THE GOODS

California Dreaming

CONTINUED

NI: What made you decide to be a winemaker?

Mikkelsen: My mother is from England and my father is from Denmark, so I grew up appreciating food and wine and the pairing of both. In high school, I had a friend who owned a winery in New York’s Finger Lakes region. I spent summers working there, and it came together for me.

How did you end up in Paso Robles?

After I graduated from UC Davis in 2015, I worked two harvests each year. I spent the winter at the Howard Park winery in western Australia, then worked at Ovid and Williams Selyem in California and O. Fournier in Spain’s Ribera del Duero region. Next, I spent three years at Epic Wines in Paso before I got the job at Villa Creek.

What appealed to you about Villa Creek?

Cris and JoAnn Cherry, the owners, were pioneers in the area. They opened a restaurant in Paso Robles in 1996, which became a local hangout for winemakers. Cris tried his hand at making a house wine for the restaurant, which became the Villa Creek Avenger; they purchased the property in 2003. They have a deep commitment to sustainability and biodynamic farming.

What’s special about Paso?

I love Napa and Sonoma, but those areas are practically monocultures; all you see is grapevines. There are cattle ranchers here, along with people growing barley and other agricultural crops. They call Paso “the last cowboy town.” It’s close to the ocean and I can fish, hunt, and hike. In addition to being more diverse and interesting, there’s more opportunity here to start a career.

Describe a typical day.

During the summer months, I spent most of my time doing vineyard work: tilling, mowing, and crop thinning. Since we farm biodynamically, we have sheep that we use as grazers—most of my morning is spent tending to them and moving them around to different parts of the estate. In the winter, when the vines are dormant, we’re monitoring different wine lots and blending the wines ready to be bottled.

What’s your total case production?

It’s small, about 3,000 cases between Villa Creek and Maha Estate. The two brands are marketed separately. Maha is the luxury line, retailing around $150 per bottle. Both labels are mostly blends of Rhône grape varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, which thrive in Paso Robles; for Villa Creek, we also bottle a Fiano, an Italian white wine.

What does the future hold?

I’d like to launch my own wine brand someday, but I’m sure I’d have to hold onto a full-time job in the beginning, so I plan to stay at Villa Creek. Land is extremely expensive now in California, though, so it’s not a good place to start out. Who knows— someday, I might even end up back in the Finger Lakes. —Mark Spivak

Joaquin Acuna has been playing soccer since he was five years old in Argentina, where he practiced in his backyard with his family. Now, this Golden Gate High School graduate is off to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville to play Division 1 college soccer. “My dedication grew once my dad told me I had something special,” Acuna says. Other family members also shaped Acuna into the player he is today and continue to fuel his drive to improve with healthy competition. “My brother and my cousins push me to play and dedicate myself more,” Acuna says. Putting in countless hours per week training, practicing, and conditioning, Acuna received interest from multiple colleges but chose to stay in-state. “UNF is for me,” Acuna says. “They embody the way I play soccer and I love the family sense they have.” After meeting his high school goals, Acuna hopes to stand out at UNF and advance the team’s trajectory. —Maddie Laufer

OPENINGS Great Scott!

There’s a new girl in town

T h e s t y l i s h f a s h i o n a n d j e w e l r y b r a n d K e n d r a S c o t t o p e n e d a s t o r e i n t h e W a t e r s i d e S h o p s i n A p r i l 2 0 2 1 . L o y a l c u s t o m e r s w e r e e a g e r t o s h o p i n p e r s o n r a t h e r t h a n o n l i n e , w h i l e s h o p p e r s u n f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e b r a n d w e r e i n t e r e s t e d t o s e e w h a t i t w a s a b o u t . S a r a h - B u t l e r M c K i n n e y , m a r k e t i n g a n d p h i l a n t h r o p i c m a n a g e r o f K e n d r a S c o t t , s a y s , “ T h e g r e a t t h i n g a b o u t K e n d r a S c o t t i s w e h a v e p r o d u c t s t h a t a p p e a l t o 1 5 - y e a r - o l d s a n d 8 0 - y e a r - o l d s , s o t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g f o r e v e r y o n e . ”

Naples is an ideal location for this store because of the brand’s philanthropic focus. “Naples has a heart for philanthropy,” McKinney says. “Making ourselves an integral part of the community through philanthropy and retail is exciting, as is finding a customer base that feels as passionate about giving back as we do.” One unique aspect of this location is that all staffers are local. Keep your eyes out for a men’s line called Scott Bros, which launched in June 2021. (kendrascott.com) —Alexis Carson PERSONALITY

BIG GOALS

ANDRES HERRERA

RETAIL Where the Cool Kids Shop

THANKS TO LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, NAPLES HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF FASHIONABLE OFFERINGS FOR STYLISH TEENS, MILLENNIALS, MOMS, AND MORE

AVOW TREASURES RESALE SHOP

Avow Treasures Resale Shop has two locations, one on Tamiami Trail North and another on Davis Boulevard. Both feature gently used clothing, jewelry, home goods, furniture, and more. Customers can expect top-notch items, with clothing ranging from True Religion jeans to vintage designer jackets, along with statement-piece belts and tasteful handbags. In addition to womenswear and menswear, select children’s items are also sold. Aside from clothing and accessories, shoppers at Avow Treasures will have a wide selection of pieces to freshen up their home decor. At the Tamiami Trail location, donators can drop off items or call for a fast, free, and friendly pickup of large items. Proceeds from all sales benefit the hospice, palliative care, and children and adult grief support programs of Avow. (avowtreasures.org)

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OLD NAPLES SURF SHOP

Since 1983, Old Naples Surf Shop has been a landmark in Naples. Located on Third Street South, this locally owned store has an amazing selection of tropical swimsuits and beach accessories and a massive collection of fashionable tank tops, tie-dye t-shirts, casual sweaters, dresses, rompers, shorts, and sweatpants. The shop features popular brands such as Free People, Billabong, Volcom, and Amuse Lyra. With fall approaching, pop in here to look casually chic all year. (oldnaplessurfshop.com)

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CHELSEA’S RESALE SHOPPE

For 11 years, Chelsea’s has been a downtown staple. Located in the Design District on 2nd Avenue North, customers can expect more than a resale store. Clothing options at Chelsea’s are varied, with sparkly dresses and patterned jackets, flattering pants, sun hats, and colorful handbags. Furniture such as couches, tables, and chairs as well as household decorations also make up the inventory. Along with interesting clothing and furniture, Chelsea’s sells a wide array of local art: think paintings, shell art, and unique accessories. (facebook.com/chelseasnaples) TWICE AS NICE l

CONSIGNMENTS

This consignment store for women and teen girls offers both mainstream and designer clothing in both new and like-new condition. Most clothing items are as new as or newer than two years old, so any find is sure to feel fresh and fun for a fraction of the usual price. Customers can expect brands ranging from J.Crew to Ann Taylor and Chico’s, and luxury items from designers such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Twice as Nice Consignment Shop has two locations in Naples: on 2nd Avenue North and Tamiami Trail North. (twiceasniceconsignnaples.com)

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HOPE CHEST THRIFT STORE

Benefiting Hope Hospice, Hope Chest Thrift offers a wide array of clothing, jewelry, and accessories for women and men. There’s an upscale boutique section featuring tempting sweaters and shirts, designer denim and leather coats, floral dresses, name-brand shoes, chic skirts, and bags. There are also options in furniture and household items and artwork. This thrift store has three locations, including two in Fort Myers and one in Bonita Springs located on Bonita Crossings Boulevard. (hopehcs.org) —Maddie Laufer