Hillary Clinton to visit Napa Valley on fundraising trip

Hillary Rodham Clinton is making a fundraising foray into Wine Country this week, including a reception today in St. Helena hosted by Kathryn Hall, a vintner who was appointed ambassador to Austria 18 years ago by Bill Clinton.

The invitation-only event, with tickets reportedly ranging from $250 to $50,000, is aimed at attracting a well-heeled, Democratic-friendly crowd.

It may be a trifle less glamorous than some of her other stops in California this week, including visits to Sacramento, Silicon Valley and Beverly Hills, where pop star Christina Aguilera was scheduled to host and perform at a fundraiser in her home Wednesday, with attendees reportedly asked to raise $10,000 for four tickets.

Clinton’s cash-seeking mission today will begin in Los Angeles with an event hosted by actor-director-producer Rob Reiner, followed by a flight to the Bay Area.

Clinton had more than $31 million in hand for the primary election, the New York Times reported last month, saying she was intent on swamping her rivals for the Democratic nomination as well as her presumed Republican opponent in the election one year away.

Democratic presidential candidates have a tradition of treating California as a campaign ATM, collecting millions without having to worry about political support in a deep-blue state that has 55 electoral college votes, the most by far of any state.

Clinton last visited California in late September during the third fundraising quarter, in which she raised more than $28 million.

Kathryn Hall, the vintner at Hall Wines in St. Helena, is an attorney and businesswoman who once served as assistant city attorney for Berkeley. She served as ambassador to Austria from 1997 to 2001.

Her husband, Craig Hall, is an entrepreneur, author, art collector and investor who founded a Dallas-based financial group and once was a part owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@?pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @guykovner.