STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Big Wood River poured over a handful of rocks in the background as Sharon Pyle poured wine into a stemless wine glass etched with the logo of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

The juxtaposition seemed perfect for the Sun Valley Wine Auction’s inaugural River Ranch Wine Walk.

“This is so fabulous. We’ve never, done a wine tasting in a more magical place,” said Blakesley Chappellet, whose mother-in-law Molly Chappellet started the wine auction with Glenn Janss 40 years ago. “This is so special. This to me is how things should be in Sun Valley.”

The walk was the brainchild of Ron Greenspan, one of the homeowners, who figured: Why not take the wine tasting out from under a hot crowded tent and place it under the shade of towering cottonwood trees along the Big Wood River.

Guests moseyed along paths cut through shrubs and past colorful gardens of yellow marigolds, magenta petunia and—yes, even bright red tomatoes--as they munched on roasted red pepper crostini and stone fruit and shrimp skewers prepared by the Sun Valley Culinary Institute and David Fox of Silver Fox Catering.

The Schwendeners’ yard turned into Napa as it featured a handful of Napa wineries, while the Dillons yard at the other end of the River Walk boasted wines from the Sonoma wine growing region. In between, the Greenspans, Lemmans and Hulls provided the setting for vintners from Sonoma, Napa, the Willamette Valley and Walla Walla.

“I’ve gotten 8,000 steps in just the first half hour!” said Joyce Fabre, who wandered from one wine tasting region to another offering figs in a blanket, mini corn beef sandwiches and latkes with smoked salmon. “I love walking the paths—it’s the true Sun Valley experience—the beauty, the fresh air.”

Wine Event Director Peter Burke agreed: “It feels authentic to who we are.”

The event was capped at 350 people because of the uncertainty months before about what the COVID situation would be in July. Given the spaciousness of the venue, there were no crowds--it almost felt  like one was indulging in his or her private wine tasting.

Guests like Marshall and Judith Meyer relaxed on deck chairs looking out onto the river. A few people picked up badminton racquets and had a brief round of badminton. And Jim Reid couldn’t help but admit to his wife Tedde that he wished he had a wine glass in one hand and a fly rod in the other.

“It’s lovely. How could it not be lovely?!” said Sylvia Hartman, who took part in the stroll with her husband Glenn.

“I think we should do this every year,” enthused Ellen Fastow.

The event was a fundraiser for the Sun Valley Museum of Art, which provides arts education for some 3,400 students in the valley, in addition to organizing concerts and adult classes.

“I love that people can create something interesting and beautiful, something that’s thought-provoking and enriches our lives,” said Susan Greenspan. “I can’t do that but I can support those who do through something like this.”

The relaxed atmosphere gave guests plenty of time to chat with the vintners

Rick Small of the Woodward Canyon Winery in Walla Walla noted that the winery had found its sweet spot, selling directly to consumers, during the pandemic when restaurants weren’t open. Now, it’s raising canopies over its grapes so they don’t get intense sun on 110-degree days.

Tom Pillsbury, whose Du Mol family winery in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is known for using no pesticides, described how he was responding to drought by planting grapes on hillside where they grow best.

“We expect low yields, smaller clusters, but an intensity of flavor,” he added.

Blakesley and Cyril Chappellet described how they had bought three fire trucks, even showing pictures of their petite CFO who has learned to drive the trucks. The brothers made a pact that one would always be present at the winery and they now spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with fire insurance  coverage and taking phone calls from the national press every time a fire erupts in California.

“It’s so dry it’s terrifying. You don’t even know,” said Blakesley Chappellet.

Suzanne Phifer Pavitt, who been participating in the Sun Valley Wine Auction for 12 years, saw the  Glass Fire roar through 23 acres of the Phifer Pavitt vineyards in Sept. 28, 2020. At 2,500 degrees, the fire melted her 1967 Airstream trailer and everything 10 inches below the surface of the ground.

“As we know, Mother Nature is in charge. However, I’m a good steward of the land and I’m a woman of faith so, with my guardian angels, I didn’t lose the entire winery. We had a generator in the winery so it never got over 56 degrees downstairs where the wine production happens.”

Phifer Pavitt will not have a vintage in 2022. It’ll be five years until the new grapes can be harvested and another three years before they are aged. But Pavitt is partnering with other families to make do with what they have. They are trying to figure out how to prevent fires from ravaging their vineyards. And Pavitt herself is focused on healing the earth with pollinators and other means.

“We have an indomitable human spirit. I focus on not being a victim but a survivor and thriver. And we’re still alive and well,” she said.

One only too glad to see such resilience—and have the opportunity to take part in the River Walk—was  a man who called himself Paddy Yancey.

“Life without wine,” he said, “Is like love without kisses.”