2015 California Wine Month: Celebrate the grape in Sonoma, California

Chardonnay Grapes - Sonoma County Tourism

I grew up in the San Francisco area. A Sunday drive to the Napa-Sonoma wine country was always a treat. And, Sonoma is still a major wine destination.

With harvest officially underway in Sonoma County, wineries are welcoming visitors with special events throughout September’s California Wine Month. From picking and crushing grapes to exclusive tastings and concerts, Sonoma County’s over 500 wineries offer a range of events to maximize guests’ wine country experience.

Below is a sampling of events happening in Sonoma County this fall:

Paradise Ridge – Wines & Sunsets in Paradise

Every Wednesday in September

Every Wednesday throughout September, the public is invited to enjoy Paradise Ridge wine while watching spectacular sunsets over the Russian River Valley. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends with the setting of the sun. The event showcases local food vendors and live music on the winery’s expansive veranda and poetry terrace. Tickets are $5 for wine club members, $8 for advance tickets and $10 at the door if available. For more information, visit www.prwinery.com.

Deerfield Ranch Winery – Cooking with the Winemaker

Available throughout September

Deerfield Ranch Winery is offering a special hands-on cooking class with renowned winemaker and owner, Robert Rex. Rex will offer visitors an exclusive wine tasting lunch, featuring luscious wines, delectable food and sweeping views of the vineyard. For more information, visit www.deerfieldranch.com.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend

September 4 – 6

This highly-anticipated weekend is Sonoma County’s signature event and one of the top-three national charity wine events named by Wine Spectator magazine. The event brings together over 200 of Sonoma’s top winemakers and growers, along with 60 of the area’s best chefs. Since its inception, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend has raised over $16 million for charities that benefit students, children, farm workers and people in need in the local community. The weekend includes intimate lunches and dinners at an array of winery properties, followed by the Sonoma Harvest Auction on Sunday. Tickets range from $85 to $500. For more information, visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.

Sebastini Vineyard & Winery – Friday Night Music Series

September 4, 11, 18, 25

Throughout the month of September, Sebastini Vineyard & Winery will host the Friday Night Music Series. Visitors can enjoy live music from a variety of musicians in the vineyard’s tasting room starting at 6:00 p.m. The winery will present “Food Truck Friday” on the last Friday of the month, featuring an enticing lineup of local gourmet trucks. The event is free for attendees. Wine is available for purchase by the glass and by the bottle. The following bands will be performing:

·         September 4 – Polyntlyss Sistars

·         September 11 – Sugar Foot

·         September 18 – BackTrax

·         September 25 – The Rolling Blackouts

For more information, visit www.sebastiani.com.

Roth Estate Winery - Adults at Play

September 4

Roth Estate Winery celebrates the opening of the new tasting room with Adults at Play, a Friday night event with wine specials, small bite appetizers, outdoor games and live entertainment from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and wine and food will be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.rothwinery.com.

Rodney Strong Vineyards Summer Concert featuring George Benson

September 5

Surrounded by acres of vineyards, visitors are invited to listen to George Benson perform at Rodney Strong Vineyards intimate concert venue, The Green at 5:00 p.m. Benson, a musical icon and ten-time Grammy Award winning guitarist is known for his engaging blend of pop, R&B and jazz styles, alongside his formidable vocal talent. General admission tickets are $75 and VIP seating is $110. For more information, visit www.rodneystrong.com.

Dutton-Goldfield Winery – Vineyard Hike and Tasting

September 12

Sommelier Nicole Kosta will take visitors on a hike through the information and provide insider information on the soil, vines and geography of the area, while enjoying some sips of wine. After the hike, the winery will present a seated tasting of the rest of the current releases along with a brunch. Vineyard tour and tasting is $50 per person. For more information, visit www.duttongoldfield.com.

Seghesio Family Vineyard – Harvest Homecoming 120th Anniversary Party at Home Ranch

September 12

Seghesio Family Vineyard presents its first annual Harvest Homecoming celebrating their 120^th Anniversary from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event will mark the release of the 2012 vintage of the most limited production wine, Chianti Station. General tickets are $75, including food and wine, parking and entertainment. VIP tickets are $150, including a VIP wine reception and opportunity to acquire limited vintages of Home Ranch Zinfandel and library vintages of Chianti Station. For more information, visit www.seghesio.com.

Lancaster Estate – Lancaster Fall Harvest Celebration

September 19

Lancaster Estate will host the annual Lancaster Fall Harvest Celebration from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., highlighting the release of the 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The celebration will include seasonal food and wine pairings along with the exclusive opportunity to sample wine from the barrels and purchase the limited production of Cabernet Franc. The event is open to wine club members and the general public. Guild members receive four complimentary tickets. VIP library tasting pre-party is $65; Member tickets are $45; General public tickets are $65. For more information, visit www.lancaster-estate.com.

Sonoma County Grape Camp

September 20 – 22

Known as the ultimate getaway for food and wine lovers, the ninth annual Sonoma County Grape Camp is an experiential vacation that offers a hands-on experience harvesting grapes and blending wine during harvest season on various vineyards. Campers will have exclusive access to the influential grape growers, winemakers and chefs who help make Sonoma County a world-class culinary destination. Cost for Grape Camp 2015 is $2,000 per person and $3,700 per couple. Price includes three nights’ accommodations at Vintners Inn, meals, tastings and transportation during camp. For more information, visit www.sonomagrapecamp.com.

Matanzas Creek Winery – Tasting Til' Twilight

Extended hours through September 26

Tasting til’ Twilight continues at Matanzas Creek Winery with seasonal extended hours through September 26. The tasting room will remain open until 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings for guests to enjoy wine tastings, picnicking, bocce ball or simply relaxing in the beauty of the vineyard. The winery will also present live music on Friday nights. For more information, visit www.matanzascreek.com.

Kendall-Jackson Winery – 19^th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival

September 26

The Kendall Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens are again playing host to the annual Heirloom Tomato Festival, now in its 19^th consecutive year. Tickets provide all-day access to samplings of more than 150 varieties of heirloom tomatoes – grown in the Kendall-Jackson culinary gardens – a chef competition featuring Bravo’s Top Chef contenders and tomato-inspired dishes from nearly 50 prominent wine country and Bay Area restaurant chefs and food purveyors. The festival will also feature wine tasting, live music by Grammy nominated Andre Thierry and educational wine and garden seminars. General admission tickets for the Heirloom Tomato Festival are $95 and $175 for Premier Access tickets, with exclusive pricing available for Kendall-Jackson wine club members. For more information, visit www.kj.com/visit-tomato-festival.

Sbragia Family Vineyards - Harvest Moon Dinner

September 26

Sbragia Family Vineyards will host the annual Harvest Moon Dinner from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. where guests can enjoy a gourmet four-course meal prepared by John Ash with wine pairings and live music by New Skye. After dinner, the winery will offer tastings of the 2005 Cabernet magnums to celebrate 10 years of Sbragia Family Vineyards. General public tickets are $195 and wine club member tickets are $165. For more information, visit www.sbragia.com.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

October 2 – 4

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair marks its 41^st year of showcasing the county’s grand harvest with world-class wines, award winning beers and a plethora of culinary wealth. Each October, travelers from over thirty different states are invited to Santa Rosa to participate in the farm-to-table experience, inspired by the county’s hard working farmers, ranchers, vintners and producers. The epicenter of the Harvest Fair is the Grand Tasting Pavilion, which features over 100 Sonoma County wineries bringing forth the best varietals of sampling. Tickets range from $5 to $125. For more information, visit www.harvestfair.org.

Sonoma Valley Reserve: Tour the Hidden Gems of Sonoma Valley

October 18 – 19

Travelers are invited to experience an insider’s view of world-class wineries with two days of exclusive tours. The excursion provides an in-depth history of Sonoma Valley and behind the scenes visits to four different wineries, chauffeur transportation and lunch. For more information, visit www.reservesonomavalley.com.

Pinot on the River

October 25

Pinot on the River will occur on October 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Russian River Valley town of Healdsburg. The day features tastings, seminars, vineyard tours and guest artisan food vendors focused on limited-production Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County and other top regions along the West Coast. Advance tickets are $75 and $100 at the door. For more information, visit www.pinotfestival.com.

To stay up-to-date on all events in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-events. For more information on insider tips for upcoming travel to Sonoma County, please visit www.sonomacounty.com.

Information provided by Sonoma County Tourism

Noteworthy Restrooms: The Wash, Dry and Fluff Toilet

A toilet with a control panel.
Photo Credit: Irene S. Levine

When visiting Napa Valley, California, we booked a room at a green hotel, the Hotel Bardessono, which has received LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. One evening, we were dining in the hotel restaurant and I had the occasion to use the public restroom in the lobby. 

After I entered one of several cubicles arranged in a semicircle in the unisex bathroom, I closed the door to my stall. 

I was blown away when I saw a control panel on the wall. It looked like it could launch a rocket ship and was far more complicated than the thermostat in my home. 

This was the first time I encountered a multipurpose toilet/personal cleansing system called the Toto Neorest 500 that washed, dried and fluffed. The seat was heated and cleaned itself, and the water temperature was adjustable. Needless to say, I fell in love with this Toto toilet and made sure my husband had the opportunity to “experience” it, too. Subsequently, I learned that the units are very popular in Japan.

More
More of our Restroom Picks
Noteworthy Restrooms Pinterest Board
A tour of Great Hotel Bathrooms

Guest Writer Irene S. Levine is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer who is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her blog, MoreTimeToTravel.com offers advice and inspiration for travelers over 50

Hound Dog Traveler: Good Times in California

By Guest Writer Cinnamon (Canela) Rose

I have to admit that I've been a little depressed since being kidnapped from my normal life in Santa Fe, New Mexico and forced to live a life on the road.

But today was a good day. We stayed at a La Quinta in Stockton, California and slept in a little this morning. We then found that there was a dog park, Barkleyville Dog Park, a few minutes from the motel. As we drove up to Barkleyville, I let out a yip (yes, hounds can yip). I couldn't believe my eyes. The fenced park had landscaping, sculptures and some huge trees. It was divided into a tiny dog section, a normal dog section and... get this, an agility course.

No one else was around so we went into the normal dog section. I sniffed it out and then decided I wanted to play. There were some tennis balls left at the park so she threw them for me. I chased balls from one end of the park to the other. I even jumped and caught a few mid-air. It was a cool morning and I was having a great time... running, playing and being out of the car!

My only complaint about the park was that they didn't have still water. They had a doggie water fountain and running water reminds me of baths and being squirted by the hose so I stayed away. What a great outing.

Soon we packed up and headed north. The farmland in northern California is much greener and healthier looking than what we passed through yesterday. The produce growing there needed a good washing, in my opinion.

I laid down and dozed off a bit but we stopped at a couple of rest stops so I could sniff around. (That's what I do at rest stops.) After that I was a bit more alert and watched the trucks. The best truck was a flatbed hauling bee hives, stacked four high. Now that is not so interesting in itself, but this truck had the bees too! On each side of the truck it had yellow signs with black lettering.... BEES. The hives were covered with black netting. And inside you could see the bees crawling around. I'll bet they were really mad about THEIR trip. I rolled up my window just in case there might be a few loose angry bees.

I was having such a great day that I didn't even complain when we got off the freeway at Corning, the Olive City. We saw a sign guiding us to the many olive shops in the area. She selected Lucero's and we drove in to see a large tasting room and olive press and processing room. I had to stay in the car, but she came back with some gifts for friends and a large bottle of olive oil for our kitchen. And, as is usual, there was nothing for me!

Soon we were seeing mountains and had reached Redding, California where we pulled into our 4th La Quinta Inn. We got a first floor room again and unpacked a bit. Since there was a dog park in town, we got back in the car and headed over there. It was a fun dog park with lots of dogs playing together but I was tired and just walked around the perimeter sniffing things. I liked the Stockton dog park best. In fact, I wouldn't mind living near there. (I wondered if having such a state of the art dog park was the reason the city was going bankrupt).

It was a shorter trip today and I had a fun time. I liked looking at the green crops, orchards in blossom and the real rivers (most rivers are dry in New Mexico).  Maybe I can become a good traveler. I'm trying, anyway.

I'm going to take a break now and rest on my bed. I am looking forward to seeing the mountains tomorrow. I'm starting to get excited about my new home.

Hound Dog Traveler: Tehachapi to Stockton, California

Here I am in the In and Out Burger Drive Through

By Guest Writer: Cinnamon (Canela) Rose
This is now day number three on the road. It is becoming tougher and tougher to remain interested in this moving process.

Last night we stayed in a very mediocre La Quinta Inn behind a gas station and across from an interesting field. I slept well as the motel was quiet but I suspect that was because they didn't have too many paying customers.

In the morning, we went for another walk in the field across the road. And then, much to my surprise, we went looking for the community dog park. Boy, was I excited! We turned into the park and saw some ball fields but were not sure where the fenced dog park was. We gave up looking and decided to follow a trail. It was a great trail for two reasons. One, I saw a Jackrabbit hopping across the trail and into the brush. And second, the trail actually led to the dog park. We went through the gate and I was off my leash. I loved that but where were the dogs? I spent my time in the dog park alone... eating grass and sniffing around. Why don't the dogs in Tehachapi, California come to the dog park? I am missing my friends from the dog park in Santa Fe. Snif..... snif.

And then it was back on the road. As we went through the mountain pass I saw some of the beauty of California... green rolling hills. But all too soon we were down into the valley... the Central Valley of California, where all that food is grown. It was kind of overcast, or was it smoggy. The roads were in poor condition so I laid down and snoozed. Yes, some of the orchards were in bloom but I was feeling down. The ride was not too different from yesterday and it was just too much for this hound dog to remain positive about.

About mid-day, I had had enough of the trucks (no mas camiones... no mas!), and the bumpy roads. But we decided to stop and try an In and Out Burger. I got a few tastes and that bouyed my spirits a bit. By afternoon, it was back to the same.. trucks, traffic and poor roads. I don't want to live in California!

There was a place where you could stop and go wine tasting and nut tasting. Pistachios were their specialty. But we didn't stop. Grrrr. We did stop at a couple of Rest Stops but I wasn't sure what I should do there. We walked around, but that's about it.

Here I am in the motel on my own bed with my fav toy.

I was getting pretty depressed when we pulled into the next La Quinta. We were in Stockton, California (the town that is going bankrupt) and the area where the motel was turned out to be rather nice. There was a rose garden, grass and pine cones. We got a room on the first floor with no hallway. Best of all, she brought in one of my "long lost" toys for me to play with. That helped my spirits. After writing this, I'm going to lay on my bed and play with my squeaky toy. Life is only OK. I will be glad when this is over. If I could, I'd go back home to Santa Fe. Enough of this "adventure!"

Later,
Cinnamon

Back to the Future: Exploring Los Gatos California with the South Bay Striders

You can never go back, they say. Everything changes and nothing will be as you remembered. But that doesn't stop travelers from going to class reunions, military unit reunions and touring their childhood home towns. Is it all reminiscing or can the journey to the past be much more?

The Invitation: 25th Anniversary Reunion
I don't go to class reunions but this reunion piqued my interest. 25 years ago I founded a very special walking club in Santa Clara County, California... The South Bay Striders. Our first walk was in the quaint, historic town of Los Gatos. Founding member, Helen, researched all the lovely Victorian homes and wrote up a turn by turn description for this historic walk.

I once lived in San Jose and loved going to Los Gatos to walk that six mile historic walk route and then reward myself by sitting in a sidewalk cafe thinking about how much fun our walking sport, called volksmarching, was in Europe. After living in Europe for three years, I had some trouble adjusting to the strip malls and fast food joints of San Jose and loved getting away to Los Gatos which reminded me of a European village. Walking helped me adjust to a new community, gave me and my family some fun outings, and enabled me to make new friends. The club provided interesting walks and a great social outlet.

So when I received the invitation to the 25th Anniversary celebration, I thought it would be a great way to see Helen again, reconnect with the people who walked with me on those trails many years ago and explore the post-earthquake (1989 Loma Prieta) Los Gatos. Although I am not much for reminiscing, I wanted to experience the weekend with friends whom I had met as we formed the non-profit walking club. And, I was curious about how the area had changed.

High Tech Surprises 
I flew in to SJC, San Jose's Mineta Airport, and was amazed by the size and high-tech feel of the terminal. Oh yes, this was now the center of Silicon Valley, not the sleepy agricultural town of San Jose!

My friends, Ken and Helen, met me (they hadn't changed a bit) and we were off through San Jose. I no longer recognized the terrain as new shopping centers had sprung up. Soon we were on Hwy 17 and then I recognized the trees, the green highway signs and knew which exit to take to downtown Los Gatos.

We drove slowly down the main street of Los Gatos so we could  comment on what was new and what was old.  I looked forward to exploring the boutiques and stores lining the streets. We passed an enormous electronics store selling iPhones in a stark contemporary setting, slightly out of place for this street full of frou-frou decorator stores and upscale boutiques.

Some things were the same and some were different, but I have to say that the changes were enticing. The town had kept the upscale boutique type look but the fashions were all current. There were no big box stores that I could see.  People strolled the sidewalks just as they did 25 years ago and it was clearly a draw for young professionals and their trendily dressed offspring.

On to the New
I was chomping at the bit to explore the treasures of this little town but first, a well-needed rest. I could have stayed at the Los Gatos Garden Inn, which is where we stayed in the "old days." It didn't look like it had changed much. But enough of trying to re-live the past. I was excited about today.

I opted for a new, beautiful Tuscan-style hotel just across from the Los Gatos High School. Hotel Los Gatos & Spa was just down the street from the main shopping and dining areas and was not far from where our celebratory walk event would take place the next day.

I enjoyed the warm Mediterranean decor, comfortable suite and excellent service. I was glad to experience the new hotel in Los Gatos and leave my memories behind. I dined in the adjacent restaurant, Dio Deka that night. The cuisine was excellent.

25 years prior, we thought dining at The Chart House in a renovated Victorian (previously a funeral home) was the best place to go to celebrate special occasions and it was... then. I noticed  that the restaurant had been taken over by another. Things do change and evolve as time goes by.  After enjoying the lamb dinner at Dio Deka, I had to say that things had evolved well in Los Gatos and, after 25 years, my tastes had become more discriminating.

Walking Los GatosThe next day I awoke to mist hanging in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was a beautiful sight. The air smelled of redwood trees and the rain that had washed the foothill town over the night.

I met my friends at "Never Never Land," a small cabin used by the Boy Scouts on a piece of property behind Los Gatos High School. It hadn't changed a bit! Some of the club members had aged, but so had I!. The walking event was held in the same manner as we held it 25 years ago. Register, sign a waiver and go out to follow a marked trail.

After a brief session of reminiscing and looking at some old photos, we chose the 10K trail and, accompanied by the original planner of the event, strode out down memory lane. Or, in my case, on a trail of discovery.

As we walked, we noticed that elegant Victorian homes, once brought to their knees, shaken and broken by the Loma Prieta quake, were now freshly painted and new looking. Homes, still historic with the tell-tale Los Gatos cat bell plaque beside the door, were remodeled and beautiful.

We found the route to be a new experience. We quickly became tourists in what once was a familiar town, enjoying the gorgeous homes and quaint shops. Only occasionally lapsing back to what used to be, we found ourselves thoroughly enjoying the sunny fall day, admiring the depth of color in the fall leaves and stopping for lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

Our day became more of an exploration of a lovely town and less a walk down memory lane. As a travel writer, I found so much material for future articles. I decided that Los Gatos was a destination for those wanting to explore this part of California, for shoppers and discriminating diners.  There was so much to think about and explore that memories remained faded and new memories were made.

Reunions Are Not Just About the Past 
What I discovered that weekend was that my original walking club friends were still great people to be with. As I had grown and changed careers, so had they. They were vibrant, interesting people and our talk of the past soon changed to the current.

The reunion was just a vehicle to get me back to California to explore Los Gatos and to have friends to enjoy the experience with.

More Information
Hotel Los Gatos and Spa
Exploring Los Gatos California
South Bay Striders Walking Club
American Volkssport Association
Baby Boomers Travels Down Memory Lane