Rona Barrett plans a Golden Village

By Pat Murphy

Who’s who is who? Why, it’s our own Rona Barrett and she’s off on another adventure to help the Valley’s elderly population.

The Rice family of Sunstone Winery are long-time close friends of Rona’s. The much beloved Linda Rice had asked, before her recent passing, that something be done to help Rona’s Foundation. So an elegant lawn party was planned to showcase Rona’s plans for a wonderful retirement center, and it would be in conjunction with the introduction of Brittany Rice’s new line of divine wines.

Brittany chose the name Millesime Cellars; millesime is French for vintage. Brittany and Linda had many wonderful adventures in France and studied organic wine production. Her wines are very low in sulfites and evolve with wild fermentation.

Guests were treated to red wines with the feel of velvet on the palate and each had subtle lingering nuances. Some of those we tasted were La Reflexion, Scoprire, Bleu Saphir, and Lumiere du Fleur. There is also a Millesime Wine Club and now Brittany Rice’s fine wines will be available on line at www .millesimecellars.com.

Rona told the group of guests that she was inspired to start the plan for a retirement village because of her father, who had taught her so much

“We are going to build the Golden Inn, cottages and a little village. It will serve the ever enlarging population of people over 75 years old, many of whom have no one. It will have every conceivable aid for well-being and a joyful atmosphere.”

Brittany’s sister Ashley Rice was there and serves as Sunstone’s operations manager. Also present was Bion Rice, who lives in Healdsburg and their father Fred Rice. Among the guests we found impressionist artist James Paul Brown and his wife Juliet, winemaker Dan Gehrs and his wife Robin, wearing the world’s cutest earrings that she bought in Spain. Also Pat Dixon, Maria Murdock, Tom Bahler, Kirk and Debbie Reed, Tracy Chaput, Cyndi Hunter, Nicole Keefe, Alan and Lynn Bonzer, Jan Butler, Wendy Van Diver, John Martino, Iris Rideau, Terrie Furukawa, Elizabeth Clymer, Bob and Maryann Evans, Roger Hunter, Daniel Busby, Mike, Christina, Monica and Christine Larner of Larner Vineyards and Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Kelly Schreiner was busy accepting compliments on her cute dress which had a lace overlay. She is president of Nirvana Hyperbaric Institute at the Medical Wellness Center in Solvang. They have fascinating techniques for finding the hidden causes of illness and also to help people fully celebrate wellness.

Quiz of the Week: What unique item is at Celeste Huston’s Gypsy horse farm? 1. A chariot from the movie Ben Hur. 2. A gorilla suit. 3. A stained glass window. 4. A poodle that will drink tea from a china cup. 5. Roller-skating dachshunds.

Answer to Last Week’s Quiz: John Rasmussen actually brought a cement mixer to a fundraiser to establish our YMCA. The theme of the party was construction, and guests wore hard hats.