Food + Drink Bites for March 26 2015
The latest food and drink news highlights from Sonoma Valley (and a bit beyond). Send your tips (including Easter events) to our Food + Drink editor Sarah Stierch.
Envolve Winery launches “Get Involved” – So happy to report that the Benziger siblings have finally sorted it all out – after shaking the BS (bachelor s&!t) from their backs they’ve rebranded and are doing something super awesome (next to getting a new logo design) – donating 20% from their wine to charity. Starting April 1, Sonoma’s own Being Independent is the recipient. Stop by their tasting room or buy online using the checkout code WELOVEBI and support this organization that is near and dear to their hearts. Check out the new campaign here. And speaking of Envolve, tonight is the last night for Local’s Thursdays until winter. Grab a $5 glass of wine and Vella cheese plate. 27 E Napa St, Sonoma.
Taste some wines tonight at Sonoma’s Best & support Pets Lifeline. Tasting is only $5 and will feature a bunch of varietals that will be hard to pronounce if you drink a bit toooooo much such as Malvasia, Prugnolo Gentile, and Mammolo. From 5-7PM, all proceeds go to Pets Lifeline. 1190 E Napa St., 996-7600. sonomas-best.com
40 days until the Tuesday night Farmers Market starts up again on the square. Get out those lawn chairs and picnic blankets! vomcfm.com
Victor Hill Wines offers 2 for 1 tastings during the film festival. Use the secret password, “Steve McQueen,” that I swear I did not get off of their Facebook page, and get the special deal. 109 E Napa St, Sonoma. 343-1595. victorhillwines.com
Pearl’s Diner is serving rootbeer floats. Go get one! 561 Fifth St W., Sonoma. 996-1783.
Gloria Ferrer named #3 top winery by Fox News and is the only Sonoma Valley winery mentioned. Check out the list here.
Chateau St. Jean and Sheryl Crow have a thing going on and I’m probably the last person in wine country who knew about it. The singer-songwriter has a cookbook out which features pairings with CSJ wines. They even have a website devoted to it. It’s called Soak Up Sonoma (get it?). sherylcrow.chateaustjean.com
Tomatomania 2015 at Cornerstone will be April 18-19. It’s been described as the “tomato freak’s Woodstock” by the New York Times and is the world’s largest tomato seedling sale. There will be tons of heirloom tomatoes for sale (including one named the Michael Pollan), a tomato tasting, and workshops by tomato specialists. The event is free (not sure about the workshops though). Learn more here.
Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction named third best in US by Wine Spectator. I’d link you to the article but it is behind a paywall, so instead, just visit the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend website.
Palms Grill emerges from remodeling and has brand spankin’ new furnishings, flooring, lighting and more. The beautiful diner elements still remain. Check it out and report back, we’ll be reviewing the new digs soon. 18999 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma. 939-8100. palmsgrill.com
Gundlach Bundschu’s Huichica 2015 is announced and while it’s mainly music news, the event which brings tons of hipsters to GunBun’s historic winery for a warm summer weekend in June will feature, of course, GunBun’s famed wine and and so far [only] one local food purveyor, Q Craft, who will be serving up their locally raised, sustainable BBQ. More food and drink surprises to come soon, and proceeds from the concert support the Sonoma Valley Educational Foundation! Learn more about the festival here.
Gallo wine is buying J Vineyards and we don’t know for how much, but, Judy Jordan, founder of J Vineyards, will probably not have to worry about paying rent ever again.
