It’s no secret that California wines are something to be treasured. We have an ideal climate for winemaking, have exquisite vines, and have raised and attracted a serious number of genius winemakers. California is responsible for more than 90% of all wine produced in the US and is the fourth largest wine producer in the world. The Wine Country region – with its beautiful, natural backdrop, and celebrated delicacies and lifestyle – is a top tourist destination. Sometimes it’s easy to take such things for granted.

Photo credit: Romy Schneider

Late summer/early fall is a perfect time to explore the Wine Country – when the air starts to get a little crisp, the leaves are changing to a colorful yellow and crimson, and the flocks of tourists have returned home. This time of year, also known as Crush, is when you can witness first-hand the excitement of harvest season: grape-picking, sorting, crushing and fermentation. Wineries become abuzz with the energy a new vintage brings and the smell of crushed grapes permeates the air.

September is also California Wine Month, as proclaimed by Governor Schwarzenegger who stated, “The Judgment of Paris in 1976 brought California wine to the world stage and established our wine producers as respected masters of their craft. This month is dedicated to celebrating our rich history of wine-making and the bright future of this important industry.” To celebrate the honor, many wineries and regional associations are offering special events – a list of which can be found here.

But the autumn harvest festivities don’t end there as October brings the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, a three-day celebration featuring wine tasting, chef demonstrations, the World Class Championship Grape Stomp, live jazz, a craft pavilion and more.

So for those still yearning for warm weather outings and the joy of simple pleasures – it’s as easy as enjoying a glass of California wine and savoring the beauty of the North Bay.

In keeping with our “Reasons” theme, here are 10 Reasons to love California Wine.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live 

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

When the simple question of “Where should we go to breakfast?” comes up, two places come to mind without the slightest hesitation: Dierk’s Parkside Café and Water Street Bistro. If you’re looking for the best breakfast in Sonoma County, look no further than these two local gems.

Dierk’s Parkside Café
I describe this place to friends as “dinner service at breakfast.” It’s an unassuming place, although they have expanded into an adjacent space so it’s not so diner-y as it once was. There’s a counter that looks into the kitchen where you will see the chefs in their kitchen whites—at breakfast! Servers are polite, remember specials off the top of their heads, make great conversation and move gracefully through the place making it so inviting to the breakfast guests. Coffee cups are big with strong, delicious brew.  The food, well, is absolutely amazing. A few items on the recent menu included:

• Warm poached egg salad—two poached eggs on a bed of local mixed greens, chopped bacon, fresh herbs, potatoes, croutons and tomatoes with herb dressing.
• Sonoma Duck Confit with potato hash, scrambled eggs, toast and warm apples.
• Biscuits and gravy
  
• Heuvos Rancheros, oh and ….
• Country Benedict—warm crispy baguette, covered with scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, spinach, oven dried tomatoes and hollandaise—YUM!!!!

Seriously, do not miss this place.

Dierk’s is open 7am-2pm daily; Brunch is served on Saturday and Sundays; Breakfast and lunch served daily till 2pm.

Location: 404 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa

Water Street Bistro
Another favorite, located at the end of Western Ave at Water Street in Petaluma, Water Street Bistro is a homey, hometown breakfast spot with the feel of your mom’s kitchen. Lots of freshly baked pies, quiches, savory breakfast tarts, pastries, and scones are all out on display and not more than an hour or so from the oven. The chef/owner Stephanie decides on the fly what will be on the menu that day and goes with the seasons when it comes to what she’ll be baking that morning. You will always have the freshest and the most delicious meal with anything you order here. Savory or sweet, she’s got something delicious for you to eat. She’s up and at ‘em at 5am and doesn’t stop all day. Situated along the Petaluma River, boaters visiting the area have told me that upon waking in the Petaluma’s turning basin, they thought someone was on board baking right in their galley! Locals and visitors love it. Be sure you have time to savor the experience. It’s a small kitchen space and limited prep area so relax and enjoy.

Water Street Bistro is open Monday-Friday from 7:30am – 3:30pm, and closed Tuesdays. Weekend hours are 8am-4pm on Saturdays and 8:30am-2:30pm on Sundays.

Location: 100 Petaluma Blvd. North – Petaluma

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

Oh, the never ending list of things to do, see, hear, eat in Petaluma! Wednesday, August 4 will be no exception. The Baker Creek Seed Bank will host the food journalist Paul Greenberg, author of “Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food” as he discusses his latest book. Notably, this past week, Greenberg’s book was the featured review in Sunday’s New York Times’ Book Review.

Greenberg will discuss his views on the four fish that dominate the food market today. His award-winning books and articles have received wide acclaim and he promises to be a dynamic and thought provoking speaker. Copperfields’ Books will co-sponsor the event and it promises to draw a big crowd. The speaker begins at 6:30 and the event is free.

The Baker Creek Seed Bank opened in June in a historic building in Petaluma, originally home to Sonoma County Bank (circa 1926) and offers one of California’s largest selections of organic and heirloom seeds – 1,200 varieties in all – as well as traditional gardening products. You just have to enter this mammoth building, housing thousands of packets of tiny seeds to get the juxtaposition. Rain or shine, it’s a heck of a good time. According to store manager Paul Wallace, Baker Creek chose to locate to Petaluma because 50% of its California mail-order customers live within a one-hour radius of the Central Petaluma location at E. Washington and Petaluma Blvd. North.

The LA Times and The Huffington Post both cite the unique pairing of a former bank with the location of the seed bank. Even Fast Company, the magazine with a focus on the most creative individuals sparking change in the marketplace, notes that unlike the bank that stood in its place prior, Baker Creek is thriving.

The Baker Creek Seed Bank is at 199 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, (707) 509-5171. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Saturday.

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

Once again, Petaluma closes its downtown streets to welcome the 9th Annual Art and Garden Festival. There’s always so much to do on a given weekend in Wine Country, but this Festival has something that will keep you in town if you live here, and drive you here if you live elsewhere. On Sunday, July 11, from 11AM to 4PM you can be part of the fun for free too.

As the name implies, it’s about art and garden but also about music, kids’ activities and beer and wine. Over 100 vendors will set up for your enjoyment. Stroll our charming downtown streets, grab a local microbrew and tour the garden displays from local landscape designers. You can’t go wrong with the music line-up. You can sit and watch, dance around or just enjoy the music as part of the background of this lively event. By now you will be hungry, so grab a bite from one of the local restaurants featuring signature dishes meant to compliment that local brew or wine you’re sampling. Talk to the vendors, they love this event and I’m pretty sure you will too. The full lineup is on the Petaluma Downtown Website.

Proceeds from the event are used for downtown beautification. I’m all for that! So please, come on down to Petaluma’s 9th Annual Art and Garden Festival on Sunday and help us keep Petaluma Downtown BEAUTIFUL!

For a full calendar of Petaluma events, go to: www.visitpetaluma.com

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

Photo taken by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar

Imagine sitting down among the scenic beauty of a vineyard, surrounded by lush grape vines, roses and rolling hills. Add to that a gourmet lunch paired with your newfound favorite wine and you’ve got yourself a pleasant way to spend an afternoon in the Wine Country. Whether you live in Sonoma or Napa Counties or are just visiting, a Wine Country picnic is a wonderful way to enjoy the area. Unfortunately, you can’t just spread out a picnic blanket anywhere, but several wineries do have picnic spots. Some may require reservations or fees, so best to do a little research before setting out.

To prepare for your picnic, stop by Whole Foods in Napa (one of the largest we’ve seen) or visit the well-known and beloved Oakville Grocery in Oakville (arrive early to avoid crowds). Another great option for the gourmet foodie is Dean & DeLuca in St.Helena. Have a sandwich or salad made to order at the deli, pore over their amazing selection of pre-made dishes and specialty items or just grab some truffle salt to take home. You can then head over to nearby Louis M. Martini Winery and enjoy your feast at one of their sunny picnic tables. If your tasting tour takes you to Calistoga, you can visit Bothe State Park which offers picnic tables amongst Redwoods, ferns and Douglas Fir trees – they even have a swimming pool for those hot summer days. If you prefer to buy your picnic fare at the winery, try Chateau St.Jean or V. Sattui. Chateau St. Jean allows you to buy wines by the glass and take them out on the grounds – which feature spectacular gardens. V. Sattui is known for their enormous cheese counter and has a delicious deli as well. Off the tourist path a little bit is Jimtown Store in Alexander Valley. Like Oakville Grocery, this is more country store meets California gourmet.

These are just some of the places where we love to wine and dine outdoors – there are many more options. Let us know if we missed one of your favorites, or if you have a recommended wine or dish at any of the places we mentioned.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

In addition to homebuyers, the North Bay attracts businesses large and small. Many well-known companies – Williams-Sonoma, LucasFilm, and Amy’s Kitchen, not to mention so many of the wineries – have either gotten their start here or have headquarters in the area.

We all know the wineries open their doors to visitors, but there are also a good number of other local companies that allow us to experience first-hand how their product is made. These “factory” tours are widely popular amongst locals and tourists alike. 

For those who remember collecting stickers as a kid, or who have kids of their own with the passion, a visit to Mrs. Grossman’s sticker factory in Petaluma will take you back to those days of red hearts and gold stars. Highlights of the tour, to which many local school children are privy, include watching the laser web (the technology behind the company’s exclusive laser-cut stickers) and creating a postcard in the Sticker Art Room. Another tour that’s popular with the kids is the Jelly Belly tour. You have to travel a little farther – out to Fairfield – but this tour is unique and worth the trip. Here you’ll go behind the scenes and witness why it takes more than a week to make a single bean. You can also visit the candy store and swing by the Sample Bar where you can try all the different flavors and build your own unique recipes.

For the adults, there are tours that reveal the secrets of some of the delicious food and drinks made in this region. If you’re a fan of olive oil, a trip to McEvoy ranch is a must. While in Petaluma, you can make a day of it by also visiting the Marin French Cheese Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company. For that last stop, be sure to schedule time after your tour at the brewery to relax in the Beer Sanctuary with some live music.

More info:

Mrs. Grossmans Sticker Factory: www.mrsgrossmans.com
Tours are Monday-Thursday by reservation only.

Jelly Belly Factory: www.jellybelly.com
Guided factory tours operate daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Lagunitas Brewing Company: www.lagunitas.com
Tours are every weekday at 3:00pm.

Marin French Cheese Company: www.marinfrenchcheese.com
Tours are available seven days a week at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, Noon and 3:00 pm. Most cheese making activity occurs Monday through Thursday between 10:00 am and Noon.

McEvoy Ranch: www.mcevoyranch.com
Upcoming special tours: Garden Walk & Lunch – July 8, August 19, September 16; Orchard Walk & Mill Tour – August 7, September 11, October 2

Read what fellow bloggers Martha O’Hayer and Judy LeMarr have had to say about some of their favorite tours.

Do you have a favorite tour to add to the list? Let us know in the comments.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Image via Wildcat Dunny

When you’re lucky enough to live in or around the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country, it’s easy to take the amazing scenery for granted. One great way to gain a new perspective is to take flight and view the area from above. There are several options for doing this, including helicopter and hot air balloon rides.

Another, less expensive option is to visit a mountain-top winery and take in the panoramic views. The well-known standard for this is Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga. Its hilltop location provides panoramic views of the Napa Valley and there’s even an aerial tram – the only one of its kind in the valley – to get to the top. Sterling Vineyards is also kid-friendly, offering juice boxes for little ones.  

If you find yourself in Sonoma Valley, there’s Kunde Family Estate in Kenwood, which just last week announced the official launch of its new Mountain Top Tour and Tasting. Offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the tour takes you through the Mayacamas Mountains and up to 1,400 feet where you’ll be greeted with panoramic vistas, breathtaking views and a beautiful setting for tasting their sustainably-farmed, estate-grown wines. Like Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Kunde Family Estate is family-owned and has also celebrated 100 years of serving the North Bay.  

Balloon Rides
Napa Valley Drifters
Balloons Above the Valley
Napa Valley Balloons, Inc.

Helicopter Rides
Wine Country Helicopters
Napa Helicopter Charters 

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Sonoma County is of course known for wine country events and June 5 is no exception for Downtown Santa Rosa. The South A Arts Alliance, wine makers, restaurants and local artists are hosting this spring event – 3rd Annual Vine Art on Saturday, June 5 from 6-9 PM in Santa Rosa’s Arts District.

This water color I painted features the grapes in the Vine Hill School area of Sebastopol during my wine making days. Always fascinating to the get the email, that even though it was raining cats and dogs, it was time to head over to pick the grapes and eat pizza. 

How irresistible is that?

Posted by:  Judy Freedman

The Meyer lemon is extraordinary in color and flavor and grows with zeal in Sonoma County. My 40 year old tree produces so many lemons that I need to finds new ways to use them.

Preserved lemons are used chopped up as a condiment with Mediterranean foods such as eggplant dishes similar to ratatouille, roast chicken and humus amongst many choices. 

The jars are almost too beautiful to use. Simply assembled by putting a couple tablespoons of kosher salt on the bottom of a mason jar, then quarter cut your lemons, lengthwise, but not through to the bottom and coat with kosher salt inside and outside the quartered lemons. Squish the lemons into the jar. Cover with additional Meyer lemon juice and two more tablespoons of kosher salt using at about 1/2 cup kosher salt in each jar. On your counter for a week turn your jars (with tight lids) upside down once a day for a week and then refrigerate and enjoy for 6 months or more. Most importantly, Google ”preserved lemons” for recipes to get better directions than I have given.

When shopping for homes in Santa Rosa, you will be surprised at how often you will see Meyer lemon trees. Sometimes there are so many lemons around, that I need to create watercolor paintings with them.

You can be fairly sure that when you buy a house in Santa Rosa, you will have a good chance of growing lemons.

Posted by:  Judy Freedman

The Petaluma Farmers’ Market opens this Saturday, May 22. It may be hard to tell from looking out your window, but farmers’ market season is upon us bringing forth fresh produce, artisan baked goods, beautiful plants and flowers and specialty arts and crafts. There are two markets in Petaluma (the Wednesday Evening market will open June 2) offering access to some of Sonoma County’s bounty. In addition to the delicious food and produce, the Saturday market features live music, face painting, a balloon artist, jump house, and pony rides.

Farmers’ Markets have long since been a staple in Sonoma County and the New York Times has a recent post on their Bay Area blog describing farmers’ markets in the Bay Area by the numbers. Some interesting stats from that post include:

• 12: Number of certified farmers’ markets in California in 1979; 540 Number of certified farmers’ markets in California today
• 56: Cents on the retail dollar that farmers receive when selling at a farmers’ market; 30 Cents on the dollar when selling wholesale
• 5: Calories in a strawberry; 435 Fuel calories required to ship a strawberry from California to New York

So grab your reusable bag and come down this weekend…now is the time to purchase locally-grown produce and support our area farmers.

The Petaluma Saturday Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 2:00pm – 5:00pm
May 22 – October 30
Walnut Park on the Corner of Pet. Blvd South & D St.

The Petaluma Evening Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays 4:30pm – 8:00pm
June 2 – September 1
Theatre District (2nd Street between B & D Streets)

Petaluma is just one of several farmers’ markets in Sonoma County. View this chart for more or visit: cafarmersmarkets.com

Posted By: Edward Reiners

The weather is warming up and the brew pubs are beckoning.  Sonoma County serves up amazing wines, we know, but as the old saying goes…”it takes a lot of beer to make great wine.” Winemakers, and just plain old folks alike know that sometimes there’s nothing better than a cold one.

Petaluma features two breweries, Dempsey’s in the Golden Eagle Shopping Center and Lagunitas Brewery on N. McDowell in a most unlikely spot, a business park.  Neither will disappoint.

Dempsey’s award-winning selection of beers are produced on site and best enjoyed with some of their fine pub fare. Find yourself a nice spot outside overlooking the Petaluma River and watch the action while you sip a pint or two. The atmosphere is casual so don’t rush your stay, grab a burger, enjoy their amazing salads or decide on a delicious dessert. The beer is cold and the living is easy.

Lagunitas Brewing Company has been around for some time, but recently opened their Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary. Aptly named, you need to experience the Beer Sanctuary yourself to understand why it feels like such a great getaway. The Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary opens at 3pm Wednesday through Friday; Saturday and Sunday it opens at 1:00pm. When the taps are open, the music is playing so check out who’s up next on the Sanctuary stage. You just never know the extent of the talent. We do know that the beer, as well as the food menu, is seasonally inspired. Lagunitas keeps adding to their brews—one of the latest is the Wilco Tango Foxtrot. Check out the virtual tasting here.

So if Petaluma is the gateway to Sonoma County and wine country, maybe soon we will be known as the gateway to beer country. Santa Rosa has the 3rd Street Aleworks, which does all brewing on site and features much outdoor seating, a diverse menu, a pool table, and sporting events on the many screens.  Also in downtown Santa Rosa is The Russian River Brewing Company with its wide selection of award winners.

Occidental has Barley and Hops Tavern. Healdsburg features the Bear Republic Brewing Company.  HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol has been transformed into an unpretentious venue where you will enjoy American Craft Beer as well as the European Classics served by fun folks with a passion for all things beer. Music can be found at all of these establishments on varying schedules. So kick back and enjoy a cold one, listen to some music and savor a truly Sonoma-style hand-crafted beauty!

Do you have a favorite local brewery?

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

It’s the 4th Annual California’s Artisan Cheese Festival, March 26-29.

Join the best of the best in California artisan cheesemaking this weekend at the Sheraton in Petaluma. This annual event features the artisans who still adhere to the original cheesemaking practices – small batch production, made by hand. The cheesemakers support local agriculture and follow sustainable practices. Our rural way of life is supported by the original founders of Cowgirl Creamery who have production facilities in both Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Marin and Sonoma County producers will be well represented at the event – Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead, Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Marin French Cheese Company and Bellwether Farms are a few of the many cheesemakers you will find. On Sunday, twenty-four cheesemakers, twenty handmade food makers and twenty wineries and breweries will be on hand in the Marketplace providing samples and selling their delicious goods. Other activities include a Barn Dance on Friday, seminars, cheese tastings and pairings. A full list of events can be found here.

Petaluma is the prime location for the California’s Artisan Cheese Festival. Don’t miss out, make your reservations now. Bring your friends and enjoy our rural roots.

We’re fortunate to have so many cheese producers, artisan food purveyors and vintners in our own backyard. Share some of your local favorites in the comments below.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

The weather is cloudy, rainy and gloomy…. Yes, we’re grateful for the rain – all of it!  However, if you’re in need of some fun, the next two weekends are just what the doctor ordered!

Get out of the house and enjoy the 32nd Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting here in Sonoma County. This is your chance to sample wines still in the barrel, buy “futures” and meet winemakers.

For maps, ticket information, an introduction to wine tasting, and much more visit www.wineroad.com. Don’t forget to check out the list of wineries that will also be pouring on both Fridays. You’ll find it at the bottom of this page.

Just one more thing that makes Sonoma County special!

If you go:

BARREL TASTING – TWO WEEKENDS
March 6-7 & 13-14, 2010
11:00 am – 4:00 pm each day

Posted by:Beth Urban-Purtell

My good friend Mark recently asked me to recommend what he could do with friends coming to visit in Petaluma. Mark and I have known each other for nearly 30 years and both of us were city dwellers prior to moving to Petaluma. You could stay in San Francisco for weeks and never lack for things to do. But, he wondered, is there enough to do in Petaluma for someone visiting? Or will we need to send them out to greater Sonoma County?

Mark, I believe Petaluma can offer plenty of play!

Petaluma, California is located in Sonoma County, just 38 miles north of San Francisco. It is the first town you encounter after crossing the Sonoma County Line —The Gateway to Sonoma Wine Country. Our weather is beautiful and our community has grown up quite a bit in the past decade.

Here are a few must-dos on my list when visitors venture this way. Young or old, there’s an activity for everyone.

Take a Hike (or a walk if you will)

Petaluma is full of parks and walking paths. One of my favorite Petaluma parks is Shollenberger Park , a 165-acre park popular among hikers, bikers, bird-watchers and dog walkers. There, along the park’s levee trail, you can get an up-close look at wetlands wildlife – including over 150 species of birds – and the river flowing past with its collection of ramshackle, high-tech and human-powered boats. Saturday mornings, I have a standing date with my friend Sara for a walk, talk and gawk. There’s so much ground covered in our four mile walk that we hardly notice that we’re exercising at the same time. A new path recently opened that extends the path for several more miles and leads to the Ellis Creek Water Treatment Plant, which puts you at eye level with otters and other wildlife. Though I haven’t ventured down the new trail yet, this blogger had an amazing visit and I can’t wait to explore it this weekend.

Other favorite parks include the Oak Hill Park located at Oak and Howard Streets which includes a great playground, an off-leash dog park, Petanque courts as well as a labyrinth. Petanque in Petaluma? You bet. Now where else can you find all that in one park? Helen Putnam Regional Park also makes for a great outdoor experience, offering hiking with great views. (There may be a parking fee at Helen Putnam depending on how you enter the park.)

For a complete list of parks, go to the Visit Petaluma website and check out one that looks good to you.

Take a Tour

Winery tours, including our very own Petaluma Gap Wineries, offer a great way to spend the day. Look here for tours and times. Most are by appointment only.

Not only do we feature Sonoma County fine wines here in Petaluma, but our beers are notable as well. Lagunitas Brewing Company has grown into a major player in the brew market and they offer weekly tours. They also boast a Taproom and Beer Sanctuary, which is very impressive and relaxing with great live music and people watching. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3-9 and weekends from 1-7, the Taproom and Sanctuary is a great place to land after a tour or a long day exploring Petaluma. Get directions to the Brewery here.

If you’re looking for something savory, McEvoy Olive Oil Company gives tours at different times during the year and Cowgirl Creamery’s newest facility is located in downtown Petaluma. The Creamery is a production-only facility, which means no retail here, but you can check out the amazing array of award-winning cheeses produced right here in Petaluma. More information about their tours can be found here.

For the kids, you can check out Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory. The 110,000-square-foot corporate headquarters with 90 employees features the world’s only sticker factory tour.

There are dozens of other tours in town – garden tours, Victorian home tours and walking tours; you can view a great list of additional tours here.

Take a Taste

I don’t think you’ll find a better restaurant selection in a city the size of Petaluma – our chefs come from all over and offer an array of menu types, from Himalayan to Thai, Italian to California Cuisine, you name it, it’s here. Award-winning, charming and delicious, some of our restaurants have even caught the eye of the prestigious Michelin Guide. Cucina Paradiso, Risibisi and Hiro’s are among those mentioned.

Our Visitor Center website, www.visitpetaluma.com, offers a great dining guide, which can be viewed here. It is also a great place to start when planning outings that will suit your guests’ interests. For now at least, the program is still funded by the City of Petaluma so the website is quite accurate and up to date.

I’m glad to report there’s plenty to do right here in Petaluma, Mark! With all of our food, wine, art, cultural and recreational activities, you could easily fill a day or two or three.

Do you have favorite day-trips around town? I’d love to hear about them. Comment to this post or email me at mohayer@fhallen.com.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

This week marked the official changing of the season and as each day of fall brings us closer to Thanksgiving, it has me thinking about the wonderful bounty Sonoma County has to offer, and the generous nature of my friends and neighbors. My husband and I live in Petaluma and each year we shoot to have a productive garden, as do most of our friends. It’s late September and all of the gardens I have seen in the past few weeks are producing amazing crops and everyone seems eager to share in the bounty.

On a recent Saturday morning, Cody, my neighbor’s dog and I, were out for a walk and stopped by a friend’s home. She was busy with a huge batch of tomatoes that had just been dropped off by another friend and was in the midst of whipping up a monster batch of gazpacho that she would take to two different feasts to be enjoyed by 50 or more people. Way to share the bounty.

Shortly afterward, on the same walkabout, I stopped by David’s, another friend and neighbor. He was making a white bean salad he’d seen in Gourmet Magazine and needed some colorful tomatoes. Though not quite done with my walk, I went right home, picked all of the ripe sun gold cherry tomatoes I had in my garden, returned to David’s, and a short time later was savoring a most amazing and delicious salad.

Around town, I have also spotted several other examples of the giving spirit of our delightful community. These neighbors just put out their excess and invite you to help yourself!

        

This generous nature is just one of the many qualities I relish about the area. I see it firsthand so often and I recently learned of an organized group that epitomizes this spirit, Petaluma Bounty. This community-based nonprofit operates on a 5-acre parcel within a mile of downtown. I spoke to the farm manager last week and she told me that an elderly neighbor whose home abuts the property donated the land for the purpose of a farm.

The work they do there is truly incredible and they offer several programs, including: Bounty Hunters – a food-gleaning program that collects fresh, surplus food from backyard gardens, farms and businesses and distributes it to food pantries and senior centers; Bounty Box Food Club – weekly boxes of organic fruits and vegetables are sold at wholesale prices to low-income families; and the Bounty Mobile Market – organic fruits and vegetables sold at wholesale prices for those on limited budgets, and at retail prices to those who can afford it. A new location, at the Mail Depot at 4th and C streets each Wednesday from 9-noon, is just one of many dispensaries. A full schedule can be found here.

The Petaluma Bounty has an active volunteer program including ‘the food posse’, a group that will harvest fruit from local backyards or farms to sell from their mobile markets or at the farm stand. The Petaluma Bounty would like you to join them to help spread the word about how to bring healthy food to everyone—become a ‘vigilante’ and share the bounty!

Let me know if you have an innovative community group you’d like more folks to hear about. Contact me at mohayer@fhallen.com.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

I recently signed up for a great fruit and vegetable delivery service that I can’t wait to tell you about! There are many such services in our agriculture-rich area, but the one I have started using is Farm Fresh to You, located in the Capay Valley between Napa and Yolo Counties. I must tell you right off the bat that I am a life long vegetable hater; however, I finally figured out that my mother knew what she was doing when she kept making us eat the damn things anyway!

Every other Friday a box of farm-fresh, organic fruits and vegetables is delivered to my doorstep. You can opt for weekly delivery, but with just two of us at home, every other week has proven to be perfect. Although you can make substitutions, we have decided to take whatever they want to give us, in order to expand our horizons a bit. The first delivery brought me an eggplant, which I must admit I briefly considered tossing in the garbage before showing my husband the rest of the bounty. But instead, I scoured my cooking websites to find a recipe that looked interesting, and I came up with Caponata, which is an eggplant relish that I served with grilled meat. Who knew that the lowly eggplant, which I have studiously avoided all my life, could taste so good?

The next delivery included chard, a dark green leafy vegetable that has never graced my kitchen table. A quick search on Epicurious.com returned a recipe for sauteed chard with caramelized onions and garlic. Again – who knew? It was delicious!

If you want to give it a try, their website is www.farmfreshtoyou.com – you aren’t locked into a contract, you can make changes and substitutions with 48 hours notice, and who knows, you might become a vegetable convert like me!

Posted by:Deborah Byrne

It’s all true, everything you have imagined and dreamed about the ultimate getaway can be found at our very own Kenwood Inn and Spa, right here in Kenwood, California. The Mediterranean-style villas of the Inn are tucked away in Sonoma County’s Valley of the Moon.

The readers of Conde Nast Traveler have recently named the Kenwood Inn and Spa the Top Resort in Mainland USA in the magazine’s 21st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. In addition to this distinction, The Conde Nast Readers’ Poll of April 2009 named The Spa at Kenwood one of the top 3 Resort Spas in the United States.

The Spa uniquely utilizes the power of the grape. Based on oils extracted from grape seeds, penetrating and protective qualities of topical treatments are used for a variety of Spa treatments. Vinotherapy is incorporated by the Spa with custom made products, including red wine extracts, Chardonnay and Riesling oils, and formulated elements to promote healing, revitalization, and relaxation.

The restaurant at the Kenwood Inn & Spa offers yet another undeniable indulgence as it is available only to in-house guests. Italian-born Maestro della Cucina, Chef Renzo Veronese shops local farms and farmer’s markets, supplying the kitchen with in-season organics and fresh ingredients to create a rustic Italian, a la carte menu focused on house made pastas with meats and fish that incorporate estate grown fruit.

If you desire the special qualities of our wine making region for relaxation and outdoor scenic beauty, you don’t have to look much further for a world class Spa, Resort and Restaurant.

Posted by:Ernie Basoco

Sonoma’s wine making region celebrated its annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley wine tasting event this past weekend. The annual event showcases over 50 wineries and over 150 vineyards of Dry Creek Valley, which is a fine way to get intimate with this appellation. Along with the special weekend events including live entertainment, outdoor cookouts, and fine foods are of course—the unique tastings.

Dry Creek Valley has intentionally stayed intimate to its special quality of winemaking history by continuing to be farmed by families from generation to generation. The valley proudly confesses it has eluded the trend of corporate consolidation. All but just a few of the 62 bonded wineries in Dry Creek Valley are family owned.

When you visit this appellation with its 139-year winemaking history, you will in most all cases taste four generations of a family tending to remarkable vineyards with the perspective gained from the humility of farming and from the rich zeal to improve each vintage. The Seghesio family first planted vineyards in 1895 and the Rafanelli family has been making estate-bottled Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot for four generations.

World class wines from the smaller volume producer and the generations of families perspective is also creating a continued influence in the Napa Valley, where commercialization and global consolidation has been more prevalent. The blend of the experiential wine barrel sampling complimented by the family winery tradition can be found at Dave Del Dotto Caves in St. Helena. If you desire the special quality of the smaller family winery that produces world class wines, Northern California’s wine making region has so much to experience.

Posted By: Ernie Basoco

This weekend was the Dry Creek Valley Passport wine tasting. 45 wineries opened their doors for the annual event highlighting the magic of the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. We tasted old vintages, component, and barrel tastings at Amphora Winery, De LaMontanya, Family Wineries, Kokomo Wines, Papapietro Perry, Passalacqua Winery, Peterson Winery and A. Rafanelli Winery.

The wine country was looking its best on this beautiful warm spring day. The views from many of the wineries across the Dry Creek Valley were exquisite especially from the decks of the Passalacqua Winery which featured the wood oven pizza fired up by caterers serving the famous 4 minute wood fired pizza with homemade toppings.

The De LaMontonya Winery featured DeVines Pizza catering, wonderful wines, and music from the 60’s with a hippie look.

A. Rafanelli Winery included a bountiful spread, their wonderful wines and many happy wine tasters.

Before coming to the Dry Creek Valley, of course, I was previewing the many short sales, foreclosures and priced right real estate in Santa Rosa and surrounding areas. This is a great time to buy property in Sonoma County and move yourself into the wine country.

Feel free to email me at jfreedman@fhallen.com or call me at 707.972.5596.

Posted By: Judy Freedman