This past month marked my first full year as a reporter for The Napa Valley Register and a resident of the area. Overall, I'd have to say I've been happy with the experience and people whose paths I've crossed as I've worked the Upvalley and Arts and Entertainment beats during the past 12 months. Along the way, however, there have been some surprises. Guide books and literature about the region are basically written for the short-time tourist types who come, visit a few days and leave. The one pithy and necessary gem of wisdom they don't tell you in these books is that the Napa Valley is first and foremost a farming community. The wonderful wine produced in the region has to come from somewhere. Right? Looking back, however, somehow the reality of what that meant never really registered in my brain until this past week.So, it was with great anticipation and excitement that I accepted my colleague's, the inimitable wine guru of the Register, L. Pierce Carson, invitation to assist him in covering this past week's Napa Valley Wine Auction. While Pierce was much more involved than myself, the 11 hours, three events and hundreds of wines we were able to see, changed the way I look at the Napa Valley, grapes and wine makers forever.The two main events we attended together were the lots viewing on Thursday of last week and this past weekend's auction extravaganza. As we entered the Mondavi Winery grounds, where this year's lot viewing and barrel auction took place, those prophetic words of Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz" came to mind. Looking down at her little friend she held in her arms, Dorothy said, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." I know I certainly didn't think I was in Napa. A sea of food and wine tents, representing some of the best and brightest of the restaurants and wineries of the valley, were set up on the main green, with workers dishing out culinary treats and a array of wonderful wines. As an auction event novice, the spectacle was the equivalent to a backwoods hayseed suddenly finding himself transported to Grand Central Station in mid-town Manhattan. Sensory overload took on a whole new meaning for me in those first few critical minutes after our arrival.Fortunately, Pierce saw my predicament and suggested we hit the lot displays in the Mondavi's new barrel room as quickly as possible. We trekked through the crowd and joined the throng marching up the ramp that led to the viewing area.Once inside, things didn't get any easier. Laid out on the main floor were lot after lot of wine exhibits to be auctioned off during the upcoming Saturday sales event. As if the painted and elaborately decorated wine bottles weren't impressive enough, each winery went to extraordinary lengths to display their product in the most attractive and artistic manner possible.Even the names of the wineries seemed cloaked in mysterious and intriguing monikers: Dutch Henry, Money Road, Luna, Aida and Maya to name a few. From fanciful oriental dragons, dancing buckhorns and mute bottles disguised as chess men, the diversity and artistic beauty of the lots was a thing to behold.A good example of the pride the wine makers take in displaying their wines was this year's co-hosts, Bob and Margrit Mondavi's, effort. Enlisting the talent of east coast artist, Wayne Ensrud, the Mondavi's had 20 bottles hand painted representing each of the 20 years the auction has been in existence. To display the bottles, Napa artist, Lisa Splendid-Jacklich, built a eight foot tower fashioned after the one that sits atop the winery building in Oakville. Splendid-Jacklich built an armature that reached from floor to ceiling. Inserted into the central frame were custom made supports, hand hammered in place, each arm covered with lamb's suede, so the bottles gently spiraled down the post. Splendid-Jacklich went to great lengths to match the stucco outer surface and the bronze door handles fashioned after the real ones found on the main winery doors. The doors themselves were made from 100 year old oak barrel staves which she sanded and then re-weathered to give an authentic appearance to the tower's entrance. Inside, she lined the walls and ceiling with light gauge copper sheets to reflect the beauty of the bottles and the artwork adorning their bodies.This combined effort worked especially well. At auction on Saturday, the Mondavi's lot went for $260,000, representing one of the biggest draws of the day -- a testament to the wine, the wine makers and the power of a good presentation. As if the lot viewing and accompanying barrel tasting on the lower level of the room weren't impressive enough, the auction on Saturday was fashioned to send guests over the edge. Eating, drinking and having as much fun as humanly possible were the orders of the day.From what I could tell, everyone took this mandate to heart and did their level best to fulfill their mission. Yet, these proceedings were not capricious indulgences or an excuse to throw a big party. Behind the four day event, five if you count the open houses at area wineries on Sunday, was a grand and charitable mission. Along the way, more than $7.5 million landed in the coffers for distribution to local charities throughout the region. What better statement could be made about how this small farming community and valley takes care of its own? Happy trails.Gary Brady-Herndon can be reached at 256-2219 or at gherndon@napanewsWays to tell you're not in Kansas but at the Napa Valley Wine Auction.* Seeing Robert Mondavi dressed up in drag as Vanna White while spinning the Wheel of Fortune.* Milling around on the grounds of Meadowood Resort with a couple of thousand other people and never having to wait in line at the portable potties.* Watching someone pay $650,000 for a few bottles of Screaming Eagle wine and agreeing they got a bargain.* Approaching a volunteer to get a disposal plate for lunch and realizing as you walk away the smiling, aproned person was your congressman, Mike Thompson.* Looking over your shoulder at a table behind you and seeing the baseball idol from your youth, Rusty Staub, filling a squirt gun from a bottle of Crystal Geyser.* Sitting amid a sea of rabid, screaming, cheering people and not being at a sports event or rock concert.* Feeling the pain and disappointment of not actually getting to see Heather Locklear, even though she was rumored to be on the grounds. (This, like so many things that happened to me last week, was a first.)