Inside Alexis Traina’s ‘From Napa With Love’ Book Launch

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Consummate hostess with the mostess Alexis Swanson Traina threw a rollicking party last night in honor of the publishing of her first book, From Napa With Love. All of Traina’s powerful and wealthy friends, some of whom are featured in the book, came out for the occasion. The event had Traina’s signature high-low style. She partnered with luxe British fashion brand, Matchesfashion.com, to throw the party, but held it at Gott’s Roadside, the burger joint at the Ferry Building. Valentino- and Gucci-clad guests chowed down on cheeseburgers, tuna poke tacos, French fries, and milkshakes.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The founder of Matchesfashion, Tom Chapman and his son, Luke, mingled with tech luminaries Marissa Mayer, Mark Pincus, and Hosain Rahman. Ken Fulk, Roman Coppola, and Ira Yeager, three men who share their Napa secrets in the book, chatted with Traina’s parents, Clarke and Elizabeth Swanson, who also regularly mentioned in the book. It was truly a family affair—Traina’s beautiful sisters, fashion designer Veronica Swanson Beard and portrait photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank, amicably posed for endless photographs with their big sister. Old guarders Denise Hale and Danielle Steel also came out to support Traina—although her mother-in-law, Dede Wilsey, was noticeably absent from the soriee. Rumor has it Wilsey had an important opening at the de Young and that’s why she missed out on the Napa-inspired revelry.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Matchesfashion.com’s branding was everywhere, from the wax paper that wrapped the cheeseburgers to the marble paper straws in the milkshakes. The fashion company can’t come into town without making a splash and so, De Gourney hosted a popup shopping boutique (which runs through the weekend) where Traina and her gal pals could shop the latest looks from coveted international designers.

From Napa With Love, Traina’s book is a small (9×7 inches) paperback tome meant to be easy to throw into a suitcase for a quick trip to the Valley. It’s equal parts guidebook and yearbook with Swanson Frank’s portraits mixed in with Instagram photos and Q&As coupled with insider advice from Traina. The book is broken down into eight sections based on the different types of people who inhabit Napa—the bon vivant, bohemian, foodie, summer folk, etc. Traina selected two friends who embody this personality type (Ken Fulk and Jeans Charles Boisset for the bon vivant, her mother Elizabeth Swanson and artist Ira Yeager for the bohemian, etc.) and featured their tips (for stocking a bar or party prop closet) and favorite haunts in Napa. At the end of each section, Traina lists the not-to-be-missed destinations (a hotel, restaurant, winery, etc.) for each personality type. Recipes and wine pairings are sprinkled throughout making From Napa With Love a lifestyle book based on Traina’s luxe lifestyle. Who wouldn’t want to read that?