New in Sonoma County: Winery tasting rooms, cider houses, distilleries top the list

SONOMA COUNTY, CALIF. — Start 2015 off with a resolution to experience the abundance of Sonoma Wine Country and discover new tasting rooms featuring wine, beer, and cider; restaurants; attractions; and more.

Sonoma Sneakaway launches
Visiting or living in San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento? Sneak away to Sonoma County for a genuine and adventurous Wine Country experience. Discover more than 400 wineries, 600 eateries that source local ingredients, 100-plus organic farms, dozens of regional parks and beaches, and 55 miles of stunning Pacific coast.

Travel now and find deals for lodging, wine tasting, dining, and more. In addition to great deals, the Sonoma Sneakaway campaign is offering a sweepstakes for travelers to win a Sonoma County getaway. Find more information and sign up for the sweepstakes at www.sonomasneakaway.com. 

Sonoma County Restaurant Week slated for March
Don't forget about the tastiest time to visit – Sonoma County Restaurant Week, which runs March 9-15, 2015. This annual event has Wine Country food fans smacking their lips in anticipation.

More than 100 participating restaurants throughout Sonoma County will offer, depending on the restaurant, two-course lunches for $10, $15, or $20; or three-course dinners for $19, $29, or $39. Find out more at www.sonomacountyrestaurantweek.org. 

There is always something new to enjoy in Sonoma County. Plan your visit today at www.SonomaCounty.com.

 

WINERIES, BREWERIES, AND DISTILLERIES

Bennett Valley Cellars opens tasting room in Sonoma
Sample award-winning wines from the family owned and operated Bennett Valley Cellars in its new tasting room just off the historic downtown plaza in the nearby town of Sonoma. Bennett Valley Cellars specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines using grapes from its 40-acre farm in the pristine Bennett Valley wine region. 

The Bennett Valley is a gently sloped area nestled between three mountain peaks – Taylor Mountain, Sonoma Mountain, and Bennett Peak. Pacific breezes enter through a gap between the peaks, creating cool growing conditions ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

The tasting room in Sonoma is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. Private tours of the Bennett Valley vineyards are available by appointment.

Bennett Valley Cellars Tasting Room
127 E. Napa St.
Sonoma, Calif. 95476
707-934-8173
www.bennettvalleycellars.com
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Zanin
973-214-0324
elizabeth@bennettvalleycellars.com

'Beast & Pinot' debuts at Dutton-Goldfield Winery
The food and wine explorations at Dutton-Goldfield Winery now include Beast & Pinot, a unique seated tasting experience that pairs four of the winery's limited-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noir wines with a selection of local artisan charcuterie – duck, rabbit, pig, and cow.

The Beast & Pinot wine line-up includes the coveted 2012 Devil's Gulch Vineyard Pinot Noir, while the pig and rabbit are sourced from Devil's Gulch Ranch, a diversified and sustainable family farm located in Nicasio, in Marin County. 

The Beast & Pinot experience is offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the winery's newly remodeled tasting room. Reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. 

Dutton-Goldfield Winery
3100 Gravenstein Highway N.
Sebastopol, Calif. 95472
707-827-3600
www.duttongoldfield.com/visit_us/tasting_options.html#sthash.5Siy70f3.dpuf
Media Contact:
Nicole Kosta
707-823-3887
nicole@duttongoldfield.com 

deLorimer Winery adds four-course farm-to-table pairings
Experience Sonoma Wine Country through its local cuisine and wines in the chef's new four-course wine-and-food pairings at deLorimier Winery in Geyserville. 

Each course uses "farm to fork" ingredients from locally owned and operated farms within a 20-mile radius of the winery. And each course is paired with a deLorimier wine to create an extravaganza for the palate. 

Pairings are offered every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with some exceptions during wedding season. Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required. The cost is $44 per person ($35 per person for wine club members).

deLorimer Winery
2001 Highway 128
Geyserville, Calif. 95441
707-857-2000
delorimierwinery.com
Media Contact:
Kristine Peterson
707-847-2000
kristine@delorimierwinery.com 

Prohibition Spirits Distillery offers tours, new whiskey release
Explore the "spirited side" of Wine Country at Prohibition Spirits Distillery Indigenous Spirits Lab, a boutique micro-brewery in Sonoma Valley. Prohibition Spirits recently began offering tours, and announced its first new whiskey in two years. 

Gain insight and understanding of the distilling and aging process, and what goes into every dram of handcrafted fine spirits on an up-close-and-personal tour-and-tasting with the distiller. Tours are by appointment, and can be educational or hands-on experiences. 

Prohibition Spirits produces award-winning, small-batch, hand-crafted artisanal spirits – Sugar Daddy rums, Solano vodka, and Hooker's House whiskeys. The whiskeys are named for General Joseph Hooker, a Civil War veteran, Sonoma Valley resident, and whiskey aficionado. 

The company recently released Hooker's House Sour Mash Whiskey, which was aged for more than seven years in charred white American oak barrels before being finished in used French oak barrels that once held Carneros Pinot Noir wine. 

Prohibition Spirits, Distillery & Indigenous Spirits Lab (Hooker's House)
21877 8th St. E.
Sonoma, Calif. 95476
707-721-6390
prohibition-spirits.com
Media Contact:
Fred and Amy Groth
707-721-6390
info@hellosonoma.com

St. Florian's brewery launches barrel-aged program
Starting with a series of brown ales, St. Florian's brewery has launched a new barrel-aged beer program, in conjunction with its ongoing efforts to expand production capacity.

"Barrel-aging gave us the ability to release additional varieties of beer before our new tanks were delivered to our facility," said Amy Levin, CEO and co-owner of St. Florian's. 

St. Florian's Brewery Brown Ale is an English-American hybrid using English and American hops, with English yeast, to create a perfect balance between the traditional brown ale tendency to be bitter or sweet.

"I always strive to attain balance in the beers we brew," said Aron Levin, COO and co-owner. "Bringing barrels into our brewery enables me the opportunity to accentuate some of the flavor profiles in our beers."

The brewery is currently expanding its capabilities by adding fermentation capacity and making the overall production process more efficient.

St. Florian's Brewery
7704A Bell Road
Windsor, Calif. 95492
707-838-2739
www.stfloriansbrewery.com
Media Contact:
Amy Levin
707-838-2739
amy@stfloriansbrewery.com

Tilted Shed Ciderworks opens tasting room in Windsor
Sample the distinctive flavors of hard cider in the heart of Wine Country in the new tasting room at Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Windsor. Then learn to appreciate these beverages made from world-class apples through the Tilted Shed's ongoing Cider Salon seminar series.

Founded in 2011, Tilted Shed Ciderworks expects to produce about 5,000 gallons this year. Its new tasting room at its cidery offers a chance to taste and learn more about artisan ciders. Although the market is still small compare to wine or beer, ciders are the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage statement nationwide.

Tilted Shed's tasting room will be open by appointment, and at times announced on social media; tasting fees are $1 per cider, and waived with purchase.

Tilted Shed Ciderworks
7761 Bell Road
Windsor, Calif. 95492
707-657-7796
Media Contact:
Ellen Cavalli, sales and marketing director
707-657-7796

Gloria Ferrer begins visitor center remodel
Guests at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, producer of California's most awarded sparkling wines, will be welcomed for tastings under a tented arbor during a six-month remodeling project that began in December 2014. 

Tours of the winery will not be available during the renovations; however, tastings under the tented arbor (located just outside the winery entrance) will be available daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Advanced reservations for parties of eight or more are required.

Gloria Ferrer is updating its tasting room and Vista Terrace, in a project designed to blend clean California mission style with inspiration from a contemporary Catalan spirit. When the winery opened in Sonoma in 1986, it was designed to be a vibrant blend of the Ferrer family's cherished Catalan culture and new California home. 

The renovation will enhance this style further while creating a more updated, luxurious space that will expand guest capacity and tasting options, and further accentuate the glorious views of San Pablo Bay. 

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
23555 Carneros HIghway 121
Sonoma, Calif. 95476
707-933-1917
www.gloriaferrer.com
Media Contact Name: 
Claudia Pehar
707-933-1935
claudia.pehar@freixenetusa.com 

Jordan earns first Fish Friendly Ranching Certification in Sonoma
Jordan Vineyard & Winery recently earned Sonoma County's first Fish Friendly Ranching Certification from the California Land Stewardship Institute. The ranching certification program promotes environmentally friendly land management, and is based on the institute's successful Fish Friendly Farming program, which has more than 130,000 acres enrolled in Northern California.

The nearly 1,200-acre Jordan Estate is also Fish Friendly Farming certified, and received the organization's Light Touch Award in 2012 for protecting natural habitat along creeks, streams, lakes and rivers. 

Jordan Vineyard & Winery
1474 Alexander Valley Road
Healdsburg, Calif. 95448
800-654-1213
blog.jordanwinery.com
Media Contact Name: 
Lisa Mattson
707-431-5268
lmattson@jordanwinery.com 

Dry Creek Vineyards achieves sustainable status
Building upon an approach first established in the 1980s, Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg has received official recognition as a Certified California Sustainable Winery.

The path toward sustainability at Dry Creek Vineyard began more than 20 years ago, when winery partner Don Wallace recognized the need to reduce the winery's carbon footprint through more earth-friendly vineyard practices.

"I am proud of what we have accomplished at the winery," said Wallace. "From solar power for energy needs, to our comprehensive recycling programs and water reduction plans, this has been a true team effort by all the winery employees."

Dry Creek Vineyard
3770 Lambert Bridge Rd
Healdsburg, Calif. 95548
707-433-1000
www.drycreekvineyard.com
Media Contact: 
Bill Smart
707-473-4728
bsmart@drycreekvineyard.com

 

RESTAURANTS & BARS

IScream offers premium ice cream, gourmet hot dogs
The small central Sonoma County town of Cotati now boasts its own ice cream shop in the IScream Café owned by Beverly and Chis Govi.

This fun, family oriented establishment uses premium local ingredients to create a variety of flavors of all-natural homemade ice cream (many are gluten-free), as well as dairy-free organic fruit sorbet. In addition to cones or scoops, the treats menu includes an ice cream sandwich, ice cream and brownie combo, banana split, waffle cone with bling sprinkles, and sundaes.

And sweets aren't the only items available. The menu also includes 12 different styles of gourmet hot dogs, Panini-style grilled cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread, soup, and salad.

IScream Café
8252 Old Redwood Highway
Cotati, Calif. 94931
www.iscreamcafe.com
Media Contact:
Beverly Govi
707-242-6359
iscreamcafe@outlook.com

Zazu adds PIG-nic boxes
The catering service at Zazu Kitchen + Farm now offers a unique PIG-nic box for parties, winery tours, or other special events in Sonoma County. Each PIG-nic box includes: Black Pig salumi; Liberty duck paté with red wine jelly; Redwood Hill goat cheese with Zasumac; Cris's pickles; Rodeo Jax; Swine Sweet; and a baguette. The boxes are available by 48-hour pre-order, for $29 each, or $26 for a vegetarian version. 

Zazu Kitchen + Farm
6770 McKinley Ave., Suite 150
Sebastopol, Calif. 95472
www.zazukitchen.com
707-523-4814
Media Contact Name: 
Duskie Estes
707-477-4288
eat@zazukitchen.com

Betty Spaghetti serves up Italian in Guerneville
As the Russian River area's newest Italian restaurant, Betty Spaghetti offers an eclectic selection of fresh pasta, pizza, and other delicious entrees, using farm-to-table ingredients from some of the North Bay's best farms and suppliers.

Located in the Russian River Resort (R3 Hotel) in downtown Guerneville, Betty Spaghetti is owned and operated by master chef Greg Barnes, a Sonoma County native. Barnes is dedicated to simple, direct dishes created from scratch with local, seasonal ingredients, including farm-raised and grass-fed meat. 

Dinner is served from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; brunch is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday; and the restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Betty Spaghetti
16390 4th St.
Guerneville, Calif. 95466
707-869-1400
betty-spaghetti.com
Media Contact:
Greg Barnes
707-869-1400
info@betty-spaghetti.com

Quick and healthy served at Lydia's Express
All menu items are vegan, gluten-free, and organic at the new Lydia's Express, located in a vintage Pullman railroad car in Sebastopol's historic Gravenstein Station. Guests can gather and dine in the ambiance of a railroad dining car, inside the station, or on an outdoor patio. For those on the go, a double-door refrigerator offers ready-made choices.

Lydia's Express is the brainchild of Lydia Kindheart, who has spent 29 years following her passion of nurturing and educating people through the alchemy of organic, raw, vegan food preparation while supporting the planet and environment. A pioneer in the organic, vegan, and raw food industries, Kindheart is dedicated to nurturing people through food and making a difference in the world.

Vegan, gluten-free, and organic drinks are also available, including wines, beers, and ciders. Offering entrees, salads, pizzas, wraps, and desserts, Lydia's Express is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday.

Lydia's Express
6761 Sebastopol Ave.
Sebastopol, Calif. 95472
707-861-9431
lydias-express.com
Media Contact:
Lydia Kindheart
861-9431
info@lydias-express.com 

Enjoy Sustainable Fusion at Bistro 100 in Petaluma
The casual and bountiful nature of Sonoma County comes to the table at chef Garrett Adair's new Bistro 100, a fusion restaurant inspired by French cuisine and the Sonoma Wine Country. 

The all-day bistro menu features artisan cuisine, incorporating organic and sustainable foods from local farms and gourmet stores. All meat, dairy, fish, vegetables, beer, and wine come from within 100 miles of the restaurant's location in Theater Square in charming Petaluma. 

Bistro 100 also offers lunch specials, happy hour, and an ever-changing and chef-inspired evening small plates menu. 

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, owner-chef Adair brings more than 20 years of experience to his new restaurant; since 2003 Adair has worked as a private chef for exclusive clients from New York to San Francisco and beyond.

Bistro 100
140 2nd St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-981-8228
www.bistro100petaluma.com
Media Contact Name:
Garrett Adair
707-891-8228
info@bistro100petaluma.com 

 

SHOPPING

Mr. Trombly's Tea expands to include kitchen, table items
A western Sonoma County purveyor of all things tea has expanded into a nearby location with a separate (but related) shop offering spices, gourmet foods, tableware, and kitchen gadgets – anything to prepare a meal or set a table. 

For years Mr. Trombly's Tea in the tiny town of Duncans Mills has been a destination for consumers seeking all types of loose-leaf tea, vintage and new teapots, and other tea accessories, including local honey, linens, and gift items. Now, directly across the boardwalk from Mr. Trombly's Tea stands Mr. Trombly's Table, offering a wide variety of dishes, serving ware, utensils, and a complete spice shop.

Located four miles inland from the Sonoma Coast, the tiny hamlet of Duncans Mills (pop. 175) is home to more than a dozen unique specialty shops and restaurants.

Mr. Trombly's Table
25171 Highway 116
Duncans Mills, Calif. 95430
mrtromblystea.com
Media Contact:
Brian Trombly
mrtromblystea@yahoo.com
707-865-9610

 

ACTIVITIES

Trek Santa Rosa now renting bicycles
Novice and serious bicyclists can take a variety of wheels for a spin through a new rental program at the Trek Santa Rosa bike store.

Sonoma County's gently rolling hills, intriguing back roads, and scenic vistas make it a popular destination for cyclists. Trek's new rental program lets non-cyclists start exploring the area on great bikes without the commitment of ownership, while avid cyclists can try out a variety of high-end models.

"We're a full-service bike shop with best-in-class rentals," said Bret Gave, president of Trek Santa Rosa. "You can come here and get everything you need to ride."

The rentals are for 24 hours at a time, and are available in four categories – carbon road bikes; road bikes with disc brakes; full-suspension mountain bikes; and hybrids – and with a variety of accessories. 

All rental packages include a helmet, lock, and bicycle map; many also include a seat bag or handlebar bag. Flashing lights are also available for rent.

Trek Santa Rosa
512 Mendocino Ave.
Santa Rosa, Calif. 95401
707-546-8735
trekstoresantarosa.com
Media Contact:
Bret Gave, President
707-546-8735
bgave@treksr.com 

Brew Brothers Brewery Tours adds distilleries
In addition to Sonoma County craft beer breweries, the "menu" of guided tours offered by Brew Brothers Brewery Tours is expanding to include local distilleries. From Jan. 17 to April 26, 2015, the new "Brew Brothers Booze Tours" will visit two to three local distilleries and one Sonoma County brewery.

Founded by a craft brew enthusiast, this tour company specializes in guided tours of Sonoma County beer destinations for groups large or small. The goal is to provide an educational and fun way to explore this area's top craft breweries and distilleries, tasting brews, booze, and food while learning about the area's rich brewing and distilling history.

Brew Brothers Brewery Tours
Sebastopol, Calif. 954762
707-206-7468
www.brewbrothersbrewerytours.com
Media Contact:
Chrissi Clay
707-206-7468
chrissi@brewbrothersbrewerytours.com

Alexander Valley Film Festival launches October 2015
A four-day celebration of film, food, music, wine, heritage, and hospitality comes to the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County Oct. 22-24, 2015, in the first Alexander Valley Film Festival. Hosted by the Alexander Valley Film Society, the festival will be anchored at The Clover Theater in Cloverdale and The Raven Film Center in Healdsburg.

Expected to become an annual event, the Alexander Valley Film Festival will showcase new and emerging talents worldwide. In addition to a curated selection of films, the festival will feature student films from youth throughout the region. Students from area schools will be encouraged to volunteer in and attend festival events, as well as connect and interact with filmmakers.

Alexander Valley Film Society
707-893-7105
www.avfilmsociety.org
Media Contact:
707-893-7150
info@avfilmsociety.org

Go behind the scenes at Zazu Kitchen, the Barlow
Get an insider's look at four locations in the Barlow, Sebastopol's 220,000-square-foot business center that connects consumers not only with products and the people who make them, but also with the production process itself. 

The center now offers Behind the Scenes @ the Barlow, the chance to tour and taste at four Barlow locations, including lunch at Zazu kitchen + farm.

Take a roastery tour at Taylor Maid Farms, and get a complimentary can of organic coffee. At Spirit Works Distillery, learn about their "grain to glass" philosophy, and sample a flight tasting. Enjoy a three-course lunch and Spirit Works cocktail at Zazu kitchen + farm, followed by a private tasting of unique Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at La Follette. Tours are available Thursdays and Fridays, at $98 per person.

Zazu Kitchen + Farm
6770 McKinley Ave., Suite 150
Forestville, Calif. 95472
www.zazukitchen.com
707-523-4814
Media Contact Name: 
Duskie Estes
707-477-4288
eat@zazukitchen.com

Applewood Inn adds intimate wine tours
Guests of Applewood Inn, Restaurant and Spa in Guerneville now have the option of enjoying a private, intimate wine tour. The inn is partnering with selected wineries, including several boutique operations, to offer personalized tasting tours. Applewood owner Carlos Pippa recently purchased two new Fiat 500L cars as the tour vehicles.

Sheltered by towering redwoods and surrounded by fruit orchards, the boutique Applewood Inn offers 19 rooms and suites, an acclaimed fine food restaurant, and a pampering spa – an ideal spot for a romantic getaway in the heart of the Russian River Valley wine region.

Applewood Inn, Restaurant and Spa
13555 Highway 116
Guerneville, Calif. 95446
707-869-9093
www.applewoodinn.com
Media Contact:
Maria Keyes
707-318-4514
marie@applewoodinn.com

Whale watching help available
On weekends from January to May, volunteer docents from the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods will be staffing their stations at Bodega Head, available to help to anyone hoping to view the annual gray whale migration. 

The Stewards are a nonprofit group working in partnership with the California State Parks' Russian River District to support volunteer, education, and stewardship programs in the area. Volunteers from this group have been at Bodega Head on weekends during the migration season every year since 1986, answering questions and sharing their knowledge about whales.

The whales begin their journey at their summer feeding grounds in Arctic waters, traveling down the Pacific Coast to their winter calving lagoons off Baja California, Mexico. After breeding they make the return trip. 

Bodega Head is the rocky headland that forms the entrance into Bodega Harbor; its high cliffs make it a great spot for watching the migrating whales. Bodega Head is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park, a 10,000-acre area stretching more than 17 miles along the coast, from Bodega to Jenner.

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
P.O. Box 2
Duncans Mills, Calif. 95430
707-869-9177
www.stewardscr.org
Media Contact:
Pete Bidigare, Volunteer Manager
707-869-9177 ext. 1
pete@stewardscr.org 

Sixt Rent A Car adds Sonoma County Locations
The auto rental company Sixt now operates sites at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in northern Santa Rosa and also nearby in the town of Fulton. 

Based in Munich, Germany, Sixt Rent A Car has been in the vehicle rental business for more than 100 years, and expanded its operations into the United States in 2011. As the fifth largest rental car company in the world, Sixt operates in more than 100 countries, with more than 180,000 vehicles.

Sixt Rent A Car
2290 Airport Blvd
Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403
707-595-3960
www.sixt.com/car-rental/usa/santa-rosa-ca/sonoma-county-airport
Media Contact:
Steven M. Schneider
707-799-0288
steven.schneider@sixt.com 

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Sonoma County Tourism Media Contact:
Birgitt Vaughan
707-522-5826
bvaughan@sonomacounty.com