On most days, landscape painter Wade Hoefer, 65, retreats with his Bernese mountain dog, Pluto, to a restored 1880 studio behind Soda Rock Winery in the Alexander Valley. Widely collected, his work has been shown in galleries around the world. Lately, he’s been working on incorporating spices such as turmeric, curry and cayenne into his work.

THEN: Born on a naval base in Long Beach

NOW: Lives in Calistoga with his partner, Henriette Steinrueck, who is the tasting room manager at Castello di Amorosa winery.

WHEN VISITORS HAPPEN ON HIS STUDIO: “That kind of comes with the territory, even if sometimes it’s a minor annoyance. Some people come over and they’ve had too much to drink and they’re frolicking around and I’m tryi...