Dear editor, Napa Valley’s 15th annual Mustard Season is off to a terrific start. Mustard Magic at the CIA was well-attended despite the inclement weather. We estimated that 70 percent of our guests were from outside of Napa Valley. That is good news for our local economy.

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival has appeared in publications around the country including Relish, a Sunday newspaper insert with a nationwide distribution of 12 million. We appeared for four years running on Michael Chiarello’s Emmy Award-winning show, “Napa Style,” on Feb. 11. The show reaches over one million people nation wide.

This month, The Marketplace was named “Best Wine Country Event” by KVYN/KVON and we will receive the “Best of Bohemian Award” in March.

Speaking of awards, “The Awards” on Friday, March 14, will be held at Black Stallion Winery. Wear your best diamonds and denim, black-tie attire or both, and join us for an exciting evening where you can help select The Festivals’ “People’s Choice Chef of the Year.” Cameras will be rolling as Laura McIntosh’s show “Bringing it Home” will be filming. This may be your chance to become a TV icon! California Cowboys, a great country rock band, will get everyone out on the dance floor.

Hope to see ya all there!

George Rothwell / Napa