Haunting Napa: ‘Ghosts of Napa Valley’ Film Premieres Just in Time for Halloween

By | 21 October 2024

Ghosts of Napa Valley is a documentary film created by Jason Wise, the acclaimed director known for the award-winning Somm series. The film offers a whimsical yet eerie exploration of haunted stories in the Napa Valley region.

It features three companions – sommelier Claire Coppi, wine writer Shakera Jones, and winemaker Meghan Zobeck – as they delve into ghost tales in Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain district, with the help of a Ouija board.

Available for streaming on Somm TV starting from 11 October, Wise describes the film as enjoyable yet intense.

‘I have long wanted to create a ghost story in documentary form, but I never thought it would revolve around wine,’ Wise expressed to Decanter.

“When I was working on my debut film ‘SOMM’, I discovered many repurposed and abandoned structures in Napa and Sonoma that date back to the late 1800s. Numerous ‘Ghost Wineries’ are not accessible to the public, and the history of these old buildings is filled with trauma and tragedy, inviting curiosity, especially when one finds themselves there alone or in dim light.”

He noted that the audience’s perception of the film might be shaped by their existing beliefs in ghosts.

“During the filming, we encountered and recorded some very strange and intense occurrences. It will be up to the audience to interpret what they see or hear.”

He continued, “The cast for this project—Claire Coppi, Meghan Zobeck, and Shakera Jones—are among the brightest, funniest, and most enjoyable people I’ve had the pleasure to direct. I am confident that audiences will have a great time watching them as they navigate the complexities of their experiences.”

He described the filming experience as a ‘wild process’, where neither the cast nor the crew could predict what might unfold during the project.

‘The film carries a significant tension, but capturing the essence of being in those eerie locations at midnight, attempting to connect with spirits, is something that is difficult to convey.’

He admitted that creating this documentary was ‘terrifying’, expressing hope that some of the intense emotions they experienced would resonate in the final product.

Although the renowned ‘ghost wineries’ of Napa Valley form a key part of the film’s concept, historians have noted that this phrase was not originally associated with tales of paranormal encounters.

Instead, it’s related to a boom period for wine that was halted by Prohibition in 1920.

Some estates were abandoned and continue to exist as symbols of Napa Valley’s winemaking heritage, while others have been revived with fresh investment, as explained in an article published by the Visit Napa Valley organisation in 2016.

Screenings for Ghosts of Napa Valley will take place at Laemmle cinemas in Los Angeles between 15 and 18 October, including a cast and crew Q&A, as well as a pouring of Smith Madrone wine. A Chicago screening was also planned, but a date wasn’t confirmed.

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