Southern Sonoma Country Life

Petaluma Loves Art — An Online Art Auction in Time for Holiday Gift Giving

 December 1st - 7th, the Petaluma Arts Center is hosting its inaugural Petaluma Loves Art: Auction + Stories fundraiser!

This mini-exhibition goes up in the  north gallery with accompanying online silent auction, including over 25 stunning works of art donated generously by local collectors and artists, to serve as the arts center's main fundraising event for 2020. 

The hybrid nature of this fundraiser + preview event allows you to view the art (safely distanced) in-person and bid on favorite pieces via an online auction site. PAC will host  Member "sneak preview" days on Saturday, 11/28 and Sunday, 11/29 for a first look at the pieces that will be available for auction (or buy-it-now purchase) on 12/1.

Become a member of PAC (or renew your membership) to participate in the Thanksgiving weekend preview.

Add to your collection or purchase a special holiday gift while knowing your purchase is supporting the arts in Sonoma County! In addition to supporting the Petaluma Arts Center, you will also have the opportunity to support Petaluma City Schools’ My Art Supply Kit program.

You can donate directly to this program via the fund-a-need category benefiting each of the 2,200+ students in the school district with an at-home art supply kit to inspire creativity during the continued shut-downs. 

 

Enjoy the Festive Revelry of The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party at Home This Holiday Season

Click here for Dickens Fair At HOME 

In lieu of gathering in person this year, our friends at Bay Area treasure The Great Dickens Christmas Fair invite us to enjoy the simple pleasures of "Dickens Fair at Home," launching on November 21 as their holiday gift to you! If you're a Dickens Fair fan you'll be heartened by the chance to immerse yourself in a virtual Victorian London this holiday season. 

And if you've never attended The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, join in the merriment online and find out what you've been missing! 

Each weekend from November 21st and on Christmas Eve, the Dickens Fair producers, The Patterson Family and team will generously release a splendid, festive stream of new content.

• Invoke the spirits of Christmas Past and Christmas Present with "A Christmas Carol" read by Mr. Dickens himself.
• Gather to sing in the parlour, or dance in the kitchen! Find favorite Fair music, videos, and the one and only Coventry Carolers in spirited song!
• Discover delicious recipes from merry old England and serve up holiday favorites with Dickensian flair!
• Entice your creative spirit (and young hearts) to make playful holiday gifts with instruction from Fair artists.

And we are invited to . . . 

• Shop online for lovingly crafted gifts to delight both family and friends . . . and to help boost the coffers of the fair's extraordinary artist community that has been struggling through the cancellation of a year's worth of events.

Be the first in line for tickets for next year's event. 

 

Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Holiday Recipes 2020 — Dutton Goldfield 2017 Azaya Ranch Pinot Noir Paired with Leek & Mushroom Croquettes

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving.

Click here for wines. 

Petaluma's Fourth Annual Holiday Food Fair at Hotel Petaluma — Tuesday Nov 24th, 2020 — Purchase Directly from Local Artisans With Safety Protocols in Place

Tues Nov 24th, 2020 4-7 pm — The Petaluma Holiday Food Fair is an indoor farmer’s market where folks can purchase directly from local food artisans to prepare for thanksgiving and into the holiday season.

It is free to attend, but tickets and reservations are required.

After the 2017 wildfires devastated Sonoma County, Lorraine & Michael Barber of the Barber Cellars winery noticed that many of the local artisans they supported in their tasting room were suffering from lack of business. At the height of harvest season, farmers markets were closed and sales were slim. They organized this event to get a much needed financial boost to local food producers.

The event, which is housed in the historic Hotel Petaluma has become a vital start to the holiday season and is more important than ever this year due to business lost to our devastating fires (once again) and the pandemic.

There will be no sampling this year, and masks are to be worn at all times. 

Temperature check, hand sanitizing, and masks are required for entry. 

Temperatures will be taken at the door, and the number of people allowed in at one time is limited (like a grocery store.) Tickets are required and include a time preference (half hour increments) so there’s less of a wait.

Click here for tickets. 

 

 

Santa's Safely Distanced Petaluma Riverboat Cruise — Saturday, November 28th

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus may be the only ones traveling this holiday season, but they'll be making their way from the North Pole to Petaluma on a Lind Marine tugboat in a holiday season visit that will look a little different this year.

 

And their biggest Christmas wish is that everyone stay healthy!

 

Instead of disembarking downtown, as per Petaluma tradition, Santa and Mrs. Claus will stay on the tug. Families are invited to find a safe viewing spot along the Petaluma River - socially distanced from other households to give a shout out to Santa as he cruises by.

 

Their cruise starts at 11:00am, Saturday Nov 28th on D Street by Steamer Landing Park. The tug will sail south on the Petaluma River past the Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, and continue south reaching Shollenberger Park at about 11:30am.

 

From Shollenberger, the tug will turn north and sail towards the Turning Basin, arriving about noon. The tugboat will make a couple of loops in the Turning Basin providing plenty of time for the little ones to catch a glimpse of the jolly pair. 

 

Downtown merchants will offer all sorts of treats and special deals that same Small Business Saturday. It’s the perfect time to check off the names on your gift-giving list. 

Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Holiday Recipes 2020 — Adobe Road 2017 Griffin's Lair Pinot Noir Paired with Mrs. B's Lemon Thyme Roast Turkey

 

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving.

Click here for wines. 

 

Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Holiday Recipes 2020 — McEvoy Ranch 2014 Azaya Ranch Pinot Noir Paired With Warm Artichoke Spinach Dip

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving. Click here for McEvoy Products & Wines. 

Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Holiday Recipes 2020 — Keller Estate 2019 Rose of Pinot Noir Paired With Turkey Breast Roulade Stuffed with Cranberries & Pecans

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving. What better place to start than with Keller Estate? 

Click here for wines. 

Southern Sonoma Country Life Picks — Thanksgiving 2020 Take-Home Turkey Dinners, Pies & Peace of Mind

Photo: Della Fattoria 

Holiday season is here — well almost. And it's not a year to skip on the festivities, even if they are much more intimate and less traveled than usual. I predict that more of my Sonoma County friends and neighbors than ever may give themselves a break this Thanksgiving and opt for one of the several superb to-go dinners offered by caterers, stores and restaurants in our area.

More suggestions may come in before the deadline for orders are due but for now, here are my top picks for take-home Turkey Day feasts. 

Della Fattoria is offering take-home turkey dinners for the first time ever! Savor the Weber Family’s own legendary menu at $60 a head. Click here to order. Delicious desserts and breads available separately if you don’t fancy the whole meal. 

Della Fattoria Take-Home Thanksgiving Dinner 2020  $60 Per Person Menu   Roast Turkey Breast Kathleen’s Bread Pudding Stuffing Mashed Potatoes with Creamed Leeks Festive Winter Greens, Persimmon & Pomegranate Roasted Brussel Sprouts Braised Red Cabbage With Carrots & Apples Cranberry Compote Turkey Gravy   Della Dinner Rolls $15 Soft, warm, delicious Cornucopia Floral Centerpiece $35 Darling horn of plenty holding scores or locally grown seasonal flowers, twigs & berries Large Floral Centerpiece $60 Darling horn of plenty holding scores or locally grown seasonal flowers, twigs & berries Della Appetizer Board $60 Rustic cutting board, bamboo knife, Mt Tam cheese, Fatted Calf salami, Zuckermans Pimento Cheese Spread, assorted nuts & dried fruit Roasted Butternut Squash Slices $10 per person Polenta Stuffed Red Peppers $10 per person Extra Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Compote Not available online. Shop in store November 25th   Desserts   Pumpkin Tart $36 Bourbon Pecan Tart $36 Apple Galette $36 Lemon Olive Oil Cake $25 Quart Of Whipped Cream $10

Reserve Your Holiday Selections

Pick-up date for all special orders is Wednesday November 25 from 6am to 2pm. All dishes will be cold at time of pick-up with re-heating instructions.

 

Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with Preferred Sonoma Caterers offering of a Classic Thanksgiving Menu to go, with a full order (feeds 8 to 10) at $220 and a half order for four people at $154.

Petaluma Market’s Holiday Dinner menu choices include a Classic Turkey (6-8) at $129.99 or Prime Rib Dinner (6) at $199. 99 or a Salmon en Croute (6) at $119.99.

Then there’s the Whole Foods Holiday Meal option which is always a good, quality, no-fuss deal. Vegan meal options too.

Closer to Cotati? Oliver’s Market Holiday Dinners are competitively priced from $129.

To the north, popular Santa Rosa restaurant The Spinster Sisters is offering a great Holiday Carryout menu. I expect more restaurants will be following suit as the colder weather kicks in and outdoor dining business reduces. Supporting our local restaurants this way is a win-win. 

If you have any suggestions for pie delivery or any other small-business in the area offering Thanksgiving deliveries, let me know and I will give them a shout out. 

Petaluma Pie Company is currently open 7 days a week from 11 to 4 for pickup and in town delivery ($4 fee). Holiday pie ordering is officially available now & has reached capacity for the Tuesday pick-up on Thanksgiving Week. The deadline to order for pickup on Wednesday 25th is Sunday November 22nd. Due to the extremely high volume of orders the pie company gets, it will not be offering delivery for Holiday Pies and selection is limited to the Holiday Pies collection.

Click here for Petaluma Pie Company Holiday Pies. 

 

 

Top Pick — Pair A Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir With Your Thanksgiving Turkey — Look Out for Upcoming Recipes of Mouthwatering Side Dishes from Our Local Winemakers

When the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance asked its winemakers which wine they would choose to complement a traditional Thanksgiving meal, the resounding reply was Pinot Noir.

Because of its earthy flavor, soft tannins and bright acidity, it is the perfect match for turkey, cranberries, mushrooms and holiday spices that dominate at this time of year.

The most-planted grape variety in the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA) is Pinot Noir; and Pinot Noir grown in this cool growing region is defined by the wind. The wind has a cooling effect on the grapevines, resulting in slower ripening and longer-hang time and allowing for more complex flavors to develop. The resulting wines have quickly garnered hundreds of awards from top reviewers as well as local, national and international competitions, since becoming an official AVA just over two years ago.

According to Erica Stancliff, winemaker for Trombetta Family Wines, Pfendler Vineyards, and President of the Board of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers, “Pinot Noir is my first choice to serve guests at Thanksgiving, because it pairs so well with both the white and dark meat of turkey and its earthy qualities are a perfect match for the bounty of mushrooms, cranberries and other holiday favorites throughout the season.”

Petaluma Gap winemakers were asked to share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes and to select their favorite award-winning Pinot Noir to pair with their holiday dish. “With so many 90+ Point wines to choose from, clearly there’s a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, despite the pandemic and wildfires that have been dominating our thoughts throughout the last several months.

Over the last two years the Alliance has tracked its members’ 90+ point wines with about 70 in the last 12 months alone,” said Stancliff. Below are some of the top-scoring Pinot Noirs with their respective winemaker’s family recipes to pair with the wine; the recipes will be shared on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; @PetalumaGap, one recipe per day, starting on Monday, November 2, 2020. And I'll be posting some of the recipes here on Southern Sonoma Country Life, also. With so many local wines to pick from these days, be sure to select from your neighborhood vintners when selected this year's holiday wines. 

Follow the Hashtags and share your own favorite #PetalumaGap #PinotPairing for the holidays. Most of these wines are available for purchase on the wineries websites; see www.petalumagap.com/wineries for more information.

Adobe Road 2017 Griffin’s Lair Pinot Noir, $68 • Garrett Martin, Winemaker • 91 Points – Wine Spectator • Paired with Mrs. B’s Lemon Thyme Roast Turkey

Bruliam Wines 2017 Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, $55 • Kerith Overstreet, Winemaker • 92 Points – Jeb Dunnuck • Paired with Tangy Cranberry Relish

Dutton-Goldfield 2017 Azaya Ranch Pinot Noir, $62 • Dan Goldfield, Winemaker • 95 Points – Wine Enthusiast • Paired with Leek & Mushroom Croquettes

Ernest Vineyards 2017 “The Wrangler” Pinot Noir, $62 • Joseph Ryan, Winemaker • 94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous • Paired with Ratatouille, TrayBaked, with Roast Beef Tenderloin

Keller Estate 2019 Rosé of Pinot Noir, $35 • Julien Teichmann, Winemaker • 92 Points – Wine Enthusiast • Paired with Turkey Breast Roulade Stuffed with Cranberries & Pecans

Keller Estate 2018 El Coro Pinot Noir, $64 • Julien Teichmann, Winemaker • 93 Points – Wine Enthusiast • Braised Turkey Thighs with Caramelized Leeks, Carrots & Celery

McEvoy Ranch 2014 Azaya Ranch Pinot Noir, $40 • Blake Yarger & Maurizio Casstelli, Winemakers • 92 Points – Harvest Challenge • Paired with Warm Artichoke Spinach Dip Ron Noble Wines 2018 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, $95 •

Megan Baccitich, Winemaker • 95 Points – Connoisseur’s Guide to CA Wines • Paired with Yun’s Chanterelles, Done Two Ways

Sangiacomo Family Wines 2017 Roberts Road Pinot Noir, $70 • James MacPhail, Winemaker • 94 Points – Wine Enthusiast • Paired with Nonni Maria Julia’s Ravioli and Short Rib Gravy Thirty-Seven Wines 2016 Reserve Pinot Noir, $40 • Shane Finley, Winemaker • 96 Points & Double Gold, 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition • Paired with Wild Mushroom & Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing

Trombetta Family Wines 2016 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, $65 • Erica Stancliff, Winemaker • 93 Points – Wine Enthusiast • Paired with Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance also invites you to sign up for its monthly newsletter here.