Domaine Chandon raised a tidy sum for breast cancer research at its third annual Pink Party last week, attended by more than 560 revelers.

Walter Raymond, marking the 35th harvest at Raymond Vineyards, recalled the first Raymond harvest  in 1974. “We didn’t have a lot of equipment, the crush area was just a barn really, but it was an exciting time for our family,” said Raymond, winemaker  and president since the retirement of his older brother, Roy Jr., in 2006. “We planted the vineyards and built the winery ourselves. We really built the business as a family.”

Dario Sattui, owner of  Castello di Amorosa and V. Sattui wineries, received the Best Italian American Businessman in California Award from the Order Sons of Italy in America at its Humanitarian and Leadership Awards Charity Gala in Sacramento.

Growers have completed harvesting nearly all the grapes in the Calistoga area and many of the wineries on Spring Mountain are finished, including Paloma, which had its earliest finish in 20 years. By American Viticultural Area (AVA) then, the harvest reports are as follows:

Three illustrious wine men became deeply involved with the Napa Valley after Prohibition. First was Louis M. Martini, who built his own winery in 1933 in St. Helena and was the winemaker. The next was wine maker Andre Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu in 1938. The third in the triumvirate was John Daniel, Jr., who took over Inglenook in 1939 with his eccentric but great winemaker George Dueur.

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers holds its annual Viticultural Fair for Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Napa Valley Expo Fairgrounds. The “Vit Fair” is held in alternating years and is the premier North Coast venue for Northern California grapegrowers to learn about the latest industry products, attend seminars, view field demonstrations, and visit with friends and colleagues.