Anyone who has been involved with the Wine Institute knows Leon Panetta. John DeLuca ran the Wine Institute for years, and John was friends with Leon Panetta. I believe John was deputy mayor of San Francisco before he became the head of the wine industry's top lobbying organization. I first met John a hundred years ago when I was winemaking on a cattle ranch. The ranch had 30,000 head of cattle, 50 working cowboys, 6,000 acres of vineyards and a 1,000,000 gallon winery. I opened the door to my office and there was John DeLuca. “Hi. I am John DeLuca,” he said. “I am the new head of the Wine Institute. I plan to visit every winery in California.” I figured if he was out visiting me in the middle of nowhere he was true to his word. John was an amazing man. I have listened to probably one hundred John DeLuca introductions of famous people. Not one was the same. His introductions would go on truly gloriously for ten minutes. Anyone introduced by John DeLuca floated to the stage. I always wanted John to do my introduction to God when the time came. He was a gentleman. As I said Leon Panetta and John were close friends. They were cut from the same cloth. So, when Bill Clinton was too busy to meet with a wine delegation from California that I was with, John called Leon, the President's Chief of Staff, to meet with us. I didn’t see much of the White House. They ushered us into a room near the kitchen. Leon, helping his buddy John, came to speak with us. It was a fun week in Washington. I met the first President Bush. I got into an argument with Barbara Boxer over California’s economic recovery. Yes, real estate has crumbled before in California, and surprise, we all lived through it. I even sat behind Mary Matlin and that bald guy she married at a private showing of the movie “Twister”. But, what I remember most, next to meeting Sonny Bono (who was truly the funniest person I had ever met), was how gentle Leon Panetta appeared. Now, I realize you don’t just become White House Chief of Staff. But, Leon Panetta really comes off like he is one of the gentlest, most charming, sweetest guys you will ever meet. I don’t mean Leon is just a nice guy. I mean he is so nice he kind of reminds me of Mrs. Butterworth. Now I read that Leon Panetta will head the CIA in the new Obama administration. Leon Panetta is going to head the CIA! I cannot imagine Mrs. Butterworth in charge of the CIA. “Well, sweeties, that really was a terrible terrorist report. But, I have some good news for you. For lunch, we are having some nice pancakes with real butter.” The world is getting more and more mysterious to me.