Making tea out of Sonoma wine skins

[caption id="attachment_50485" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Republic of Tea's "Sonoma Teas" (Republic of Tea)[/caption] Novato based tea company, The Republic of Tea, has launched a new collection of iced and mulled teas made with wine skins from Sonoma County grapes. The tea, which is being made in... Continue

Crash course: Sonoma Food & Wine Tour

Renee ReBell founded the Sonoma Food & Wine Tour last year to celebrate the cuisine, wine and history of Sonoma. The first of tour of its kind in town, ReBell guides participants on a 3-hour walking tour of the Square, with visits to restaurants, tasting rooms and food purveyors.... Continue

Going clonal at Envolve Winery

[caption id="attachment_50125" align="alignnone" width="420"] Release the clones! The Pinot Clonal Experience at Envolve Winery (Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0)[/caption] When I heard that Envolve Winery was launching a limited run Pinot Noir clonal tasting at their downtown Sonoma tasting room, I had to attend. I... Continue

End world hunger by eating out

[caption id="attachment_50057" align="alignright" width="176"] Help end world hunger by dining out locally on April 29 (Gardens for Health)[/caption] Did you know that 33% of food is not consumed? That includes the food you don't finish when you dine out. By dining out on April 29, you... Continue

Sunflower Caffe to close for 3 weeks

[caption id="attachment_49986" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Sunflower Caffe (Sunflower Caffe)[/caption] The Sunflower Caffe in Sonoma is closing for renovations for three weeks starting Monday, April 27. According to management, the remodel will only be in the kitchen and a reopening date is still unknown. Sunflower Caffe is a hotspot... Continue

Lagunitas Waldos’ Special taps Sonoma Valley

[caption id="attachment_49981" align="alignright" width="200"] Waldos Special (Chris Brennan)[/caption] With a 420 origin story that is rife with misbehavior, marijuana and mystery, Lagunitas Brewing Company's Waldos' Special Ale has been released and is available for a limited time across the country. Waldos' Special Ale is a... Continue

Women, Wine & Cheese raises over $50k for YWCA

The annual Women, Wine & Cheese Fundraiser was held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma on Friday, April 23. The event supported the YWCA of Sonoma County, which is the county's only confidential safe home for women and children victims of domestic violence.... Continue

Mike Benziger named Green Personality of the Year

Mike Benziger has been named 2015 Green Personality of the Year by Drinks Business, the leading spirits, beer and wine magazine in the United Kingdom. The magazine's Green Awards celebrate the work that industry leaders (both individuals and businesses) are doing to promote and incorporate sustainable... Continue

Zina Lounge launches at Ledson Hotel

[caption id="attachment_49819" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Wine and food pairings are now being offered at the Zina Lounge at the Ledson Hotel (Cheri Lucas, CC BY SA 2.0)[/caption] The Ledson Hotel's Centre du Vin closed suddenly in January and we watched the French bistro-style restaurant undergo renovations (and the... Continue

April in Carneros & Tomatomania at CornerStone [Photo essay]

This past weekend, two events took place in Sonoma Valley: April in Carneros, the annual wine and food event that celebrates the Los Carneros AVA region of Sonoma and Napa, and Tomatomania, world's largest heirloom tomato sale. Both events coincided at CornerStone, the mixed use... Continue