Southern Sonoma Country Life

A Visit to Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art — A Quirky, World Class Collection in a Secluded Carneros Oasis

Glass Bottle House by Mildred Howard

If you, like me, have driven by the metal sheep that dotted the hill at the entrance to the former di Rosa Preserve: Art and Nature, now known as the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, en-route between Sonoma and Napa, countless times and never made a visit, I highly recommend you put this quirky, secluded, world-class collection of an art-park on top of your summer to-do list.  

Lots of folk, locals such as myself, assumed the Carneros estate an exclusive winery (it was, back in the 1800s prior to the phylloxera epidemic which wiped out much of the region's earliest vineyards and for a while, later) — hence the name change to a more obvious art center vibe a couple of years prior to the more recent (human) pandemic. 

Rene di Rosa purchased these 217 acres back in 1960. He and his late wife, artist Veronica di Rosa used the profits from selling adjacent vineyard land to build their dream art-park in 1997.

They left their rambling paradise with an extensive art collection in two galleries, a sculpture meadow, olive grove and serene, 35-acre lake to the public via the Napa County Land Trust. 

The metal sheep, created by Veronica, have been relocated to a more bucolic spot at the back of the property, while the large, Mark di Suvero metallic orange sculpture, titled: "For Veronica" now graces the entrance to the art-park. 

I was invited to join a group of art-loving friends for a first time tour. Only one in our group of six had visited before and that was many years ago when she was taking an art class at College of Marin. We were all blown away by the collection of contemporary younger and regional artists that the di Rosa's had collected over the years.

A docent told us that Rene was a bargain hunter and scoured Northern California colleges for works by students and teachers. He certainly had an eye for the essence of this unique part of the world. 

He collected more than 1600 objects over five decades, from the 1960s until his death in 2010. And he considered it a kind of  "incorrect museum" — a potent concept in contrast to the aesthetic and social conventions of mainstream museums and galleries. 

Rene was unpretentious and anti-conservative in his approach to his collection, informed by the Bay-Area's unique artistic milieu, focusing on regional artists he deemed as too often over looked by critics and historians for imbuing a sense of "rascality". He held faith with the ideal that the Bay Area art scene reflects the regions radical social and political climate in the postwar years, a notable development that played a consequential role in the development of modern American art.

Click here to read more about the di Rosas. 

Sonoma County's David Best's "Rhinocar" — a 1976 Oldsmobile covered in found objects is one of the museum's most popular items in its eclectic collection. I was happy to hear after posting images on Instagram that Sonoma County contemporary artists Michael Garlington and Natalia Bertotti have been commissioned for a sculpture for di Rosa. I'm going to visit their studio later this summer and look forward to sharing more of their extraordinary work here on Southern Sonoma Country Life. 

Smoke damage from the 2017 wildfires impacted the late di Rosa's private residence and much of the collection, which underwent substantial conservation cleaning. The entire living room art was moved from the residence into Gallery 2.  

Considering all that has happened since the 2017 rename, the energy and excitement in reopening, even if on limited days/hours, is palpable and we visited on one of the 25th anniversary fundraiser days, which was lively and yet not overcrowded. There are lots of volunteers who are more than happy to chat about the collection and impart intriguing background info.

I think my favorite piece is the Angel-Go-Round by David Ireland though I was enthralled by the whole experience.

Admission is free to those under 17 years old, educators with school IDs and di Rosa members. General admission is $20 or $17 for seniors, military and students.

The museum and its courtyard is available to bilingual school tours and to rent for weddings — large, micro or elopements and private events.

The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art is located at 5200 Sonoma Highway, Napa. For more information call 707-226-5991 or visit dirosaart.com. 

Dream Catchers — Petaluma River Park — The Path Ahead — A Community's Vision for the Future

My focus has been on the river in my community writing in recent months and there's something very exciting happening within the fledgling Petaluma River Park this spring. It's not possible to cover this important Petaluma story without going into some detail and digressing into how it rubs shoulders with several other key aspects of the riverfront renaissance.

In late 2020, eight months into the pandemic, Petaluma River Park Foundation met its first and most urgent goal: the purchase of the 20.7 acre former McNear Peninsula in the heart of Petaluma to ensure the land's future as a public park.

Thanks to over 400 generous and forward-thinking donors, this extraordinary community effort for initial acquisition came to fruition as the first of its kind in the state. 

Now it is time our fantastic friends and neighbors invite us with them on the next important step: to help with fundraising, first for the rebuilding of a one-mile loop trail to be stoller-able, wheelchair-able and walkable for people of nearly all mobilities. Next round funding is sought for the remainder of the River Park's $10 million dollar budget, to continue community engagement programs, habitat restoration and infrastructure build.

If you don't yet know much about the park, this article is for you. And if you're up to date on the tremendous teamwork taking place, do share this story with friends and neighbors and coworkers who may not have heard what's happening with the park site that inhabits the bulk of the McNear Peninsula along the Petaluma River, just off D Street through Haystack Landing.

This extensive acreage is adjacent to the parking lot and land where the City-owned, Friends of the Petaluma River has its headquarters. The River Park is a separate group but the two will be working closely together. 

The goal is to create an inclusive and vibrant outdoor place that enriches the lives of everyone in our community and revitalizes our river habitat with ecological restoration. In turn, while we humans and our four-legged friends enjoy the park, its improvement will release the capacity of degraded river ecosystems to retain water, support biodiversity, create fire resiliency and adapt to climate change.

Petaluma River Park is about as central as it gets in our city and sits conveniently near the SMART train station, several bus stops and is within easy walking/cycling distance of downtown. 

Most people are entering and exiting the park from the north west side, at least until all the east side neighborhoods are able to connect with the park via the proposed south east site. Expect informational kiosks and way-finding signage to greet visitors. Oak, Willow, and Bay trees will provide shade and section-off an area for sculpture, picnics and recreation.

An outdoor amphitheater and sculpture site is envisioned to utilize the highly visible rise in the landscape. A ridge trail will lead visitors to the highest part of the property for full views of the river and park. This will likely be a good spot for a small craft dock to be built during the restoration phase.

The tip of the park is to include the monumental Huru, a sculpture by internationally renowned sculptor Mark di Suvero and on generous long term loan from Petaluma's McKegney family. 

Aren't we all so interconnected in Petaluma? It never ceases to amaze how it's the people in this awesome community of ours that get things done, they don't wait forever the City or County to some day think out of the box. Retired Special Ed teacher Carol McKegney and her late and much-missed husband Lowell were neighbors of mine three houses ago in West Petaluma when my sons were little and the McKegney's two daughters were in grade school. 

It's full-circle for many of the folk in the River Park think-tank. Carol and Katy McKegney are active River Park Captains.

Huru, meaning “hello” and “goodbye” in an aboriginal Australian language, is constructed of I-beams, in a form reminiscent of a person with extend arms—a greeting for “hello” or “goodbye”. It weighs in at six tons and stands at 55 feet tall with a 33-foot triangular base. 

photo illustration: Carol Mckegney

You may have seen Huru in Chrissy Field in 2014. Presented by SFMOMA in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, eight monumentally scaled Mark di Suvero sculptures rose at historic Crissy Field for a free yearlong exhibition.

Set against the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, a structure that has inspired the artist throughout his career, di Suvero’s dynamic steel sculptures exhibition brought together works from across the country, dating from 1967 to 2012, celebrating five decades of work by the acclaimed artist who has an active yard that he visits most days in Petaluma. 

Lowell McKegney was di Suvero's right hand man, his studio director for decades, traveling around the world to install the massive artworks. He passed away in 2011. 

Carol and I talked about the site where she envisions Huru to be placed. Carol quoted Mickey Rooney to Judy Garland in a number of Depression Era shows: "Hey kids, let's put on a show." Anyone who understands the reference gets it, there's plenty of money in our community to build this park.

"People are too plugged in these days," she said. "Too many don't stop to say hello. If everyone in our community did something towards making this park a reality, we'd get to know one another, so why wait for an earthquake to happen to jump into action?"

Carol says it as it is. I like that. "People need to take part in their city," she says, "Unify it."

"This spot is perfect for a park," she added. "When I saw the land, the confluence, its visibility from the west side, Highway 101 and the east side of town as well as coming up the river, I knew it was an ideal home for Huru." Carol's dream is that the location where the sculpture will grace the park will be known as "Lowell's Landing."

This is our chance to be impactful on a bigger scale. 

"It's a destination," said Carol. SMART train will draw people here to see the world class sculpture, it's a different kind of visitor. Let's not be the town that is known just for its thrift shops. The park will be a cultural facility that sets our city apart."

I also chatted with my friend Deb Smith, an enthusiastic Board Member for the Petaluma River Park. We met for coffee at Aqus Cafe which we took down to the park benches at the foot of H Street. There we were able to chat about the park as we looked across from the other side of the river. We talked about her involvement as a community member with the non-profit and how inspired she has become.

It was a peaceful, quiet May morning. We took in the familiar infrastructure of the former Pioneer Shell Plant (established in 1950) visible from across the park (which at its peak, churned out 10 to 12 tons of crushed oyster shell every hour). Oyster shells were utilized heavily in poultry and horse feed, in fertilizer and for landscaping.

Plans are also afoot in close proximity for an infill housing development to replace the historic oyster shell plant and its industrial buildings, core, central property that housed Lind Marine (formerly Jerico Products) for many years. Local historian and author John Sheehy's May 20 2022 Secret Sauce of Oyster Shells article in the Petaluma Argus Courier vividly and expertly outlines that neighboring site's early days and timeline of the oyster shell industry in Petaluma, another intertwining story within the evolution of the river. 

Studying the images on the City of Petaluma's planning process page for the future Oyster Cove, we can see how the development will border the entrance to the River Park at its north end. Entering the park will look a lot different in the coming years as proposed infill changes the character and face of the D Street corridor across town. 

The highly visible unsheltered encampment that grew and grew during the peak of the pandemic involved a legal battle with the City of Petaluma. It has recently lost its campaign to stay put on City-owned land on the east side of the entrance to open space. I hope a compromise will be made soon to relocate this makeshift village to a location with facilities. The River Park folk, while not unsympathetic to the plight of the unsheltered, were forced into a watch and wait holding pattern for many months. While the actual park land is for public use and though it is is privately owned, its purpose is for equal access open space that everyone in the community feels safe and comfortable accessing from dawn to dusk. 

The fantastic Downtown Streets Team has been maintaining the park throughout the past months in contract with The Petaluma River Park. Let's hear it for these hardworking folk who have been at risk for homelessness themselves and take enormous pride in the tending of our community streets and shared spaces. Friends of the Petaluma River has also been undertaking an incredible amount of conversation work along the waterway. 

image — concept sketch of Oyster Cove — Urban Mix Developments

I close my eyes and picture the waterway before the oyster shell industry and the land mass of the peninsula itself existed. I've recently read Becoming Story, a newly released journey among seasons, places, trees and ancestors by Greg Sarris (Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria).

In his book, the author asks what does it mean to be truly connected to the place you call home? It's a subject I've written about in my own books. Sitting by the river, I imagine a time, pre-European contact when Sonoma County was one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, back when, as Greg Sarris described: "hundreds of species of waterfowl flew up so thick as to obliterate the sun for hours at a time."

Before the heart of Petaluma valley was populated with pioneer settlers, iron-front Victorians and later, asphalt and strip malls — herds of elk, pronghorn  (the fastest mammal in North America) and black tailed deer grazed amongst thickets of blackberries along the waterway. 

The ancient coast Miwok Village of Petaluma was perched atop a low hill, three miles north east of where I sat with Deb that morning. There's little discussion these days of the thousands of years the inhabitants of a 500 person village of the Lekatuit Nation lived in harmony with the land, tule huts and fire smoke their only imprint. They knew when and where to gather willow and sedge and bullrush for basket weaving, the best spots for tule and medicinal herbs, roots, seeds, acorns. Deer and rabbits provided meat and fur for winter warmth.   

Many animals and birds have become extinct in Sonoma County since the early 1800s. It's hard to picture a grizzly bear dominating the animal kingdom of this waterway —though the mighty California Condor with its nine-foot wingspan is now being reintroduced to the wild, so look up!

Striped Bass, Leopard Shark and Bat Eagle Ray are reportedly the most common species of fish caught in the Petaluma River today. Both Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout use the Petaluma river and its tributaries, though not nearly in the quantities that thrived pre 1776 when Capt. Fernando Quiroz, a Spanish explorer, sailed up from San Francisco Bay to see if the Petaluma Creek led to Bodega Bay. Decades later he was followed by English and Russian fur hunters prior to the Gold Rush, when the tidal slough was described as a windy, narrow ditch amidst marshlands. Early travelers who learned to beware of low tides, arrived covered in mud.

The Petaluma Creek wasn't upgraded to the Petaluma River until an "act of Congress" in 1959 in order for the river to qualify for dredging.  Petaluma has changed dramatically over the past couple hundred years. And so it is thrilling to think of a land mass, an open space in the middle of the river, in the center of the city, that is destined to provide a pathway for us to reconnect with the land. 

Maybe it took the pandemic for us to truly recognize the vital, life-affirming power of open space? Deb and I talked about the City's green light decision for the relocation of the contentious public art clawfoot bathtub installation of artist Brian Goggin's Fine Balance from Water Street to the spot where we sat on H Street by the river. There are plans to turn this spot into a parklet.

It seems to me as good a compromise as any, with a reduction of size for the installation from six tubs on stilts to two. Though I have to agree with critics that night lighting, though nice, doesn't sound particularly environmentally friendly for wildlife along the river bank and within the park opposite. 

Back to the park. The Petaluma River Park team has rallied fiercely, led by its terrific co-founder and executive director Seair Lorentz. I met with Seair to talk about what's next for the non-profit as it launches its Spring fundraiser. Seair was excited to have the keys finally to a new office for The River Park at Foundry Wharf. 

"People need access to parks and fresh air. All across the country we are seeing cities claim more open space," said Seair, whose background is as a museum educator and marketing, communications and brand development. "Layer in Covid and all its isolating effects and we all flocked to open space. It has been a dark time, politically, socially and this has doubled our resolve as a non-profit."

She described how as a mostly all-volunteer team: "Ours is the task not to mend the entire world at once, but to make our corner of the world just that much better for our community."

I was impressed to hear how hard the board has worked to intentionally expand its diversity of voices, in part thanks to a community engagement grant that brought together a coalition of groups. What was originally an all-white board living within a specific radius is now 50% people of color. "This is a real testament to the excitement around the park in our greater community," explained Seair. 

The big question, she discussed, is whether the largely volunteer-run non-profit will continue to run the park permanently after fundraising to complete its infrastructure vision or if, at the appropriate juncture, it would be wise to hand over to the City or County as a signature civic amenity. Either way, there's little chance that such a promising public park would have ever come to be if it had been left as it was with little other prospects. 

"We have a lot of core players," said Seair. "Our ambassador program First Saturday walks resume in June. We're fully focused on getting community input and a six-foot trail will help with that. There's a form on our website for people to write in and get involved. Everyone's so excited for when the time comes to shovel." 

State and federal funding are being eyed for substantial opportunities in the coming months, though public and private sector support is also key.

Seair's husband, sculptor, and park co-founder Sean Paul Lorentz is River Park board member in charge (along with other key board members) of creative direction, operations, fundraising, events and park design. It is no coincidence that Sean Paul is studio manager for Mark di Suvero, following in the highly respected footsteps of the late Lowell McKegney in his role with di Suvero. It's nothing short of serendipitous how Huru is coming full circle to roost within the River Park in the hometown that fosters such stellar work and synergy within its creative community. 

Deb Smith had noticed a big photo board of the McNear Peninsula in the Golden Eagle Center the week we chatted and shared the picture she took of that old image which shows how West Petaluma has developed over the past decades. It's history is interesting in that it is a manmade peninsula, once grazed with livestock, aside a newly expanded canal, formed from 20.7 acres of river-dredged soil by the industrious McNear Family, back in 1898. The canal allowed access to the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad so that goods and produce were more easily transportable. 

My husband, REMAX Gold real estate broker Timo Rivetti, was instrumental in working with the far-flung McNear Family descendant heirs who, after much deliberation, agreed to sell the property they had first listed at $3 mill for parkland. The Petaluma River Park finally purchased the property in Nov 2020 for $1,055,000.

The city’s general plan designation had interrupted the family’s original vision to install a brick factory on the property. Though numerous developers would have loved to land their hands on this pivotal piece of private but very public property in the center of the city, there was no way that planning restrictions would allow anything to happen development-wise at any point in the future. Everything pointed to a park and the people of our community rose to the challenge. 

Here's a link to the Argus Courier article when the property was listed for sale back in 2016. 

Click here to meet the team behind Petaluma River Park. 

 

HELP BUILD THE TRAIL — CLICK HERE TO MAKE A GIFT BY JUNE 30 2022 AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR 

 

 

Sonoma County Artist Gail Foulkes Launches Online Showcase of an Extraordinary, Decades-Long Body of Work

Images — Gailfoulkes.com

I'm absolutely delighted to share the stunning new website of my beloved friend, prolific multi media artist Gail Foulkes, who works her magic from an idyllic studio in a turn-of-the-century Red Barn on her family's rustic country property on the border of West Petaluma and Marin County in bucolic Chileno Valley. 

Gail was born in Kenya and lived there until she was 12, when she went to high school in the UK. She remained in the UK until moving to Northern California with her husband, Michael and son Alex, 20 years ago. Our family's have been tight-knit since early on in the Foulkes' settling into our Sonoma County community. 

Both Gail and Michael are thoroughly immersed in community life, especially within the arts and many of my readers know them well and consider them dear friends, neighbors, dedicated arts supporters. 

And so it is super exciting to be able to share Gail's website Gailfoulkes.com with you all in its inaugural launch. Largely because this is the first time most people have had the opportunity to glimpse into Gail's rich body of work, of which there are some 600 plus pieces that she has produced over the past two decades alone.

"I started the site three or four years ago," says Gail. "Before COVID. A mentor at art school in the 80s said not to have a show until I had amassed a good body of work! Nearly four decades later, I finally feel confident in putting my work out there and not being too affected by what people say or think."

Early this year Gail pulled out all the stops to organize an extensive photoshoot of her diverse works in an outdoor studio on her property under the oaks. My youngest son, Dominic Rivetti was newly returned from a post-grad extended stay in Brooklyn and jumped into the project, working tirelessly with Gail out at Chileno Valley. They were lucky to have good weather to complete the shoot which was just the start of preparing the photographs Gail's art for online catalog. 

Fine tuning takes time and the two of them have been keenly focused for the past few months. It's wonderful to see such an extensive body of work on one, easy to navigate site. Bravo Gail & Dom. 

 

The pulling in during the pandemic made Gail look in rather than out. She describes how looking out: at her life in England, in Kenya, here, as somehow: "Too big," during that period. "It has brought me back to where I actually live, it is so important to be where you are," she says.

"I wanted to draw from the age of 12, but it wasn't until I was in my 30s that I finally went to art school and studied painting," says Gail. "Following art school, I branched out to learn about the third dimension through sculpture. And although I have always used the medium of photography for ideas and training my eye on composition, it is only recently that photography has become a medium that I use for more than just inspiration." Click here to see Gail's beautiful photography. 

"These are drawings and paintings I made during COVID using the brown paper bags from supermarkets when we weren't able to reuse them for our shopping. They just piled up and this was my way of recycling them," explains Gail, who was offered a show at Redwood Cafe last summer. "That really propelled me forward — everything seemed to be going in the right direction," she adds.

 

 

 

 

The section of my work from the 80s shows where I've come from in my work," says Gail. "I still do the same subject matter." 

Gail enjoys collaborating with fellow artists. Click here. This is very good for me as I am thrilled to be working with my dear friend on cover art for my upcoming novel, The House on Liberty Street. Gail has been sketching various Victorian properties around town these past few months. The idea is that she is recreating my fictional ideal of the house where most of the story takes place. Readers always want to know exactly where the ranch house in my first novel is located and I have to explain that it is an imagined home based on all of the energy of the many abandoned structures I've soaked in to my imagination in coastal Sonoma County and west Marin. The house in downtown Petaluma in this coming story is a similar amalgamation of heritage homes. I can't wait for us to complete the cover this summer and start showing it off prior to a fall release.

If you'd like to contact Gail for collaboration/shows or to see more of her work click here. 

McEvoy Ranch Launches a New Local Honey Collection

 

NEW this Spring! McEvoy Ranch Wildflower Honey Collection offers three unique local Northern California honey that pay homage to the tastes profiles of each region's flowers, orchards, vineyards, or fields the bees are visiting.   Marin Wildflower Honey A buttery mixture of native wildflowers, as well as backyard varieties such as Mexican Sage, Peppermint, Crepe Myrtle,  and Eucalyptus with a slightly lemony flair.   Sonoma Wildflower Honey A tasting profile of apple and pumpkin blossoms create a very delicate sweet honey.   Napa Wildflower Honey From the apiaries at some of Napa Valley’s finest wineries, where bees forage the sweet nectar right from the vineyard flowers.

Savor Them All With a  Wildflower Honey Gift Pack!

SHOP NOW

First Ever Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience a Huge Success

It was my pleasure to check out Saturday's Vintner's Plaza Grand Tasting at the first ever Healdsburg Food & Wine Experience. a three-day celebration featuring the best of Sonoma County and world-renowned food and wines.

This extensive festival showcased our region’s lauded makers – farmers, growers, winemakers and chefs – alongside globally recognized wines from the greatest wine regions of the world.

The goal of this new festival was to highlight the vibrant culinary diversity, sustainable farming practices and deep connection to the agriculture of Sonoma as it relates to the rest of the world. It certainly was an extraordinary event, with every small attention to detail in the connection of so many movers and shakers in the wine and food world in our county.

If you missed your chance to meet, eat/drink with and learn from a blend of super talented celebrity, Michelin-starred and James Beard award- winning chefs, world-renowned wine experts, wine makers and grape growers all in one place, then you'd best put the Healdsburg Food & Wine Experience on your radar for next May.

First stop before hitting the Vintner's Plaza Grand Tasting Experience was the Healdsburg Bar & Grill for tasty Sips & Sliders. 

I was thoroughly impressed by all the effort that went into beautifying each tasting booth. Lovely flowers, thoughtful shaded presentation, lots of care with hydrating guests in the heat and recycling. 

Packed with options, activities and unique locations, the event schedule offered a lineup suited for everyone’s tastes and pocketbook!  Customize your weekend experience next year. Options vary based on purchased ticket package, featuring a variety of culinary experiences with celebrity chefs (I caught Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Fan Favorite and contestant on Top Chef, Food Network star and judge, coach and judge on Fox’s Next Level Chef Nyesha Arrington crafting delicious tacos featured above at the Matheson), seminars, bbq and ranch tours, a country and western concert and super exclusive VIP evening parties.

Click here to see all the events that took place over the weekend in various scenic locales. 

To showcase this new event's commitment to the region, HW&FE plans to make a significant contribution to the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation towards healthcare, affordable housing and other critical support services for the Foundation’s farmers and families.

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is set to create a new scholarship fund for economically-challenged students of Healdsburg High School Future Farmers of America who wish to pursue a career in agriculture and farming.

It was rather a whirlwind visit for me as I had family visiting all weekend, though 2033 I for one will be sure to keep my calendar clear for the whole weekend to savor more of the wide range of events and experiences. Fun crowd, friendly folk making sure everyone had the best time. 

Locals may enjoy a volunteer stint or two during the weekend as a great way to experience the event. Check out the website for news on next year's celebration. 

Tickets Available for VIP Vineyard Truck Tour & Dutton Ranch BBQ With Texas Cowboy Chef Tim Love — Sunday, May 22nd, 2022

As part of  Sonoma County Winegrowers' co-founding partnership with this coming weekend's inaugural Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience, it is offering its exclusive Truck Talks for the first time to consumers 

Historically, Truck Talks have been part of the county winegrowers' outreach and education when it hosts media or Somms/wine trade in Sonoma County.  Guests have the opportunity to spend time with lauded local grape growers and experience Sonoma County from each farmer's perspective. 

As part of this year's first Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience, this literally equates to grape growers picking up 2-4 consumers in a truck from their hotel and giving them a unique Sonoma County tour -  to a particular vineyard the grower farms to taste the wine from that specific parcel. There are stop offs at favorite coffee shop and other area favorites.

This is your invitation to walk the vineyards, touch the soil, drink the wines and learn how wine is made from the person who makes it. A true “maker behind the magic” experience.

After the individual tours, all of the grape growers will bring their guests to Dutton Ranch in the Russian River for an old-fashioned BBQ where wines from all of the growers participating will be poured.

Truck Talks take place on Sunday, May 22nd from 9am-2pm (approximate timing) with Truck Talks  from 9am-11:30am and lunch at Dutton Ranch hosted by “Texas Cowboy Chef”, Tim Love from 11:30am-2:00pm (approximate timing).

Shuttles will return guests back to hotels and parking lots in Healdsburg mid afternoon. 

Located in the heart of California wine country, the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is a three-day celebration featuring the best of Sonoma County and world-renowned food and wines.

The festival will showcase the region’s makers – farmers, growers, winemakers and chefs – alongside globally recognized wines from the greatest wine regions of the world. If you're interested in checking out the festival, tickets are still available for the Vintners Grand Plaza Tasting on Saturday 21st May as well as the Vineyard Tours and Dutton Ranch event.

The Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting features wines from Sonoma, Napa and internationally renowned regions. Delicious foods will be prepared by local and internationally known chefs who will present their creations. Enjoy the live music of band Wobbly World and meet some of your favorite chefs who will be signing autographs throughout the day. Click here for more info. 

Sonoma County — Life Opens Up Spring 2022 — A Slice of Cheese, Wine, Style & Design

“You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.”

Anthony Bourdain

Well, I am definitely a romantic. And I invested more of my household staple budget and shopping time in cheese and wine during the past couple of years than ever, making sure as much of it as possible was local.

And I'm so glad that so many of you did too as we're coming through the other end of the long struggle for our regional farmstead producers who were so incredibly hard hit by the on-again, off-again shutting of restaurants and hospitality venues, their major source of income. It's heartening to see so many cheesemakers and artisan producers back at it in public, with tours, dinners and special events this Spring. 

I was delighted to attend the 16th annual California Artisan Cheese Festival in Santa Rosa at the county fairgrounds on Saturday May 6th. It was lovely to spend the day with good friend Lynne Devereux, former Marketing & Public Relations at Laura Chenel's Chèvre & Marin French Cheese, who was instrumental in the cheese festival's early days at the Sheraton Petaluma. I haven't seen Lynne, who lives in the East Bay since long before the pandemic so it was terrific to catch up in-person on life, the universe and strawberry-infused cream cheese bagels at a bustling, real life, local festival. 

Cheesemakers, beer makers, wine and mead producers, olive oil makers, you name it, the taste makers of the region were representing. It struck us that the lines of patient patrons waiting to taste have grown far more civilized given everyone's manners these days in not over crowding one another. It may be that there needs to be line hosts to keep things going in future years if we stay as sensible for the long term!

I hope next year to hear that the cheese tours will return. I've been on quite a few over the years and they're always so much fun. I love meeting folk from all over the world who come to explore the true flavor of terroir in and on our cheesemaking facilities, ranches and farms.

This cute crew had to be captured on film as they nibbled their way around some 60 or more vendors.

One of my favorite local cheesemaking families is Achadinha Cheese Company, just outside of Petaluma on Chileno Valley Road. I was delighted to see Donna Pacheco and family featured on Sonoma County's Life Open's Up videos. It really shows how beautiful it is in our part of the country. Look for Achadinha cheeses at your local California farmer's market and in regional stores. 

Last week was a busy one. I was also lucky enough to attend a fantastic winemaker dinner at the new Montage resort nestled among 258 acres of rolling vineyards and oak tree groves, outside of Healdsburg.

Thank you dear friends Michael and Carla Carpenter for the invite. Michael co-founded The Redd Collection — a retail wine business primarily focused on fine & rare wines. He and his family live in Southern Sonoma County where he has his finger on the pulse of California wines as well as wines from around the world. If you're looking to start or expand a wine collection, Michael's your guy. And he makes the wine world fun in his down-to-earth approach to sourcing and explaining everything from great value every day wines to whatever amazing wine suits your personal pallet & wallet.

Every year, Michael participates in Sonoma County Vintner's annual spring Barrel Auction extravaganza that takes place each year in Sonoma Wine Country over several days and at multiple locations. 

The intimate winemaker's dinner we attended featured a delicious menu served in a spectacular glass-enclosed, private modern dining room with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wine pairings served by renowned Fisher Vineyards and Patz & Hall Winery. 

It was my first time visiting the resort which features an 11,500-square-foot spa, a zero-edge resort pool, three signature dining options, including a seasonal poolside restaurant, inspired by our  region’s culinary heritage and renowned wineries. It really is spectacular. 

After the cheese festival I stopped by the Water Shed Warehouse in West Petaluma's riverfront neighborhood on 1st Street. Another friend, Wendy Owen, messaged me that she was going to be there with her sumptuous textile pillows and cushions for a pop-up that sounded intriguing. 

Needless to say, this beautifully renovated 100-year-old former grain warehouse which neighbors Foundry Wharf is a place to watch in Sonoma County for upscale style and design. It's exciting to see what happens next in that neighborhood.

 

 

 

Travel Tuesday — Inntravel's Beginner's Guide to European Walking Holidays

Inntravel is best known for seeking out foot travel along the lesser-taken paths of Europe. Since walking holidays are more popular than ever these days, the European-based travel company has commissioned the experienced route finder, Andy Montgomery to write a new online guide. 

“Finding the right walking holiday is the crucial first step.  Going too far out of your comfort zone can ruin a holiday, but get it right and every trip for years to come will be on foot,” she says. Among the important topics covered that new and inexperienced walkers will want to consider are: 

• How to decide upon the location: considering temperature, number of daylight hours, reaching the holiday, avoiding the busy honeypot sites, whether to opt for an itinerant hotel-to-hotel or a single centre holiday, and the importance of building in rest days.
• Tips for judging how difficult the walking will be: length, grading, number of days, ascents and descents, terrain, and whether to choose a circular or linear route are all considerations.
• Whether to opt for the flexibility of a self-guided holiday with route notes and maps provided, or a guided group walking with like-minded people who are all required to move at the same pace.
• What to pack for a walking holiday:  the best footwear for the terrain and quick dry, breathable clothing, the benefits of walking poles, a rucksack, and miscellaneous items like knee supports, sunscreen, first aid, sunglasses, a flask for water, and Vaseline for blister prevention.
• Preparing and getting fit for your walking holiday such as the need to break in new boots and walking for a distance at home on consecutive days, not just once a week.

More than 40% of new customers this year are opting for entry level (easy grade 1 and grade1-2 routes) walking holidays, according to Inntravel. As a result more flexible and accessible walking holidays have been introduced for 2022.

THREE NEW EASY EUROPEAN WALKING HOLIDAYS FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Guernsey Herm and Sark
Gentle Guernsey and its islands offer a delicious blend of both exotic and foreign, yet are reassuringly familiar –perfect for those new to a walking holiday. Introduced in April, the holiday combines a single centre 4-star hotel stay in one of Europe’s prettiest harbor towns with a pass for the local bus network to access walks that explore the dramatic cliff tops, quiet country lanes and crowd-free beaches.  Price: from £445pp based on 2 sharing, including 4 nights’ B&B, 1 dinner, daily bus pass, return transfers to Guernsey airport or ferry port, maps and walking notes, and GPS navigation. Grade 1 and 1-2.

Wonders of Western Sicily
Discover the quiet charms of Western Sicily and the dreamy Egadi Islands with their distinct North African accent and gentle pace of life. From the medieval hill-town of Erice, walk to vibrant Trapani, where an hour’s ferry takes walkers to Marettimo, the furthest-flung of the Egadi Islands. Here, follow Inntravel’s trails, including those along thyme-scented slopes where peregrine falcons and Bonelli’s eagles swoop overhead. The final two nights are spent in the Moorish coastal village of Scopello, gateway to the beautiful Zingaro Nature Reserve.  Price: from £775pp based on 2 sharing, including 7 nights’ B&B, 1 picnic and return ferry Trapani to Marettimo plus transfer on day 5, luggage transported, route notes and maps, and GPS navigation. Grade 1 – 2.

The Quiet Side of the Italian Riviera 
Away from the crowds, explore the Ligurian Riviera’s alluring villages and stunning coastline from the stylish coastal village of Moneglia, using the inexpensive local rail network.  Conveniently set between the Cinque Terre and Portofino Bay (2022 will mark 25 years since the Cinque Terre gained UNESCO status), walkers use the excellent rail links to access some of Italy’s finest and most flexible coastal walking.  Set in the hills just behind the seafront, stay in the friendly, family-run boutique hotel, Villa Edera, with a gourmet restaurant, a pool and a lift conveniently situated in the hotel garden which takes guests directly down to the railway station. Price: from £860pp based on 2 sharing, including 7 nights’ B&B, wine tasting session with tapas, route notes and maps, and GPS navigation. Grade 1 – 2, and 2.

Click here for further information on Inntravel’s walking holiday guide for new walkers visit
    
For more information on Inntravel generally, please visit www.inntravel.co.uk    

Travel Tuesday — Explore Norway's Senja Island From Air, Land and Sea

Senja by Heart - Kjopmannsoya_Pan

Frank-Andreassen_www.nordnorge.com.jpg

Mefjord Brygge - fishing piers.jpg

Now this one dropped into my inbox the other day and it sounds amazing. I get sent a lot of media releases from travel companies but I only share trips that I'd love to take myself.

A new autumn adventure has launched in northern Norway, providing an exclusive opportunity to experience the Arctic from three perspectives — from the air in a private helicopter, on land while hiking and e-biking across dramatic coastal mountaintops, and on the water and under water to meet Arctic aquatic life.

The five-day Senja Autumn Adventure has been created by specialist travel company Off the Map Travel for an exclusive holiday of relaxation and unusual experiences including snorkeling by the fjords.

Senja is Norway’s second largest island and a revelation to travelers to the Arctic. The itinerary has been specially curated for the autumn temperate weather to combine a variety of activities and excursions to showcase Senja in multiple ways. And maybe offer a glimpse of the Northern Lights if you're truly lucky. 

A mountainous island blessed with dramatic topography, Senja is Norway’s jewel when it comes to views, especially in autumn when it presents a palette of dark browns and greens from the mountains and sparkling turquoise from the sea.

The program begins in Trømso, dubbed “the Paris of the North” for its fashion, food and culture. Then the true adventure begins with a helicopter ride to Senja traveling above the island’s mountains and plateaus before landing in the small fishing village of Mefjordvaer on the Northwest coast.

“Senja is one of those unknown areas of the world, an unspoiled part of Norway, bursting with color and dramatic scenery,” comments Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “This is a special chance to experience Senja from multiple sensory angles. Our program is designed to consider every traveler’s wish and maybe even provide a glimpse of early Northern Lights.” 

All meals are included with North Norwegian favorites including reindeer shank and Skreigrunn cod. Accommodations are at Mefjord Brygge, a resort village with hotel rooms, apartments and cabins, a location favored by nature lovers, adventure seekers, photographers and hikers.

Guests have access to a wellness area with sauna, outdoor hot tub and solarium, an idyllic area for relaxing and soaking up the 360 degree views. A private pier overlooks a fjord that attracts local wildlife and has even more views of the rugged mountains on every side.

Water-based activities include a private boat trip to explore the island and search out seals playing beneath the surf, a visit to view salmon shoals, and an Off the Map Travel “exclusive experience” -- snorkeling in some of Senja’s crystal clear bays and inlets with the opportunity to explore Røst Reef, a cold-water coral reef and home to many distinctive species of fish.

As well as being a wild fauna and flora sanctuary, Senja is a paradise for bird watchers with a mix of marine birds, sea eagles, falcons and golden eagles.

Guests will also enjoy an e-bike tour through the mountains, accessing jaw-dropping viewpoints from the cliff edge and taking in the changing shades of the water along the coast before arriving at a secluded beach for a private-dining, chef-created experience of locally sourced seafood and ingredients.

The five-day, four-night Senja Autumn Adventure itinerary is priced from £5499 per person ($7149 USD at the time writing), based on double occupancy, including all activities, all meals, private chef for the secluded beach meal only, transfers, one night’s hotel accommodation in Trømso and three nights’ accommodation in Senja.

Flights are additional.

Itinerary Detail

Day 1: Arrive in Trømso for the first night and spend the evening exploring the city. Take a short walk to the stunning viewpoints looking down over the city and maybe watch the sun before dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants on offer. Depending when you arrive, there may be the option of an excursion or boat trip, too.

Day 2: After checking out, a short transfer to the airport will take you to your helicopter to take you across the stunning landscape to Senja. If helicopters aren’t your thing, your Adventure Artist can arrange alternative transport. In Senja, relax and settle into your accommodation before setting out on foot to explore Mefjordvaer, a small fishing village. Enjoy a leisurely dinner with beautiful views.

Day 3: After breakfast, gear up for a day trip on your own private boat to explore this beautiful island from the ocean. You’ll have your own crew and the option to head out in the morning or evening for three hours. Then it’s time to relax and enjoy your surroundings and another delicious dinner.

Day 4: For your final day in Senja, there is a special day planned for you with an activity exclusive to Off the Map Travel. You will be picked up by private boat transfer after breakfast and taken to Torsken, a rugged area on the west coast of Senja. Upon arrival you will experience an ‘underwater fjord tour’ in various bays and water inlets, a snorkeling experience giving you the opportunity to explore Senja’s crystal-clear waters. You will see a variety of sea anemones and flowers, and explore shallow coral reefs that are home to fish and starfish. You can then head up river to see salmon and visit a larger bay where you may even see seals playing beneath the surf. You are likely to see sea eagles too. Once finished, you can enjoy lunch before setting out on a beautiful e-bike tour through the fjords to a secluded beach for a private dinner prepared by your own, personal chef.

Day 5: After breakfast, transfer to Trømso via air, land or sea, taking in the beautiful landscape as you go. If you’re not ready for the adventure to end, speak to one of the team to see how they can tailor the trip for you.

OFF THE MAP TRAVEL

 The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in Soft Adventure OTMT creates tailor-made holiday itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies.  For more information on Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email info@offthemap.travel  or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest

 

Taste of Sonoma is Back In Person at Beautiful Kendall Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens, Saturday June 25th, 2022

One of my favorite regional wine event extravaganzas, Taste of Sonoma returns in-person on June 25th, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the beautiful grounds of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens. 

I've attended several Taste of Sonoma events over the years when the annual celebration was hosted at historic MacMurray Ranch in the Russian River area. I never made it to its spot at Sonoma State University, though I'm happy to hear it has landed at Kendall Jackson. 

One of Sonoma County’s most highly anticipated events of the year (presented by Vintec), this year's action-and-flavor-packed day features a fantastic, walk-around wine tasting, guided wine seminars, garden tours, premium wine experiences, lots to eat from local food trucks, themed lounges and activities.

With access to over 60 varietals from 18 unique growing areas, Sonoma County’s legendary winemakers have crafted wines for all palates.

Taste of Sonoma tickets are on sale now, take advantage of early bird pricing through May 31 at TasteofSonoma.com.

“We look forward to hosting Taste of Sonoma at Kendall-Jackson this year,” said Randy Ullom, Winemaster & Senior Vice President, Kendall-Jackson. “Locals and visitors look forward to sampling the exceptional variety of Sonoma County wines each year and our 4-acre culinary gardens, expansive lawn and al fresco patio will provide a picturesque backdrop for the food and wine experience.”

Soak up the sun and enjoy the bounty that Sonoma County has to offer in one immersive day. Sample Sonoma County wines from across the region and meet the vintners in the Grand Tasting AVA Tents.

VIP Club Reserve ticket holders will enjoy early admission at 11:00 a.m. with access throughout the day to limited production, reserve, and award-winning wines poured by the winemakers and owners of Sonoma County’s world-class wineries.

“Vintec is excited to join Taste of Sonoma as the Presenting Sponsor and Official Wine Storage Partner,” said Terri Fenwick, Senior Director of Sales. “Keeping wine stored at perfect temperatures in the hot summer sun will be a key part in elevating the tasting experience.”

Learn about the art of collecting, cellaring and serving wine in the Vintec Lounge; sip frosé at Rodney Strong Vineyard’s “Destination Rosé” Lounge; or play giant Jenga while sipping sparkling wine in the Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge.

Grab a beverage from the beer garden or the Kendall-Jackson Garden Bar to enjoy with complimentary dishes from the Nosh Food Truck Plaza. Get your groove on at the Celebrity Cruises Silent Disco and visit the Acura selfie station with friends to create a memento of the event. Enhance your day with add-on experiences such as exclusive Wine Talks and Garden Tours.

Getting to Taste of Sonoma is easy this year. The venue, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, is conveniently located near Highway 101 for Bay Area road-trippers.

If you're outside of the area and you're looking to make a weekend of it? There are lots of great lodging options nearby as well as direct flights to Sonoma County airport. Sonoma County Tourism’s website can help with your accommodation and itinerary search.

Early bird ticket purchases made by May 31 will receive special pricing, from $180 General Admission to $210 VIP Club Reserve, plus optional add-on experiences.

All attendees must be at least 21 years of age. Pets are not allowed, only service animals will be granted entry. Learn more at TasteofSonoma.com.