Southern Sonoma Country Life

Author Update on The House on Liberty Street — Home of Second Chances — Reviews, a Podcast and First Post-Publication Public Reading

Thankfully, I have built a great local readership for my books. My second novel and fourth book, The House on Liberty Street — Home of Second Chances released into the world a week before Christmas and I'm delighted to report, has made its way into hundreds of readers' hands in the first couple of weeks.

My local readers (and avid readers around the world who follow my writing and have been able to access my books in ebook form and in paperback by ordering online) truly are my book ambassadors and if you're one of them, then know that your support, your posts, your reviews and your word of mouth is everything in building my author platform so that more readers find my books.

Without you, dear readers, there wouldn't be any motivation to keep writing. And so it's extremely rewarding and humbling at the same time to know that so many people were immersed in the pages of The House on Liberty Street and its character's lives, hot off the press. The holidays are a hectic time for a book release so late in the year but together we made it happen and I'm so glad that I managed to screech into the end of 2022 with physical books in hand.

In lieu of an official book release during the stormy winter months, I'm opting for local readings through the winter and next fall in the run up to the 2023 holiday season. It's a story that is set over Christmas, so my hope is that The House on Liberty Street will establish itself over the coming weeks and by next fall, be in good shape, sales and review-wise to reach a much wider audience than my first three books. Although it is a story set over 24 hours during the Christmas of 2019, just as the world was about to turn upside down, it is a timeless story, a family drama with lots of important themes and resolutions. 

I read for the historic Petaluma Women's Club on Tuesday evening January 10th and hope to organize several additional readings around town in Jan and Feb. I'll keep you posted. 

Early this New Year I was honored to be interviewed by my dear friend and fellow Sonoma County author Suzanne Maggio on her excellent podcast From Sparks to Light — Inspiring Stories For Challenging Times.

Click here to listen to my episode. It's an hour long so you may opt to save it for a long drive or a walk or whenever you like to listen to podcasts! 

If you'd like a signed copy mailed to you, click on the homepage of this site and look on the right hand column for the Paypal button. If you're in the Petaluma area and would like to pick up a signed copy from my husband Timo's office in Theatre Square (REMAX Gold 140 Second St) during office hours, I have some in there. $20 cash (I'll cover tax) or $21.95 check. VIBE Gallery on Petaluma Blvd has some signed copies too. Copperfields Books in Petaluma has books. And you can order from Bookshop.org or wherever you like to buy your books. It is available in ebook form also. 

Please do hop on Amazon to leave a brief review if you've read and enjoyed The House on Liberty Street. This is one of the hardest parts of post-production, encouraging readers to post a review, but it's absolutely the best way to show your support of any writer, especially indie authors who do their own marketing and promotions in a highly competitive book arena. 

Sparing a Thought for Harry —British American Musings

image: pinterest Elizabeth Peyton

“They spoke as though these Princes are so remote from life as we know it that the smallest sign of humanity, the mere fact even that they communicated by means of speech was worth noting and proclaiming.”

Nancy Mitford

 

It was harder than I thought to for me to steer clear of the topic of the release of Harry Mountbatten-Windsor aka Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex's explosive  memoir Spare this January. Although there are far more desperately important issues and crises to turn our attentions to both here in our mutually-adopted storm-drenched and flooded home state of California as well as his and my own native UK , the turmoil of the times has been most lavishly topped by all of the sensational coverage reminding me of a thick new layer of royal icing to peel back from a dry and unappealing, terribly outdated fruit cake.

Oh that any author may see 400,000 copies of their book sell on day one. But then again, it being a memoir means that there is meat on the bones of each sale and the scavengers are out to either gobble down greedily or spit it aside like a thick and slimy slice of tainted fowl. I wouldn't trade places with Harry for all the crown jewels in England.  

I'm not in a hurry to read his infamous ghost-written book. What with all the leaks and mis-haps with its early release, there are dozens of reviews out there already. I've poured through quite a few. And as with all things when it comes to the debate of the British Royal Family, there are a myriad different responses so far depending on which side of which fence you happen to be on. Or which side of the Atlantic. 

Yes there are die-hard British royalists and then there are just as many Brits who are far more worried about how they will pay their heating bill and/or if they need to call an ambulance in any kind of emergency, do they have a hope in present-day hell of drastically over-stretched and striking services showing up? Some American friends I've talked to are staunch Anglophiles and supporters of the Queen's antiquated institution, others can't see the point in King Charles not handing the crown to his more popular progeny. And there are those that consider the whole concept of modern day royalty as ridiculous. 

Some British friends tell me that Harry has become so Americanized they simply can't stand it. That makes me a bit sad as I too have undoubtedly become more than a bit Americanized and is that so bad? It's as if the old antagonistic WWII taunts of the brash and outspoken American stereotype have risen back to the grimy surface over the pond. The reserved nature of many who suffer in silence in Britain cannot bear for Harry to be in therapy. I used to think that way myself having been raised in an era with the mindset that there's nothing you can't do if you simply pull up your socks, grin and bear it. But a lot has changed on both sides of the Atlantic. Life has become so much of a struggle post Brexit, deep into climate change, in the midst of the American democratic system attack, post pandemic. Heck, it's not even post pandemic is it? Reports from my neck of the woods both in Northern California and in the UK are that the current strain of COVID is so powerful, coupled with all of the many cold and flu bugs, this is shaping up as the winter of dramatic mis-content. Pair that with widespread havoc of storms and flooding heading to Europe next, I think a spot of therapy this winter would do everyone good.

“A King will have his way in his own hall, be it folly or wisdom.”

J.R.R. Tolkien 

I've tried to remain neutral on the Harry and Meghan subject in any writing I do, but after absorbing the admittedly one-sided but detailed Netflix show, the jolting reminder of semi-fictionalized versions of Harry's childhood in the last season of The Crown as well a having read a barrage of articles on the Duke and Duchesses' decision to put it all out there, I'm hoping this will be it on the subject for a while.

I think they made a good choice in settling and raising their family in Montecito. I'd be quite content with a bike ride down to the beach, waving at neighbors Oprah and Ellen en-route! They now have every tool and platform, backing and resource to get on with things in their own way, as a completely separate entity from the working British royals. 

My optimistic/idealistic hope is that there will be some degree of healing in time and that Harry, William and Charles (not sure about Camilla) will find a way to repair their relationship at least enough to be civil with one another. The British public is forgiving, as we've seen with the general acceptance of Camilla, by many, but it appears that the slings and arrows fired in such an extended attack from across the Atlantic may take a lot longer to absorb and repair. 

I googled What's the point of the Monarchy? just for the sake of it and this is what came up via the royal.uk site: "The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service. In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by members of their immediate family."

Okay, so let's focus on that. Each part of it. 

If anything, it's about time we all stop acting so aghast when one of them defects. I would have if I were him. And defecting to the States is not an act of treason in itself. It doesn't mean that Harry doesn't identify as British, as the Duke of Sussex by birth, but he's at least recognizing that he needs to grow up and give being his own man a chance. And most of his celebrity neighbors, I'd wager a bet, don't treat him as anyone any more important than the next. Right now the Sussexes are either sheltering in place or have been evacuated along with kids, dogs, household entourage. And I wish them all well, the whole messy, modern family, on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Art Meets Artisanal in Artist Wine Label Series Celebrating Petaluma Arts Center's 15th Anniversary Year

To toast the 15th anniversary of the Petaluma Arts Center (PAC) this coming year, the center and Barber Cellars present a monthly Artist Wine Label Series, featuring visual works by PAC member artists adorning the vessels of the winemakers’ flagship varietals.

The original artwork and handsome line of limited edition labeled bottles are available exclusively via monthly online auctions through 2023 with the proceeds benefitting the center’s myriad community art programs. 

"I am thrilled to launch this historic collaboration with Barber Cellars, a perfect pairing of art and wine and a showcase for creative catalysts all around us,” says Carin Jacobs, PAC Executive Director. “What an ideal kickoff to PAC's anniversary year and a documentation of local artisanal talent.”

The first artist featured is Lisa Lightman, whose abstract “Botanical Fourteen” (oil, oil stick, collage on paper), captures the verdant spirit of local flora and pairs well with the dry-farmed, organically grown Zinfandel from the Barbers’ own estate.

Lightman’s original, framed painting as well as a bottle of the “Mr. Beast” 2020 Zinfandel featuring the work on its label signed by the artist, is now available in a collectible package at https://petalumaartscenter.org/wine-label-auction. The auction concludes on Jan. 30.

Lightman’s work is on view at Barber Cellars Tasting Room, 112 Washington St., Petaluma, through January. Meanwhile, three-packs and cases of the collectible wine edition can be purchased online through Barber Cellars later in January at https://barbercellars.com/.

“This collaboration, a positive project for all involved, brings me closer to the community I now call home,” says Lightman, who recently became both PAC artist member and board member. “I’m honored to be a part of it and to celebrate PAC’s 15th Anniversary.”

Also, the Arts Center has announced its first exhibitions of 2023. 

Petaluma Collects Exhibition Jan 19 to March 11

Every collection tells a story. Petaluma Collects is an exhibition about what members of our community collect. This could be something that was inherited, sparked an interest to learn more, or provided pleasure and delight. The exhibition also describes why collectors collect and how objects are displayed - either repurposed in a new way or maintained as is. This curated group of collections provides fresh insights into different art forms, and, in some cases, the historical legacies that brought them into being.

Curator- Llisa Demetrios

On view in the North Gallery:

Multiplicities: Works by Marilyn Dizikes and Kris Ekstrand

January 19- March 11, 2023 

This exhibit, featuring work by two PAC Artist Members, explores the assemblage and multiplicity of objects and textures in nature and in everyday life.

Curator- Carin Jacobs

OPENING RECEPTION

Free admission

January 19, 5:30- 7:30pm

Petaluma Arts Center

230 Lakeville Street

Petaluma, CA 94952

Rebuilding Together Petaluma is At it Again Planting More Than 80 New Trees

ReLeaf and RTP are planting more trees. This time RTP is planting at McDowell School and Park in Petaluma. Come help take advantage of this wonderful rain (which hopefully will pause on planting day). Let’s get more trees in the ground before the season ends.

Please join the team and volunteers on Saturday, January 14, for Six Parks Tree Planting: Phase 3.
Over 80 trees will go in at McDowell School & Park.

RTP need your help to reach the goal of planting 10,000 trees in Petaluma. Every tree the group plants expands our urban canopy creating multiple benefits for our parks, our neighborhoods, and our environment.

The holes will be augered and everything will be ready. All that's needed is a bit of sunshine and you to help plant, mulch, and water. Please join .

For more information and to register,  click HERE.

Light the Candles, Stoke the Fire, for the Past, Present and Future Meet at Midnight New Year's Eve.

Greetings from the past. The present and future meet at midnight on New Year's Eve and 2023 sounds futuristic for some reason, to me! As with the last few winter seasons, we don't know what to expect from the coming year. The one thing we do know is that it will likely bring with it elements of life that we haven't yet fully imagined. 

But we're prepared, right? We've toughened our stance considerably since New Year 2019 and we're better positioned to stand our ground, roll with the punches and focus on health and happiness and positive thinking, making the world a little better and kinder for those around us. 

This year has felt like a long one in many ways and it has zipped by in others. I've had the joy of my three sons and husband and me all home together in Sonoma County for the festive week. Last year several members of the family, including me were hit by Covid at Christmas and so I am super grateful that we were all in good shape to spend quality time together this late December.

Because of that experience, I've relaxed my expectations of the holidays and every single fun thing we've been able to enjoy, time spent together and with friends, baked goods exchanged with neighbors, small gatherings in the run up to Christmas, I have cherished. 

Friends who have been sick or simply under the weather this holiday season I hold in my heart as I remember full well how dark those days can be. Those who have evaded the virus for so long have been hit these past few weeks and it's not fun or fair but life as we know it these days. I'm thankful whenever I hear of the recovery of loved ones who've been tucked up in bed listening to the rain fall on the roof and run down windows.

And what about the flight debacle with mass cancellations over Christmas, leaving travelers stranded and stuck and unable to spend the holiday with their loved ones? If you or your friends and family were impacted by this meanly-timed airline staff walk-out, or whatever it really was, then I hope you found some silver lining in there with thwarted travel plans somehow. 

The rain in Sonoma County is a gift. No complaints there. 

We did lose another beautiful, old oak, one of my favorites, pictured here with Rosie and me. It split in half and fell, gracefully and unimaginably softly, sideways on the hillside. It filled me with sadness to see it (her, I decided) collapsed into the ground., like an enormous giant, at sleep.

Though, the morning after most of the tree was removed, the yard was flooded with light. I give thanks to the oak for her company and protection in the years we've been stewards of this property and I thank her once more for the light and space and hope she has graced us with. 

Where there is darkness in winter, there is the promise of loveliness, of new growth and light in spring. 

Stoke up the fire, or throw on another blanket, light the most cherished candles and toast the year that has past, the chime of midnight, the leap into the unknown.

I hope to post more frequently on a variety of subjects now that I have my new novel in circulation. Though I must admit, there's a new story tugging at my sleeves . . . 

Happy New Year friends,

With Love,

Frances xo 

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering 'it will be happier'...”

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”

D. Simone

“In the New Year, never forget to thank to your past years because they enabled you to reach today! Without the stairs of the past, you cannot arrive at the future!”

Mehmet Murat Ildan

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

Neil Gaiman

 

Publication Day for The House on Liberty Street — Home of Second Chances — a New Novel by Frances Rivetti

Today, December 15th, is publication day for The House on Liberty Street, Home of Second Chances! It's been three years in the making. That might not seem like an awfully long time to write and publish a novel, but for a prolific writer like me, it seemed like forever! 

 

Writing a compressed timeline story was a new challenge. When all the action takes place within 24 hours, it has so flow effectively and efficiently. And be gripping!

 

If you are an e-reader and have already pre-ordered, look for it on your device on the 15th. Otherwise, order e-books wherever you are in the world from whoever you typically buy your e-books from.

 

Old fashioned print readers such as myself are now able to order books online and in favorite bookstores and hopefully local readers will snap up my limited order of author copies.

 

I will be receiving a shipment of books this weekend. Given the close proximity to Christmas, I'm holding off on an official launch and readings until the new year, but as it is a story set during 24 hours from Dec 24 to 25 it makes a terrific holiday read and so I will be hosting a couple of pre-Christmas local pop-up book signing/sales in my husband Timo's office in Theatre Square, Petaluma.

 

Stop in at REMAX Gold, 140 Second St, #108 Tuesday Dec 20th 4-7 or Thursday Dec 22nd 4-7 for a book or two!

 

Join me with a glass of sparkling wine, sparkling water or sparkling apple juice to toast the book's arrival in historic west Petaluma, the city in which the story is set.

 

I'll leave some signed copies in Timo's office if you can't make the pop-up. Books are $21.95 with tax. Venmo me at the pop-up - Frances Rivetti author or Paypal at Frances Rivetti or pay with cash. Not taking credit cards at this time.

 

It'll be too close to Christmas this weekend for me to mail out any direct orders other than those I've already received.

 

Local bookstores will have no problem getting copies of The House on Liberty Street though you may have to ask them to order books. Until it gets on their radar they may not stock many copies. Let's get this book on the local bestseller list in the coming months! I hope to have some copies over to Vibe Gallery in downtown Petaluma this next week. The gallery is on the corner of B St & Petaluma Blvd downtown and is a big supporter of local authors. 

 

In the States? Order your print book from the preferred online book seller bookshop dot org. If you purchase The House on Liberty Street or any book from my Sonoma County authors book selection a portion of the sale goes back to local bookstores I've selected. And I'll see a little more of the sale than I would as an author on Amazon. https://bookshop.org/lists/books-by-sonoma-county-authors

 

International readers are now able to order online and through most of the bigger booksellers.

 

And last but not least, please do review on Amazon even if you don't buy the book online. It's the one spot where book reviews are so important for any book to make its way up the ranks in a crowded market.

 

Happy reading! Merry Christmas! 

 

Join Me and Petaluma Shakespeare Company for Bubbles & The Bard, Hotel Petaluma, Opening Night Dec 21st

My friends at Petaluma Shakespeare Company are producing a festive event Bubbles & The Bard – December 21, 22, and 23rd @ 7:30pm at The Hotel Petaluma. An intimate, enchanting evening with champagne bubbles, music and the seductive, witty, wondrous sonnets of William Shakespeare. A classy and celebratory way to ring in the holidays!

And I'll be there in the hotel foyer on opening night only with copies for sale of my new novel, The House on Liberty Street! Perfect timing for those last minute holiday gifts for readers in your life — or for you! 

Special Guest on Wednesday, December 21st-Pacific Empire Chorus.

Tickets $15.00 at www.bubblesandthebard.brownpapertickets.com

 

Buy The House on Liberty Street Book by Frances Rivetti - Pre-order for December 15th

Well the good news is my new novel, The House on Liberty Street — Home of Second Chances is available to preorder as an ebook - publication date Dec 15th.

After three years in the works, I can't wait for you to meet the characters who have been keeping me up at night as they welcome you into their home!

 

Print copies are still in process. It's been a bit of a holiday backlog and I'm being very patient, but hope to have copies a week before Christmas. I'll do lots of shout outs when they're ready to pick up from me at pop-ups locally, or by mail or through your favorite book vendor.

 

Although I truly appreciate any direct sales as soon as I do have my print copies, it's also great to support local bookstores and pre-ordering through Copperfield's Books and other local bookstores will get this book on their radar. Ingram will distribute so they will have no problem getting copies once its available.

 

I'll have print copies at Vibe Gallery in downtown Petaluma also. Vibe Gallery has been so supportive of local authors this past couple of years.

 

If you subscribe to my reader's newsletter via my author website francesrivetti.com I sent a news blast this week but suspect the initial newsletter may have hit some junk files - take a look for it if you didn't receive it.

 

This beautiful, original cover art is by fellow Petaluma British American, artist and dear friend Gail Foulkes. We worked long and hard on the creation of the perfect image of The House on Liberty Street. Gail drew many renditions of Victorian homes in the West Petaluma neighborhoods in which the story is set and we unanimously loved this one. Gail will join me at events in the coming year with a slideshow of her wonderful images. 

 

I'm planning on hosting pop-up pick-ups for my Sonoma County readers in the Petaluma area once I have print books in hand. I will send out social media blasts with dates and locations.

Signed Books will be $20 each plus $1.95 tax and will be available to purchase in person with cash or by Venmo (Frances Rivetti Author) or Paypal (Paypalme/francesrivetti). If you buy a book or two or three or four directly from me it will help me to cover my production costs and that will be much appreciated. It's my goal to sell 300 copies directly between mid December and the end of January!

Anyone wishing to have signed books mailed throughout the United States may pre-order via the Paypal store on the right hand side bar of the home page of this blog site Southern Sonoma Country Life.

I can't guarantee they will arrive to all destinations by December 24th, but I'll do my best to get them to you by New Years. 

Unfortunately, I can't ship outside of the United States as international mail is too costly & readers inside and outside of the states please note both print and ebook will be available to purchase wherever you like to buy your books on December 15th And this extends to the UK, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. 

Special events will be in the pipeline and I will be sure to share when and where. 

In my experience with my first three books, it takes a while for a book to gather buzz and so I'm looking at this December and winter as my soft launch for what will hopefully be a big year for The House on Liberty Street in 2023. Shared posts and reviews would be awesome. 

 

E-books may be pre-ordered at Barnes & Noble and all your favorite online book retailers now. 

Here's what The Prairies Book Review has to say:

Fast-paced and suspenseful… A wild roller coaster of a story.

Rivetti explores family, relationships, adaptability, change, and acceptance in this immersive thriller. It’s Christmas Eve. With festive tables set and a roaring fire warming her Northern California Victorian house parlor, Adamaria is looking forward to celebrating a cozy Christmas with her daughter Gracie and the latter’s two little girls. When a stranger sneaks into the house in the early hours of Christmas morning, Adamaria finds her world turning upside down. Told in third-person omniscient perspective, the narrative is immersed in holiday spirit. With a keen sensitivity to familial relationships, Rivetti makes good use of her thrilling plot, keeping readers thoroughly invested. The pacing is swift, the prose crisp, and the characterization top-notch. A close-knit family, an adorable pup, deft use of foreshadowing, and a storyline that’s just complicated enough make this an immersive read. A winner.

Thanksgiving Greetings from Fog Valley — A Poem & Pictures!

Seeing as November is Native American Heritage Month first and foremost and it being Thanksgiving it strikes me as an appropriate time to post my poem that I read at Petaluma Arts Center this summer and more recently at the Museum of Sonoma County in celebration of the museum's upcoming 2023 Sonoma County Stories. 

I haven't posted this, an adaptation of my second book, Fog Valley Winter, prior to this so I hope you enjoy it & it provides food for thought. 

It's been a busy November with several fun readings and events with my earlier books around the county and some lovely wine writing assignments too. I'm so close to getting my new novel The House on Liberty Street ready for a late year release, it's taking all my patience to keep a lid on it until it's live. Hopefully in the next few days! 

In the meantime, I will be at home here in southern Sonoma County with my family and friends and I can smell the scalloped potatoes baking while I'm posting this. 

I'm ever more grateful for every day spent in this beautiful place I call home. I'm so thankful for the wonderful community and countryside that surrounds us and appreciate all that takes place behind the scenes, the many, many folk who don't necessarily call out their dedication to making this the splendid place it is for all. 

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are and whomever you chose to spend your day with. And if you're taking a couple of days to relax and read, walk, pack a picnic for the beach, well that's great too. Expressing our gratitude for another day in Sonoma County (and beyond) comes in many shapes and forms. 

Fog Valley — The Tastiest Little Place on Earth — By Frances Rivetti

First there was the Miwok whose wild coastal realm and rich, natural foodshed

Nourished generation after generation for five thousand years or more

Salmon and steelhead trout, crabs, mussels, clams, limpet and oysters

Marsh plants, magnificent, dense and mystical forest of acorns and the California Buckeye Nut,

Elk and deer, at every meal a small portion offered in thanks to the spirit world

Then came the Russian fur hunters and soon after, the Mexican colonization of the Northern Frontier, the 21^st and final California Mission, 6,000 sheep and goats, 50 pigs and 3,500 head of cattle, 800 Spanish bushels of wheat, 1,025 bushels of barley, plus beans, garbanzos, peas and corn, European farming methods for Western foods, disease

A new world built on the backs of the First People

Grasslands decimated, wildlife and forests forever changed, the birth of California’s pioneer wine and dairy industries, Gold Rush fever, grapes, eggs, oysters, butter, milk, meat, the Petaluma Gold Rush Bean, introduced by a Peruvian whaler who jumped ship, flat, kidney-shaped, tan in color with specks and stripes of maroon

Bodega Red, the coastal region’s first potato, also of Peruvian descent

Wild Mushrooms, chantarelle, porcini, the illusive truffle

Immigrant culture — Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Swiss, German, Danes, English, Irish, Welsh

Cioppino, Sourdough, Clam Chowder, Stollen and Soda Bread, ranchers, cheesemakers

Jewish poultry pioneers — more eggs than imaginable

Apple Orchards, wild boar, hops, vineyards as far as the eye could see,

Wine, Butter and Egg Days, organic olive oil, craft beer

Cannabis

Community Supported Agriculture, farm boxes, plant-based foods, vegan cheese

Veggie gardens, farm shops, farmer’s markets

Climate Change, heat, wildfires, food pantries, pandemic

Water shortages, conservation, controlled burns

New ways to grow greens in a warmer, drier California

Healthy soils and cutting greenhouse gas, the circle is widening and closing at the same time

We look back to those who lived in harmony with the land for answers, for survival

Our Fog Valley

Precious and precarious

The Tastiest Little Place on Earth

Dutcher Crossing Winery Proprietor Debra Mathy Celebrates 15 Years in Dry Creek

What a treat to join the celebrations at Dutcher Crossing Winery in Dry Creek, Geyserville this week, in celebration of proprietor Debra Mathy's 15th anniversary at the helm. I've written about this winery in the past but I had been long overdue a return visit and taste. 

No Sonoma wine country celebration is complete without a sparkling toast to launch the festivities. And what better bubbles than Dutcher Crossing's Dry Creek Posterity Reserve Sparkling Blanc De Blancs? 

This elegant, pale straw color, sparkling, non-vintage Blanc De Blancs (white of whites) is made by winemaker Nick Briggs in the classic style of old-world champagne. Nick poured for guests at an intimate evening gathering in the tasting room and barrel room, explaining how he first made a still chardonnay and using the traditional method, or "Methode Champenoise" the wine was mixed with a small amount of sugar and fresh yeast, bottled immediately and closed with a crown cap. This second fermentation created the wonderful bubbles and trapped them in the wine. 

No wonder bubbly is so delightful, this lively one, with its distinctive aromas of golden apple, pineapple, bread dough floral notes especially. It was aged almost two years before tasting, final steps and release.  

With its 12% alcohol, winemaker Nick recommends a traditional pairing of blintz and beluga caviar, though butter popcorn and a move would work just as well this holiday season!

This limited edition sparkling wine retails at $56 a bottle and will last in your wine cellar for 2-4 years under ideal conditions. 

Debra, who was born and raised in Wisconsin, came to the wine industry from teaching and a background in food nutrition. She first visited the area with her Dad, after they had struck up a plan to embark on his last big project together. Debra had shared her dream of a winery with him and he had whole heartedly agreed. 

"Let's do this together, as long as I have left," he'd promised. Her dad was suffering from cancer. Dutcher Crossing wasn't on the market when they'd come looking. Three months later, her dear dad passed. And three months later, Debra bought Dutcher Crossing.  

The antique reproduction Penny Farthing bicycle that graces the tasting room is a replica of the original, in Debra's House. "It represents our journey into wine country together," says Debra, who honors her family with vineyards named after various members and her dad with a magnificent 2018 Charles F. Mathy "M" Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, which has raised many thousands of dollars for Melanoma research over the years at prestigious fundraising events.

The love of family and wine is deeply rooted and entwined at Dutcher Crossing. And with a winemaker who has become as close as family after 10 years as well as highly valued staff who have remained at the helm for as long, this is a winery where the values of close ties and connection is palpable. 

Winemaker Nick chatted to me about his childhood years helping make wine with family friends in the Arcata area in Humboldt County. His eyes lit up when he spoke of those early days and catching the winemaking bug at such a young age. His work life takes him to vineyard designates throughout the region. 

"Standing in a vineyard surrounded by ancient redwood trees in the early morning mist is pure magic," he said.

His foray into sparkling wine was a little nerve wracking but his instincts proved spot on with this stellar fizz. Nick started out with four wines when he joined the team and is now up to an impressive and dizzying 32 different wines each harvest season, depending on the vintage.

Debra encourages Nick to play with winery's outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, blending the 2021 Russian River Valley fruit  with trace amounts of Muscat from the Alexander Valley Roussane and Viogner from Dry Creek. "The '21 is a favorite," he said of this aromatic and expressive cool climate wine that benefits from the cooling effects of the Russian River and lingering morning fog. 

2021 brought lower than average rainfall for the second year. Lack of water coupled with cool weather during bloom made for a below average fruit set. Tropical notes of passion fruit and guava take the lead, followed by fresh cut grass, floral influences, lemons and limes — perfect to enjoy on a warm day but don't hesitate to open with a couple dozen raw oysters and a green salad with citrus vinaigrette. $38 a bottle and ready to enjoy right away.

Amber and Team of Preferred Sonoma Catering of Petaluma catered super pairings for the evening. A quince jam with crackers and chevre went down a treat with the Sauv Blanc.

Winery dog Lady is a recent addition to the team and yet she has her job nailed. She's a welcomer and though devoted to Debra, spends her time socializing with guests during her office hours! Lady's predecessor, Duchess, an icon at the winery, passed last year. Clearly Lady has big paw prints to fill, but it's clear she's making her own imprint on the place and everyone adores her.

Zin fans will not be disappointed with this big beauty. Debra describes Zin as: "One of the most challenging vintages, but always one of our best." 2018 Pritchett Peaks Vineyard Zinfandel Rockpile entices with its ripe red fruits, sweet cream, dried flowers and white pepper aromas. Notes of dark, chocolate-covered cherries after it opens up, await. Herbs, graham cracker and toasty oak come through. Mahogany or medium garnet in color, its acidity is balanced by a firm tannin structure that softens into a silky smoothness on the tongue.

2019 was a long, slow ripening year. Thankfully, all the fruit was harvested before any major rain came in. Located high above Lake Sonoma, Pritchett Peaks Vineyard embodies the best that the Rockpile Appellation has to offer. Steep slopes coupled with shallow, well-drained soils produce some of the best mountain grapes found in Sonoma County.This wine retails at $52 a bottle and pairs with lentils, roasted root veggies and quail. We tasted it alongside a delicious pork noodles. 

"Although this is a Zin house, we make reasonably bold wines in other varietals," Debra explained. Especially so the winery's signature Pinot Noirs. We tasted the 2018 Cut Root Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with a mushroom pizza. Oh it was so good! This inaugural release of the Cut Root Vineyard Pinot Noir is very special. It is the culmination of over seven years of work, beginning with the preparation of the ground for planting in 2014 and final bottling of the first vintage in January 2020. 

Debra and her staff set out to find a suitable piece of land with the intention of planting an exceptional cool climate Pinot Noir Vineyard and they certainly succeeded. While exploring western Sonoma County, they came across a little slice of heaven, nestled among towering Redwoods that extend over 100 feet into the sky. The first vines were planted in the spring of 2015. Multiple clones of Pinot Noir were planted for the site for their ability to produce world class wines in the renowned Green Valley of the Russian River AVA.

Cut root pruning each spring encourages the vine to put out new feeder roots that uptake nutrients and water from the soil, ensuring excellent vine health and exceptional fruit quality. 

The wine displays lovely aromas of black raspberries, sweet vanilla cream and tea leaves accented by black pepper, dried herbs and floral notes. Its bright palate is filled with flavors of red fruits, dried currants and a wonderful caramel from the oak. Full and rich for a Pinot, the tannins are young and full of aging promise while the acidity keeps the wine lively and bright throughout. Nick suggests pairing with an assortment of local hard cheeses and cured meats or a pork chop, brined and seared to perfection with a creamy mushroom sauce. This wine retails at $56 a bottle. If you're looking for a spectacular Sonoma County Pinot, this is it.

Grapes for the 2016 Dutchess Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley are sourced from a vineyard that sits high above the valley floor on a well drained,  shallow, rocky soil. The result is a wine with great fruit characteristics and a bold tannin structure. This wine showcased the power of mountain fruit in its color intensity and packed aromas of black currents, red berries, cedar and oak. Full and round, this cab exhibits baker's chocolate, sap and toasty oak that give way to its  massive tannin structure. 

It's a big, bold ol' boy that pairs perfectly, I have no doubt with a steak, hot off the sizzling grill. It is a wine that will age up to 25 years in the correct cellar conditions. 

Something special came home in one of these bags and is headed for my wine cellar/cupboard in the "do not drink for 10 years" section. There are some terrific holiday wine packs in the winery's online store. 

After all the fine wines, a special al fresco dessert awaited outside. Who can resist homemade s'more's? I mean, really?  It would have been rude not to partake!

Dutcher Crossing has a great wine club and cellar club for those not near enough to pick up allocations. If you have friends and family visiting over the holidays, this is one of my favorite wine regions and quietly off-the-beaten-track. Head north for brunch or lunch in the Healdsburg or Geyserville area and make Dutcher Crossing your tasting destination this winter. Click here for more info. 

When Debra bought Dutcher Crossing back in 2007, the operation came with 35 acres and five wines. Over the past decade and a half Debra has nurtured a dedicated team of talented winemakers, tasting room employees, and support staff who all share her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for quality. Today, under her stalwart leadership and creative vision, Dutcher Crossing offers more than thirty wines from a variety of wine regions in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties and owns 75 acres of estate-designated vineyards. The vintage penny farthing bicycle on the label pays homage to Debra’s passion as a cyclist and collector and is also a tribute to her father, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

If you go: 

For private seated tastings and tours make a reservation via the winery website. For casual bar tastings and wine club pick ups email reservations@dutchercrossingwinery.com to schedule. Monday to Sunday 11-5pm. 

Dutcher Crossing Winery, 8533 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville, CA 95441     707-431-2700