The modern, single level ranch-style house, with its signature wide eaves and low-pitched roof, is ubiquitous in California. Today, homeowners often renovate these homes in ways that make them very different from the original. Modern farmhouse style is one popular option, with a more steeply sloped roof, board and batten siding and no eaves.
But isn’t there something worth preserving in the ranch-style design?
Kurt Neubert decided to give his 1970s ranch home in Sonoma an update without getting rid of its signature design elements. The result is a reminder that reinvigorating a property sometimes does the trick just as well as a complete remodel. The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is now listed for for $2,250,000.
Stunning style begins curbside at this Sonoma home. Neubert, who has traveled extensively in Mediterranean countries, opted for an earthy, olive green exterior color —moldings, window trims and all — with just an accent of white along the roofline. Painted this color, the home blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, with its salt-and-pepper rocks and olive trees.
The front door, painted a contrasting black and with a large window and sidelight window panels, is a bold and elegant focal point. Black half-cylinder sconces and modern house numbers are other attractive exterior accents.
The windows in the front door allow plenty of natural light into the home. The property’s mature olive trees create privacy and take centerstage in the front yard, where Neubert chose a minimalist, low-water landscape design with pebbles, aloe vera and a few succulents. Limestone squares in symmetrical patterns and paths add visual interest to this area.
“My home is a place where I like to relax my eyes. This is part of the aesthetic of the house,” says Neubert, who previously co-owned a wholesale furniture business in San Francisco’s Design Center. After long days in the showroom, where he examined various patterns and textures, he preferred to come home to subtle hues and designs.
The simplicity of the home’s exterior and its front yard continues inside, with an expert curation and mix of materials, including French oak floors, Italian porcelain tile in the kitchen and Jerusalem tile in the bathroom.
Quartz blend countertops in the kitchen are more affordable than solid quartz, but equally attractive. A Brazilian granite face modernizes the fireplace, and walls painted white, from floor to ceiling, create a feeling of spaciousness.
Neubert opted to keep the original kitchen cabinets, refreshing them with a new coat of paint. He then added low-cost handles, which he found on Amazon for 99 cents per piece.
“Don’t be afraid to mix inexpensive with expensive,” advises Neubert. “Pick things you really like … Expensive things will set the tone.”
A few carefully selected furniture pieces throughout the home in “high performance fabrics”— like Kravet Couture mohair, and microfiber on the dining room chairs — make the interior design really sing.
In the backyard, the pool is a standout — it was resurfaced with an aggregate material containing teal quartz and is surrounded by glass tile that sparkles from the pool lights at night. The color of the pool, says Neubert, is “a nod to the Aegean Sea.”
Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the home.
This home at 789 Cordilleras Drive in Sonoma is listed with Daniel Casabonne of Sotheby’s International Real Estate. For more information, call 707-939-2222 or 707-494-3130; email daniel@casabonnerealestate.com or visit sothebysrealty.com
Sonoma County’s Sea Ranch continues to attract homebuyers with its modernist architecture that blends effortlessly with the surrounding coastal landscape.
Among current listings in the oceanfront community is a home on Deer Trail, built in 2003 in a style that emulates that of the iconic Condominium 1, one of the original buildings designed and constructed here in the 1960s by a group of UC Berkeley architects. Their mission was to transform a 5,200-acre sheep ranch on the Sonoma Coast into a modernist residential community that was “light on the land.” Walls of oversized homes that disrupt the coastline and block the ocean view, like those on the Southern California coast, were banned from The Sea Ranch masterplan.
The home on Deer Trail was designed by architect Earl Carlson, who built several houses for his family in The Sea Ranch. Carlson used a classic post and beam construction for the home, which features dramatic sloping rooflines with gray siding; signature design elements of Sea Ranch dwellings. The home has two bedrooms, one bathroom and a detached office. It is under contract for $1,200,000.
Solar panels and windows that allow for “passive solar gain during the day,” according to listing agent Hanne Liisberg, add to the home’s eco-friendly qualities. An electric vehicle hookup will power the new owner’s car and a Tesla heating system backup help prevents power outages.
White walls with blonde wood trims and fir doors add warmth to the interior of the home, while modern railings and black fixtures create a more contemporary feel. The rooms are sparsely furnished with a few pieces of furniture and simple adornments, allowing the redwoods that surround the home to decorate the interior, via large windows. Simple touches enrich the space, like an outdoor copperhead shower and cork floors that add a softness to the upstairs rooms.
Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the home.
This home on 41454 Deer Trail is listed with Hanne Liisberg and Company in The Sea Ranch. For more information, call 707-785-3322, or email info@liisbergandcompany. liisbergandcompany.com
Debbie and Jacob Yarrow attend the Sonoma Magazine 10th Anniversary Party at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, CA. The event took place on July 28, 2022. (Photo by Charlie Gesell)
Close to 200 readers, advertisers and editorial staff of Sonoma Magazine gathered on July 28 at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma to celebrate the magazine’s 10-year anniversary.
Sonoma Media Investments, helmed by CEO Steve Falk, purchased Sonoma Magazine “10 years ago, almost to the day,” Falk said at the gala. “We’ve just been rated the number one magazine of its size in the country. What better place to be 10 years later than the place where we launched the idea?”
Many readers in attendance credited Sonoma Magazine with broadening their Sonoma County horizons as it continues to inform the community of a wide variety of events, as well as highlighting hidden spots for tourists and locals alike.
After moving to Sonoma County from Iowa five years ago, the executive director of the Green Music Center, Jacob Yarrow, and his wife, Debbie, found Sonoma Magazine a “fast introduction to what was going on in the county”.
Debbie and Jacob Yarrow attend the Sonoma Magazine 10th Anniversary Party at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma. (Photo by Charlie Gesell)Steve Falk, CEO of Sonoma Media Investments, and Abigail Peterson, Sonoma Magazine editor-in-chief, talk at the Sonoma Magazine 10th Anniversary Party at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma. (Photo by Charlie Gesell)
When Michele Garber, the founder of a plastic surgery advising company, moved to Santa Rosa during the height of the pandemic, she found the magazine to be a helpful virtual guide to the county, when the actual county was less safe to explore. “The magazine lets me know who’s who, what’s going on,” she said.
Gala guests said that it was Sonoma Magazine’s continued dedication to displaying the beauty of the community — through its writing and photography — that continues to make them fans of the magazine.
According to publisher Steve Childs, the credit goes to Sonoma Magazine editor-in-chief Abigail Peterson, who led the magazine to its 2021 Folio Award for Editorial Excellence and its 2022 City and Regional Magazine Award for General Excellence.
As the Sonoma County sun set over the magazine’s gala, Peterson commented, “I think we’ve really brought the pages of the magazine to life tonight.”
Video from the gala event, by Julia Green.
David and Diane LaMonica, owners of Salt and Stone Restaurant, enjoy a bite to eat in front of the fountain at the Sonoma Magazine 10th Anniversary Party at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, CA. The event took place on July 28, 2022. (Photo by Charlie Gesell)
Click through the above gallery for more photos from the gala.
Sonoma County is well known for its scenic backroads, snaking over mountains, around bucolic farms, ranches and endless vineyards, then out to the Russian River and the glorious Pacific Ocean. Spectacular views abound, and one of the best ways to take it all in is with a race car.
A vintage race car, to be exact, such as the 1958 Porsche Speedster owned by Dave and Natalie Hagan of Calistoga. Or the 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider owned by Charles and Gail McCabe of Napa. Or any of the more than two dozen classic motorcars owned by enthusiasts who travel to Wine Country for each spring’s Napa Valley 750 road rally.
(It’s called the Napa Valley rally to designate the tour’s host resort, Harvest Inn in St. Helena, but it also covers Sonoma and Mendocino counties, as well as a jaunt into Davis in the Sacramento Valley region).
Over five days, the car collectors tour in dramatic, movie-style convoys all across the northern California region, exploring remote byways and the California 1 Highway. Along the way, they make numerous stops at picturesque wineries, quaint cafés, landmarks, and high-end restaurants. In all, the trip covers 750 miles, starting and ending each day at Harvest Inn.
Classic car enthusiasts travel to Wine Country for each spring’s Napa Valley 750 road rally. (Everett Lederer)Classic car enthusiasts travel to Wine Country for each spring’s Napa Valley 750 road rally. (Everett Lederer)
These small but mighty cars go fast, and with their lean, racy frames, feel like they’re flying as they hug the skinny, winding pavements. So here’s an even better idea for folks timid behind the wheel: Hitchhike with a professional driver, like I did.
My guide politely ignored when I dug my foot into the floor mat by the passenger seat, making futile attempts to brake. He assured me that his car wouldn’t lift off the earth as it zipped around curves, and suggested I hold on to the dashboard’s safety handle if I felt particularly buoyant.
And he reminded me that truly, we weren’t speeding – not much, anyway. Rally participants have to honor policies that keep everyone safe on the road. It’s not a race, we all agree.
A scenic tour on Sonoma’s backroads
Next year’s Napa Valley 750 rally is slated for March 26-31, with entry open to anyone with a snazzy sports car built before 1972. But if you don’t happen to have your own classic wheels, you can still enjoy a rally-worthy adventure on your own.
The Napa Valley 750 team has mapped out a detailed course for a single day adventure through Sonoma County, which you can embark on any day of the year. You can drive your own car or rent a fancier version from Turo. A recent check for bookings via the Santa Rosa Airport found a variety of sexy beasts, including a 2021 Tesla Model S, a 2022 BMW X6, and a 2021 Audi A4.
The tour begins in St. Helena, traveling through Calistoga, Santa Rosa, Forestville, Occidental, Freestone, Valley Ford, Tomales, Marshall, Pt. Reyes Station, Olema, Petaluma and Sonoma. It covers 125 miles. Find a map of the route here: tinyurl.com/4vjwbx3p. And be sure to stop along the way to soak up each of these unique destinations.
Click through the above gallery for more details and the perfect pit stops.
The Brooks Note tasting room in downtown Petaluma. (Gary Ottonello)
The Brooks Note winery tasting room tasting room has been open for almost a year, but many locals and visitors have yet to discover this hidden Petaluma gem.
Set along a stretch of Petaluma Boulevard better known for auto body shops than fine wine, this bright and modern space is less than a 10-minute walk from downtown.
Garry Brooks and his wife, Joanne Note Brooks, opened the tasting room last August. Garry left his job in IT business management in 2004 to pursue winemaking and went on to work at Sonoma County’s Ravenswood Winery, Kosta Browne and Dutton-Goldfield before launching his own pinot noir label in 2012.
In 2018, with several vintages under his belt, Garry set out to find a home for Brooks Note. The search brought him to a 100-year-old building in Petaluma that originally housed a Studebaker dealership. For Brooks, its proximity to the downtown area and to some of his favorite Petaluma Gap vineyards sealed the deal.
“I’ve been making wine from this area for as long as I’ve been in the business,” he said. “And there’s such an amazing vibe in Petaluma, between the music and the art and the food.”
Transforming the space into a modern tasting room was no simple effort. In the process, the couple peeled back layers of paint to expose the ceiling’s original wood beams and reused the building’s original materials when they could.
The result is an open and inviting tasting room with stylish lounge and table and bar seating. The space is also home to the Brooks Note winemaking facility, which includes a solar-cooled barrel room and a production area that doubles as an indoor crush pad.
Tasting reservations at Brooks Note are appreciated, but not required. Visitors can choose between three flights of five wines each, including current releases, single-vineyard wines and pinot noir-only selections. Each flight, from $30 to $75, includes a plate of local cheeses and charcuterie. Wines include pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and a Rhône-style red blend.
“Stylistically, my wines are a little bit more restrained,” Garry said. “I make my pinots in a very similar way to when I was at Kosta Browne, but we pick the grapes when they are a little less ripe. I really want there to be a balance of fruit and herbal flavors.”
The goal, he said, is to treat the grapes with respect so a sense of place emerges in the wines.
Garry also likes to keep things approachable in the tasting room. In addition to offering tasting flights and wines by the glass, Brooks Note hosts live music from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Friday.
“People can think of wine as elitist,” he said. “But we try to create an environment where people feel welcome to come in.”
Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. 426 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8470, brooksnotewinery.com
The Lounge upstairs at Little Saint in Healdsburg features live music. (Emma K Creative)
The Lounge at Little Saint, the upstairs music and performance venue at Little Saint, has officially opened, with free live music every Thursday night and ticketed events throughout the week.
The expansive second floor at the former SHED space includes a 12-foot-by-16-foot stage, outdoor patio and bar, specialty cocktails and seasonal bites from Chef Bryan Oliver.
Cocktail from Little Saint in Healdsburg. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)Cocktail from Little Saint in Healdsburg. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)
Upcoming musical acts include Langhorne Slim on Sept. 6 and Lucy Dacus on Nov. 15, along with wine tastings, private dinners and book signings with thought leaders.
Tickets and details about The Lounge at Little Saint are at littlesainthealdsburg.com. 25 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8207.
Slow roasted pork shoulder with stone fruit at the Farmstand at Farmhouse Inn. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
The Farmhouse Inn, nestled among the vineyards of the Russian River Valley, has long been a favorite getaway for publicity-weary celebrities and well-heeled visitors. Besides the luxury accommodations, part of the allure has been the Michelin-rated restaurant previously managed by Chef Steven Litke.
Since Litke’s departure in 2021, however, the culinary program has reinvented itself out of necessity, with a newly redesigned kitchen and the installation of Chef de Cuisine Shawn Jackson Clark overseeing a revamped fine dining program and Executive Chef Trevor Anderson spearheading a newly reimagined casual restaurant experience called Farmstand. Both chefs are Farmhouse alums.
The primarily outdoor dining, with bubbly Neapolitan pizzas, wood-fired cooking and shareable plates, was inspired by a previous toe-dip into all-day dining at the Forestville inn. The new concept is far more welcoming, with a trip-worthy menu and deck seating that takes advantage of the property’s woodsy charm. Farmhouse and Farmstand dining experiences are both open to the public.
Mushroom and corn pizza at the Farmstand at Farmhouse Inn. (Heather Irwin / Sonoma Magazine)
The Farmstand menu is entirely a la carte, with impossibly fresh vegetable dishes (many from co-owner Joe Bartolomei’s garden) like sweet roasted carrots with salsa verde, summery pressed watermelon with feta and black olives and cool red beets with fresh berries and pistachio butter. All range from $12 to $16 each. Wood-fired pizzas ($24-$25) are generous, with a maitake mushroom and black truffle-leek cream version taking top honors in our book. Larger entrees, like a grilled flatiron steak or half chicken, range from $18 to $38.
This captivating experience is a comparative deal for the area and showcases the inventive new directions of the culinary program here. Expect frequent menu changes throughout the season. On Wednesday nights, Farmstand offers a prix fixe menu for $65 per person with several seasonal items and an outdoor movie in the courtyard.
Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300. Find full details and the all-day Farmstand menu at farmhouseinn.com.
(FILE PHOTO) A couple window shops outside stores in a building along Matheson Street that had been eyed for a potential hotel in Healdsburg. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Healdsburg continues its streak as one of the hottest destinations in Wine Country. In a recently published article, luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) called it “Sonoma County’s most charming town” and listed the best places to eat, stay and play during a visit.
“Despite several splashy restaurant and hotel openings in the past year, (Healdsburg) maintains a breezy vibe that makes for relaxed weekends in wine country,” said Janet O’Grady, the author of the article, who also noted that Healdsburg is “more rustic than its glitzy neighbor Napa Valley.”
Click through the above gallery to see the best places to eat stay and play in Healdsburg, according to Condé Nast Traveler.
Wine mercantile at Little Saint in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
For me, wandering the aisles of a beloved wine shop recalls the luxury of a leisurely afternoon at a library. Just me, endless time and the alluring smell of discovery and books.
Endless time isn’t something many people can afford these days, and online shopping makes it easier than ever to conveniently buy wine from our homes while wearing our comfy pants. In Sonoma County, we’re surrounded by wine, wineries and tasting rooms. Yet spending even a few tactile moments at a local wine shop can be valuable, educational and enlightening.
Here is a selection of some of our favorite wine shops in Sonoma County.
Bottle Barn
A visit to Bottle Barn is like a trip to Trader Joe’s: You always spend more money than you planned on, but not because the prices are high. There is simply so much to tempt you.
Founded in 1990 by Bruce and Loretta Emmons, and now owned by Sajiva and Tina Jain, Bottle Barn achieves what few wine retailers can: an extraordinarily diverse collection of wine, beer and spirits at equally diverse prices.
Hidden behind an unassuming storefront in northwest Santa Rosa, the 15,000-square-foot retail shop is a Wine Country mainstay, selling a huge selection of Sonoma County wines and nearly as many international selections. From rare, older vintages to obscure, uncommon varietals to Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines or Sonoma County’s Harvest Fair wine winners, you’ll find it here. They also stock a wealth of specialty spirits and local beers, so no one feels left out. Be sure to sign up for their email newsletter for information on new product releases, sales, events and more.
Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 3331-A, Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa. 707-528-1161, bottlebarn.com
Ciao Bruto! Wine & Provisions
Those familiar with winemaker Sam Bilbro will recognize his obsession with Northern Italian grape varieties, which are at the heart of his winery, Idlewild Wines. Now, as an extension of that adoration, Bilbro has launched Ciao Bruto!, a new Italian wine and specialty food shop in Healdsburg.
Co-founded with Thomas DeBaise, who oversees Idlewild’s operations, and winery hospitality director Courtney Humiston, the shop focuses on organic wines from small producers in Italy and France, along with a great selection of Champagne. A selection of specialty Italian foods are also available, like tinned fish, Caravaglio capers, Centoni and Mancini pasta and dried chickpeas from Paolo Bea. Located right next door to Idlewild Wines, Ciao Bruto! is difficult to resist.
Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-756-3918. ciaobruto.com
Avinage
Human-scale wines are the focus at Avinage, a new wine shop in Petaluma that focuses on small-production wines from family-owned wineries and small-scale importers. “People that make wine on a human, not industrial scale,” owner Damien Carney said of the producers behind their wines.
A former sales director and portfolio manager for wine importers in New York and California, Carney was frustrated at the dearth of European wines from small, sustainable wine producers in Petaluma. So he decided to open his own shop. At Avinage, he stocks about 250 wines from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and California, including local favorites from producers like Pax, Scribe and Arnot-Roberts. One of the shop’s highlights in the Table of No Regrets, which encourages customers to buy new or uncommon wines for $25 or less.
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 15 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-774-6080, avinagewines.com
Little Saint Wine Shop
Accessibility remains front-of-mind when Wine Director Alexandria Sarovich decides which wines to carry at Little Saint’s wine shop in downtown Healdsburg. A popular facet of the 10,000-square-foot space shared by Little Saint’s plant-based restaurant, cocktail bar, café and event space, the wine shop sells wines from 30 different countries at a wide range of prices.
“My goal is to make our wine list accessible to as many people as possible by offering wines at a variety of price points,” Sarovich said. “Whether someone is looking for a $10 bottle or a $300 bottle, I want them to feel welcome.” All the wines are sustainably produced, either by local winemakers or international producers, and there is a thoughtful selection of wines made by women and people of color. Wines by the glass are available, too, along with regular wine tastings and special events.
Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday to Monday. 25 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8207, littlesainthealdsburg.com
Miracle Plum
An intriguing selection of natural, organic, low-intervention wines are the draw at Miracle Plum, a retail shop, wine store and wine bar in downtown Santa Rosa, with a commissary kitchen down the street.
Expect to find something out of the ordinary here, like a skin-contact vermentino blend from Italy, a biodynamic sylvaner from Germany, or a verjus fermented in the style of a pét-nat from Martha Stoumen and Julia Sherman in Sebastopol. Miracle Plum also sells natural wines by the glass, which can be enjoyed at the small bar, and weekly winemaker tastings on Thursdays.
Open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. 208 Davis St., Santa Rosa, 707-708-7986, miracleplum.com
Sonoma’s Best Wine Shop
Sommelier and wine director Todd Jolly is at the helm of this gem of a wine shop in the town of Sonoma that features sustainable, limited-production wines from family-owned producers in Sonoma County and around the world. Jolly chooses every wine on the shelves and is happy to make recommendations based on your personal palate. On Thursdays from 4-6 p.m., Jolly hosts a themed tasting of five wines for $20. Wines by the glass are also available at the wine bar. The Tasting Society is the shop’s quarterly wine club, which features a mix of both domestic and international wines priced around $25/bottle.
Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. 1190 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-996-7600, sonomas-best.com
Wilibees Wine & Spirits
Did you know that Wilibees is made up of Wi (for wine), li (for liquor) and bees for beer and, well, bees?
Open since 2008, Wilibees Wine & Spirits was founded on the principle of making wine less intimidating and more accessible to everyone. With locations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, the store offers an excellent selection of local and international wines, spirits, beer and cider — something for everyone. The Santa Rosa location has a deli and tap room with a rotating list of 12 beers and 24 wines on tap. Wilibees also has a wine club with a focus on “crisp whites,” “bold reds” or “fuller whites,” depending on your preference.
About those bees: Wilibees donates part of their proceeds to support threatened honeybee populations.
Santa Rosa: Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 700 Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3779, wilibees.com
Petaluma: Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 309 Lakeville St., Petaluma, 707-762-2042, wilibees.com
You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Doyle at 707-521-5478 or sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com.
Strawberry cheesecake from Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio. (Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen)
It’s easy to assume cheesecake originated in France, where the arts of cheese-making and pastry-baking have been perfected. Or in New York, the state with a famous cheesecake style named after it. But the predecessor to our modern cheesecake, according to the historians and anthropologists who have traced its origin, can be found in ancient Greece. Here, by the Mediterranean Sea, the creamy, cheesy confection was a popular wedding dessert and might even have been served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.
While the dessert was most likely around centuries earlier, the first known written record of the Greek cheesecake recipe is attributed to Greek writer Athenaeus around 230 A.D. The rudimentary cheesecake was made with fresh cheese, pounded until smooth, mixed with flour and honey and then baked. Romans are said to have introduced the Grecian cheesecake across Europe, and immigrants brought the beloved dessert to America — the dish taking on new variations and baking methods with each culture it traversed.
The Forme of Cury, the first known English cookbook written during the 14th century, added eggs to the cheesecake recipe and flavored the dessert with rosewater and dried elderflowers. The ultra dense New York-style cheesecake, credited to restaurateur Arnold Reuben in the 1920s, goes heavy on the cream cheese. The trendy, burnt-topped Basque-style cheesecake (or tarta de queso), created in 1990 by chef Santiago Rivera of San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque Country, is made with a handful of simple ingredients and baked at a high temperature for a caramelized exterior and gooey center.
Käsekuchen (German cheesecake) relies on soft quark cheese, Japanese cheesecake is made fluffy and soufflé-like with the incorporation of whisked egg whites, and Sernik (Polish cheesecake) is made with twaróg cheese and potato flour. Wherever you travel in the world, you’re sure to find a unique, regional take on cheesecake.
For the first stop on your cheesecake world tour, look no further than Sonoma County, where farm cows graze on vast pastures and skilled bakers use local ingredients to craft luscious desserts. From New York to Basque-style and every flavor you can dream up, here is where you can find glorious cheesecakes all around the county to enjoy on National Cheesecake Day, July 30. Or any day of the year.
Best cheesecakes
J.M. Rosen’s Cheesecakes — New York Cheesecake:You can’t go wrong with any of Jan’s Rosen’s famous cheesecakes — the Blueberry, Neapolitan, Chocolate Fantasy and Snickers Bar cheesecakes all get rave reviews. But the star of the show is the original rich and creamy New York-style cheesecake in a buttery shortbread crust — the one that made Frank Sinatra a lifelong customer. Order online (free shipping on local deliveries) or find Rosen’s cheesecakes at a number of restaurants and markets across California, including her restaurant 256 North in Petaluma. 74 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-773-4655, jmrosencheesecakes.com
Three French Hens Bakery — Brûlée Churro Cheesecake: Tangy cream cheese filling topped with a crunchy cinnamon and sugar brûlée in a buttery crust. All orders require 24-hour notice. Order for delivery or pick-up in Walnut Park, 201 Fourth St., Petaluma. Pick-up times are at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Petaluma, 3frenchhenspetaluma.com
Burnt Cheesecake at Animo in Sonoma. (Darryl Bush/For The Press Democrat)
Animo — Burnt Cheesecake: Light, creamy and rich Basque-style cheesecake with a side of whipped cream and either poached Asian pears or strawberries. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, instagram.com/animo_restaurant
Wit & Wisdom— Basque-Style Cheesecake: Soft and airy Basque-style cheesecake with burnt top and accompanied with sweet poached strawberries and a crunchy honey-sesame crisp. 1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, witandwisdomsonoma.com
Cafe La Haye — Yuzu Citrus Cheesecake: Smooth, zesty cheesecake flavored with Japanese yuzu. 140 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-935-5994, cafelahaye.com
Basque Boulangerie Cafe — Cheesecake: Traditional rich cheesecake with a streusel crust. Available in plain, white chocolate, raspberry or seasonal pumpkin. 460 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-935-7687, basqueboulangerie.com
The Mill — Burnt Basque Cheesecake: Creamy, tangy Basque-style cheesecake with fresh berries. 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-721-1818, themillatglenellen.com
College Confectionista Cheesecakes — SoCo Style Cheesecake: Anamaría Morales’ famed “Sonoma County-style” cheesecake with traditional cream cheese filling in a butter graham cracker crust and topped with or without homemade whip cream. Can be made gluten-free with a nut-based crust. Check website for pick-up times and location. 439 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-495-5324, collegeconfectionista.com
Downtown Bakery & Creamery— Cheesecake: Large and baby cheesecakes with a classic rich and dense filling in a buttery graham cracker crust. 308 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-2719, facebook.com/Downtownbakery
Costeaux French Bakery & Cafe — Fruit Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake in a graham cracker crust topped with seasonal fruit. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
BurtoNZ Bakery — Fruit Cheesecake Bars: Raspberry, blackberry and blueberry swirl cheesecake bars with a buttery crust.9076 Brooks Road South, Windsor, 707-687-5455, burtonzbakery.com
Criminal Baking Company — Lemon Chevre Cheesecake: Creamy, tangy, rich and lemony classic cheesecake. Optional add-ons include fresh assorted berries, a caramel drizzle or jasmine tea-infused lemon curd. 808 Donahue St., Santa Rosa, 707-888-3546, criminalbaking.com
John Ash & Co. — Banoffee Cheesecake: Light, creamy cheesecake with a butterscotch swirl, brûléed bananas and a buttery speculoos crumble. 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersresort.com
Underwood Bar & Bistro — Mascarpone Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake made with soft mascarpone and topped with raspberries. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
Patisserie Angelica — Meyer Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake: A decadent, seasonal cheesecake flavored with Meyer lemon and a raspberry swirl. 6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, 707-827-7998, patisserieangelica.com
Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen — Rotating Cheesecakes: Varying creamy cheesecakes are available each weekend. Decadent and seasonal flavors include fig, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, baklava, lemon curd, pecan caramel and chocolate hazelnut.9725 Main St., Monte Rio, 707-865-5169, lightwavecafe.square.site
Strawberry cheesecake from Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio. (Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen)Strawberry cheesecake from Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio. (Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen)
Nightingale Breads — Mini Cheesecakes: Creamy, tangy New York-style mini cheesecakes with flavors changing weekly. Cheesecake flavors include lemon curd, lime curd, passionfruit, orange cream, cranberry curd, blood orange, cappuccino, eggnog, apple pie, toasted coconut and pineapple. 6665 Front St., Forestville, 707-887-8887, nightingalebreads.com
Terrapin Creek Cafe — Crème Fraîche Cheesecake: Light, fluffy cheesecake made with crème fraîche, with raspberry and vanilla sauces. 1580 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2700, terrapincreekcafe.com
Elegant Cheese Cakes — Triple Chocolate Cheesecake: Bittersweet, milk and white chocolate gourmet cheesecake in a butter cookie macadamia nut crust. Order your custom cake online for shipping and delivery. Sonoma, 650-515-8340, elegantcheesecakes.com
Red Bird Bakery — New York Cheesecake: Rich and dense New York-style cheesecake, topped with fresh berries. Locations in Cotati, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. redbirdbakery.com
Oliver’s Market— Chocolate Cheesecake: Dense cheesecake made with dark Belgian chocolate in a crisp chocolate cookie crumb crust. Locations in Windsor, Santa Rosa and Cotati. oliversmarket.com
