In 2018, owners Ann Ernish-Backen and Howard Backen rebranded Archetype to reflect their “values for family, community, and health” with a menu Ernish-Backen describes as “celebrating and showcasing a plant-forward lifestyle, wild seafood, and pasture-raised meats.” *CLICK HERE TO READ*
Author: Elizabeth
Elizabeth Smith is a native of Asheville, North Carolina, and resides in Napa, California. Her professional experience includes higher education, relationship and membership management, direct-to-consumer sales, writing, editing, social media marketing, travel management, and notary services.
Elizabeth holds a doctoral degree in community college and foreign language education from George Mason University, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in French from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and Western Carolina University, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s Level 3 Advanced wine certification.
Elizabeth is the Professional Wine Tutor for the Master’s Degree in Wine Management; Bachelor’s Degree Concentration in Advanced Wine, Beverage, and Hospitality; and Associate Degree Programs at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.
Elizabeth is a contributing writer to the Napa Valley Register with a focus on restaurant profiles, healthy dining choices, food and wine pairing, and food tourism. She is also a newsletter copywriter for MonthlyClubs.com. She has written articles for American Winery Guide, Wine Industry Network (WIN) Advisor, The Somm Journal online edition, and Snooth.
Elizabeth won the 2017 Born Digital Wine Award for Best Tourism Content with a Focus on Wine for her piece entitled, “Lodi: Beyond the Zinfandel.” As a previous winner, she served as a judge for the 2018 Born Digital Wine Awards. In 2019, she participated in Born Digital’s inaugural Born Digital Wine Awards Summit – The “Unconference” on the future of the wine industry – in Liège, Belgium, with Born Digital Wine Awards judges and winners.
Elizabeth’s passions include food, wine, travel, and fitness. She is always on the move to new destinations and loves discovering inspirational stories and places to share.
Should Your Winery Engage a PR Agency to Amplify Its Message?
During these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, winery doors were abruptly shut to the public. There has been a scramble to revisit – or reinvent – one’s approach to public relations, marketing, and communications, in order to stand out among the crowd of wineries clamoring for sales, especially direct-to-consumer. Partnering with a public relations […]
Take a SIP
“Most impactful was that regardless of circumstances, human connection matters most. Madrigal’s wines are the threads that unite people, whether it be during a pandemic, a celebration, or everyday life. Chris Madrigal and his family personify ‘Nuestra Sangre,’ the bond that holds everyone together, especially in this unprecedented time of challenge.” *CLICK HERE TO READ*
Chefs at Home: The authentic Mexican dishes of Mercadito
Chef and co-owner Valentín (Nes) Atayde of Mercadito Food Truck hails from Mexico City, but moved to the U.S. in 2006. The business recently celebrated its fourth anniversary in Napa on April 16. He and his partner decided a food truck was an ideal “stepping-stone” due to the high cost of restaurant rental space. *CLICK […]
Local exercise options offered online
While not deemed essential, and because social distance cannot be guaranteed, the physical locations of gyms and fitness centers are currently closed. However, remaining active is key to maintaining one’s physical, mental, and emotional health, especially in face of this pandemic. Therefore, a number of Napa Valley’s wellness businesses are offering at-home complimentary and paid […]
Chefs at Home: Keeping the community spirit up
Ben and Ali Koenig opened Heritage Eats in Napa’s Bel Aire Plaza in 2015, a restaurant which serves “globally-inspired, fast-fine food.” Little did they know that they would face some daunting hurdles these past five years, such as the 2017 Napa wildfires and the current COVID-19 pandemic.Their commitment in face of great challenges is to […]
Going home — or trying to — during a pandemic
This personal travel story was difficult to write and share, but cathartic as well. I received lots of supportive feedback from around the world. The greatest lesson to come from my experience was this: I thought my COVID-19 furlough/unemployment and isolation in Napa – and being alone – were the worst, until this. The day […]
Harvest Moon Winery: Punk Rock and Cool Zin by Joe Campbell
On a cold autumn evening smack dab in the middle of harvest in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California, you will find Randy Pitts crushing grapes and rocking out to old-school, punk rock legends like Pennywise and NOFX. “Music motivates us. It inspires us with the little notes that dance around in our head […]
The hidden gems of Lake County
There is so much good happening in Lake County that it is worth revealing seven gems from Lower Lake to Lakeport to Upper Lake. *CLICK HERE TO READ*
2017 Biltmore Reserve Cabernet Franc
Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina, whose French-style château home and surrounding landscaping were designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted, has been a leader in hospitality and sustainable, field-to-table practices since the estate’s inception in 1895. It continues to operate today as a family-owned, self-sustaining 8000-acre estate and National Historic Landmark. […]
