People:
Kristie A. Sheppard

Kristie A. Sheppard-Keeper of Napa's history keys.

Over the past couple of years Symtrek Partners has taken advantage of the Napa County Historical Society for data that adds substance to the proposals we submit to potential clients looking to have corporate meetings in wine country.  They have always been willing to help.

Ms. Kristie Sheppard is the Executive Director of the Napa County Historical Society.  What instantly impressed me about Kristie is her unbridled enthusiasm for Napa and the people who make Napa County’s past relevant today. Every time I meet with her it seems like she knows everybody and can give you a quick story on the characters of the past.  How does a 30 year old get this dream job?  “Luck, right place right time, total commitment to the art and study of history and respect for what has gone before me,” Kristie says.

“When you are immersed in Napa you realize that the “old guard”, who built wine country, will not be with us forever,” said Kristie.  “Even if you are not a history buff, as I have always been, you realize these ‘Old Timers’ (as kids call them) are very interesting people…probably could be classified as legends and their stories need to be saved.  That’s my job.”  It seems that today’s wine country is not just about the wine; it is truly about the people who made the wine (no disrespect to current makers of wine)… in Napa. Frankly, the subject of Napa history must be compelling because authors keep writing about the original winemakers that built wine country California.

By my standards, Kristie is young and does not fit the classic image I have of what a ‘keeper of the history keys’ should look like.  That is probably why there is so much vitality in this Historical Society: it is called youth.

I wanted to know: How did you come to settle in the kingdom of Dionysus (God of Wine)?  “Well, I started in Philadelphia, where I met my fiancé, and his goal was to be a winemaker.  So, we figured let’s move to France to learn the old world techniques,” Kristie said.  “And after 4 years and a freshly minted Masters Degree in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, it just seemed to be a good idea to return to the US and work towards a history and winemaking career in Napa, CA.”  Wine making?  “Yes, my fiancé is a full time winemaker producing our own label-Kieran Robinson Wines and I get to reap the benefits – always having wine in the house.

There are several outstanding elements of wine country and Napa in particular that has impressed Kristie since she arrived in Napa in 2006: the pride of the people. She says that the real people of Napa are attached to the community with an aggressive pride in the culture, lifestyle and wines produced in Napa and just how genuinely world famous the Napa name really has become.  Probably the 1976 Paris Tasting lit the “pride” fuse.

Napa was originally explored by the Spanish and controlled by the Mexican Government.  “Wasn’t much here at the time,” Kristie allows.  But, the gold rush changed that.  Napa was a rough and tumble place; mostly saloons and brothels.  In fact the first commercial building in Napa was a saloon, which still stands to this day.

Of all the tragedies surrounding Napa: fires, bankruptcies, phylloxera, Prohibition, and the list goes on; however, what is the most tragic event?  “Wow, I guess it would be the constant flooding of the Napa River and the resulting lost revenues, destroyed vineyards and the emotional toll.  But, never forget Napan’s are one tough group of people.  It is not uncommon to have someone tell you, with a lot of pride,-‘I am a 4th generation Napan or even a 5th generation.”  Now that is history!

Symtrek Partners produces small, intimate corporate meeting in wine country, everyone loves Napa and it is rich in history.  “Come visit,” says Kristie.