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SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA – From grapes to hops to apples and everything in between, the farms across Sonoma County are busy harvesting the fruits of this year's crop. With beautiful outdoor seating at wineries, breweries, and eateries, plus exclusive outdoor dining opportunities, Sonoma County is bustling with tasting experiences paired with delightful seasonal provisions. As summer turns into fall, not only do leaves shift to hues of yellows, oranges, and reds, but restaurants also begin changing their menus to feature colorful root vegetables, squashes, and other fresh local produce. 

This month, in addition to new experiences and openings across our region, we have launched the Sonoma County Tasting Pass, a mobile-exclusive drink passport. Enjoy tasting flights and exclusive pricing for bottles at 25 wineries, breweries, and distilleries in Sonoma County. Visit https://explore.sonomacounty.com for more information. 

Note: Visitors and residents are asked to continue to wear face coverings in public and practice physical distancing. Please be sure to make reservations and review The Safe Travels Promise before visiting 

 

WINERIES 

Jesse Katz opens Aperture Cellars in Healdsburg 

A visit to Aperture is unlike any other in Wine Country, attracting wine enthusiasts, art lovers, and more. Enjoy winemaker Jesse Katz's range of exceptional Bordeaux-style wines, crafted from unique, cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma's top regions, as you take in the expansive landscape of the estate vineyards. 

With a glass in hand, relish the scenery: The natural beauty of the northern Russian River Valley is fully exposed courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows, which look westward over a 40-acre estate and vineyards. Experience the fine art collection by acclaimed photographer Andy Katz, father to winemaker Jesse, that graces the walls of this gallery-inspired tasting space. 

Aperture Cellars 
12291 Old Redwood Highway 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
(707)200-7891 
https://aperture-cellars.com/ 

Media Contact: 
Jessica Pasquini 
jpasquini@aperture-cellars.com 

 

Roche Family opens new Sonoma Winery and Tasting Room 

The Roche Family has opened a new 17,000-square-foot winery, complementing its Sonoma Plaza tasting room, with ample outdoor seating with sweeping vineyard views. Wine tasting at the Roche Family Winery vineyard “Tasting Plaza” is highlighted by features like outdoor fireplaces, cabanas, private group tasting areas, and the view of thousands of acres of vineyards planted on the western slopes of Sonoma Valley. Stay and enjoy the gourmet picnic basket on comfy wooden and leather lawn chairs by the Chardonnay vineyard, while taking in the panoramic views. 

Located just south of the town of Sonoma, the Roche family's new winery subtlety sits on the valley floor within their Tipperary Vineyard, located on their estate in the Carneros AVA. 

Roche Family Winery & Tasting Room  
22097A Bonness Road 
Sonoma, CA 95476 
(707)935-7115 
https://www.rochewinery.com/sonoma-winery-tasting-room 

Media Contact 
Jason Klein 
jason@rochewinery.com  
707-935-7115 

 

Sparkling Wine & Snack Provisions in New Cabanas at Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma 

Relax with the new Private Cabana Experience at Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma, California. This Sonoma County food and drink experience is the perfect getaway for friends and family alike. Enjoy a socially distant wine country experience, with beautiful landscapes like spring-fed ponds, weeping willow trees, and an expansive lawn area. The cabana experience includes a snack provisions basket, a bottle of estate-grown Nancy's Cuvee sparkling wine, and 2-hour use of your own private space!  

VIP parking is available in the Barrel Room Lot. Reservations can be made on Tock for experiences Thursdays through Mondays. 

Cline Family Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California, built on a passion for winemaking and rooted in respect for the land. 

Cline Family Cellars 
24737 Arnold Drive 
Sonoma, California 
www.clinecellars.com  

Media Contact 
Megan Cline 
mcline@clinecellars.com  
707-815-2969 

 

Equality Vines releases “The Migrant” with Ceja Vineyards to celebrate Hispanic Heritage in Winemaking 

Equality Vines has released “The Migrant”, a 2018 refined blend of classic Bordeaux Cabernet and Merlot made in partnership with the team at Ceja Vineyards. This wine pays respect to the invaluable contribution migrant workers make to the art and science of viticulture and vinification. A financial donation will be made to Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center (PACRC) for every bottle sold. PACRC works hand in hand with Latinxs to inspire and achieve healthy living, self-sufficiency, and opportunities for leadership and community engagement. The donations will fund an ongoing scholarship for Latinx students. 

"We emerged from the invisible workforce of laborers to become winery owners. We had help along the way and are grateful to numerous organizations and individuals for their encouragement and acts of generosity,” said Amelia Morán Ceja, President of Ceja Vineyards. “We have found a kinship with Equality Vines. Their commitment to supporting civil rights and equality for all galvanized our desire to collaborate with them on The Migrant. We're equally as thrilled that Equality Vines has chosen to partner with Puertas Abiertas. Puertas Abiertas gives voice to our local Latinx community. Their commitment to supporting Hispanic families and strengthening Latinx institutions through work in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement and economic empowerment is inspiring." 

Equality Vines 
16215 Main Street 
Guerneville, CA 95446 
877-379-4637 
www.equalityvines.com 

 

Abbott's Passage opens at former Valley of the Moon Winery 

Located on this historic and storied property in the heart of Glen Ellen, Abbot's Passage is now nestled between rows of 100-year-old vines. The newest project from the sixth-generation Bundschu Family welcomes you to experience the brand's small-lot, co-fermented wine blends. Enjoy a tasting flight in the property's serene Olive Grove, accompanied with a “grazing board” with a rotating selection of locally-sourced ingredients.  

The small-lot blends showcase grapes from notable, but often overlooked vineyards – bringing together the best of Sonoma County and beyond. Visit Fridays through Mondays, from noon to 6:00 p.m. with a reservation. 

 
Abbot's Passage Winery & Mercantile 
777 Madrone Road 
Glen Ellen, CA 
707-939-3017 
www.abbotspassage.com 

 

New Olive Grove Tasting at Medlock Ames 

Settle in and relax in the shade beneath the olive trees at the Medlock Ames Healdsburg Tasting Room. Enjoy a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé accompanied by a curated country basket meal for your group. Taste several treats from local partners including Red Bird Bakery bread, Cowgirl Creamery cheese, Niman Ranch salami, olives, Volo Chocolate along with our organically farmed olive oil and jam or jelly that you can take home with you.  

Medlock Ames 
3487 Alexander Valley Road 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
707-431-8845 
www.medlockames.com  

 

RESTAURANTS & EATERIES 

Flavor Bistro moves to Sebastopol with Outdoor Patio Seating 

The beloved Flavor Bistro has opened for dinner service in Sebastopol. Flavor Bistro prides itself on everything being handmade in-house every day. Start off with the house-cured salmon carpaccio or sautéed Dungeness crab cakes, before you move onto the mains, like Boscaiola (bos-kay-oh-la), made with slow-cooked meat sauce, porcini, red wine, and parmesan. Try the delicious comfort food from the oven and indulge in the Chardonnay Pot Pie made with a puff pastry top, or feast on the Sonoma Brasato slow-cooked with wine and served over a butternut risotto. Make sure to save room for dessert, where the Crème Brûlée is served with cookies and the Chocolate Torta is served with pistachio sauce. 

Outdoor seating is available on the back patio and facing the street, Wednesday – Saturday 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 

Flavor Bistro 
7365 Healdsburg Ave. 
Sebastopol, CA 
707-861-3642 
www.flavorbistro.com  

 

Brunch at Kivelstadt Cellars Wine Garden & Eatery 

Make brunch dreams a reality every Saturday and Sunday at Kivelstadt Cellars in Sonoma. Originally located in Glen Ellen, Kivelstadt has put together a fun brunch service in their brand new outdoor Wine Garden and Eatery. Relax in the half-acre outdoor space, under the shaded patio or in the tree-covered wine garden while sipping on coffee, mimosas, Bloody Marys, or margaritas. Executive Chef Oscar Bendeck is serving up a delicious Carneros Breakfast, Buttermilk Griddle Cakes, Avocado Toast, KC-Quiles, French Omelet, and satisfying all the brunch cravings. Explore the full Brunch Menu, and stay for tastings of their 6 wines on tap and 15 wines poured from the bottle. Enjoy live music every Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  

Reservations for wine club members is available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., while all other guests can reserve from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made on Tock or on their website. 

Kivelstadt Cellars 
22900 Broadway 
Sonoma, CA 
707-938-7001 
www.kivelstadtcellars.com  

 

Ramen Gajin presents The Redwood Pop-Up 

Chefs Geneva Melby and Ryan Miller of one of the most loved restaurants in Sonoma County, Ramen Gajin, are headlining natural wines in a new pop-up called The Redwood. Every other Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., they are offering to-go natural wines by the bottle, paired with snacks and provisions made to complete any meal. Pairings feature house-made sourdough bread, Mediterranean dishes like hummas, baba ganoush, and falafel, and different types of pickles, hot sauces and homemade jams. 20% of wine sales will benefit local organizations such as the Redwood Empire Food Bank and Corazon Healdsburg. 

“We would never want to create something that didn't have our food in it as well, but we really wanted to focus on the wine,” Melby said. She said she was inspired by the organic and thoughtful production of natural wines. 

The Redwood 
6948 Sebastopol Ave. 
Sebastopol, CA 
www.theredwoodwine.com  

 

ACCOMODATIONS 

Relaxing Retreat at New Tree Ranch 

New Tree Ranch in Healdsburg invites guests to retreat to a truly unique farm stay experience, where luxury and sustainability live in harmony. Embrace a slower pace of life and deeper connections to friends, family, the mind, and body, while discovering more about plant-based food and where it comes from. Located 5 miles from downtown Healdsburg and nestled in the Pacific redwood forests of Northern California, this farmstead concept welcomes a new era of travel.  

New Tree Ranch is a biodynamic ranch with a produce farm and animals, providing guests an experience that models a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, plant-based nutrition, and wellness. Experiences include WimHoff, cycling, yoga, guided trails, facials and massages, seed-to-table dining, farming workshops, immersive cooking lessons, luxury tent experiences, Tesla Wine Tours, and more. Enjoy the animal sanctuary on the ranch, where animals graze the fields and enrich the soil. Guests are also provided a Tesla for use to enjoy the rest of what Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma County has to offer outside the property. 

New Tree Ranch 
3600 Wallace Creek Road 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
707-433-9643 
www.newtreeranch.com  

Media Contact 
newtreeranchpr@glodownead.com  

 

New Sleek AC Hotel by Marriot Opens in Downtown Santa Rosa 

The AC Hotel Santa Rosa Downtown offers a modern design and upscale amenities for sophisticated travelers. Centrally located in the historic Railroad Square, the hotel is easily accessible to Sonoma County wine country, and is just 11 minutes from the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS). The hotel offers a blend of Spanish roots and European style, paired with the authentic urban vibe of Santa Rosa and its surrounding neighborhoods. 

 Enjoy a European-influenced breakfast in the morning at the AC Kitchen, and unwind after an active day in the AC Lounge, featuring delicious tapas-style shareables and carefully-selected local wines.  

The property features 142 guest rooms and includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, two LEED-Certified meeting rooms and an inviting lounge. Guests will enjoy a comfortable patio experience with an outdoor fireplace, large TVs, and comfortable lounge seating. Welcome to the perfectly precise hotel. 

AC Hotel By Marriott Santa Rosa Downtown 
300 Davis Street 
Santa Rosa, CA 
707-527-1075 
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stsaw-ac-hotel-santa-rosa-downtown/ 

 

TOURS & ACTIVITIES 

Enjoy Local Experiences with Sonoma County Concierge  

Experience the Sonoma County wine and spirits scene like a local, and with luxurious flair, thanks to Sonoma County Concierge. Sonoma County Concierge offers full-service experiences on Saturdays and Sundays, where are all the details are taken care of, and guests can just sip, sit back and relax.  

Each experience includes transportation, a curated schedule of tastings, goodie bags filled with Sonoma County's artisanal goods, commemorative photos, and discounted bottle purchases. Guests can also add on a personalized charcuterie board from locally owned Field + Farm, or, add made-to-order gourmet cookies from Cookies by Carina to enjoy during the experience.   

Sonoma County Concierge 
Sonoma County, CA 
707-696-0466 
www.sonomacountyconcierge.com  

Media Contact 
Janelle Coultre 
sococoncierge@gmail.com  

 

# # #  

Experience Sonoma County, where Life Opens Up. Just as wine “opens up” when it's allowed to breathe, Sonoma County inspires visitors to open up to new experiences.  

Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is one of California's top food and wine destinations, home to more than 425 wineries ranging from rustic to regal. Hike among towering redwoods, cruise along rugged Pacific coastline, and get to know inviting small towns. Or, just sit back and take it all in. Because here, you're free to go your own way.    

Sonoma County was named Wine Enthusiast magazine's Wine Region of the Year. Discover why by visiting it yourself. Start planning today at www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.  

Media Contact  
Anna Yan  
Public Relations Manager   
Sonoma County Tourism     
ayan@sonomacounty.com  

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