From Office to Granny Unit, Locals Turn to ADUs to Expand Their Homes

By Karen Kizer

With the housing market continuing red-hot and prices skyrocketing, California laws are changing in an effort to add some affordable housing units to the rampant housing shortage.

Three letters — ADU, or accessory dwelling unit — spell out just one attempt to expand the state’s affordable housing inventory. Commonly known as granny units or in-law units, ADUs are structures built on properties with existing single-family homes. They can be separate buildings, built-on additions or even converted garages and typically have kitchens and bathrooms. Some are as small as a few hundred square feet while others are sizable — ADUs can be no larger than a 1,000 feet to be considered “accessory” and thus qualify for relaxed permitting requirements.

California has recently passed five assembly bills to allow ADUs less restrictive regulations, speedier approvals and lower costs for building. The units can then make it possible for homeowners to house a family member, to rent a space for added income or to provide a new living space so a main home can be rented out.

Architect Mary Dooley, AIA, whose Petaluma firm, MAD Architecture, has designed offices, wineries and expansive homes, now gets frequent calls requesting ADU designs.

Dooley studied at UC Berkeley’s Environmental Design school and is fond of the idea of ADUs from an environmental perspective. She believes it is better to add housing to properties where the land has already been “disrupted” to accommodate for gas, electricity and water lines. “That’s better than disturbing a new piece of land,” says Dooley.

The kitchen area at the home of Alan Good in Petaluma, Calif. on Monday, October 5, 2020. (Photo: Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
The dining area in an AUD in Petaluma, designed by MAD Architecture. (Erik Castro/for Sonoma Magazine)

Dooley feels it’s “important to consider the art of architecture” when adding units to neighborhoods from a specific time period or with a distinctive style. The architect is quick to point out that affordability is often a driving force behind ADUs. If hiring an architect isn’t in the budget, she recommends people interested in adding an ADU to their property look into free designs and blueprints available online. Seattle’s Office of Planning and Development, for example, has launched the ADUniverse website with pre-approved designs. Local nonprofits like Napa Sonoma ADU provide free blueprints plus comprehensive information.

Napa Sonoma ADU, funded by the Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF), aims to help homeowners go “from thought to deed,” says Julia DeNatale, NVCF’s vice president of Community Impact.

DeNatale sees ADUs as just one way of attempting to respond to a long term affordable housing shortage, which has been further exacerbated by wildfire losses and the pandemic. She adds that half of the people who work in Napa commute into that county and 30% of the Sonoma County workforce must travel in to work largely because of the lack of housing affordability within the county. Part of the mission of Napa Sonoma ADU is to create more affordable accommodations for the workforce nearer to their jobs.

For prospective ADU landlords looking to rent for added income, the nonprofit offers mentorship, contracts and rental information. Extensive information is available on their website and additional services are available at no cost to those who will rent to lower income renters — those who make below 80% of Sonoma or Napa County’s annual median income. In Sonoma County, those figures are $63,000 a year for an individual and $93,000 for a family of four. The nonprofit also assists ADU owners in locating and vetting qualified renters.

For some, an additional structure in the backyard can also serve as an at-home office. Dropbox legal team lead and Shop Local Healdsburg blogger Caroline Bontia purchased a prefabricated shed from Studio Shed in Denver — made from recycled materials and high-efficiency glass — and installed it in her backyard. The prefab shed did not have a bathroom or kitchen, but still required an electrical hookup for installment.

“Since it’s such a big investment, definitely do your own research on permitting requirements and other prefab options out there,” advises Bontia.

For the foreseeable future, the ADU trend seems here to stay, as long as housing costs rise, affordable housing diminishes, shared living spaces proliferate and more of us work from home. Click through the above gallery for some ADU inspiration.

Peek Inside the New Dr. Wilkinson’s Resort in Calistoga

By Dana Rebmann
The pool at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs in Calistoga. (Courtesy of Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs)

The iconic Dr. Wilkinson’s neon sign that graces Calistoga’s main street has a new glow.

For more than half a century, it has directed guests from near and far to the Napa Valley spa resort with healing mud baths and geothermal mineral pools. Now, after a year-long closure and a multi-million dollar renovation of the property, the sign shines brighter than ever. And so does Dr. Wilkinson’s or, as it’s now called, Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs.

The Calistoga resort, established in 1952 by Edy and John “Doc” Wilkinson, was sold in 2019 to San Francisco-based Chartres Lodging Group. While the smile-inducing neon sign remains, plenty of things have changed since the property changed hands from the Wilkinson family to a hotel investment company. What was once the main parking lot, for example, is now the resort’s “backyard,” home to colorful hammocks, a pair of tree swings and a new restaurant, House of Better.

“There was already something special here,” says Maki Nakamura Bara, co-founder of Chartres Lodging Group. “We had an opportunity to really respect that history and legacy and honor it by enhancing and updating it; making it modern, contemporary and fun.”

Outside Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort in Calistoga. (Courtesy of Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort)
The upgraded pool area. (Courtesy photo)
The upgraded pool area. (Courtesy of Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort)

The new resort, a modern take on midcentury style, offers 50 renovated but retro guest rooms — accommodations range from traditional hotel rooms to rooms with Peloton bikes and vintage clawfoot tubs to a five-bedroom, 1924 Victorian, which, thanks to stylish bunkbeds, sleeps 15. Beds are comfy and, for the tech-inclined, easy-to-reach USB ports are built into the top of bedside tables and every room comes with a Google Nest loaded with information. Bright white paint gives original brick walls a fresh new look while natural wood furnishings, pink bathrobes and an essential oil diffuser (complimentary oils are provided at check-in) combine to create a relaxing vintage vibe in each room. Aside from a graphic map of Calistoga and a black-and-white photograph of the property’s mud baths, the room decor is minimalist — though the teal blue Galanz refrigerator and white Smeg tea kettle could be considered objects of art.

Dr-Wilkinsons-Calistoga-clawfoot-tub-guestroom-courtesy-Codi-Ann-Backman
A clawfoot tub in a guest room at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort in Calistoga. (Courtesy of Codi Ann Backman)

Those who have visited Dr. Wilkinson’s throughout the years will remember its two spring-fed mineral pools. Murals, comfy lounge chairs, daybeds and cabanas now enhance time spent in the pool area. The reimagined, co-ed spa features four renovated massage rooms, seven indoor mineral baths, a steam room and four indoor mud baths with private showers. Doc Wilkinson’s secret mineral-rich recipe for the perfect mud mixture has been entrusted to new hands, and treatment options like CBD-infused massage and light- and sound therapy treatments are being added to the spa menu. Along with a geothermal mineral pool, the new spa garden boasts space for outdoor massages and mineral baths, as well as a cold water bucket experience for adventurous guests and a fire pit for those who just want to stay comfortably cozy.

The resort’s new counter-service restaurant and bar, House of Better, features Southwestern-inspired comfort food with a healthy twist. With Trevor Logan of Guerneville’s Chile Pies Baking Co. at the helm, guests can expect dishes like green chile stew, harissa carrot humus and green chile apple pie. There’s an enclosed patio for dining, but the restaurants’s outdoor seating area provides a prime view of its wood-fired oven and chili roaster. House of Better is open for dinner Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Weekend brunch is offered Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Green Chile Stew from House of Better at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort in Calistoga. (Courtesy of Emma Morris)

To eliminate plastic use, hydration stations have been installed throughout the property and guest rooms now come with drinking water in reusable aluminum bottles. Toiletries are provided via wall mounted, refillable dispensers to reduce waste. Plastic key cards could also become a thing of the past at the resort. Eventually, guests will have the option to use their cellphones as keys, checking in and out without needing to stop by the front desk.

It’s a new beginning for a resort that continues to honor an important piece of Calistoga’s past.

“We said, ‘What would be the kind of hotel we would want to go to?’ And we dreamed up this place,” says Robert Kline, CEO and co-founder of Chartres Lodging Group.

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, 1507 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, 707-942-4102, drwilkinson.com. Rates start at $279 a night, plus a $30 resort fee.

How to Buy and Hang Art Like a Pro

By Karen Kizer

You fall in love with a piece of art hanging in a gallery. You decide to take the plunge and invest in this thing of beauty. But is it compatible with your lifestyle, your wall color and your couch?

Buying and hanging art can sometimes be a challenge. We spoke with veteran art gallerist Lori Austin of Lori Austin Gallery in Healdsburg, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. Here are her tips.

Buy with your budget in mind

Being upfront about what you can afford when you visit a gallery helps with the search. But “if you fall in love with an artwork above your price range, don’t be discouraged,” advises Austin. “Work with the gallery and ask about options, including layaway and financing.”

Another option is to direct your search toward local, emerging artists. Works by emerging artists tend to be less expensive than those of more established artists. You can find works by emerging artists in some galleries, at art festivals and even in restaurants and cafes, says Austin. (Santa Rosa restaurants The Spinster Sisters and Brew, for example, display works by local artists).

The Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa organizes an annual competition and show, “Discovered: Emerging Artists of Sonoma County.” This, and other art shows that highlight emerging and local artists, can be a good venue to discover new artists. The Arts Guild of Sonoma organizes a July exhibition, “Celebrating New Artists,” which opens with a reception on Saturday, July 10, 5 – 7 p.m. Sonoma County Art Trails, an annual open studio event, is another place to get to know local artists.

Try before you buy

Some galleries allow you to take an art piece home “on approval,” while others can photoshop the artwork into your space, or provide in-home consultations to find just the right artwork and just the right place for that artwork in your home. “I’ve walked through an entire house with a client, helping with placement and ideas,” says Austin. “Galleries are more service-oriented these days.”

Trust your taste

While it’s important to carefully consider and choose artwork for your home, it’s also good to be able to tune into your gut feeling: if a piece of art resonates with you on a deeper level, it is likely the right piece for you. Austin encourages people to trust their taste.

You don’t need an art education to choose art for your home. But if you’re looking to narrow your search, Austin recommends researching different art styles — abstract, modern, contemporary, representational landscape art and so on — to see which styles you prefer. But “stay open,” recommends Austin, “you’ll discover many incredible artists and artworks if you stay open to suggestions.”

Consider the impact

“People are looking for the room to be more of a place that they can retreat to, especially after a year of being in our homes,” says Austin. While some people prefer bold art that makes a statement, others might want a piece that blends in with the surroundings. Lately, Austin has observed that many people want pieces that bring them joy and many choose artwork with lots of color. “They definitely want that element of lightness,” she adds.

Grouping art is an art

Grouping art requires a skilled eye and some trial and error, says Austin. Some people prefer grouped art to have a common theme, or color palette, while others prefer an eclectic look. To create a gallery wall (also called a “salon wall”) using several pieces of art, Austin recommends mapping out the layout with blue painter’s tape. She also recommends placing larger pieces up high so they will be more visible from further away. Smaller images with detail should be closer to the vantage point. Galleries normally hang art with the center of each piece at 57 inches above the floor, but this can be adjusted at home. Sometimes, “the space will dictate what is possible,” says Austin.

Consider overlooked areas

You can hang art anywhere in your home, including the kitchen, says Austin. (And we’d like to add that it doesn’t need to be a food still life—as much as we adore those). Austin once hung a painting in a hallway, where the collector wanted to hide a control panel.

12 Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in Sonoma County

By Heather Irwin
Charlie Hustle Fried Chicken Sandwich at Jam’s Joy Bungalow. Photo: Facebook

In honor of Dave’s Hot Chicken opening in Santa Rosa (soonish), we decided to make a list of our favorite fried chicken sandwiches in Sonoma County. Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Southern California zeitgeist with seven levels of heat — from mild to ridiculously painful (aka Reaper), is slated to open on Mendocino Ave. in the Safeway shopping center. But is it really as good as what we already have? We plan to put it to the test. Meanwhile, check out these faves. Click through the above gallery for details.

Peek Inside the Renovated Lodge at Sonoma

By Dana Rebmann

The sky’s the limit when it comes to hotel renovations these days. Wine Country resorts spare no expense as they work with award-winning architects and designers from around the world to revamp their properties. While the results are impressive, ubiquitous design trends can sometimes make you lose your sense of place. You’ll see the same color schemes and the same pieces of furniture whether you’re in Sonoma or Singapore.

So it is particularly refreshing when a hotel receives a facelift without losing touch with the surrounding area and its history. As The Lodge at Sonoma emerges from a $17 million renovation, it’s clear where the inspiration came from — its own backyard.

Conceptualized by Sonoma interior designer Mark Wilson and his business partner Yoko Ishihara, the resort’s redesign is visible already from the outside. The facade has been repainted in a particular shade of white to match the exterior of Mission San Francisco Solano, the last California mission, which is located just a mile north of the property on the historic Sonoma Plaza.

Inside the redesigned lobby, you’ll find another tribute to the neighborhood: a shimmering tapestry stretching the length of one wall depicts the Franciscan mission and its neighboring buildings in the 1800s. Above the fireplace, a photo collection includes a portrait of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the founder of the town of Sonoma, together with his wife, Francisca Benicia Carrillo.

“Our goal is to tie the property to Sonoma and the community,” said Xavier Bon, Director of Sales & Marketing at The Lodge at Sonoma. “It’s a celebration of Sonoma.”

A picture of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the founder of Sonoma, hangs above the lobby fireplace at The Lodge at Sonoma. (Courtesy of The Lodge at Sonoma)
A picture of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the founder of Sonoma, hangs above the lobby fireplace at The Lodge at Sonoma. (Courtesy of The Lodge at Sonoma)

With a nod to Sonoma’s history, the property has been upgraded with contemporary elements. All 182 guest rooms, suites and cottages have been modernized and some of the cottages and suites now boast private patio areas with outdoor fireplaces and soaking tubs.

With more reasons to linger in their rooms, guests will still want to explore the lodge’s expansive outdoor spaces.

The pool area, which always draws a crowd, is lined with comfy loungers and cabanas. On select days, a horse trailer-turned-poolside bar — High Horse Bar — slakes the thirst of sunbathers and serves up nachos, burgers and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. A few feet from the pool deck, a few well-placed hammocks on a stretch of grass offer the perfect spot for a post-wine tasting snooze. In a hidden corner of the property, you’ll find grapevines, wine barrel cornhole games, shaded cushy seating and a 400-year-old oak tree equipped with a wooden swing.

The Lodge at Sonoma is also home to celebrity chef Michael Mina’s first wine country restaurant, Wit & Wisdom. The restaurant, whose name pays homage to Jack London (the author lived in nearby Glen Ellen), serves flavorful inventive dishes. The savory “Pop-Tart” is a favorite: Braised short rib, horseradish cream and black pepper meld together with the tasty assistance of a crispy rectangle of puff pastry. It pairs particularly well with the roasted heirloom carrots. The dinner menu also includes wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, seafood dishes and a burger served with potato wedges fried in duck fat.

In addition to a wine list that’s 20-plus pages long, Wit & Wisdom boasts a standout cocktail program. Short of eating dessert first, do what you can to save room for The Chocolate Bar with Caramelia milk chocolate and peanut butter crumble. You can thank us later.

The Lodge at Sonoma, 1325 Broadway at Leveroni & Napa Roads, Sonoma, 707-935-6600, thelodgeatsonoma.com. Rates start at $299 a night, plus a daily $45 resort fee.

New Healdsburg Restaurant Opens as Mateo’s Cocina Latina Closes

By Heather Irwin
Conchinita Pibil, by Mateo Granados, at Mateo’s Cocina Latina in Healdsburg, served with a rhubarb inspired margarita. The dish features slow-roasted pork marinated in annatto seed with homemade tortilla and cinnamon-cured red onions. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)

We were heartbroken to hear the news Wednesday that Chef Mateo Granados’ Healdsburg restaurant will close its doors permanently on July 24. Granados, who announced the closure in a Facebook post, cited the many challenges restaurateurs have faced over the last few years as the reason behind the decision.

When the upscale Yucatan-inspired restaurant opened 10 years ago, it was one of the few dining destinations in Sonoma County to truly showcase local farmers, ranchers and fishermen. Over the last decade, Granados worked with local purveyors to create dishes that are both inventive and sustainable. We’ll miss seeing his creative takes on rich regional cuisine, though Granados promises that some interesting projects are in the works. Staffing is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged during the last few weeks of service.

214 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, mateoscocinalatina.com

Mateo Granados, owner of Mateo's restaurant in Healdsburg
Mateo Granados, owner of Mateo’s Cocina Latina in Healdsburg. (Chris Hardy / Sonoma Magazine)

More dining news

Burdock opens: We’ve been keeping our eye on this Healdsburg newcomer for months, but it wasn’t until a recent trip to sister business Duke’s for a cocktail (or four) that we discovered the restaurant had officially opened. The backstory, if you missed it in a previous column, involved the founders of Duke’s departing from the popular watering hole unexpectedly in April, leaving the future of the forthcoming next-door restaurant in flux. With little (read, absolutely no) fanfare, Burdock soft launched last weekend. The opening menu from Chef Sean Kelley includes oysters, beef carpaccio, caviar puffs, baked oysters Cubano, Dungeness crab salad, griddled asparagus and crispy pork belly. 109a Plaza St., Healdsburg, burdockbar.com.

Yes, it’s homemade: We need to talk about Mary’s Pizza Shack’s ranch dressing. It’s totally the best, right? I hadn’t given it a ton of thought until my husband (and ranch dressing connoisseur) pointed out that it was especially great. Maybe the best ever. And it’s probably not the stuff that comes in 10-gallon buckets. Ever the doubter, I asked the folks at Mary’s what the deal is with this creamy, garlicky, completely addictive dip. It turns out it’s actually homemade and, even more thrilling, you can get the recipe in the Mary’s Italian Family cookbook. I promised not to divulge all the details of the dressing, but it does include buttermilk as well as red wine vinegar, fresh herbs and Tabasco! There are plenty of other favorite Mary’s recipes, along with stories about the local icon and her family, in the cookbook. Order at maryspizzashack.com.

Ever Tasted White Pinot? This Sonoma Winery Thinks You Should

By Dana Rebmann

It’s no secret that you can drink well in Sonoma wine country. The area boasts an impressive number of grape varietals that thrive in this climate and produce excellent wines for every palate. Oenophiles have come to expect only the best from regional vineyards, but every now and then there’s a bottle that still manages to impress. Among them this year is a white pinot noir. Yes, you read that right.

Sonoma’s Schug Carneros Estate Winery just released its first new wine in 12 years. And it’s a white pinot.

“There aren’t that many producers (of white pinot noirs),” says winemaker Johannes Scheid. “It’s a little bit unknown. I think that’s why we made it.”

It was winery founder Walter Schug’s love of pinot noir that inspired him to create his own Sonoma wine label 40 years ago. Schug, who was raised on a German vineyard along the Rhine River that specialized in pinot noir, arrived in Northern California wine country in the early 1960s and quickly gained fame for his winemaking and pinot expertise. Today, his children carry on his legacy together with German-American winemaker Johannes Scheid.

“We are honoring my father’s lifelong passion for the noble and historic grape variety and building upon that with an innovative, modern expression of pinot noir,” says Claudia Schug, co-owner and Director of Communication and Education at Schug Carneros Estate Winery.

Walter Schug, founder of Schug Carneros Estate Winery in Sonoma. (Chris Hardy)
Walter Schug, founder of Schug Carneros Estate Winery in Sonoma. (Chris Hardy)

Claudia Schug had the opportunity to taste white pinot noir from several different wineries while living in Germany for almost 30 years and always found these wines intriguing. So when it was decided that her Sonoma winery should add another white wine to its portfolio, pinot noir seemed like the perfect choice: it was a grape varietal the winery already had access to and much experience making wine from.

The biggest challenge producing a white pinot noir is making sure there is no color in the wine. Vineyard staff had to work fast, while also being careful, when picking the grapes, grown at Ricci Vineyards in Carneros. The fruit was hand-picked at night, quickly transported to the winery and pressed without any skin contact to preserve the pale color. Just the pressure from the weight of the grapes against each other had the potential to add unwanted hues.

Free-run juice was then fermented in neutral French oak barrels and aged for five months “sur lie” (French for “on the lees,” meaning the wine is kept in contact with yeast particles, or lees, during the aging process). The wine was stirred just twice, using a technique called bâtonnage, to mix the settled lees back into the wine. The result: a white wine made from red wine grapes with flavors of wild strawberries, rhubarb, a hint of black cherry and white peach.

“I would say if you like pinot noir, you’ll like this one as well,” says Scheid.

Only five barrels, or approximately 1,400 bottles, of the winery’s 2020 White Pinot Noir were produced — most likely, it won’t last long. The wine ($42) is available through the winery, but sales are limited to ensure availability for wine club members.

When asked if more white pinot noir might be in the winery’s future, both Schug and Schied quickly responded, “Definitely.”

“Moving forward, we want to experiment a little bit more,” says Schied. “We have some good wines in our portfolio so far but we always want to try and come up with something else, something new.”

602 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707-939-9363, schugwinery.com

Local LGBTQ-Owned Businesses To Support This Pride Month and All Year Long

By Kaila Bohler
Alisse Cottle, left, and Jessica Borrayo of Brew Coffee and Beer House. (Loren Hanson Photography)

On June 26, 2015, just six months after opening Brew Coffee and Beer House in Santa Rosa, life and business partners Alisse Cottle and Jessica Borrayo hoisted a 5-foot-long rainbow flag outside their fledgling business to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage a right nationwide.

On January 5 this year, the rainbow flag still flying outside their coffee shop and taproom, Cottle and Borrayo celebrated Brew’s 6th anniversary with free coffee for customers and an open mic night on Zoom. Like other restaurants, they had been forced to halt indoor services due to the pandemic. But the couple still found a way to bring people together on that day, just like they have since 2015.

“We have always felt that we want to create a place where everyone is welcome, especially people like us,” Cottle said.

This Pride Month, we at Sonoma Magazine join the celebrations by highlighting some of our local LGBTQ-owned businesses. The owners of these businesses feel they have a mission that extends beyond running a company. They want to bring people together and give back to the community, while serving up exceptionally delicious food, glasses of wine and cups of coffee.

Brew Coffee and Beer House

This friendly establishment just west of downtown Santa Rosa serves locally-sourced coffee, beer and baked goods. Brew also offers a menu of rotating food items prepared in-house, including a few creative takes on the ever-popular avocado toast. The homey dining room doubles as an art gallery, displaying works by local artists, and as an event space for open mic nights and music performances. 

While pandemic guidelines have put many of Brew’s events on hold — or relocated them to Zoom — some favorites have returned, including the RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties. Brew will be partnering with Translife to host Paint the Town Queer, a family-friendly event to close out Pride Month on June 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

555 Healdsburg Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-303-7372, brewcoffeeandbeer.com

Cowgirl Creamery

Cowgirl Creamery, founded in 1997 by college friends and chefs, Peggy Smith and Sue Conley, is an organic cheese company located in the heart of the North Bay. After arriving in the Bay Area in the 1970s and then working in some of San Francisco’s most famous kitchens, the duo sought to create a company “that would celebrate overlooked communities.” 

With its two founders now retired, Cowgirl Creamery remains “a proudly LGBTQ+ led company,” dedicated to creating an inclusive environment. In a recent blog post on the company website, current Managing Director Amanda Parker reflects on how her own identity, as well as that of the company, have been shaped by Pride and the LGBTQ community. 

Cowgirl Creamery’s 13 cheeses — Red Hawk and Mt Tam are dairy darlings — can be sampled and bought at the creamery’s cheese shop in Point Reyes Station. The Creamery’s cheeses can also be found online, in local supermarkets and worldwide.

80 4th St, Point Reyes Station, 866-433-7834, cowgirlcreamery.com

Mercury Wine

Mercury Wine owner Brad Beard first came to Sonoma County from Phoenix, Arizona in 2008. “Geyserville mines brought Italian immigrants, Italians brought grapes and grapes brought me,” Beard said. The winery’s name pays homage to both Geyserville’s historical mercury mines and to Freddie Mercury, the late lead singer of the rock band Queen. Freddie Mercury also is the name of Beard’s friendly dog, who is always ready to greet customers upon their visit.  

The tasting room, operated by Brad’s brother, Grady Beard, is a popular stop for tours, including Out in the Vineyard, an event and travel company that caters specifically to the LGBTQ community. The Mercury team strives to make their establishment a friendly and inviting environment, often putting on live music performances with the owners and other guests for happy hour. 

Mercury wines play with the themes from the winery’s local and musical roots: included in their lineup is a Freddie Cuvee, Heavy Metal Red Blend and a mourvédre and merlot blend called Element. Visitors can taste wine outdoors on a patio and then dine, just a few steps away from the tasting room, at top regional restaurants Catelli’s and Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria. The tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 

21025 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-9870, mercurywine.com

Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar

Life partners and entrepreneurs Ozzy Jimenez and Christian Sullberg opened Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar in Healdsburg in 2014. At the time, the confectionary duo had already made a mark with their first business, Moustache Baked Goods, a patisserie off the Healdsburg Plaza specializing in pretty cupcakes in a variety of flavors (the patisserie closed due to the pandemic and continues now as a catering business). In 2018, they opened a second location for Noble Folk in downtown Santa Rosa. 

The Noble Folk storefronts proudly fly the rainbow flag and the transgender pride flag and display Black Lives Matter posters to signal that these businesses celebrate diversity and inclusion. But Jimenez’ and Sullbergs’ dedication to their community extends beyond the walls of their establishments. During the Kincade Fire in 2019, the couple helped feed hundreds of displaced farmworkers. Last year, Jimenez was appointed vice mayor of Healdsburg, making him the second openly gay member and the first person of color in three decades on the City Council. 

Noble Folk has been recognized by the San Francisco Business Journal as one of the top LGBTQIA+ owned businesses in the Bay Area for the last six years. This year, they were named one of the 12 best ice cream spots in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle. Try their new blueberry cheesecake ice cream flavor inspired by a local children’s book. 

116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-4426; 539 4th St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3392, thenoblefolk.com

Radical Family Farms

Radical Family Farms was founded by life partners Leslie Wiser and Sarah Deragon in 2019 in an effort to reclaim Asian American identities on the land and to center LGBTQIA+ mixed-Asian American heritage and culinary culture through the vegetables, herbs, meals and events produced on the farm, according to their mission statement.

“I think I would have turned to farming sooner if I had seen more farmers like me. Visibility and representation matter … especially to folks who are ambiguous in race and gender,” Deragon said in an interview with Sonoma Magazine. (Read the article here). 

The farm specializes in Asian heritage produce, medicinal herbs, flowers and heirloom seeds. They don’t have an open market, but the farm operates a Community Supported Agriculture program that delivers boxes of the Asian heritage produce and flowers within their community as well as to members throughout the Bay Area. If you don’t want to commit to a box just yet, seeds, edible flowers and medicinal herb can be purchased through their online store.

707-210-2773, radicalfamilyfarms.com

This is not a comprehensive list of LGBTQ-owned businesses in Sonoma County. Please add your favorites to the comments. 

Pair Wine Tasting With Yoga at These Sonoma Wineries

By Claire Weber
The patio at Trentadue Winery in Geyserville. (Courtesy of Trentadue Winery)

Imagine the kind of deep relaxation you experience after finishing a yoga class. Now add a glass of wine to that. Pairing wine with yoga became a fitness trend a few years ago, delivering a “double whammy of calm” to practitioners.  In Sonoma County, yogis and oenophiles can sip vino post savasana in the middle of a vineyard. What could be more blissful than that? Click through the gallery above for a look at different wineries offering yoga and wine experiences. 

The Pool at Francis Ford Coppola Winery Is Now Open

By Dana Rebmann
The pool area at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. (Francis Ford Coppola Winery)

The calendar may say it’s still spring, but as far as temperatures go, summer is already in full swing in Sonoma wine country. After a few days of record heat, we are ready to cool down poolside with a glass of rosé and a good book.

There are plenty of pools and swimming holes in Sonoma and Napa. One of the most popular places to take a dip — and sip wine — is Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. The pool opened for the summer season on June 15 and will welcome visitors until October 4 (it reopens for the fall season on October 9).

This year, there are some changes you need to be aware of before you pack your swimsuit and head to the famous movie director’s winery. Access to the sparkling 3,600 square-foot pool is only available with a cabine reservation. Similar to cabanas, cabines are European-style changing rooms with private showers and towels. Cabine reservations (starting at $220) provide pool access for four people. To ensure social distancing, chaise lounge chairs are being assigned to guests. Individual pool passes are not available this season.

(Pro-tip from one of our readers if you can’t get a reservation: “They typically have cancellations each week; if you have the flexibility to be spontaneous, check the reservations first thing in the morning on a Monday and you may be able to snatch a cancellation for that week.”)

Swimmers and sunbathers at Francis Ford Coppola Winery can dry off and play bocce ball, dine at the Pool Café or Rustic restaurant and head inside the winery to visit the tasting room (reservations recommended) or check out Coppola’s collection of movie memorabilia. Face masks must be worn as guests move around the property. Masks are not required when seated in a lounge chair or when in the water.

Pool House wines from Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. (Francis Ford Coppola Winery)
Pool House wines from Francis Ford Coppola Winery. (Courtesy photo)

To further enhance your summertime experience, Francis Ford Coppola Winery has launched a new series of low-alcohol wines, Pool House, available poolside and for shipping via the winery’s website. The wines were inspired by the pool at the winery, where guests often request session wines to enjoy during daytime visits.

“We created Pool House wines to be full-flavored first, with the added benefit of lower calories, sugar and alcohol,” said Corey Beck, Winemaking Chief for Francis Ford Coppola Winery. “A lot went into the vineyard selection to make this possible, and we’re thrilled to share the final product in time for the summer season.”

The Pool House range, available in 12 oz cans and 750 ml bottles, includes a sauvignon blanc, a rosé, a pinot noir and a brut rosé.

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery pool is open daily, now through October 4, 2021. From October 9 through October 24, the pool will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Pool hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1471, thefamilycoppola.com.

There are other great pools in Sonoma County to help you stay cool. Click through the above gallery to find out where you can take a dip this summer. We recommend you call each pool before making plans — hours and regulations are changing by the day.