KATIE MORRISNAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL WORK SAMPLES

KATIE MORRIS | WORK SAMPLES

John Caldwell is the original wine industry maverick and the man responsible for “introducing” the most prized Bordeaux rootstock and grapevine clones to California. John not only held the original licensing agreement with the French government for the ENTAV–INRA clones, which are now consid-ered industry standard in the United States, but also wrote the definitive resource book on the sub-ject, called A Concise Guide on Wine Grape Clones for Professionals. Today, with Marbue Marke at the winemaking helm of Caldwell Vineyard, John and Joy Caldwell produce 27 different clone (and varietal) specific wines from their 123-acre estate in Napa Valley’s Coombsville appellation.

The Caldwell story begins as one of entrepreneurship and serendipity. Having already built a mini empire of shoe stores in the Bay Area, in 1974 he invested in a piece of property east of the town of Napa in sleepy region called Coombsville. His intent was to subdivide the land for homes just as housing prices were increasing in the wake of the interest in Napa Valley wine that was sparked by the famous “Judgement of Paris Tasting”. As fate would have it, soon thereafter Napa County im-posed a moratorium on development. John was stuck with 53 acres of rocky south Napa hillside.

At the time Coombsville was relatively unchartered territory for grape growing (Coombsville wouldn’t

“Behind the Vines” was a series I came up with to showcase the many vintners that work with the Napa Valley Film Festival. Below is a sample of one of the pieces I wrote. The logo is also my design.

KATIE MORRIS | WORK SAMPLES

receive its AVA designation until 2011), but the booming wine industry was still his best shot at get-ting some return on investment. In true John Caldwell fashion, he took a gamble and committed to see it through. In 1980 John set out to turn the property into high quality grape producing land.

In the spring of 1981, a year into strenuously preparing the rocky earth for future vineyards, John’s resolution was further tested. He received a desperate call from his tractor operator. Bad news. They had reached a patch so rocky that the powerful steel rippers of the tractor were rendered useless. His contractor wanted him to come and see the problems, so John hung up the phone and immedi-ately got in the car. When he arrived the operator asked him to jump up on his D6 Caterpillar, and they drove out on the field of un-walkable rock to survey the problems. The operator put down the rippers to show John the extent of rock he would have to deal with.

As John tells it, he saw the daunting rock-filled ground, but he also saw the fresh earth turned in the wake of the tractor. It was Caldwell’s revelatory moment; the sight and smell of freshly turned earth changed him. From then on, this moment of stunning instinctual realization would provide the emo-tional foundation for what is now one of the valley’s premiere wineries, Caldwell Vineyard. From that day forward John was more than an entrepreneur. He was also a farmer.

The land opened up to him, and the two have lived harmoniously ever since. John Caldwell may be a legend for his short stint as a vine smuggler, but it is this lesser told event that made such audaci-ties possible. The tales are true, he smuggled French vines out of Canada. He swallowed incriminat-ing receipts in a freezing Canadian border control interrogation room. John Caldwell risked his free-dom and fortune to bring to his land the highest quality grapevine clones available. As John says, “I had to do it.” If you’ve ever tasted Caldwell Vineyard’s wines, the flavor of that love rings loud and clear: the land continues to give something truly special to John in return.

True to its roots, Caldwell Vineyard embraces the uniqueness of the fruit and under the expert care of winemaker Marbue Marke, let’s those expressions from the harvest drive the resulting wine. John and his wife Joy continue to grow the winery’s acclaim. Caldwell Vineyard now boasts one of the valley’s most impressive caves and most entertaining tours.

Featured Image by © Suzanne Becker Bronk 2016

The wine industry: It’s part farming, part chemistry, part branding, and entirely art. Producing and selling wine is a process we think we know, but beyond the glass lays the real story of a winery and its winemakers. The Napa Valley Film Festival team is proud to share the inspirational behind-the-vines stories we’ve had the pleasure of learning from our Vintner Circle members with you.

KATIE MORRIS | WORK SAMPLES

The following pages inculde samples of copy I’ve written for social media. All graphics are my work as well.

KATIE MORRIS | WORK SAMPLES

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THE ULTIMATE FILM, FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE

CHECK OUT UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS }

Wednesday Thursday

09 10OPENING NIGHT FILM: LIONSweeping epic starring Dev Patel (expected to attend) and Nicole Kidman.

OPENING NIGHT POOL PARTYHot pool, floaties, water dancers, libations, munch-ies, music and more.

THE FORBIDDEN SHOREDocumentary about Cuban musicians with a can-only-happen-here post screening discussion and musical performance by the film’s subjects.

VARIETY’S 10 TO TASTEInnovative Bay Area student chefs showcase their fresh spin on dishes inspired by iconic film scenes.

LEXUS SHORT FILMSAll four winning 2016 Lexus Short Films will screen for the first time together. Following the screening, the directors and filmmaker Lee Daniels will take to the NVFF stage for a lively discussion.

MR. CHURCHSpecial screening of this heartfelt drama starring Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson and Natascha McElhone.

CELEBRITY TRIBUTESThis year, we honor Charles Krug Legendary Film-maker Lee Daniels and Charles Krug Legendary Actor Kurt Russell; shine a Spotlight on Viggo Mortensen; tip our hats to Raymond Vineyards Trailblazers Chloë Grace Moretz and Dev Patel; and take notice of Chandon Rising Stars Glen Powell and Zoe Deutch.

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Friday Saturday Sunday

11 12 13

All four winning 2016 Lexus Short Films will screen

the directors and filmmaker Lee Daniels will take to

Trailblazers Chloë Grace Moretz and Dev Patel; and

WINE PAVILIONSTake a break from watching films to sample wines from our favorite vintners who are pouring and talking about their finest selections.

VINTNER CIRCLE DINNER SERIES21 dinners pairing world class wines with the talents of award-winning local chefs.

CAPTAIN FANTASTICScreening of Captain Fantastic, starring Viggo Mortensen. Viggo and director Matt Ross will attend for Q&A.

BLEED FOR THISScreening of Bleed for This, starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart. Aaron and director Ben Younger will attend for Q&A.

FRIDAY NIGHT BASH AT MARTINErin Martin hosts this decadent party that is always the buzz of the festival at her high-style eponymous showroom.

GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFEJoin us for an exclusive conversation with series creator/executive producer Amy Sherman- Palladino and executive producer Dan Palladino as they discuss the four new chapters launching November 25 everywhere Netflix is available.

AWARDS CEREMONYJoin in the excitement as we reveal the winners of the JURIED and AUDIENCE AWARDS. Each winner is presented with a large format collectible bottle of fabulous wine from one of our generous VINTNER CIRCLE members.

STRIKE A POSEScreening of Strike a Pose, a behind-the-scenes look at Madonna’s backup dancers.

FESTIVAL GALACelebrate our winning films at the biggest, most glamorous night of the festival. Cult wines, craft cocktails, small bites from 30 chefs, music in every corner and more.

CLASSICAL MUSIC MOVIESBack-to-back screenings of Crossing Rachmaninoff and Gordon Getty: There Will Be Music with a special post screening conversation with the subjects of the films: pianist Flavio Villani and composer/philanthropist Gordon Getty.

CULINARY DEMOSFilm, food and wine experts share their creativity and mouthwatering insights on the Culinary Stage.

PISCO PUNCH: A COCKTAIL COMEBACK STORYPisco Punch tells the story of one of the world’sgreat forgotten spirits: Peruvian pisco. NVFF is proud to host the film’s world premiere.

MISS SLOANAward season screening starring Jessica Chastain and directed by John Madden.

Below you will find a double page spread I designed using InDesign. This add ran in North Bay Bohemian Magazine October 19, 2016.