Destiny...a firefighter's destiny to Napa Valley wine

 

My story started back in 1993 with my first taste of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon at the Harvest Inn, in St Helena.

It was the wine that got me hooked!

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My career path was already well established, following in my dad's footsteps as a Firefighter at Alameda Fire Department. I visited the Napa Valley frequently on my off days, hoping that someday a possible second career could happen in the wine industry.

 

In the spring of 2004, I met Deborah, a Napa Valley native. Go figure, the new dating site EHarmony.com would take our interests and match us up. That is where our Destiny together begins. Two years later we were married and started our life adventure together.

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While exploring the Napa Valley, we came across a nice property for sale. Two weeks later, we purchased the property. It is one acre in size, located at the foothills of Mount George in the Coombsville AVA. And so, our Destiny continues, with the small gentleman’s vineyard that produces two tons of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. As fate or destiny would have it, Napa Valley's Caymus Vineyards farmed the grapes from our property to use in their Cabernet!  I have traveled a full circle knowing I’m headed in the right direction in my life.

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Knowing retirement from the Fire Department was about five years away, we decided to start a wine tour business that has truly flourished. Destiny Wine Tours has created many experiences meeting new clients that have become great friends.

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With help of others in 2010, I took over farming our grapes. We are now producing our own Destiny Family Wine, Napa Valley Coombsville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon that is enjoyed by family, friends and clients! I retired from the Fire Department in 2013, after twenty-nine years of driving a firetruck I decided to take a giant leap into my new venture. I took Destiny's grapes to a well known Custom Micro-Crush Winery just 1/2 mile from our property. Today Destiny’s Cabernet is produced under the expertise of two well known vintners, Eric Lyman and Alex Young, here in the Napa Valley. Proudly, the winery is a certified Napa Valley Green Winery. 

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While I was busy with Destiny Wine Tours and Destiny Family Wines, my wife Deborah found a 1929 fire engine. In 2017, we converted it to a mobile bar truck and launched Napa Valley Cocktail Company. "Drinks to the Rescue!"

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We are looking forward to sharing our treasured wines with you soon and asking my Dad's favorite question, "Would you have it again?" Ray Hanson Sr.

 

Cheers,

Raymond Hanson Jr.