Tim Carl
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Napa Valley Features,
Medium,
The Washington Post,
Princeton Alumni Weekly,
The Good Men Project,
Napa Valley Register,
St. Helena Star,
The Weekly Calistogan,
Creators,
The Anniston Star,
Olean Times Herald
and
Covers:
Wine, food, business, climate change, restaurant industry, Napa Valley, Northern California, travel
Eclectic enthusiast of action and interest
Articles by Tim Carl
Under the Hood: St. Helena Answered the Grand Jury and Moved the Deadlines. The Water Didn’t Wait.
Napa Valley Features depends on paid subscriptions to support our local reporting and community information. Now in our fourth year, we are also building new tools and resources at NapaServe.org. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber, renewing or joining as a founding member. We could not do this work without your support.
Wine Chronicles: California Wine Learns a New Vocabulary
Summary: California wine is undergoing a shift as younger drinkers look beyond cabernet and chardonnay toward lesser-known grapes and unfamiliar styles. Dan Berger examines the risks wineries face when responding to changing tastes, recalling past fads such as moscato while pointing to renewed interest in grapes that include chenin blanc, picpoul, vermentino and blaufränkisch.
Wine Chronicles: When Wine Gets Too Perfect
Summary: Dan Berger explores how the pursuit of clarity, polish and consistency can strip wine of the regional character and personality that make it distinctive. He examines common cellar practices, from fining and filtration to additives such as gum arabic and Mega Purple, and questions when intervention begins to undermine authenticity. Berger also traces his changing view of natural wine, finding that producers have grown more attentive to flaws while preserving individuality.
Wine Chronicles: How Meritage Gave California Blends a Name
Summary: California winemakers had long understood that cabernet sauvignon could improve when blended with merlot, cabernet franc and other Bordeaux varieties, but labeling laws made those wines difficult to sell as premium bottling. Joseph Phelps Vineyards helped break the pattern with Insignia, a proprietary name that freed the wine from the generic “Red Table Wine” designation.
Wine Chronicles: The Prisoner’s Grand Reveal Ends With a Simple Truth — It’s Just Wine
Summary: The Prisoner winery staged an elaborate, multiroom unveiling for its new $200 red blend, The Grail, positioning it as the brand's new flagship wine. Sasha Paulsen contrasts the carefully orchestrated marketing spectacle with the ultimately simple experience of tasting the wine, questioning whether increasingly theatrical launches add meaning or merely heighten expectations.
Bob McClenahan’s Napa: A Photography Exhibit at the Copia
NAPA, Calif. — Festival Napa Valley, in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America at Copia, will present “The Beauty of Napa Valley: Photography of Bob McClenahan” from June 18 through Sept. 1. The exhibition features 16 framed photographs selected from a portfolio McClenahan assembled shortly before his passing in March. Admission is free. All works are available for acquisition, with 100% of proceeds supporting a college scholarship fund for McClenahan’s two teenage sons.
Sunday E-dition: What Were We Thinking?
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Encore: Local Legend Takes the Stage in “Revenge of the Rebobs”
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Under the Hood: Same Work, Fewer Workers, Less Income, Higher Costs
Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today’s Under the Hood Article Summary: Since 2020 Napa County has seen a rise in business establishments without a corresponding increase in its civilian labor force, leading to fewer workers per business and lower real income per worker. At the same time, housing costs have continued to climb, reducing affordability and squeezing household budgets.
Sunday E-dition: Calistoga’s Larry Vuckovich — From the Knock of Death to a Life of Jazz
Inside the house a young boy practiced piano. Then came the sound — fists pounding on the front door, echoing through the villa. It was 1941. It was night. Months earlier, the boy had stood in the streets of Kotor, Yugoslavia and watched motorized columns of Nazis roll into his hometown. The boy’s father opened the door. Outside, three German officers stood in the darkness.
Data Show U.S. Wine Industry Decline is Accelerating
Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today’s Under the Hood Article Summary: Newly released data show that after nearly a century of uneven but sustained growth, the U.S. wine industry is now facing a sharp and simultaneous decline in both total consumption and per-capita demand — a rare and troubling shift.
Special Report: California Wine Production Plummets — Lowest Since 1999
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Under the Hood: Discretionary Income Surplus Is History
Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today’s Under the Hood Article Summary: New data on “paycheck waterfalls” show that Napa Valley households have experienced a dramatic decline in disposable income over the past three decades — from $24,000 in 1990 (adjusted for inflation) to just $1,000 in 2023. This shift reflects rising fixed costs such as housing, healthcare, childcare and debt, outpacing wage growth.
Sunday E-dition: Poetry’s Dangerous Gift
This poem has carried me through many things: The Meaning of Birds Charlie Smith Of the genesis of birds we know nothing, save the legend they are descended from reptiles: flying, snap-jawed lizards that have somehow taken to air.
Sunday E-dition: Storyteller Series - The Night the Sky Turned Black
It started with the siren. A rising metallic wail that ricocheted off the cinderblock walls of our junior high school, sharp enough to lift the hair on my arms. Then the loudspeaker crackled: “This is a civil defense drill. All students, duck and cover.” I looked at Brendan. This again? It was 1977. The first week of seventh grade. St. Helena. The Cold War was still real enough to send us under our desks. The same desks we took spelling tests on, carved our initials into.
Sunday E-dition: The Only Rescue of Its Kind in Napa Valley
Napa Valley Features is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Napa Wildlife Rescue is not a sanctuary, zoo or pet adoption center. It is a frontline emergency facility — a trained network of volunteers and professionals who respond when Napa County’s wild animals are injured, orphaned or displaced.
Under the Hood: Global Air Travel Slumps, Rippling into Napa
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today’s article thumbnail:International arrivals to the United States are down in 2025, with airlines cutting routes and visitor spending falling.
Under the Hood: More Signs Napa’s Economy Is Stalling
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today’s article thumbnail:Napa County’s economy is undergoing a structural shift — not a temporary slowdown. Real estate remains out of reach for most residents because the types of jobs that could support homeownership increasingly exist elsewhere.
Under the Hood: 2025 Brings Another Active Rattlesnake Season to Napa County
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today we explore why 2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest rattlesnake seasons Napa County has seen in years. We’re also diving into the latest data from our readers’ polls and providing insights from our economic dashboard, covering local Napa Valley, U.S. and global markets.
Under the Hood: Year Three in a Fractured News Landscape
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today we reflect on three years of reporting — and why supporting and defending local news is more urgent than ever. We’re also diving into the latest data from our readers’ polls and providing insights from our economic dashboard, covering local Napa Valley, U.S. and global markets.
Under the Hood: Auction Napa Valley’s $6.5 Million Moment - and What Follows
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today we explore the evolving role — and rising challenges — of auction philanthropy in Napa Valley, as Auction Napa Valley celebrates a $6.5 million comeback.
Under the Hood: Rethinking the Housing Narrative in Napa County
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today we explore the data behind Napa County’s housing shortfall claims — and why the numbers don’t add up. We’re also diving into the latest data from our readers’ polls and providing insights from our economic dashboard, covering local Napa Valley, U.S. and global markets.
Under the Hood: Calistoga Ag Day Finding Its Footing
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. Today we explore how Calistoga’s inaugural Ag Day quietly rekindled community use of the fairgrounds — spotlighting both the promise and the growing challenges of a civic space finding its footing.
=Under the Hood: May 24
If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive. Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. This Memorial Day weekend, we look beyond the ceremonies and into the heart of a quiet local tradition — a series of intimate lunches helping reconnect the town of Yountville with the veterans who live just beyond its gates.
Under the Hood: The Growing Cost of Chasing Luxury
This is our version of a pledge drive. For the next two weeks, all content is behind a paywall — including our usual free Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday stories. We’re doing this to remind you: Napa Valley Features runs on reader support. No ads. No corporate owners. Just real local stories. Subscriptions start at just $8 a month, or $60 a year — that’s less than 17 cents a day. Want to go further?
Under the Hood: American Canyon Grows While the Upvalley Shrinks
This is our version of a pledge drive. For the next two weeks, all content is behind a paywall — including our usual free Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday stories. We’re doing this to remind you: Napa Valley Features runs on reader support. No ads. No corporate owners. Just real local stories. We’ll return to our regular mix of free and subscriber-only content on May 23. If you’re already a paid subscriber — thank you. If not, now’s the time. Help keep independent journalism alive in Napa Valley.
Under the Hood: Food Insecurity in the Land of Plenty
If you're reading this, it's because you value independent, locally owned, ad-free reporting — journalism that prioritizes our region’s stories over corporate spin or clickbait. Join others who care about in-depth, honest reporting by becoming a paid subscriber. If you’re already supporting us, thank you. You can help even more by sharing our work, leaving a comment or encouraging others to subscribe.
Under the Hood: As Wineries Close, Napa’s License Count Surges
If you're reading this, it's because you value independent, locally owned, ad-free reporting — journalism that prioritizes our region’s stories over corporate spin or clickbait. Join others who care about in-depth, honest reporting by becoming a paid subscriber. If you’re already supporting us, thank you. You can help even more by sharing our work, leaving a comment or encouraging others to subscribe.
Sunday E-dition: What Remains - An Easter Story
The ocean lay black beneath a sky streaked with smoke. No moon. Just a few stars pushing through the haze, their light dimmed by burning oil platforms on the horizon. On the ship’s bridge, radar screens glowed red. The consoles swept green — slow, steady, watching. Nobody spoke. Just the soft click of instruments. The low thrum of systems beneath our feet. Waiting. The sea looked calm, but the ship shifted in slow, uneven motions — a sway more felt than seen. Below deck the engines pulsed, low and steady.
Under the Hood: April 19
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting. Become a paid subscriber today — and if you already are, thank you. Help us grow by liking, commenting and sharing our work. Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers.
Fred Fisher Has Died — A Quiet Force Behind a Family Legacy
Bill. Thanks for sharing your perspective. We don’t claim to speak for “Napa,” nor do we have reason to doubt the sources who shared Fred’s involvement with us. That said, If you have additional documentation or details you feel are relevant, feel free to share them at NapaValleyFeatures@gmail.com so we can review and correct the record if necessary.
Sunday E-dition: A Moment to Pause and Smile
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Before we dive into this week’s batch of reader-submitted captions and comics, a quick note from me, Tim Carl, editor of Napa Valley Features. Some of you have told us you didn’t realize we feature a new cartoon and caption contest every Sunday — tucked just beneath the main story. (Pssst … they occasionally make a cameo in “Dan Berger’s Wine Chronicles,” too.) Each week readers can vote for their favorite caption or submit one of their own.
Under the Hood: What January’s Job Numbers Signal for Napa’s Future
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting. Become a paid subscriber today — and if you already are, thank you. Help us grow by liking, commenting and sharing our work. Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers.
Grgich Hills - Custodians of a Sacred Place
Editor’s Note: Dan Berger will return next week. In the meantime, we’re highlighting efforts by the team at Grgich Hills Estate to advance regenerative farming in Napa Valley. We Need Your Help If you’re reading this, it means you value independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — storytelling that centers our region, not corporate agendas or clickbait. Join a community that supports in-depth reporting. Become a paid subscriber today. And if you already are — thank you.
Under the Hood: A Growing Divide Between Lodging Supply and Demand
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting. Become a paid subscriber today — and if you already are, thank you. Help us grow by liking, commenting and sharing our work. Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers.
Remembering Bob McClenahan: The Photographer Who Defined Napa Valley
Thank you Tim. I have posted my thoughts and feelings about Bob’s photography on FB and expressed the influence on me as a long time industry professional but having moved here only two years ago. I have always seen and appreciated the beauty and depth of this special valley but having seen it through his (and your) lens gives it a whole new meaning. Even though I didn’t know Bob personally I am extremely sad about his passing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Under the Hood: Has the Fine Wine Investment Boom Gone Bust?
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
Under the Hood: Rising Property Values, Shrinking Jobs in Napa County
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
Sunday E-dition: Capturing Light - The Quiet Art of John Paul Marcelo
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
Under the Hood: Mentis Opens New Mental Health Facility to Serve Napa’s Growing Needs
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
PNV 2025: Rising Revenue Masks a Continued Market Contraction
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
The Rising Cost of Economic Tribalism
If you’re reading this, you care about independent, locally owned, ad-free journalism — reporting that puts our region’s stories first, not corporate interests or clickbait. As local newsrooms are increasingly bought by billionaires, scaled back or absorbed into media conglomerates, communities lose original reporting and are left with more syndicated content. Your support keeps quality regional journalism alive. Join a community that values in-depth, independent reporting.
Under the Hood: Feb 15
If you’re reading this, you value independent, ad-free journalism that focuses on our region’s stories — reporting that isn’t driven by corporate interests or clickbait. But we can’t do it without you. Local newsrooms are shrinking, and many publications are being sold, scaled back or consolidated. Your support keeps Napa Valley Features alive. Join our community of readers who believe in local, quality journalism.
Under the Hood: Napa Valley’s Growing Insurance Crisis
The devastating fires in Los Angeles County have left many in need, and thanks to our readers, we’ve been able to help. Because of your support, Napa Valley Features donated $300 in January to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Due to the ongoing need and the generosity of our community, we’re extending this effort through Feb. 15, with 10% of all new paid subscriptions going toward relief. Your support truly makes a difference — thank you.
Under the Hood: The Silent Invasion - The Mediterranean Oak Borer’s Threat Grows
The devastating fires in Los Angeles County have left many in need, and thanks to our readers, we’ve been able to help. Because of your support, Napa Valley Features donated $300 in January to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Due to the ongoing need and the generosity of our community, we’re extending this effort through February 15, with 10% of all new paid subscriptions going toward relief. Your support truly makes a difference — thank you.
Having endured fires in our own region and felt the power of global support, our hearts are with those impacted by the Los Angeles County fires. Napa Valley Features will donate 10% of all new paid subscriptions through January to aid relief efforts. Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. This week we delve into how recent real GDP data can help clarify and even predict Napa Valley’s economic trajectory over the next decade.
Weekender Encore: Blood, Sweat, Tears and Passion - Creating the BottleRock Lineup
Editor Note: We are excited to welcome David Kerns to Napa Valley Features. Kerns is a retired Stanford professor of pediatrics, a novelist and a music journalist whose work has appeared extensively in Northern California newspapers. His novel “Fortnight on Maxwell Street” won the Eric Hoffer Award for best general fiction in 2018.
Having endured fires in our own region and felt the power of global support, our hearts are with those impacted by the Los Angeles County fires. Napa Valley Features will donate 10% of all new paid subscriptions through January to aid relief efforts. Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers.
Under the Hood: 'Alcohol Is a Well-Established, Preventable Cause of Cancer'
Welcome to “Under the Hood,” our exclusive Saturday series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers. This week, we delve into the sweeping implications of the recent surgeon general’s Advisory, which unequivocally states: “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer.” This announcement marks a pivotal moment, raising critical questions about how the alcohol industry — and by extension wine culture — navigates a rapidly shifting public health narrative.
Under the Hood: Joanne Dickenson DePuy, the Woman Who Helped Change Napa Forever
Before we dive into “Under the Hood,” a quick reminder that Napa Valley Features is a subscriber-funded publication. Without continued support from paid subscribers, offerings like “Under the Hood” may need to be scaled back or could disappear altogether. If you value our ad-free conflict-free veteran-owned local journalism, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For as little as 16 cents a day, you can help keep local news independent, relevant and sustainable.
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