USA TODAY 10BEST, Bloom and CanvasRebel: Three Spotlights in 2026
Over the past few months, Napa Valley Noir and I have been recognized by three very different publications. Each one arrived in its own way, and each one means something different to me. Together, they tell the story of what I’ve been building since I launched Napa Valley Noir in 2024.
USA TODAY 10BEST: Nominated by the Editors
Earlier this year, a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10BEST editors selected 20 nominees for Best Wine Tour Company in the country, and Napa Valley Noir was among them. I was floored when I received the email from the 10BEST team alerting me to my nomination. I originally thought, oh, this is lovely, and it’s an honor just to be nominated. But then I remembered the title of the book I co-authored with Venus Williams, Come to Win. And so I did. I asked everyone I knew to vote, and they showed up. Readers voted Napa Valley Noir No. 3 in the nation, the highest-ranked company based in Napa or Sonoma.
The votes came from my community. The nomination came from the editors. As a journalist, I know what it means when editors choose to put your name in front of their readers, and that is the part I’m proudest of.
The Bloom Icon Award: Reviewed on Its Merits
I didn’t go looking for this one. A friend recognized what I’m building and suggested I apply for the Bloom Icon Award from Bloom Entrepreneur Lifestyle Magazine. I’m so glad I listened.
In Bloom’s words, “The Bloom Icon Awards recognize women founders who are building standout businesses with intention, originality, and grit - often without massive teams, legacy backing, or mainstream attention.” Bloom also notes that “This is not a popularity contest or a nomination-driven award. All applications are reviewed individually by the Bloom Magazine editorial team.”
I was named a 2026 Bloom Icon Award winner for Best in Creative & Culture and featured in the Fall/Winter 2026 Built on Resilience issue. Anyone who knows my journey knows why that title resonates so deeply.
CanvasRebel: A Chance to Tell My Story
The third spotlight was different. It wasn’t an award. CanvasRebel gave me something a journalist rarely gets, which is the chance to tell my own story in my own words. In “Meet Kelly E. Carter,” I wrote about seeing around corners throughout my career, from covering the Los Angeles Lakers to creating The Jet Set Pets to founding Napa Valley Noir. I also shared how I’ve pivoted when life demanded it, and how relationships built over more than a decade in Wine Country became the foundation of my business.
What They Add Up To
An editors’ nomination. An award judged on its merits. A platform to share my journey. Three very different forms of third-party validation, yet each one confirms something I believe: when you bet on yourself and build with intention, people notice.
Every experience I curate, every brand I advise and every talk I give comes back to the same thing: a good story, well told. Thank you to the editors, readers, friends and clients who have been part of this journey. If you’d like to experience the best of Wine Country, I’d love to hear from you. Inquire at NVNoir.com. For speaking, consulting or media inquiries, visit the Services page.
