Celebrate the 2008 summer solstice with Raymond Vineyards from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Saturday, at their Rutherford winery.

Though he’s world famous, and even blamed — along with critic Robert Parker — for making top wines too similar, Michel Rolland is unpretentious and self-effacing in person as he tastes wines.

Many people who buy or start new wine companies here do it primarily to enjoy the Napa Valley lifestyle, but Robin Baggett and Eric Sklar used their experience to craft a business that turned an operating profit in little over a year.

He’s been called trailblazer, visionary and icon.