photos by ART & CLARITY DAVE HARMON Raconteur, bon vivant, winemaker, head of sales B that captivate his customers at his rustic, but intriguing winery, Carneros Della Notteefore Dave Harmon founded and sold the famed wine.com website, he had a colorfulpast right out of a reality TV show. His animated life is filled with anecdotal stories (Carneros of the Night). His adventures have taken him around the world, and now he has discovered a way to keep traveling but still be the storyteller at the winery. Using new technology, Harmon can now conduct virtual wine tastings on his big screen TV in his living room or on an IPad. While someone is pouring the guests’ tastes, Harmon tells tantalizing true tales, from when he was Robert Mondavi’s first chauffeur and helicopter pilot, to flying for the Indianapolis Colts, or working on movies like Thelma and Louise, Black Rain and Basic Instinct or working with the latest pop or rap star. In fact, Harmon is a key character in a new reality show being produced about a winemaker who travels a lot. The basically one-man-show winery doesn’t keep things simple, either. His services include etching a wine bottle on site; he also loves to adorn visitors with a glow-in-the-dark temporary tattoo of his logo. His generous heart is always willing to help out most causes, especially those involved with kids. For guests wanting the real thing, Harmon is always ready to come back to Napa to grill and entertain in person. Oh, and he also knows how to make great wine—he was voted #1 in the Wine by Women “2006 Pinot Shootout.” N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2 23
NVLife_NovDec_2012
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