Sharon’s keen interest in wine has led her to France many times, where she owns a luxury rental villa in St. Emilion, in the heart of Bordeaux. There is also one in Calistoga that she rents to fine wine lovers from all over the world. Sharon is involved in Amici Cellars, a Napa Valley winery with her husband, John Harris, and winemaker Jeff Hansen. Sharon and John live in St. Helena.

She then enrolled in UCLA. Her first week there, campus map in hand, she opened the door to the Education Abroad Program, a program designed for juniors in college to study abroad. Upon declaring her desire to move to France, she was told to come back in two years. French literature, French conversation, a changed grade, two years at UCLA, she landed in Bordeaux, her third and last choice, L’Universitie de Bordeaux.

Sharon lived over a lingerie store on the Place Gambetta. The shower was in the kitchen and the refrigerator was in the closet. The non-flushing toilet was two floors above and serviced the entire apartment complex. Today, Sharon notes, the lingerie store is gone, replaced by a Ferragamo Boutique, so much for progress.

Her life changed dramatically in Bordeaux. First she met Mme Tavernier, the wife of the then President of L’Universitie de Bordeaux,II, and through her kindness, she met many other people in Bordeaux. Sharon notes that Bordeaux is about connections. Without them, one is just a visitor passing through. With them, one becomes friends and part of the fabric of this beautiful wine country. She asked one distinguished gentleman to invite her to his Chateau since this ”Little Californian” (pointing towards her) enjoyed wine. That little California took several buses, walked a great distance under bleak, gray November skies and arrived at Chateau Haut Brion, one of the five First Growth estates in Bordeaux producing one of the greatest wines in the world. Mr. Delmas (Senior) meet Sharon and took her on a tour of the renowned cellars. Sharon tried the legendary 1982 vintage out of the barrel and sipped a 1966. She fell in love with great wine on that cold November day in 1983. "A wine lover always has an epiphany, a time, a place, a bottle, a moment they feel in love with wine, mine was at Haut Brion." Since leaving Bordeaux, her primary goal has always been in returning.

 After graduating from UCLA in International Economics with honors, she returned to Bordeaux to work. Once again, thanks to an introduction by Mme Tavernier, she landed a job, an internship at the then 2 star St James Restaurant in Boulac, across the river from Bordeaux, working with Jean Marie Amat. Her position, in a strictly hierarchical French kitchen, was under that of a 16 year old intern. She peeled, chopped, plucked. washed, sliced, and helped prepare lunch and dinner. It was grueling work with no direct application of her four years at University but she did perfected her French and learned how to cook.

The greatest part of the day was at 4:00 am, going in the markets with the Amat. She even developed a lovefor the early morning market, their rthyme and songs.

 When not working at Amat’s, Sharon lived with the Boutarics who were voted the top cheese purveyors in South West France. There, she learned the pleasure of great cheese, a warm baguette and a good bottle of Bordeaux. The Boutarics also introduced her to the town of St Emilion.

 When she has toured friends around the region, it was in St Emilion they sighed deeply. According to Sharon, it is this jewel of ancient history, hilly vineyards, and breathtaking views. It is the place of discovered treasures. It was the first UNESCO town (United Nations Protect World Heritage site because of its importance to world history), and it has always been one of France’s most picturesque villages.

 For many years, she could only muster up a short vacation in Bordeaux. Sharon had gained an MBA in international marketing and became a successful entrepreneur in advertising, promotion and direct mail and later in several Internet start up companies and an Internet investment company.

However, every year she would return to France and then immediately start working towards her next trip. Every year, long dinners with friends, over superb food and wine,made her long to return the next time, before she had even left. She spent time in Napa, trying to understand the wines closer to home. Finally, after many years in technology, she and her husband, John Harris, invested in Amici Cellars, a boutique winery in Napa. They were one step closer to Bordeaux through wine and now deeply in love with Napa.

 In 2004 the Harrises applied to the famous DUAD (Diplome Universitaire d’Aptitude a la Degustation des Vins) program, offered through the University of Bordeaux’s Oeonlogy department and were accepted. The DUAD was an intensive year long program that took 4 years of oenology and condensed it into one compacted year, a less technical program, but still at the molecular level. She graduated with honors after having nailed the question on “horse sweat” known better as Brettanomyces. She notes, “I began the program thinking I knew something about wine, but soon learned how little I understood about what was actually in the glass. The DUAD is the only program in the world that starts with what is in the glass of wine and teaches you how it got there. I have never studied so hard and enjoyed learning so much. Studying technical information in French did not make my job easier, but that’s where great friends came in.”

 Sharon also notes that the town of Bordeaux has transformed itself. It was once known among the French as the close, dirty little city. No more, even the Villa Primrose, the bastion of old Bordeaux, welcomes foreigners. Bordeaux is a magnificent city - a human-sized Paris built by some of the same architects. As Bordeaux wines have met competition in the world wine market, it, too, has responded with better wines and a greater openness to visitors. Haut Brion under Delmas was one of the first to use stainless steel tanks in the 80s. Today, you will find some of the greatest wine production facilities in the world.

 So, with her love of Napa and Bordeaux, in 2005, Sharon decided to restore and build luxury villas where her hearts are—one in the town of Calistoga, at the northern end of the Napa Valley and in the town of St Emilion, in the heart of Bordeaux.

 Napa is now the Harris permanent home.  The grow grapes, make wine and travel often between Napa and Bordeaux.  “I love talking to people about Bordeaux and Napa, helping wine lovers fall in love with these two great wine regions. Mostly, it is about making personal connections for people, creating memorable experiences for people around wine, food and friends."

 Sharon has recently been involved in bring her two hearts together by connecting women in wine from Napa Valley and Bordeaux.  Seeing friends from Napa meet friends from Bordeaux; seeing women from these two great wine regions exchange information and make connections has been a dream. 

Enough about us.  Email us your wine stories at sharon@winevillas.com.