He will discuss Elsie de Wolfe's oeuvre with as much enthusiasm as the capabilities of his beloved Audi R8which he drove in the infamous Gumball 3000 Rally from Shanghai to Beijing, a trip that also involved one night in North Korea as a guest of Kim Jong Il (who loves cars). He hired Andre Tchelistche , godfather of American wine, and his young apprentice, Marco Cappelli, to make elegant and refined wines under the label Swanson. In a Thursday morning ceremony at the historic Hofburg imperial palace in Vienna, San Francisco tech entrepreneur and socialite Trevor D. Traina was officially installed as the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Austria. Allison Speer, whose PR firm has been instrumental in bridging the fashion and technology worlds in San Francisco, wore Dolce & Gabbana, while Alexis Traina was in Zimmermann, Mary Beth Shimmon. He arrived in Napa Valley at age 12 when his parents, Eleanor and Francis, bought a house and moved the family up from San Francisco. "During the days, we'd work on little painted-rabbit tables and pack everything away when the kids had to go to bed," Traina says. Theres an appreciation for simple pleasures, like swimming at sunset, water-balloon fights, cookie baking and bike rides. Her high-society family pioneered the frozen. And then one day, the pay phone rang in the hallway of my dormitoryit was my Dad calling, with news: Were moving. I am obsessed with a pine scented candle called Frasier Fir by Thymes. Creative director for her family-owned Swanson Vineyards, Alexis Swanson Traina is quite familiar with all things Napa. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. When I first arrived at the French Laundry, Napa Valleys iconic images of vineyard-latticed hills dotted with chateaus and bountiful farms and orchards resonated with me. Tokalon, as the house is named, was Trevor and his brother Todds childhood home, and, long before that, the original residence of one of Napas founding pioneers, H.W. I had originally hoped to collaborate with my sister on the entire book, but she was 8 months pregnant when I wasoffered the opportunity, so we just worked on the cover andspecificportraits together. To decorate his office while at Seagram's, Traina had chosen from the company's extensive collection a Nicholas Nixon photograph, "View West from Park Avenue and 55th Street, New York City." This is a BETA experience. The home was built in the 1860s by H.W. IfOnly takes 20 cents of each dollar spent, while the luminary and charity split the rest, with a required minimum of ten percent of the gross going to the charity. When they rebuilt it, they modernized it and reworked some of the space. Alexis also answers to Alexis S Farrer, Alexis K Swanson and Alexis King Swanson, and perhaps a couple of other names. ", At the time it was a breakthrough idea. " Alexis Traina, Suzie Kondi makes these amazing French terrycloth jumpsuits that are an easy, comfy travel essential. She chronicled it all in a blog, Alexis' Napa for the Curious and Eccentric. C Publishing LLC 2023 All Rights Reserved, Alexis Traina on Raising a Family in Wine Country, father-in-law) in the garage, and a spacious, Tooling around in old cars is something of a family tradition and acutely. As a child, my family lived in a small town in southwest Florida, where my after-school friends were the elderly ladies of the neighborhood who taught me everything I know about dark chocolate, cards, port wine cheese, housecoats and men. How many times has Trevor Traina been divorced? With cheeky wine labels like Help Is Here, Expensive and Mazel Tov, Modern House Wines epitomizes Alexis oenophile ambition to take away the stuffiness and formality around wine culture. Trevor Traina is married to Alexis Swanson. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. Mine was wine; Claiborne (center)s, photography; and Veronica (front)s, fashion. Alexis inherited her fanciful joie de vivre from her Cuban mother, Elizabeth Swanson, who is fondly referred to as the madam of ceremonies and the Wizardress of Oz.. This story appears in the April 13, 2014 issue of ForbesLife. Creative Director, Swanson Vineyards. Thats when I thought, how is it possible that in a world of so much color, we were operating in blue text bubbles and emojis, or modern caveman hieroglyphics as I call them." ", After Seagram's, Traina returned to the Bay Area to attend Berkeley's Haas School of Business. My parents always had friends around and there was a lot of entertaining, and summer was spent hereall summer.. We spend our weekends tinkering with old cars. "The possibilities are endless," says Traina, who has already sold 2,000 experiences. When the winery sold, she decided to put some of her best ideas down on paper: From Napa with Love (Abrams, $25) released in September, takes readers on a whimsical armchair tour of the valley through the eyes of some of its most notable denizens (filmmaker Roman Coppola, wine proprietress Ann Colgin, artist Ira Yeager and the like) with scrapbook-style itineraries, entertaining tips and a glimpse inside Alexis magical life at the end of a private road off Highway 29. 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They ran the winery for more than 30 years before selling it in 2016, and it's where Alexis honed her instincts for celebrating the ceremonies and rituals of winefirst, with the introduction of a salon-style tasting room, then a modern sip shoppe. Alexis's ethnicity is unknown, whose political affiliation is currently a registered American Independent . The acquisition was part of a complex transaction whereby vintner Robert Mondavi purchased the vineyards and Trainas parents received the property and the house. Alexis Traina opens the doors to the best of wine country living, Words by KELSEY McKINNON Photography by DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN. Photographed & Styled By Claiborne Swanson Frank, The Best Luxury Luggage for Traveling in Style, From Town & Country for Bermuda Tourism Authority, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Trevor Traina becomes ambassador in Vienna ceremony, Designated US ambassador to Austria Trevor D Traina and his wife Alexis S Traina arrive at the airport in Schwechat near Vienna, Austria on May 18, 2018. Downstairs in the green-and-white conservatory filled with lush trees, a Richard Serra circle painting and a giant skylight. The scion of one of San Francisco's grandest families, Trevor Traina was born into a family that arrived here during the Gold Rush. Happy birthday to Mr. The following night, Alexis Swanson Traina hosted her husband and friends at a swinging soiree where designer Ken Fulk executed her whimsical, "American Graffiti" vision, reimagining Wilsey. "My father collected Faberg jewelry and vintage cars. This story appears in the November 2017 issue of Town & Country. The book offers a glimpse into the world of Napa through the eyes of a true native who has a passion for this magnificent valley. Traina firmly believes in taking Richard Branson's "funtrepreneurial" approach to his businesses. She is a devoted advocate for people with disabilities. "My name was still scribbled in pencil on the back," he says with a smile. In the end, it enriched our friendship deeply. Fantasy environments are certainly a leitmotif in the couple's life together; Trevor proposed in the handbag rotunda of Bergdorf Goodman. Find a couple's wedding registry and website. After Swanson Vineyards was sold in 2016, Traina continued to pursue her connection to the winery world, publishing her lifestyle guide From Napa With Love, which features coveted insight into. Subscribe. Its a really amazing thing to do, to stroll on a warm night with a glass of wine.In a place like this, it certainly is. Of course, if you want someone to design and furnish your own Pitti Palace, Traina can undoubtedly find the luminaries to do that, too. The Trainas friends were treated to several parties, including a sit-down dinner with live accordion players, and tours of Viennas top attractions like the Palais Liechtenstein as well as a glimpse of the famed Lipizzaner stallions. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. This was not the first time a Traina had dynamited the hills in this region. All I knew about Napa was what I learned watching Falcon Crest. Instead of counting his inheritance or riding the express lane to Wall Street like so many of his peers, Traina transformed his silver spoon into a full platinum table setting through a series of Internet startups. Years later, he saw the image for sale at an auction and purchased it. Alexis Traina was reunited with her familyher sisters, fashion designer Veronica Swanson Beard and photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank, and parents were in Austria for the celebration. My sisters and I each found our creative passions early in life. Just down the block are Oracle's Larry Ellison, Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, Zynga's Mark Pincus and Apple's design genius, Jony Ive. "It was interesting to see how many people at dinner were also at the Academy Awards," he says as he settles in to a vibrant-blue Etro-upholstered chair. "Philanthropy has always been very important to my family, and I firmly believe in giving back," he says. Since her family moved to Northern California in 1985, Alexis has shuffled between her city home in San Francisco and her idyllic vineyard spread in the Valley. With this in mind, they were careful to create "public spaces separate from our private spaces.". I started to research my book, From Napa with Love, which was published by Abrams in September, by reaching out to the areas most colorful characters, people I grew up around or just admired, like film-maker and writer Roman Coppola, interior designer Ken Fulk, and Elizabeth Swanson, my wonderfully talented mother. .css-188hsmf{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#fff;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;display:inline-block;background-color:#9a0500;font-family:Termina,Termina-bold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.75rem;line-height:1;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:0.02rem;padding:0.6rem 0.7rem;text-transform:uppercase;width:auto;}.css-188hsmf:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#030929;}.css-188hsmf:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}Subscribe Now, .css-1fgik18{color:#323232;display:block;font-family:NewParis,NewParis-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-font-smoothing:auto;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1fgik18:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.3125rem;line-height:1.2;}}The Best Luxury Luggage for Traveling in Style, The Best Room at Tuscany's Augustus Hotel, A New Bemelmans Gallery Is Opening at Ocean House, 29 Getaway Spas for Every Type of Retreat, The Perfect Honeymoon Isn't All Over InstagramYet, The Best Carry-On Backpacks for Every Traveler, The Best Rolling Luggage for Your Travels, Inside the 60th Anniversary of the Ocean Club. The holidays are defined by so many charming rituals and ceremonies that become a part of the fabric of our senses, memories and associations an endless stream of magical moments sprinkled over five weeks. "Ode to Joy" has been edited for Vogue.com; the complete story appears in the December 2009 issue of Vogue. Alexis Swanson Traina Creative Director, Swanson Vineyards My name is Alexis Swanson Traina, I am a wife, mother of 2 young children, blogger, and also Creative Director at Swanson Vineyards, where I have worked with my dad since graduating from college. In fact, we planned a big outdoor christening, but it rainedand it never rains in Napa. The quick-thinking couple cleared out all the furniture in the seldom-used formal parlor to allow about 60 guests to gather inside for the ceremony. Trainas' two children, Johnny and Delphina, play with their cousin Daisy on the back lawn. By Alexis Traina. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. To accommodate the photography, Trevor boldly decided to dynamite the granite rock on which the house was built to excavate 3,000 square feet of subterranean space that would prove perfect for the light-sensitive prints. His wife, Alexis Swanson Traina, who was at the ceremony, will return to Vienna from San Francisco with their two children after school is out. At a charity auction, he bought an hour of tennis with John McEnroe. It looked like a beautiful time was had by all. Sam Whiting has been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1988. Half of IfOnly's business is now bespoke. Since then, the Trainas have made plenty of their own memories at the estate. "Because of my two kids, my wife has exiled the more risqu images to far walls," he says, staring out from behind one of his Frederick Remington statues. Located inOakville, in the Napa Valley, the home was built in the 1860s by H.W. "Most of the luminaries are doing this for charity, so most, if not all, of their part is usually donated," Traina explains. The landscape architect Madison Cox, who created the elegant treillage-framed white gardens, suggested that the front doors be painted lacquer red, an antic touch that hints at the drama inside. It wasn't all work. A favorite excursion entails piling everyone into an old Woodie for burgers at Gotts Roadside and praying the transmission doesnt fall out on the way there. Previously cities included Oakville CA and New Orleans LA. WHILE ON THE TOPIC OF decorating with chinoiserie wall panels, came across the wonderful Victorian-style summer home of tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina and his wife, Swanson Vineyards creative director Alexis Swanson Traina, an hour outside of San Francisco. Elizabeth and Clarke Swanson. 22 Black-Tie Wedding Guest . Thats me with my husband and partner in crime, Trevor Traina. It is a perfect gift for this holiday season. Trevor in turn applauds his wife's "fabulous and whimsical eye," informed by legendary decorators including Tony Duquette, Michael Taylor, and Thomas Britt. Swanson Traina, the creative director of Swanson Vineyards, a sprawling estate known for . Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. My mother-in-law, here with my daughter Delphina, is known for philanthropy, her collectors eye, and, in Napa Valley, her vineyards in Rutherford surrounded by gardens and a miniature train station. Britt felt that this emphatic backdrop would help the art to popwhich, against all odds, it does. "That's such a specific moment in life and time. The To Kalon vineyards, which are all around us, have several different owners now, but fetch some of the highest prices in the world for grapes, Trevor explains. Beloved fashion designer Andrew Gn, who is based in Paris, but has a considerable following in San Francisco, was also in Austria for the soire. 1999 Traina started his career as brand manager at Seagram's. Our food guy is a well-known food critic." Trevor also applauds his wife's passion for "grandmother chic." My whole life I have wanted to be an ambassador because it was what my grandfather did, Traina told The Chronicle before his departure. She is a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving,we assembleour entire collection on a table in our front foyer, and each night of the holidayseason we light the colored candles and marvel at the magic illuminating the room. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "She married a man with 300 photographs!" I particularly love this extra white & crisp jacket. We interviewed and photographed peoplesome of whom appear in my book, some of whom dontwhose spirit, innovation, and creative gifts we think define this magical place today. Right now some 150 charities--including Meals on Wheels and Stand Up to Cancer--are benefiting from IfOnly. A favorite excursion entails piling everyone into an old Woodie for burgers at Gotts Roadside and praying the transmission doesnt fall out on the way there. Photo Credit: @allisonspeerprEarlier this year San Francisco man about town, Trevor Traina, took a new job as the US Ambassador to Austria. And living in a house like this, you realize that a great big kitchen and a great big porch are really where you want to be., For his part, Trevor adds that even the houses indoor living can feel somewhat alfresco: I joke that were camping here, because we have 18th-century wallpaper. Though they both grew up in high-style households, Trevor says, were very casual and we arent at all fancy here., Trevor and Alexis are undoubtedly the chicest couple I know, says design impresario Ken Fulk, a close friend. The ceremony took a half-hour, according to Daniel S. Mattern, public affairs official with the American embassy. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. I asked them to tell their Napa Valley stories and to describe the places, things, and experiences they love about the valley. At his behest this was transformed after-hours by Linda Fargo into a softly lit bower, echoing to birdsong and filled with ornamental lovebirds and white peacocks, orchids, chandeliers, and silvered Venetian grotto furniture (some of which has made its way into their airy dining room). Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art. Theres nothing I love more than sitting in the passenger seat with him driving, going nowhere fast. One of HiNote's recent projects is a special collaboration with JJ Martin, founder of Milanese brand La Double J, offering 16 vibrant templates from cocktail hour invitations to sweet messages of encouragement. "The salesman was this expert in a red blazer and name tag, and couldn't tell me the individual features of the different phones. Arriving at their historic, Victorian-style Oakville home, its easy to understand why the pairknown for their notable art collection, philanthropy and omnipresence on the San Francisco social scenepack up their kids almost every weekend and head here to unwind. Gina Gallo and Jean-Charles Boisset were the only ones audacious (and legit) enough to purchase the Wappo Hill home that belonged to Bob and Margrit Mondavi. But as luck would have it she was deep into pregnancy with her second child, and a grueling four-week shoot for the book was out of the question. They are the quietest places on the property. Theres a 57 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider under a row of royal palms, a 67 Volkswagen Beetle next to a hedge of purple hydrangeas, a cherry-red Fiat Jolly (a wedding gift from her late father-in-law) in the garage, and a spacious nine-seater VW bus, for when she really needs to spread out. She chronicled it all in a blog, Alexis Napa for the Curious and Eccentric. Alexis own style of entertaining is charmingly high-low. It was part of a Christmas gift to my now husband, Kurt. They come in a dozen or so colors and are perfect for summer.- Alexis Traina, "This white enamel David Webb ring is my summer go-to statement piece of jewelry. Hair and makeup by Sherrie Long (Molly Chappellet and Thomas Keller) and Bianca Rubi (all others). Those who can't find their dream experience in Traina's impressive lineup can fill out a "wish list." Buy Me! Magic that celebrates ones surroundings. I was at boarding school when my parents (pictured here) called to say, We just bought a vineyard in Napa Valley! Aside from her professional title, she is also the wife of It was here that Trevor Traina and Alexis Swanson, gilded children of the city (he a dashing Internet entrepreneur, she a dynamic beauty who works with her family's self-titled Napa winery), set about house-hunting. Heres how. ), For Alexisthe daughter of Elizabeth and W. Clarke Swanson Jr., a renowned vintner, whose grandfather started the national food-production company that bears the family namewhats outside of the house is equally important.

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