Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The CIA


When I first moved to Napa, I met people who said they worked at the CIA. I thought how strange that they live in Napa and not Washington DC. I now know when locals say CIA they mean Culirnary Institute of America. CIA's Napa Valley Campus has occupied the former Christian Brothers Winery — Greystone Cellars “the largest stone winery in the world.” Greystone is on Highway 29, just north of the town of St. Helena.
Greystone's exterior walls are 22-inch thick tufa stone. Built in 1888 it has survived two major earthquakes. Greystone was used by the Christian Brothers to make sparkling wines from 1950 to 1989.

3 comments:

Al said...

They made wine more recently than 1989. I know that because I used to give wine tours here in 1990 and 1991. Great place.

Lowell said...

That is one heck of a beautiful building and your photo is gorgeous.

I think I'll apply to the CIA...

Unknown said...

the building is cool. but napa is not a small town by any stretch of the imagination. Kelseyville, Lower Lake, or Middletown, now that's a small town...