effort to change supply and demand relationships and dropping housing costs in a

Bill Meagher is a contributing editor for NorthBay biz magazine. He is also a senior reporter for The Deal, a Manhattan-based digital financial news outlet. His take on wine and baseball is available elsewhere in this month’s issue.

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A batter for the San Francisco Pacifics faced heat from the Barbary Coasters in August at a game at the Balletto Vineyards ballfield in Santa Rosa. [Duncan Garrett Photography]

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October 2024

The Boys of Sauvignon

The blending of

America’s favorite pastimes— baseball and wine

By Bill Meagher

NorthBaybiz 25

October 2024

“Whoever wants to know the heart and the mind of America had better learn baseball.”— Jacques Barzon A merica’s passion for baseball is all over the map. It’s little leaguers with eye black and gloves bigger than they are. It’s road trips to ball parks all over the country for the sake of adding another yard to the list. And it’s suffering because Joe Buck is

calling a Saturday game on Fox. It’s even a 23-hour Ken Burns

documentary. That’s how you know we are dead serious about the sport and its place as our national pastime even in the midst of a world-gone-semi-nuts. If there is still any doubt about the importance of baseball in our culture, consider the movies Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and For the Love of the Game. All three use baseball as a vehicle for the story. All three feature Kevin Costner. And all three were popular despite Costner largely playing Costner.

For me, baseball is about the smells. Fresh cut grass. The sun baking the bat rack, pine tar floating in the air. A young sauvignon blanc with a little lemongrass on the nose. There’s a scene in the aforementioned Bull Durham where Costner irons in the middle of the afternoon, drinking a small bucket of scotch. Ironing? Later in the film there are other scenes where players argue, dance and shoot pool while drinking beer. Finding wine in

The late Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver and his wife Nancy purchased their future vineyard property on Diamond Mountain in the 1990s.

the film requires a search party. But things have changed. Just as baseball altered the game (and not for the good) by putting pitchers on the clock, the mighty grape has infiltrated baseball via wine bars at the yard, official wines of MLB and wineries themselves. Indeed, one can hardly swing a weighted bat and not hit a place making wine with a player (active and retired) at the top of the winery roster. Seaver Vineyards was helmed by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver and his wife Nancy. With Tom gone to the big clubhouse in the sky, Nancy runs the show these days. New York Yankee righthander Marcus Stroman has boutique winery Le Carenage with wines made from grapes grown in areas including Napa and Sonoma. Red Stitch Winery is owned in part by former San Francisco Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts. Roberts is better known as the current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. JACK Winery in Napa is owned by two former major league players, Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta. Selah Winery in Calistoga is owned by former pitcher Joe Blanton, who played for seven different clubs including the Oakland A’s. The wine country has its own Field of Dreams at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa, the field sitting inside the winery not far from vines. And if you are going to talk baseball, you have to win on the road. Our road trip takes us to Baker Family Wines in West Sacramento, skippered by former Giants Manager Dusty Baker. Major League Baseball even has an official wine, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. While I can’t say much about the wine, I can attest to MLB understanding how wine has invaded the game. Never let it be said that MLB ever passed up a chance to pimp the game we love for some cash. More proof? The San Francisco Gigantes hired Evan Goldstein as the first master sommelier representing a major sports team. Goldstein was hired to not only select wines so Giants fans

Former A’s and Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton produces about 250 cases of cab a year out of Selah Vineyards in Napa.

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October 2024

Former MLB players Vernon Wells, left, and Chris Iannetta named JACK Winery after their kids Jayce, Ashlyn, Christian and Kylie.

wouldn’t drink swill, but to also pair wines with food offered at the yard. So, a hearty cabernet with a spicy polish sausage? What matches up with a pretzel slathered in Gulden’s mustard? His selections include Far Niente Chardonnay, Twomey Pinot Noir and Silver Oak Cabernet. Seaver Vineyards The late Tom Seaver grew up in Fresno, his dad a raisin farmer. As a player, he collected wines and he and his wife were frequent visitors to the wine country. The couple discovered a property on Diamond Mountain in the late 1990s. Though the land had never been developed, Tom was convinced it was suitable for grapes. As a player, Seaver carried a reputation for working hard and not missing starts. That dedication carried over to his wine business. Not content to hire a vineyard manager, Seaver worked the land himself, treading the rows of grapes with his dogs as company, clipper in the back pocket of his jeans. Today, his wife Nancy runs the winery that produces limited run cabernet sauvignon. It’s a family affair as Anne Seaver is CFO and Karen Seaver is manager. The winery produces 400 to 600 cases of wine each year. And there is a waiting list to purchase Seaver wine, with a new vintage each January. Le Carenage Like Seaver Vineyards, Le Carenage produces a small amount of wine that is only available direct from the winery. Stroman has teamed with Matt Naumann of Newfound Wines to helm the winemaking process, accessing fruit from throughout California. The way Stroman explains it, he discovered wine while playing in Toronto. His veteran teammates enjoyed wine with their meals and would share some of the grape with the rookie. The first release of his wines took place in March of this year. Stroman’s wines are only available direct from the winery.

The 33-year-old Stroman has labored for four teams since his debut in 2014 with the Toronto Blue Jays. This year he is part of the New York Yankees rotation and is 10-7 with a 4.03 earned run average at this writing.

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“You spend a good deal of your life gripping a baseball, and it turns out it was the other way around all the time.” —Former Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton That’s my favorite baseball quote, because it’s true. Baseball has always meant more to me than it should. I grew up hearing stories from my dad, Buzz Meagher. Pops was in the Dodger organization with Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella. While he played in Montreal and Cuba, injuries cut his career short before he reached Brooklyn. I played a little as well. I was good enough to get the attention of the Dodgers. I played in a winter league for them at 17 but wasn’t drafted. One hot August night while trying to leg out an infield hit, I tore a hamstring in half in two spots. I played college ball for another year and a half, taking pain killers like M&Ms. I was done but couldn’t admit it. Catchers with just one good leg never go anywhere. I took my last swing at Big Rec in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the same field where my dad was a schoolboy hero. I sat alone in that dugout long after the last out, my broken heart hurting far more than my leg. Failing as a player was lucky for me, making me search for the next thing I could love doing. Turns out writing was it. I’m much better at telling a story than I was at collecting base hits. JACK Winery JACK Winery in Napa was born of a conversation between Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta over what else, glasses of wine. Wells

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on these wines is via allocation direct from JACK. In this case it’s a good time to know JACK because the wine begins at $45 and rolls as high as $400 for a 2019 magnum of cab from Atlas Peak.

was a three-time Gold Glove centerfielder who never met a fastball he didn’t like. He played for the Yankees, the Blue Jays and the California Angels. Iannetta spent his time behind the dish, a man after my own heart. He was a Rockie, an Angel, a Mariner and a Diamondback. He finished his 13-year career in 2019 with 141 dingers and a .230 average. The winery is named for the initials of their kids, Jayce, Ashlyn, Christian and Kylie. JACK produces a trio of wine varietals, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and a white wine blend. This may sound like a broken record, but the only way to lay your hands

2007 when shared dinners began to include wine tastings. The two players included their spouses as well as friends John and Noelle Micek. As the wine tastings became more elaborate the three couples began talking about going into the wine business. Besides a love of wine, there is more tying them together at Red Stitch. Tricia Roberts, Dave’s better half, went to sommelier school and is a certified specialist of wine. Both John and Noelle Micek have taken viticulture classes at UC Davis. But they leave the winemaking to Rolando Herrera of Mi Sueno Winery. Red Stitch sources grapes from Napa Valley as well as Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County. Red Stitch produces three varietals—cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay—and they offer various wine packages. It produces about 1,000 cases of wine a year and has no tasting room. Aurilia is still in the game as a baseball analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area and was voted into the Giants Hall of Fame in 2010. Besides wine, Roberts has a side gig as the manager of the LA Dodgers. He has managed the bums for nine years and was voted Manager of the Year in 2016. At the time of this writing, Aurilia was out of the country and Roberts was bogged down with making out lineup cards and figuring out where Mookie Betts should play.

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“I never had a job, I just always played baseball.” —Satchel Paige Red Stitch Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts were teammates on the San Francisco Giants in

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“Some days you win. Some days you lose. Some days it rains.” —Ebby Calvin LaLoosh from Bull Durham Selah Winery When Joe Blanton broke in as a rookie with the A’s, he dined with teammates and watched as the veterans would order wine with their meals. He had never really drunk wine before. In 2005 he began taking off- days in Napa, tasting wine and enjoying the area. While still playing, he began annual visits to Napa in November. “I’d go for two weeks, post-harvest, and I was meeting winemakers, winery owners and I was falling in love with Napa,” Blanton said. Blanton said a visit to Tom Seaver’s house was a turning point for him. “We talked baseball, we talked wine, it was amazing.” Blanton said they walked the vineyard together and he started to feel like maybe wine could be something special for him. He bought the Selah property while he was still playing, thinking that it could be what he would do post-playing. “Everybody who plays comes to that hard-stop when

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