Vintner, Pioneer, Legacy
Sunriser Steve Amend was Emcee
Soil, vines, grapes and creative discipline met and with the direction of Shogun exile Kenaye Nagasawa combined in creating much of Sonoma County's current viticulture reputation.
In 1875 Thomas Lake Harris arrived near what is Fountaingrove and planted, waited.
Above, a traditional Japanese Tra Ceremony is prepared to honor Mr Nagasawa. His genius created and sustained decades of fine wines, some exported to Ireland and Japan.
One of the two speakers was Great Grandniece of Mr Nagasawa Mary Ijichi. Her remarks emphasized Kenaye's deep Shinto traditions of curiosity and self-discipline.
Distantly related Eiji Akaboshi shared his similar circuitus route to Sonoma County. Born in Chile, raised in Ecudor, he was somehow drawn to the viticulture of Sonoma County, he is currently a winemaker with Freeman Winery in Sebastopol.
For more on Mr Nagasawa, watch this BBC feature:
