66 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} Bret Harte (father of the Western). They’d arrive by train at Wright Station (now a winery itself) and trundle along the bumpy Summit Road by stagecoach to reach it. A masterful storyteller herself, Robin keeps guests enthralled with playful tales of harvest time, of her son’s wakeboarding adventures at the property’s seasonal rainwater-fed lake and elaborate proposals staged on Lago Lomita’s grounds. The stories continue flowing as she pours their nebbiolo, a vibrant, velvety wine with bright notes of cranberry and currant—and a lofty 95-point rating from Decanter. Robin, who has held both CEO and CMO positions at tech companies over the years, bought the winery back in the early 1990s. Her commute from Silicon Valley to the mountains allowed her to slip out of work brain and into a slower pace of life. “Those troubles just fall off your shoulders,” passport participant. And it’s hard to beat the region’s stunning blend of vines and vistas. On the horizon, Robin points out a string of coastal cities visible beyond the redwood-covered mountain range: “Monterey, Sand City, Moss Landing, Aptos, Soquel, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Davenport—and all the boats in between!” It’s the kind of view that inspires poetry. As Robin pours Lago Lomita’s award-winning cabernet sauvignon—named Best of Class at this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition—she talks of the storied writers’ retreat once located nearby. More than a century ago, Hotel Bohemia drew numerous luminaries, including Mark Twain as well as Ina Coolbirth (America’s first state poet laureate), Jack London (wordsmith of the raw natural world) and VINEYARD TREEHOUSE Lago Lomita recently received recognition from National Geographic—not for its vineyards, but for its treehouse. Nestled between two Douglas firs and built by Robin herself, the rustic retreat was featured in the publication’s book 50 States, 500 Campgrounds. Guests can book an overnight stay at lagolomita.com/airbnb. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: LAGO LOMITA
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