Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100ers who are making headlines. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city.
H. William Harlan
Category: Entrepreneurs
Company: Harlan Estate, Meadowood Napa Valley, BOND Estates, Napa Valley Reserve
Industry: Wine and Hospitality
What Made Him Haute: He is one of the most respected men in Napa Valley. The former real estate developer came to Napa Valley in search of the ideal land to create a world-class wine, and discovered Meadowood, founded in 1964 as a private club. While it was not what he was looking for in a winery, he saw potential for the property to become a center for life in Napa Valley, which he created. He continued his quest for the perfect plot for his winery and found it in a hillside estate in Oakville, now home to Harlan Estate, which has never produced more than 2,000 cases in a year, making it a cult classic. His latest venture, BOND Estates, is a portfolio of wines from various vineyard sites across Napa Valley that represents the very best of Napa Valley, as does Harlan himself.
What Makes Him Haute Now: Mr. Harlan will grace the cover of our next issue of Haute Living San Francisco, which is our annual Napa Valley edition in honor of the upcoming Auction Napa Valley. As I write this, our esteemed photographers from Keeney + Law are in the midst of setting up for a photo shoot with Harlan, which will take place later today at Meadowood and Napa Valley Reserve, his incredibly elegant and exclusive estate. Mr. Harlan’s Meadowood resort is the hautest spot in Napa Valley, a status Harlan maintains by providing the finest offerings. He is adamant that it is not a one-man show, and invited members of his team to join him in the photo shoot. Guests of Meadowood and locals alike reap the benefits of his high standards of excellence, and if you are in the area, we recommend stopping by Meadowood around 7:30 p.m. tomorrow for the Performance and Conversation With The Alexander String Quartet and see what we are talking about firsthand. Look for May/June edition of Haute Living San Francisco to learn more about the man who embodies the excellence of Napa Valley.
