A Year in Review: Napa Valley Features' Journey in 2024
By Tim Carl
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the incredible journey of Napa Valley Features, made possible by you, our engaged readers, and the dedication of our talented writers, whose voices and perspectives breathe life into every story. Your support and feedback have fueled our growth and innovation, allowing us to shine a spotlight on local voices and underrepresented perspectives.
Since our launch in early 2023, Napa Valley Features has grown into a trusted platform for local storytelling. In 2024 alone, we welcomed more than 2,000 new subscribers, bringing our total to nearly 4,500. Together, we've created a community grounded in curiosity, connection and the shared desire for insightful journalism. Over the past year, we published more than 300 original stories, each designed to inform, inspire and provoke thought.
Celebrating Innovation and Community Engagement
This year we expanded our offerings with new features designed to reflect your interests and engage a wider audience:
Monday and Tuesday: Reserved for breaking stories as needed.
Wednesday: "Green Wednesday" – Environmental-focused stories featuring topics from a variety of contributors, including the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County, Napa Climate NOW! and others, offering insights into gardening, sustainability and climate issues.
Thursday: "Dan Berger’s Wine Chronicles" – Wine insights with Dan Berger’s decades of expertise and occasional guest contributors, featuring engaging stories, wine-focused word challenges and more.
Friday: "The Weekender" – Organized by town, this feature provides a chronological list of events and happenings while highlighting any recurring activities. It offers expanded event highlights, volunteer opportunities, astrological updates and occasional "Encore" editions at 10 a.m. to spotlight upcoming events or special happenings.
Saturday: "Under the Hood" – Exclusively for our paid subscribers, this feature offers deep dives into critical topics such as the economics of the wine industry, profiles of influential local figures and an economic dashboard tracking unemployment rates, real estate trends, new winery licenses and more. It also includes a "What We’re Reading" section that summarizes impactful news from beyond Napa Valley and poll results from at least one of our polls from the week prior.
Sunday: "Sunday E-ditions" – A recap of the week’s stories, lighter content and the popular "Caption Contest," providing a reflective and engaging close to the week.
These features, along with many others, are continually shaped by your interests and engagement, evolving to stay relevant and meaningful to readers in Napa Valley and beyond.
New Benefits for Reading on the App
Using the Substack app to read Napa Valley Features offers several exciting benefits. By reading stories within the app, you can take polls, comment, share and message directly.
My personal favorite new addition: You can listen to stories by tapping the play button located at the top of the story screen in the app. This button activates an audio feature that reads the story aloud, making it easier to enjoy content hands-free.
I find that listening to some of our longer-format stories, such as the "Sunday E-dition" and "Under the Hood," is a great way to stay informed while on the go. Whether you’re driving or multitasking, the generated voices are varied and impressively natural, making it an enjoyable experience.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
None of this would be possible without you. Your subscriptions and engagement sustain our mission of delivering ad-free, independent journalism. The team at Napa Valley Features works tirelessly to ensure every story, poll, graphic and image meets the highest standards.
We are especially grateful for the ways in which you have shaped our work — whether by sharing your thoughts in comments, participating in polls or spreading the word about stories that resonated with you. Your insights and feedback are critical in guiding our vision.
A Special Gift for Our Readers
To close the year, I’m thrilled to share a project close to my heart: a 22-minute video capturing the beauty of Napa Valley in the fall. This meditation on the region’s vibrant colors and stunning landscapes is our gift to you. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect and enjoy the timeless beauty of Napa Valley.
The Road Ahead
As we step into 2025, we remain steadfast in our commitment to thoughtful journalism that not only reflects the values and concerns of Napa Valley but also resonates with readers far beyond. The stories we share — whether about economics, sustainability, community, culture or resilience — carry universal truths that connect us all.
In times of uncertainty and change, our mission takes on even greater significance: to illuminate the complexities of our world and explore ideas that inspire reflection and action.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Your continued support — whether through subscriptions, sharing stories or engaging in discussions — ensures we can continue to bring impactful journalism to life. Together we can highlight the stories that matter most, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and beauty we share.
Here’s to navigating the path ahead with clarity, resilience and hope.
If today’s story captured your interest, explore these related articles:
‘We Can Change the World: Tales From a Generation’s Quest for Peace and Justice’
The Enduring Legacy of Napa Valley's Inspirational Educators
Tim Carl is a Napa Valley-based photojournalist.
Your newest Love Letter to Napa Valley is breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you Tim Carl!
The video is just what I wanted to see right now, since I am re-reading some of my books on Napa history. Wondering if Napa Valley Features might at some point give readers a review of NVF favorite books about the Valley, including old and more recent titles.