What's New in Sonoma Wine Country

. October 14, 2008

MAY 7, 2007

Summer 2007

(Sonoma County, CA) Bud break in the vineyards, and Sonoma County visitors are greeted with new and exciting great escapes. Here's a look at what's new for summer 2007:

Festivals

Sonoma County Showcase: Weekend of Wine & Food is the country's premier epicurean festival, featuring four days of the best wine, food, and lifestyle experiences that wine country has to offer. The event runs July 12-15 in California's famous Sonoma Wine Country. New experiences include "Sonoma Family Style", an opportunity to celebrate the heritage and traditions of Sonoma County with the favorite recipes of six families, interpreted by six of the county's best chefs and "In the Vineyard Experience", a chance to see what the adage "wine is made in the vineyard" truly means.

"Taste of Sonoma" will be held July 14 and 15 offering two full days of the best Sonoma County has to offer, with more than 100 local wineries pouring their premier wines and 60 local chefs tempting you with their best delights.

New this year is the "Sonoma Weekend Experience" offering lodging choices like vineyard cottages, private wine tours and VIP access to winery events. To purchase tickets or for more information please visit www.sonomawine.com or call 800-939-7666.

The Atwood Ranch of Glen Ellen will host the first "Steppin' Out" summer music festival on August 12. The all-day festival will feature two stages of music including rock-n-roll, jazz, acoustic guitar, country western and classis R&B. Renowned Bay Area caterer Bon Appetit will present their unique adaptation of fair food with Wine Country flair. Regional microbreweries will host outdoor brewpubs and a Sonoma Valley wine bar will showcase wineries along the historic Valley of the Moon highway. Contact Robert Pope, 707-769-8900 or [email protected] for more information.

Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, the silky notes of jazz trumpets will flow through the Sonoma Valley for Sonoma Jazz+. This world-class celebration of music, food and wine will showcase the musical talents of LeAnn Rimes, Smokey Robinson, Harry Connick, Jr. and Tony Bennett. For detailed ticket information and musical line-ups visit www.sonomajazz.org or call 866-468-8355.

Eco-Tourism

See sustainable vineyard practices up close and personal with Kunde Winery's new Vineyard Tours. Free vineyard hikes will be offered from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. No reservations required. For a more in-depth Eco experience, join vintner Jeff Kunde for a four-mile hike through Kunde vineyards to view sustainable growing practices and learn about the habitats and ecosystems within the area. Picnic lunch and wine tasting included in the $75 registration fee. For reservations, please call Kunde Estate Hospitality Department in Kenwood, CA at 707-282-1534 or visit www.kunde.com.

Free vineyard hike dates (no reservation required):

May 12, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10, December 8

Eco Tour dates (requires reservations):

May 5, June 2, August 25, October 20

The Lavender Bee Farm in Petaluma will be offering guided tours of their farm and five thousand lavender plants this summer. Honey tasting and lavender lemonade are included in the tour that also includes a bee observation hive with beekeeping demonstrations. Please call Rick or JoAnn at 707-789-0554 for more information or visit www.lavenderbeefarm.com.

Full House Farm in Sebastopol has developed a way for visitors to experience country living with their new vacation rental home. The three bedroom, two bath, 2000 square foot home perched high on a hill overlooking the lush farmlands of Full House Farm offers guests a garden from which guests can pick their own organic vegetables and fruits. Fresh, organic eggs will also be supplied to guests every morning.

Full House Farm offers an educational tour of the farm animals and equipment for both overnight and day visitors. Private walking trails and picnic facilities are also open to guests and tour participants. For more information contact Christine Cole at 888-596-6006 or visit www.fullhousefarm.com.

With a varied terrain known for yielding quality winegrapes, Sonoma Wine Country's vineyards also offer a variety of bird watching opportunities. With several locations voted "Globally Important Bird Areas" by the American Bird Conservancy. Sonoma County boasts a prime location along the west-coast migration route. The shores of Bodega Bay offer a year-round birding spot where more rare birds have been spotted than in any other area of Sonoma County. The San Pablo Bay wetlands create a natural habitat for watching and photographing large flocks of shorebirds and waterfowl. For detailed bird watching areas visit:

http://audubon.sonoma.net/birding/birding.html.

Lodging

The Melitta Station Inn Bed & Breakfast in Santa Rosa opens new guest facilities including a new King Suite with lounge and mini-kitchen, a guest spa with hot tub, on-site massage, wireless capabilities, exercise area and a 400 sq. ft. meeting facility. With these additions, the Melitta Station Inn will appeal to small meeting organizers who desire an alternative to a larger hotel. Owners Tim and Jackie Thresh have included an array of solar panels to their inn, which now runs on clean solar power. The Melitta Station Inn offers luxury English country cottage hospitality, gourmet breakfasts and access to a modern spa. The Melitta Station Inn is located at 5850 Melitta Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95409. For more information contact 800-504-3099 or [email protected].

Looking for a rural chic getaway to Sonoma County's Russian River? The Big Yellow House in Monte Rio is now available for vacation rentals. This grand Dutch Colonial riverfront home sleeps 16+ in five bedrooms. Complete with all modern amenities including high-end kitchen appliances, TV, DVD/VCR and musical instruments. Don't miss another sunset along the river! For more information contact Bonnie Spindler at 415-474-4445.

Wine Experiences

The Ace in the Hole Pub on the Gravenstein Highway in Sebastopol, known for serving its signature hard ciders and world-class beers, releases their first vintage. The 2005 Geoffrey House Pinot Noir is made from Russian River grapes off a small local estate vineyard. The wine has been aged in French Oak for 12 months with very Burgundian characteristics and will be available for taste and purchase at the Ace-in-the-Hole Pub. Only 40 cases will be available. For more information call 707-829-1101 or visit www.acecider.com.

The Inn at the Willows, nestled along the Russian River in Guerneville, opened Isabelle's Wine Lounge and Tasting. Isabelle's features wines and micro brews from Russian River area producers. Isabelle's features complimentary petit plates made mainly with locally grown and produced vegetables, fruits and chesses. For more information call 800.291.1905 or visit www.innatthewillows.com.

Summertime visitors to Dry Creek Valley's Passalacqua Winery will enjoy Riserva della Vendemmia, a new addition to the tasting room and gardens. This premium, intimate space is the first destination for new releases served in Riedel crystal with specially paired sweets and savories. Contact Passalacqua Winery, 3805 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg, CA, at 877-825-5547, for further details.

Kokomo Wines, one of Dry Creek Valley's hottest wineries, announces the grand opening of their tasting room, Kokomo Tasting Lounge, located in Historic Railroad Square, Santa Rosa. Kokomo Tasting Lounge is the first ever winery operated tasting room in the 100+ year history of Railroad Square. Located at 305 Davis St., the Lounge is a comfortable place to experience great wine and enjoy the convenience of downtown Santa Rosa shopping and dining. Kokomo Tasting Lounge, open seven days a week from 12 pm - 7 pm. For more information or to schedule an interview with the winemaker, please call Rebeca Lidz at 707-523-3076 or email [email protected].

Peterson Winery opens a new tasting room at their Timber Crest Farms outside of Healdsburg, CA in the Dry Creek Valley. Peterson Winery, known for their small production, zero-manipulation style wines ranging from Zinfandel to Petite Sirah and Muscat Blanc can be reached at 707-431-7568 or [email protected].

The Carneros region of Sonoma will soon welcome Jacuzzi Winery. The new 18,000-square-foot, rustic-Italian stone structure is inspired by the Jacuzzi family home in Udine, Italy. Due to open in the spring of 2007, the structure sits on 190 acres and honors the family Italian immigrants who came to America in the early 1900's.

While dreaming of a way to pay their bills and still ride motorcycles, the owners of V-Twin Vineyards created a motorcycle themed vintage deemed more leather than lace. The first release, 2004 V-Twin Zin, is bursting with berry aromas and flavors of raspberry and black cherry. V-Twin operates currently as a "virtual winery" at www.vtwinwines.com, but expects to have a clubhouse tasting room soon. For more information, contact 707-573-8215.

Capture a beautiful Sonoma Country sunset during "Wines & Sunsets" in Paradise at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa. Known for having the most beautiful view in Sonoma County, Paradise Ridge hosts the sunset parties every Wednesday beginning May 2nd and continuing through October. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy award-winning Paradise Ridge wines for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. Paradise Ridge Winery is located at 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa. For more information, please call 707-528-9463.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of cigars, wine and food with the CigarBQ(R) wine tour! The tour begins at 10am with tours of cigar friendly wineries. Enjoy a stogie with several winemakers as you taste through their wines. Cocktail reception at Equus begins at 5:30. The $50 ticket price includes transportation, cigars, wine and food. For more information please visit www.cigarBQ.com.

Culinary

The Olive Press has relocated alongside the new Jacuzzi Winery. Created in 1995, The Olive Press is committed to making only the finest Award-Winning California Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The new tasting room, gift store and pressing facility are dedicated to "all things olive". The new location will be at 24724 Arnold Drive/Highway 121 in Sonoma, CA. For more information visit www.theolivepress.com or call 800-965-4839.

The Geyserville Inn and Hoffman House Restaurant now offers weekend dinner service. Housed in a beautiful restored building constructed by the Hoffman Family over 100 years ago, the Hoffman House restaurant specializes in gourmet lunches, fresh salads and hot breakfasts. For more information please call 877-857-4343 or stop by for dinner, 21714 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA.

With an array of menu items ranging from hearty BBQ ribs and catfish to tofu scrambles and veggie sandwiches, the Red Rose Caf'e is winning the hearts and tastebuds of locals. The rose-lit d'ecor compliments the eclectic menu and their widescreen TV makes the Red Rose Caf'e the perfect place to catch a game. The Red Rose is located at 1770 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-573-9741.

For California cuisine with a Swedish touch visit Charizma Wine Lounge & Deli in Guerneville. With a comfortable, colorful and charismatic atmosphere, Charizma serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week and dinner Thursday - Tuesday. Enjoy their wine lounge with tasting flights and small plates of food and cheeses or a sunset on their patio serving BBQ food all summer long. Visit www.charizmawinelounge.com or call 707-869-0909 for more information.

Nit Bynum, a native of Thailand, has opened her award-winning restaurant Nit's Thai Creations located on the Russian River between Rio Nido and Guerneville for the 2007 season. This season guests can enjoy a wine bar with Thai tappas paired with local and imported wines and the deck overlooking a beautiful undeveloped stretch of the Russian River. Contact Nit Bynum, 707-431-9549 for more information.

Tours

Flying Horse Tours added a new 10 person horse-drawn wagonette with fringe top. The carriage, drawn by elegant horses, travels leisurely along a scenic route through the award-winning vineyards of Alexander Valley. Our tour includes wine tasting at Alexander Valley's finest wineries as well as a complimentary gourmet picnic. For more information visit www.flyinghorse.org or call 707-849-8989.

Hop on the area's first pedicab service in Windsor and Santa Rosa, Rickshaw Rudy's. Rudy's will offer bike taxi service for special events, by the hour and on-call. Services will run throughout Downtown Windsor and Santa Rosa for special town events. For a complete listing of where you can find Rickshaw Rudy's visit www.rickshawrudys.com or call 707-483-7322.

Family Fun

Candy and Kites in Bodega Bay offers "Friday night fun flys", stunt kite flying lessons at Doran Beach Campground. Families are encouraged to bring their own kites, however there will be a large selection of kites to try. Kite flying runs from 6 pm - 7 pm on Friday evenings until the end of October. Candy and Kites specializes in being nice to you since 1983. For more information about "fun flys" call 707-877-3777. To purchase a kite or some of the world's best toffee, stop by 1415 Coast Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923.

Sonoma County, located 30 miles from San Francisco, is America's premier wine, spa and coastal destination, featuring more than 250 wineries and 76 miles of stunning Pacific coast.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 800-576-6662.

Business Contact: