It's Happening! (Probably... We hope)

(MP) Our story traces back to one of our favorite wine weekends, Auction Napa Valley (ANV). In 2013, Raymond Vineyards was hosting ANV barrel tasting. I was there working for Robert Mondavi Winery while Patrick was hosting over 2000 people on the property. My friend John and I were enjoying bubbles with Gina beneath the sycamore trees as the afternoon ended. A very cute guy was being oh so attentive and keeping our glasses filled with bubbles. As I got up to leave, I asked Gina who the cute guy was; she said "that's Patrick, he works for my husband, Jean-Charles." With bubble-filled confidence, I asked her to make the introduction... (PE) A year later, once more at ANV, beneath the auction tent at Meadowood, Genevieve came to my table to introduce a beautiful girl in her best auction dress... Michelle, though, needed no introduction. I tried to impress the ladies by serving them red wine, and dripped it across Michelle's brand new dress... she smiled and looked to me with her beautiful blue eyes... "It's okay" ... we giggled… We found each other again after the auction, ready to dance the evening away, when Michelle, ready to leave... (MP) I grabbed Patrick's cell phone and said, "I am not going to let another year go by. Here is my number." Patrick insisted on a dance, but I kept him wanting for another time... Waking up the next morning, I wondered if I would hear from him again. He waited a perfect week and a half to call me and we realized we'd both be at Aspen Food & Wine the next weekend. We set a plan to meet, which we did a few times and had a blast. (PE) Back in Napa, Michelle charmed me with an invitation to an incredible concert at the winery with a great entourage of friends. When invited to join them again the next day at the pool, I ensured Carla I had health insurance... and so began a summer of fun between Napa and San Francisco, dinners and games of corn hole, wine tasting and hiking, and the beginning of our love.

We celebrated five years together with an amazing trip to Portugal, including dinner in Lisbon at famed Belcanto. In the kitchen, Chef Jose Alvarez told us he'd be coming to Napa for a special appearance... we booked reservations to see him again at Meadowood, where our love began, as soon as we could. The plan for dinner at Meadowood for our Christmas celebration turned into the night that changed our lives forever. Our reservation was at 8:15 pm, meaning we had to leave our house at 7:30 pm at the lastest to make the seating. Patrick let me know a couple of days before that we needed to be ready to go at 6:30 pm as we were going to get drinks at the bar beforehand. I immediately responded with "the bar isn't open during the time, it is for seating only"... he kindly said he called Chef and made an arrangement for us to sit there before dinner. I carried out that day as normal at work, met a colleague for drinks after work and promised Patrick I would be home at 6 pm... I walked in at 6:06pm.... Bubbles ready for Michelle's arrival, she dressed and we departed for dinner, the ring, having been waiting in my frunk for weeks, securely in my pocket. As we traveled to dinner, I texted family... tonight's the night! we arrived to a detour, a quick stop at the spa, where a friend waited to open our private room... a roaring fire, rose petals spread across the bed, and a bottle of the first Champagne we enjoyed together greeted us. By now, she knew.... But I had things to say, and notes in my pocket to ensure I said them all... and when I finished, she said Yes... He did perfect! Better than I could ever imagine and we still had dinner to enjoy. We sent notes of the news to all our family and closest friends while enjoying a three star Michelin dinner at Meadowood prepared by the Chef we met in Portugal and one of our favorites in Napa Valley.