How NFW is transforming the luxury goods landscape, one plant at a time.
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Spend the night at these world-renowned wineries.
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Bring the outdoors in with these at-home horticulture systems.
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—Audrey Hepburn
Editor-in-chief:
Stacey Silipo
Managing editor:
Imani Josey
Lead designer:
Tatjana Jovancevic
Writer: Nicole Schnitzler
Cover photo: Luke Haverals, Founder and CEO of Natural Fiber Welding
Social media:
Christi Bohnsack
Imani Josey
Photos and information
courtesy of: Natural Fiber Welding; Brett Rhoads; Chateau L’Hospitalet; Abeja Winery & Inn; Quinta do Vallado; Michael Hospelt; Bob McClenahan; Poetry Inn; Bottle & Branch; Leath
What does insurance have to do with adventure? At Berkley One, everything. One Adventures is a celebration of the things that keep you moving forward, with stories from entrepreneurs, foodies, designers, travelers, artists, athletes and more. At home or abroad, at work or at play—there’s adventure to be found, everywhere.
How NFW is transforming the luxury goods landscape, one plant at a time.
Bring the outdoors in with these at-home horticulture systems.
Spend the night at these world-renowned wineries.
While much of the world was shut down in the midst of the pandemic, Luke Haverhals and his team at Natural Fiber Welding, a manufacturer of highperforming, natural textiles, were busier than ever. Haverhals’ team notes that in the past two years alone they’ve received the PETA Fashion Award, been named Inventor of the Year Award by IPOEF (Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation), and partnered with some of the globe’s leading luxury brands, from BMW and Ralph Lauren to Stella McCartney and IWC Schaffhausen.
How NFW is transforming the luxury goods landscape, one plant at a time.
For Haverhals, that success can be traced back to one call-to-action. “We have aspirations of replacing the entire plastics industry—and I say that because of our deep technical understanding of how we can attempt this.”
The inspiration for this passion began decades ago with a thought during his days at the Naval Academy. “I realized that the most abundant, healthy, and diverse infrastructure—that could ever be imagined to give people high quality standard of living that was safe and circular—was already all around us in nature,” he says. Haverhals
the materials range in their application across luxury and lifestyle products, they share one significant trait: they are all entirely plant-based and entirely petrochemical-free.
It’s a fact that consumers can feel good about when purchasing the products, and when disposing of them—Haverhals references The Degenerate, a shoe from Unless Collective. Made with PLIANT™, the shoe is shown being ground up into particles that can then go directly back into the earth, rather than a landfill.
NFW’s central philosophy “to start well, stay clean, and end well” has already attracted more than 1,000 brands to the company’s approach.
That list of brands is continuing to grow, thanks to interest already from some of the globe’s most recognized luxury brands. Last July, MIRUM® made its luxury watch strap debut with MiraTex™ for iconic Swiss brand IWC Schaffhausen and Environmental & Community Projects Advisor Gisele Bündchen. And this year’s Paris Fashion Week saw the arrival of several Stella McCartney handbags featuring MIRUM®—all plant-based and free of leather or plastics.
recognized the wealth of possibilities that revelation introduced, but there was still a crucial part of the equation that needed solving—that of what to do with such resources. When he did arrive at the answer, it was an epiphany that struck closer to home than he could’ve imagined —he thought of his mom.
“My mom is the best chemist I know,” he says. “When she cooks, she takes wholesome nutrients, and doing the least amount of destruction to these ingredients, she puts them together towards complex, beneficial creations,” he says. “I realized this was the answer to the plastic problem in the world—instead of making recipes to eat, we’ll make recipes to wear.”
Haverhals formed NFW in 2015 and today, the company features three materials: MIRUM® (a leather alternative), CLARUS® (a performance textile), and PLIANT™ (a natural rubber). Though
Haverhals assures that there are plenty of resources by which to explore this new frontier in living well. “There are certain ideas that, if I think about them deeply, they become overwhelming to me, and it’s most often true in cases of numbers,” he says. “More new plant matter grows in a day on Earth than the combined tonnage of all the plastic produced by people in years. When I think about that abundance, I’m overwhelmed—it’s what grows in the garden.”
“I realized that the most abundant, healthy, and diverse infrastructure— that could ever be imagined to give people high quality standard of living that was safe and circular—was already all around us in nature.”
“NFW’s central philosophy ‘to start well, stay clean, and end well’ has already attracted more than 1,000 brands to the company’s approach.”
Travel is on the rise, and so is wine tourism— the pursuit of wine-focused experiences around the globe. And while visiting vineyards is always good cause for a getaway, it only gets better when you can stay on such grounds—especially when they’re as thoughtfully appointed as every bottle and glass.
Thankfully, several venues are on the case, inviting guests to visit not only for tastings but for overnights, too—and oftentimes,
in quarters fit for royalty. Beyond a more holistic experience onsite, guests lingering longer have the chance to meet the locals, discover the culture, and tap into traditions— all practices we’re happy to drink to.
From a Southern France seaside resort to a hillside Napa retreat, here are four wineries to visit now for exceptional sips and slumber alike.
It was a business trip that originally brought Cliff Lede to Napa Valley, but his love for its wines, culture, and community kept him there. After several visits, he decided to lay down roots in 2002 for a winery of his own, selecting the Stags Leap District for its nuanced, age-worthy wines. The property soon grew to include a vineyard above Silverado Trail that Lede called The Poetry Vineyard, which served as inspiration for another magical arrival: Poetry Inn, the winery’s secluded, luxury escape set amidst Cabernet Sauvignon vines, high atop the valley floor. Designed by Howard Backen, each of the five rooms features details like a wood-burning fireplace and handhewn wood floors—and bathrooms that are equally impressive, built of marble and Beauharnais rose limestone. They also feature lounging furniture, a large soaking tub, and indoor-outdoor showers.
Original art is a draw, too—each room is named after a beloved poet and features accompanying work by Michael Duté, who claimed the walls as canvas (just one example is a mural inspired by Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”).
In the morning, enjoy a seasonal, multi-course breakfast from chef Lynn Vita alongside vineyard views, and later on, look forward to a day of wine tasting—onsite, for starters. Head to the property’s Backstage Tasting Lounge to sip through single vineyard, appellation series, or platinum selections, all in the company of rotating art exhibits and music memorabilia. When you do venture out, check in with your personalized concierge service, who can offer expert tips for the area—and help you book some self-care at the property’s tranquil treatment room, too.
“Sharing is everything,” notes winemaker Gérard Bertrand in his memoir Wine, Moon and Stars. This portion of the book discussed his 2002 acquisition of Chateau L’Hospitalet, the prized, historic winery situated near the captivating seaside town of Narbonne, France. Bertrand’s interest in L’Hospitalet was rooted in the hope of sharing a sense of art de vivre with others, and the promise this property held in offering that—especially with its 16th century buildings, 1,000 hectares, and neighboring Mediterranean Sea. In the decades that have since passed, Bertrand and his team have been honoring that ethos by way of a deep commitment to hospitality, culture, and place—with an emphasis, always, on the grapes themselves.
Today, the property stands as a sprawling 42room retreat, comprised of tennis courts, a worldclass spa, two pools, and multiple restaurants—
including the new Moon Room (where chef Laurent Chabert and sommelier Pierre-Alexis Mengual employ the same biodynamic philosophies in their menus as Bertrand does in the vineyards). Settle into your suite before perusing the rest of the property, including the L’Hospitalet Beach and its canopy beds, or a trip to any of the four wine estates, growing everything from Grenache to Syrah. Between a putting green, pétanque court, and jogging paths, there’s no shortage of activities here—and then, there’s the venue’s renowned summer draw: Jazz à l’Hospitalet, an annual, weeks-long jazz festival bringing together musicians, wine, and mingling under the stars. Consider it all part of Bertrand’s efforts towards that enjoyment of life spirit the region so naturally claims—and that L’Hospitalet so readily carries (in its name alone).
The Douro is one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world, and Quinta do Vallado, founded in 1716, is one of its longest-running and best-known estates. Recognizing the growing interest in visitors to the winery, the team began offering onsite lodging in 2005, opening the five-suite “Traditional House” (once home to founder Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira), and later, an eight-room modern building. Bookings at either location carry their comforts, from garden landscaping and a wood stove to private balconies (complete with Corgo River views).
Enjoy plenty of amenities onsite, including wine tours or an evening at the restaurant, and for guidance beyond the property, consult the concierge—they can advise on a number of local experiences, from boat and Jeep tours to cycling and canoeing. Start refreshed the next day with a visit to the pool or spa, where you’ll find a jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish baths alongside a picturesque orange grove. Just when you thought your morning couldn’t get any better, indulge in a massage or facial here on the house—an hour-long treatment is included for guests staying two nights or more.
Meet the winemakers, stroll the vineyards, and experience crush firsthand during fall months at this winery-meets-inn, situated in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. When Ken and Ginger Harrison bought the property and reimagined it in 2000, they still wanted to maintain much of the original wheat farm and inn’s look and feel. Today, the 38-acre property reflects that charm alongside modern details throughout its seven rooms. It incorporates features like claw foot tubs, semi-private porches, vaulted ceilings, and heated basalt floors. Larger groups will do well by a stay in the Farmhouse, comprised of five bedrooms, attached, luxe bathrooms, and a
large kitchen perfect for prepping big meals— which are best enjoyed on the wrap-around porch. Come morning, enjoy an upscale breakfast, and later on, the chance to taste the team’s wine (both experiences included in your stay). Those wines make their way to the restaurant’s dinner menu, too, serving as thoughtful pairings to chef Jake Crenshaw’s Pacific Northwest cuisine.
Spring blossoms, gorgeous flowers, longer days, and green trees serve as reminders of the renewal surrounding us outdoors— and of the many benefits we can glean from that everyday growth. Thankfully, artists and garden experts are now creating more and more ways to bring elements of the outdoors into our homes, inviting us to stay more consistently in tune with the world around us. “It feels significant to watch something grow before your eyes, and to have the chance to take care of that thing,” notes Heather Shouse of Bottle & Branch, a full-service, Chicago-based horticulture company. “I’ve always found that the experience in doing so can add something to your day, and to your life.” Here are innovative, eye-catching ways to bring the outdoors in this year.
After working in restaurants and food media for several years, Heather Shouse returned to school for horticulture, desiring to be more connected with nature. Shortly thereafter, she reconnected with friend and Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard on some interiorscaping for Izard’s then-new restaurant Girl & the Goat—a project that quickly catapulted them both to success. Soon enough, Shouse was outfitting some of Chicago’s top restaurants (Boka, El Che Bar, Cabra) with bespoke living walls and installations that helped to bring a lush, vibrant dimension to dining rooms across the city. Today, she offers those same services to private clients nationwide—including show-stoppers like the Hanging Plant Rod, a customizable installation of
horizontal and vertical rods that uphold a number of potted plants. “It’s great because as the plants grow, you can move them around depending on which ones are upright and which ones are trailing,” says Shouse, who notes that using colored pots is another way to add variation. “A lot of people want to design their homes in neutral tones because neutrals are timeless, but that’s when we come into the picture,” she says. “We’re often asked about how to bring life into a space— and what better way to do so than with something actually living.”
In the early days of the pandemic, Leath founders Alexine Pack and Alex Colodny spent several months back home in Colorado, where they witnessed Colodny’s mother growing at-home microgreens and incorporating them into meals. “We were blown away by how fast and easy the greens grew,” notes Pack. The two attempted to do the same when they returned to their Brooklyn apartment, but after seeking out durable, thoughtfully designed microgreens systems to no avail, they decided to create their own—The Fieldhouse, a countertop model for growing an array of microgreens (from arugula and pea shoots to broccoli and radish). Each system features builtin, full spectrum LED lights and a 12-hour timer, all of which helps to ensure fast harvesting and enjoyment (and these harvests happen fast—athome gardeners can expect to yield greens just a week or two after planting). Though the greens are plenty tasty on their own (and loaded with nutrients), the Leath team has you covered on the culinary front, too, thanks to a virtual client education center brimming with recipe ideas. In addition to benefitting your wellness and wallet, these greens support the world around you, too: seeds are USDA certified organic, non-GMO, and require zero plastic clamshells (unlike most grocery store microgreens), and they never see the downsides of farm-to-store commutes or the food waste occurring there. Beyond all of those bonuses, Pack and Colodny hope to give clients the chance to find some peace in the growth process. “We wanted to share an enriching experience that helped create some distance from the screenheavy days we all live,” says Pack. “One that we hope invites in moments of quiet reflection that traditional gardeners tend to enjoy most.”
GrowLeath.com
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