With wine tasting rooms closed due to Covid-19, more and more wineries are taking tastings online. But not every tasting experience comes with the participation of a Grammy-winning artist.
This Wednesday, singer-songwriter John Legend will host a virtual wine tasting together with local wine magnate Jean-Charles Boisset, the proprietor of Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards and Raymond Vineyards, among others.
Legend and Boisset teamed up in 2015 to create Legend’s own wine label, LVE Legend Vineyard Exclusive.
“Just like with all of my creative endeavors, my approach to winemaking is to collaborate with the best and trying to make something magical,” said Legend.
Since its inception five years ago, the LVE lineup has grown to include seven wines; four from Napa Valley and three from France.
On Wednesday, Legend and Boisset will be joined by wine.com educator Gwendolyn Osborn as they taste the LVE Legend Vineyard Exclusive Provence Rosé and the LVE French Sparkling Rosé.
The grapes for LVE Rosé were grown in the Montagne Sainte-Victoire region of Provence in France. Grapes for the LVE Sparkling Rosé are sourced from a blend of vineyards in well-known growing regions of France, including the Loire and Languedoc.
“In this unique time, while we may be separated physically, wine still unites us,” said Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection.
Register here for the May 6 wine tasting with Legend and Boisset, which takes place from 4-4:40 p.m. When you sign-up, you can also submit a question about their collaboration.
Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday this year, giving us double the reason to celebrate. While shelter in place orders are putting a damper on our fiestas, we can still get our fill of margaritas and Mexican eats by ordering from our many local restaurants. We’ve put together a list of the best Sonoma and Napa spots for takeout tequila for your Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Click through the above gallery for photos of some delicious drinks. Note that some restaurants are closed on Tuesday, so you’ll want to order in advance. Is your restaurant doing margaritas to go? Send us an email.
Sonoma County
El Gallo Negro, Windsor: El Gallo has a margarita for everyone with 11 festive options ($9-12), including their house margarita, La Margarita, a Mezcal margarita, skinny margarita, and the Mucho Caliente. For Cinco de Mayo, they’ve created a watermelon basil margarita, because a watermelon’s colors (green skin, white rind, red inside) represents the Mexican flag. They’ve also got eight styles of burritos to match. Order online or by calling 707-838-9511. Open for drive-thru from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. 8465 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor, elgallonegro.net.
Texas Margarita from Sweet T’s in Windsor. (Courtesy photo)
Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar, Windsor: For a spicy margarita with a twist, order up the Texas Margarita ($13) from Sweet T’s with Herradura Reposado Tequila, Cointreau, lime, agave, pineapple, and cayenne pepper. Open for curbside pickup between 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. To-go cocktails and family-style meal options can be found here. Call 707-687-5185 to place your order. 9098 Brooks Rd S, Windsor, sweettssouthern.com.
Cascabel, Santa Rosa: Cascabel has created a Cinco de Mayo Meal Kit & Margarita special. For $12, the customizable meal kit serves four people and for $29, you can add on a pitcher of margaritas (five margs for the price of three). They also have a slew of single-serve cocktails on their menu, like the Strawberry Lavender or Pineapple Cilantro Margaritas ($11). Open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m daily. To order, call 707-521-9444. 909 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9444, cascabelbayarea.com/santa-rosa.
Prickly Pear Margarita from Cascabel in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
Steele and Hops, Santa Rosa: Feel like going big for the occasion? Steele and Hops has margaritas by the quart for $25, which shakes out to about six cocktails. Call 707-523-2201 to order. 1901 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, steeleandhops.com.
Agave, Healdsburg: True to its name, Agave has a tasty lineup of agave tequila drinks, like the Hibiscus Margarita, plus you can snag a pitcher of margs for $38. They all go great with Agave’s traditional Mexican dishes. Call 707-433-2411 for delivery or takeout. Menu available online. 1062 Vine St., Healdsburg, agave-mex.com.
Mateo’s Cocina Latina, Healdsburg: Mateo’s has a Cinco de Mayo special featuring olive oil guacamole, your choice of ceviche or a nacho platter, and Ritual Farm pork carnitas for $78 (serves 4-6). Add on a serving of four seasonal margaritas for $36. Typically closed Tuesdays, Mateo’s has decided to open for the holiday, taking pick-up orders on the special only (and drinks) between 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Order online or call 707-433-1520. 214 Healdsburg Ave, 707-433-1520, mateoscocinalatina.com
Diavola, Geyserville: In partnership with the Geyserville Gun Club, Diavola’s Jamaica Fresca ($25, serves 4) is made with tequila-infused hibiscus tea, agave, fresh lime, and ghost pepper. Pair it with their Taco Tuesday “Supper Club” special ($40 for two people) featuring pork carnitas, chicken Verde, and Korean tacos with fresh salsa and sides. Place an order in advance online or by calling 707-814-0111. 21021 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville, diavolapizzeria.com.
McNear’s Saloon & Dining House, Petaluma: McNear’s is closed on Tuesday, but if you can plan ahead, pick up their Margarita Kit ($45) this weekend, which includes a bottle of Blanco Tequilla, homemade sweet and sour and agave-spiked triple sec, fresh limes, and spicy salt for the rim. McNear’s Saloon & Dining House, Petaluma Serving times: 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesdays – Sundays. Advance orders for peak meal times are greatly appreciated. 23 Petaluma Blvd N, 707-765-2121, mcnears.com.
Mi Pueblo, Petaluma: This classic taqueria has margaritas to go with their classic fare, making it a no-brainer for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. 800 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, 707-762-8192, eatmipueblopetaluma.com.
Seared, Petaluma: Grab a cocktail kit for $35 and spend Cinco de Mayo sipping refreshing grapefruit margaritas. Kit includes a liter of El Jimador tequila, four bottles of grapefruit soda, and lime. Menu here. Takeout available Wednesdays – Sundays, so pick up your kit in advance. Order online or call 707-762-5997. 170 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, petalumaseared.com
Bottled margaritas from Gran Electrica in Napa. (Courtesy photo)
Napa Valley
Gran Electrica, Napa: Gran Electrica has created a Cinco de Mayo Party Kit for two ($75), which comes with two taco kits (4 total tacos), guac, chips, and salsa, two bottles of margaritas (4 cocktails total), a bottle of Space Age Rose, and a party mix by their in-house DJ. You can also get the margarita bottles separately for $15. Order online here. Takeout available Tuesdays – Sundays, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. 1313 Main St., Napa, 707-258-1313, granelectrica.com
Heritage Eats, Napa: This isn’t typically a holiday that favors those who are gluten-free, but Heritage Eats has the goods. Their Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Kit ($60 for four, $76 for six) comes with tacos, a side of rice, avocados, and a dozen Mexican hot chocolate cookies—all gluten-free—plus a mini piñata. Throw in a quart of margaritas for $18 and you’ve got yourself the perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration. Order online here. Takeout available daily, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. 3824 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, 707-226-3287, heritageeats.com
Margaritas from Heritage Eats in Napa. (Courtesy photo)
Frida’s Mexican Grill, Napa: Frida’s has opted to celebrate Cinco de Mayo for three straight days, offering $2 tacos on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and a special appetizer plate for $15. As for margaritas, they’re offering discounts on their house margaritas ($8 in a cup, $11 in a 12 oz. bottle) and their top shelf margarita ($10 in a cup, $14 in a bottle). Takeout available daily from 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Call 707-252-3575 to place your order. 1533 Trancas Street, Napa, fridasmexicangrill.com
Ca’ Momi Osteria, Napa: Ca’ Momi is crafting some pretty intriguing cocktails, like the Il Sole, made with Cruz de Fuego mezcal, Ambrosia aperitivo, Pierre Ferrand orange curaçao, Gusta di Amalfi mandarins liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and orange bitters. There’s also The Calabrita, consisting of chile-infused tequila, blood orange and hibiscus grenadine, fresh lime juice, and honey liqueur. The best part: the more you drink, the more you save (cocktails are 1 for $15, 2 for $20, 4 for $40, 6 for $55, or 8 for $70). Order online here. Takeout available daily, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 1141 First St., Napa, 707-224-6664, camomi.com
Don Perico, Napa: One of Napa’s standby Mexican joints, add a $5 house margarita, $8 skinny margarita, or $8 cucumber margarita to your order. Takeout available daily, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. To order, call 707-252-4707. 1106 First Street, Napa, donpericos.com
Napa Noodles, Napa: Get a summer-ready, spicy mango margarita from Napa Noodles for only $10. They also have margaritas on the rock to-go, two for $18. Takeout available daily, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. To order, call 707-492-8079. 1124 First Street, Napa, napanoodles.com
Farmstead, St. Helena: Farmstead’s popular margarita—featuring Blue Agave tequila blanco, homemade sour, agave nectar, lime, and a salt rim—is available to go for $19 (16 ounces). Takeout available daily from 11:30 a.m. – 7:15 p.m. Order online here. 738 Main Street, St. Helena, 707-963-4555, longmeadowranch.com
Closed movie theaters won’t stop the Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFS) from bringing films and stars to movie buffs.
Just days after shelter in place orders were issued across the Bay Area, the organizer of the annual Alexander Valley Film Festival launched a “Shelter in Place” series, featuring online screenings of ticketed film releases on Mondays, virtual food-and-wine movie nights on Wednesdays, and live interviews with movie stars, as well as filmmaking and video editing workshops.
While the Monday and Wednesday events have brought several arthouse films to the fore, the real star of the series are the live Q&As with film industry celebrities, which AVFS Executive Director Kathryn Hecht moderates from her home office.
As part of the series, Hecht has interviewed Hollywood actors Ron Livingston (“Office Space,” “Band of Brothers,” “Swingers”), Steve Zahn (“Reality Bites,” “Rescue Dawn”), and Rosemarie DeWitt (“Mad Men,” “Rachel’s Getting Married”) among others. The next interview, with outgoing Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper, is scheduled for this Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m.
According to Hecht, the goal of the series is to help lift the spirits of film fanatics as they shelter at home, away from the big screen.
“The highest value we can provide to our constituents is access,” she said. “Being able to bring content and connection at a time when people are starving for human contact is important. It’s about getting people to laugh and experience some camaraderie.”
Hecht came up with the idea for the series one night toward the beginning of sheltering-in-place as she was trying to figure out how the organization could offer more interactive programming.
She immediately called AVFS board member Jenny Gomez for input. Gomez’s husband, Rick, works as an actor and Hecht thought the couple might have some good ideas for people and films to include. The Gomez family then kicked off the series on March 12 with a screening of Rick’s film “The Week,” followed by a Zoom interview with the couple.
For Jenny Gomez, that first experience served as a reminder that, despite our current situation, everyone remains connected.
“It all played out like any other Zoom (call), just like you’d talk to your friends or your parents,” she said. “There’s something really universal about it. The format created an opportunity for us to connect in a really intimate way, even though we were in our [respective homes].”
The following week, Hecht invited Geyserville filmmaker Scott Keneally to join the Q&A series, this time on Facebook Live. Before the interview, the AVFS streamed “Rise of the Sufferfests,” Keneally’s 2016 documentary about obstacle course racing.
“The film was such a significant part of my life for so many years, so when Kathryn approached me I jumped at the chance,” said Keneally. “Not only do I love geeking out about filmmaking, but given the current state of affairs, it seemed like it would be a fun escape. And it was. I didn’t think about the goddamned pandemic for a whole hour.”
Other early guests on the interview series included Steve Zahn and film critic Jil Hales, owner of Healdsburg’s Barndiva restaurant. The highlight, however, was the interview with Ron Livingston.
Livingston, who made his breakthrough in cult classic “Office Space,” joined the live chat from his Los Angeles home and spoke candidly about his life and career in the movie industry. The conversation ranged from his days as a Yale undergraduate to his work on HBO’s “Band of Brothers.” The actor also answered questions submitted via Facebook.
Livingston isn’t the only member of his household to participate in the AVFS “Shelter In Place” interview series. Last week, his wife and fellow actor, Rosemarie DeWitt, joined the show, too.
Going into this weekend’s interview with Cooper, Hecht and Jenny Gomez are busy putting together the next lineup of interviewees. Hecht said she would love to continue the interview program, as well as the online film screenings, even after shelter in place orders have been lifted.
“I keep asking myself, ‘Why weren’t we doing this before?’” she said, noting that the society’s web traffic has increased more than 300 percent since the series began. “The whole program is a really low-stakes way for us to connect with our fans and reach new audiences.”
Upcoming online screenings include the cult film “The Princess Bride” on May 4. Visit the Alexander Valley Film Society website for more information about the Shelter in Place series: avfilmsociety.org
The selection at the meat counter at Thistle Meats in downtown Petaluma. August 28, 2014. (Photo: Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
With much of the nation’s meat supply in flux as major processing plants close due to COVID-19 outbreaks, local restaurants and consumers will likely see skyrocketing prices and shortages of beef, chicken and especially pork in the coming weeks.
Though moves are being made at a federal level to force reopening of plants that process more than 25% of the nation’s weekly supply, another solution is closer to home.
“Our supply chain is very short and very strong,” said Adam Parks, owner of Sebastopol’s Victorian Farmstead Meat. As a small, family-run operation, he’s sold regionally-sourced chicken, beef and pork at independent grocers, farm markets and directly to consumers for more than a decade.
Parks said that about 15 large-scale producers like Tyson and Smithfield account for about 98% of all meat sold in the county. “As shelves go dry, people are looking for more local places to buy their meat,” he said.
“I know every rancher that raises for us. We have gone out of our way to know that we’ve but a supply chain we can trust,” said Parks, who has direct ties through the entire production process, from farms and ranches to processors and distribution.
“My biggest problem is that I’m running out of cold storage,” he said. He recently scaled up his business to accommodate an additional 250 delivery orders each week.
With serious cracks showing in national supply chains, Parks is far from alone in seeing locals clamoring for meat sources closer to where they live.
Adam Parks of Victorian Farms Meat. Courtesy photo
The shelter-in-place measure cut orders at Santa Rosa’s Golden Gate Wine Country Meats by 75%. Owner Brad Wagner said the sudden drop forced his business to get creative, so he’s been providing meat directly to consumers by working with independent local grocers, delivery services and even Third Street Aleworks restaurant, which is selling boxes of meat and produce along with their takeout food.
“The average consumer doesn’t understand how things go from a farm to a warehouse to a grocery store or restaurant. Over the next two weeks it’s going to be the craziest roller coaster ride we’ve ever seen,” Wagner said about the effect of the closure of big plants and the subsequent lack of labor.
With massive food processing plants closed, ranchers have nowhere to take their animals for processing. Millions of animals are being euthanized simply because farmers can’t afford to feed animals they can’t sell.
“That’s why the President is trying to open them back up, but I don’t know how they can force people back to work. It will be interesting to see what happens,” Wagner said. Nationwide, more than 6,500 workers front large-scale meat plants have tested positive for COVID-19.
Though Wagner does sell meat from national producers, he said his relationships with smaller local producers like Stemple Creek and Petaluma Poultry as well as family farms in Texas and Oregon will keep products rolling into Sonoma County.
Marco Lepe from Lepe’s Foods in Santa Rosa distributes meat throughout the region. He said he’s had a harder time getting beef, but still has supplies. “It’s the trickle down from the Tyson (beef) plant closing in Washington. They were doing 4 million pounds a day,” Lepe said. His drive-up and delivery business also has been booming.
Though it is unlikely that meat counters at local grocers will go bare, Victorian Farmstead’s Parks said he worries most about the pork supply. Because hogs have to be processed at certain weights, they can’t be put back to pasture to wait for reopening of meat processing plants.
“You thought toilet paper was hard to get? Try finding a pork chop in two weeks,” he said.
Sonoma County is seeing the first weeks of summer weather with high temperatures in the 80s and record heat in Santa Rosa. But, since stay-at-home orders are still in place, many of us are struggling with being stuck at home in the heat. We’ve compiled a list of the best activities you can do at home without breaking a sweat. Scroll through the gallery above for 15 ideas.
Aaron Rosewater, co-owner of Levin & Company, organizes the shelves at his bookstore in Healdsburg on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. (Beth Schlanker/ The Press Democrat)
The shelter-in-place orders due to Covid-19 have drastically changed how we spend our free time. Many of our favorite pastimes — spending time at the beach, in restaurants and cafes — have suddenly vanished. One activity that remains, however, and that even seems to have increased in popularity during the pandemic is reading. Perhaps because it helps us relax and allows us to escape the current crisis, at least for a moment.
But with bookstore browsing and next-day delivery no longer available to us, we need to find alternate ways to access books. While firing up the e-reader or downloading titles onto the computer or smartphone is one option, many of us might want to take a break from screens. Thanks to Sonoma County’s stalwart booksellers, we can still get our hands on paperbacks and hardcovers: several are now offering curbside pickup and delivery during limited hours. Click through the above gallery for details.
Barnes and Noble in Santa Rosa is closed. You can order online for delivery. Are you a local bookseller offering curbside pickup or delivery? Send us an email and we will add you to the list.
Before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, few of us had heard of Zoom. These days, everyone seems to be using the video conferencing platform. When Grandma finally joined in on the calls, you may have thought you’d seen it all. But you were wrong.
Two Sonoma County residents, Amos and Johnny, have recently been turning virtual heads by making guest appearances on Zoom, showing call participants how to live your best life — as a sheep and a goat.
Amos and Johnny reside at Charlie’s Acres in Sonoma, a nonprofit animal sanctuary that is home to 140 rescued farm animals. Charlie’s Acres is one of more than 30 farm animal sanctuaries across the country that is now offering farm video calls through a program called Goat 2 Meeting, created and operated by Half Moon Bay nonprofit Sweet Farm.
Launched only a month ago, demand for this special service is already through the roof — from animal rights clubs to birthday parties to Fortune 100 companies, everyone wants to join in on the fun.
“You wouldn’t believe the diversity of people asking for us to call in,” said Nate Salpeter, co-founder and executive director of Sweet Farm.
Courtesy of Charlie’s Acres
For a $65 donation, you can book a 20-minute virtual private tour for up to six people. Corporate meeting cameos and virtual tours for unlimited guests run from $100 to $750. Virtual field trips for public schools are free.
With the cancellation of in-person tours, Charlie’s Acres and other animal sanctuaries have lost a key source of revenue. Thanks to proceeds from Goat 2 Meeting, Charlie’s Acres founder, Tracy Vogt, has been able to bring a furloughed employee back to work.
“We’re absolutely booked well into May, which is amazing,” said Vogt.
So far, Charlie’s Acres has participated in video calls with a variety of organizations and companies, from schools and nurses associations to online dating services, insurance companies and law firms. A live television morning show is on next week’s schedule.
“We’ve done several (calls) with people working really hard on some aspect of Covid-19 relief and they seem to be extremely grateful for a smile during this time,” said Vogt.
When interested groups sign up online, they can request a certain animal and farm sanctuaries will do their best to accommodate wishlists. But regardless of what kind of animal eventually joins the call, they all seem to be naturals when it comes to eliciting smiles.
Sarah Hernholm, founder and president of Whatever It Takes (WIT), a program that teaches entrepreneurial and leadership skills to middle and high school students, recently booked a Goat 2 Meeting for her students, which took them on a virtual trip to Charlie’s Acres animal sanctuary.
“I had such a hard time keeping the surprise and I only had to hold it for two days,” said Hernholm, who’s been working hard to inject some lightness and humor into an otherwise somber situation for her students.
Before the Go 2 Meeting, the WIT book club had just finished reading The Alchemist, a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, which follows the journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy. So you can imagine their surprise, and delight, when they discovered Amos the sheep on the call.
“When I first saw the sheep on camera I was so surprised, I really didn’t expect an animal,” said Rosie Alchalel, a WIT student from San Diego. “Never in a million years would I have thought I would be on a Zoom call with a sheep!” added Lila Chitayat, also from San Diego.
“As someone who is on week six on quarantine, it brought me so much joy to see nature and wildlife through the lens of my computer,” said Sarina Chitkara, from New York City, who also found it inspiring to learn about how Tracy’s nonprofit is pivoting to accommodate to the ever-changing circumstances of Covid-19.
Along with providing a much-needed break from the seriousness of the pandemic, the farm video calls and tours teach participants about the farm animals. While the animals tend to not hold still for very long, the multi-talented educators at Charlie’s Acres have developed a knack for keeping that Zoom square on point, catching those must-see, smile-inducing moments, like when muddy pigs decide the perfect time to shake it off — including on the educator — during a live call.
Baby boomers will likely remember the white-uniformed milkman leaving a crate of milk bottles on the back porch or perhaps the Helms Bakery truck driving through California neighborhoods, drawing families outside to buy breads and pastries from the driver.
With tasting room and restaurant shutdowns stalling Sonoma wineries in their sales efforts, some are now doing good old-fashioned doorstep deliveries and curbside pick-ups to keep the flow of vino going to sheltered-at-home consumers. These are slow ways to move wines — low-tech, time-intensive and certainly not efficient. Yet the personal touch, from a safe 6-foot distance, seems to be resonating with deliverers and recipients alike.
Zina Bower, partner with winemaker Nikolai Stez at Woodenhead Vintners near Forestville, oversees marketing, the tasting room and the wine club. “It’s been tough without our tasting room,” she said. “We’re a boutique producer, making about 3,000 cases of wine a year. We’re mostly direct-to-consumer, tasting room and wine club (sales), and our shipper (in Windsor) is backed up in getting orders out.”
So she arranges for curbside pickups at the tasting room and makes free deliveries of Woodenhead’s pinot noirs, zinfandels, sparklers and other wines to the hunkered-down, typically within a 15-mile radius of Santa Rosa.
“I love it and people love it,” Bower said.
Brian Gearinger is one of the customers enjoying the new in-person service. The Santa Rosa trial attorney, a Woodenhead wine club member, ordered a case of wine and was thrilled when Bower delivered it to his driveway.
“We’ve known Zina for more than 10 years and have taken out-of-town visitors to Woodenhead,” Gearinger said. “It was great that she came to our house.”
Gearinger and his family bought the house after losing their Fountaingrove home in the 2017 Tubbs fire. The new home came with a 1-acre vineyard planted to zinfandel, so when Bower, a zin fanatic, dropped off the wine, she got something too, a tour of the vineyard from Gearinger, at a safe 6-foot distance.
Here are five Sonoma wineries making deliveries and friends along the way. Normally, state law prohibits wineries from providing free delivery and shipping as part of the sale of alcohol. But during the coronavirus crisis, the state is allowing complimentary delivery of wine, although this regulatory relief can be rescinded at any time. Order up now.
Anne Moller-Racke and Hannah Gropman of Blue Farm Wines. (Brinkley Capriola)
Blue Farm Wines
Proprietor Anne Moller-Racke and her daughter, Hannah Gropman, sell their remarkable pinot noirs and chardonnays to wine club members and during private visits in the Blue Farm Pump House, an intimate tasting room on Anne’s seven-acre ranch in Sonoma Carneros. Some wines are available in shops and restaurants, yet direct-to-consumer sales is their No. 1 path.
Moller-Racke, an accomplished viticulturist responsible for plantings decades ago for Buena Vista Winery, is now making personal deliveries of her Blue Farm wines in Sonoma Valley and as far away as Marin County.
“Hannah makes the connections and does the scheduling, and one of us drops off the wines on the porch,” she said. “We are finding some new customers, making new connections, while also supplying local businesses. Our wine club shipment went out before the shutdowns. We also sent wine to our employees, so we can virtually taste together, bond and stay connected. The spirits of the 2017 fires keeps our community alive.”
Those buying Blue Farm wines online also can pick up their orders in the Pump House, sans the customary table settings. “Waves are exchanged, 6 feet away or more,” Moller-Racke said about onsite pickups. “We’re social human beings. We miss contact most of all, so a wave is appreciated.”
Jeffrey Mayo built his business on the direct-to-consumer model, selling every bottle of his Sonoma Valley wines through two tasting rooms and a robust wine club. It was a business envied by many, because it eliminated the middle man — the distributor/wholesaler — and allowed him to sell wines on his own terms.
Now, Mayo’s tasting rooms in Glen Ellen and Kenwood are closed and he’s hitting the road, masked and sanitized, to deliver his bubblies, chardonnays, zinfandels and cabernet sauvignons to North Coast customers.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Mayo said, “and sales have always been 100% direct. It’s (the shutdowns) been a big financial hit. But my deliveries get me out of the house, I don’t mind driving and they serve people that remember the experience.”
Mayo said he makes eight to 10 deliveries a day, ranging from Sonoma to Sacramento to Oakland. “One guy was practically in tears when I made a delivery and put up a sign that thanked me for it,” Mayo said. “Others have left signs reading, ‘put wine here.’ The response has been phenomenal. People really appreciate the service.”
Proprietor and winemaker Tony Moll became well known in Sonoma Valley long before he filled his first barrel. A fourth-generation Sonoman and sports standout at Sonoma Valley High and the University of Nevada, he went on to play in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers. As a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman, he blocked for quarterbacks Brett Favre, Joe Flacco and Philip Rivers. Now he delivers wine on the Sonoma Valley block.
“If you don’t want to leave your home, we will come to you,” he said. “It’s nice just seeing happy people when we put our wine in their hands, be it local delivery, curbside pickup at the tasting room on Saturdays or shipped (for $3). I’m in the business to make people happy, so I like to make sure that happens.”
Most NFL offensive linemen claim they aren’t fat, they’re just well-muscled with plenty of padding. Two of his Packers teammates, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, are the other Fat Guys founders. While they’re in the background now, the brand name is based on the girth of the threesome during their playing days. They produce rosé, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon from renowned vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valley. Military members, first responders and school teachers receive a 50% discount on wines once they join the wine club.
Jess Vallery, who directs this Geyserville winery’s marketing and direct-to-consumer programs, hit on an idea during the coronavirus clamp-down: to not only offer curbside pickups and delivery, but also to surprise some with unexpected wines, in a non-contact manner.
“It’s like the doorbell ditch, ring and run,” she said.
Vallery chooses two wine club members once or twice a week to receive two bottles each and makes the delivery. Her first two recipients were in San Francisco, and she and husband Tim Vallery packed the wines and their Aussie dog into their vehicle and headed to the city. One stop was at a condo complex, and as the tenant came down to the lobby to retrieve the wine, the Valleys watched the reaction from outside.
“The wife looked at the logo box and card, saw me and screamed. She was so happy,” Jess said. “Lots of air hugs from six feet apart.”
Jess Vallery and longtime Trione tasting room employee Reed Ackerman make the regular, non-gift deliveries, a service offered free to people living or working along the 101 corridor between Cloverdale and Petaluma (shipments are $5). Anyone can purchase the wines — sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and the red Henry’s Blend are the most popular — and have them arrive on their porch.
Pickup days are popular too, she said.
“We’re a small team and can work remotely and talk to our customers,” she said. “People are bored, they miss the winery. The drive-through pickups keep us connected, and the surprise gift deliveries are a fun way to share positive information about the winery and our people.”
Nikolai Stez and Zina Bower sell the vast majority of their wines in their tasting room near Forestville and to club members. Their pinot noirs, zinfandels and sparkling wines are solid, and they also offer out-of-the-ordinary varietals such as a charbono from Mendocino County and a racy, sophisticated Halfshell White Wes Cameron Ranch Russian River Valley French Colombard, which dismisses the notion that the grape, when grown in California, is destined for inexpensive jug wines.
A selection of paella and tapas at Gerard’s Paella Y Tapas in downtown Santa Rosa. (Chris Hardy)
I’ve been doing a whole lot of armchair traveling lately.
It seems like forever ago that Italian piazzas were filled with cafe-goers and Tokyo ramen bars were bustling with late-night revelers. So long ago that one could even imagine stopping at an ocean-view beach shack for fish tacos and an ice cold beer.
We’re all hungry to get out and experience flavors outside our own spice cupboards. Twelve-year-old curry powder just doesn’t have the same punch as a tandoor-cooked meats rubbed with fresh garam masala. Sushi, no matter how you slice it, is just fish and rice without the gentle touch of a itamae (or a sushi chef). Pillsbury will never invent the perfect butter-lacquered croissant.
That’s why it’s time to venture forth, food adventurers. Restaurants throughout the county are upending their business models to provide a dining experience at home that, while not exactly the same, can transport our tastebuds to far-away places.
We’ve picked 15 favorites for this article, but you can see many more tasty choices to feed your sense of culinary adventure online at sonomamag.com.
Italian
Whether it’s spaghetti and meatballs, a nice carbonara, fresh salumi or a thinly-layered lasagna, Sonoma County is true to its Italian roots. We especially love a long-simmered sugo with braised meat or wood-fired pizzas.
Campo Fina, Healdsburg: Go for Nonna’s tomato-braised chicken, honey-roasted carrots and arancini (saffron risotto balls stuffed with cheese and tomatoes). A kids make-at-home pizza kit keeps the little ones busy while you open a bottle of chianti. Extra goodies include housemade marinara, flour, yeast and the Campo Survival Kit, with a quart of sanitizer, a roll of toilet paper and a book of matches. Order online for curbside pickup at campofina.com/order. 330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
Salumeria Ovello, Sonoma: This off-the-beaten-path little mercato is run by a former Michelin-starred chef in Sonoma. Their take-out charcuterie board is a signature, but don’t miss their sweets and premade sauces and dips including Piedmontese Giardiniera, chicken liver pate with port gelatin, chocolate budino and slices of fresh focaccia. Order online for curbside pickup at ovello.square.site. 248 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
Mexican
This hearty, family-friendly takeout cuisine is always a favorite, but maybe mix up your usual taqueria run with these spots.
Guiso Latin Fusion, Healdsburg: Wednesday through Friday, this tiny Healdsburg restaurant does creative takes on pupusas, fish tacos and a family pack of chicken, prawn and linguica paella. Menu online at guisolatinfusion.com. Phone orders only, 707-431-1302, 117 North St., Healdsburg.
El Fogon Taqueria, Rohnert Park: Real deal regional Mexican food at taqueria prices. We’re obsessed with their huitlacoche quesadillas, a tortilla with a “corn mushrooms,” a delicacy rarely found locally. Don’t miss the weekend barbacoa and birria tacos. Phone orders or through doordash.elfogontaqueria.com, 6650 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-585-1623
French
Where can you get frog legs, boeuf bourguignon or duck a l’orange? We know.
La Gare French Restaurant, Santa Rosa: Full menu of all the classic dishes (including escargot) and their famous Beef Wellington. VIP curbside pickup nightly 5-8 p.m., and you can take a bottle of house wine home for $20. Every order receives complimentary chocolate mousse. Phone orders only, 707- 528-4355, accepted starting at 2 p.m. 208 Wilson St., menu at lagarerestaurant.com.
Walter Hansel Wine Bistro, Santa Rosa: Slightly abbreviated menu includes Chicken Cordon Bleu, rich boeuf Bourguignon, steak au poivre and Valrhona chocolate mousse. Curbside pickup and delivery within five miles of the restaurant. Menu online at walterhanselwinebistro.com; phone orders only, 707-546-6462. 3535 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.
Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian
Sushi is one of the most wished-for foods on our quarantine list. It’s been hard to find, but the good stuff is back. Perennial faves like Thai and Chinese are getting easier to grab as well.
Sushi Kosho, Sebastopol: The best sushi spot in Sonoma County has finally reopened for takeout. Try their excellent nigiri, salmon tartar tacos, rolls, Wagyu short ribs, karaage fried chicken, banh mi or poke bowls. Pickup Wednesday through Sunday. Order online at sushikoshotogo.com, 707-827-6373, 6750 McKinley Ave., Sebastopol.
Hana Japanese, Rohnert Park: Abbreviated menu with most of your favorites including nigiri and chirashi, but deluxe platters with multiple rolls or bento box dinners are crowd-pleasers. Phone orders only, 707-586-0270, facebook.com/hana-japanese-restaurant for menu. 101 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park.
SEA Thai Bistro & Bar, Santa Rosa: Pad Thai, larb salad and pineapple fried rice, how we’ve missed you! Plus, tasty cocktails to go. Order online for curbside pickup at facebook.com/SeaThaiBistro. 2350 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-8333
Jam’s Joy Bungalow, Sebastopol: Another of my favorite “missed” foods is jok, a comforting rice porridge with a six-minute egg, crispy shallots and spicy fermented bean paste. Owner Jamilah Nixon has a tiny storefront in the heart of Sebastopol, but she’s always got giant flavors in her righteous Southeast Asian cuisine. Phone orders only, 707-843-9001. 150 Weeks Way, Sebastopol, facebook.com/jamsjoybungalow
Kirin, Santa Rosa: I’ve tried many Chinese restaurants, and Kirin never fails me. All the usual suspects like sweet and sour pork, pineapple prawns, General’s chicken and fried rice. Menu online at kirinsr.com. Phone orders only, 707-525-1957. 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa
And more…
Bollywood, Santa Rosa: Modern Indian cuisine. Crispy cauliflower, tikka masala, charred corn, naan and pork belly vindaloo are outstanding. Doordash for online ordering and delivery. 535 4th St., Santa Rosa.
Gerard’s Paella, Santa Rosa: Chef Gerard Nebesky has opened his spot again and is serving up daily doses of paella. Online ordering at gerardspaella.square.site, curbside pickup or delivery. 701 Fourth St., gerardspaella.com.
Brot, Guerneville: There are just a few German specialties available for pickup, but they’re the best: fresh pretzel with butter, currywurst with fries, pork schnitzel and mushroom spatzle. Curbside pickup; menu online at brotguerneville.com. Phone orders only, 707-604-6102. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 16218 Main St., Guerneville.
Pearl, Petaluma: Simple mezze, sandwiches and the lamb burger with tzatziki available “for now,” take-and-bake meals of shakshuka, cassoulet and Persian meatballs to make at home later. Menu online at pearlpetaluma.com; phone orders only, 707-559-5187.
An egg vending machine stored at Wise Acre Farm, is said to be the first in the United States. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
If you’re hoping to make an omelette but your favorite grocery store is running low on supplies, local farms are offering some egg-stra convenient pickup options.
In Windsor, for example, a vending machine at Wise Acre Farms has become a popular place to get fresh eggs while maintaining social distancing.
“It’s nice, because it’s sanitary,” said Tiffany Holbrook, owner of Wise Acre Farms. “I actually did have someone tell me that they’re never going to buy grocery store eggs after she watched a woman touch every single egg and then put it back onto the shelf,” she added, laughing.
An egg vending machine at Wise Acre Farm in Windsor. (Christopher Chung)
Customers have been excited to use the refrigerated vending machine, which has been around since 2016.
“This farm is such a positive thing in the community, and people see that,” said Holbrook. “The business is owned by myself and my husband, and we’re all about keeping money in the local economy.”
The Wise Acre Farms vending machine, located at 631 Arata Lane in Windsor, is restocked every day at 8 p.m. with freshly washed eggs that were laid that day. Motorists can pull up to the machine and use their credit card or cash to have it automatically dispense a carton of a dozen eggs.
Other local farms that are offering pickup or delivery of eggs include Sonoma Chicks in Sonoma and Angerer Family Farms in Geyserville.
Sonoma Chicks is selling chicken, quail and even duck eggs. Pickup is available at the Sonoma Chicks property in downtown Sonoma, and delivery is offered within three miles of Sonoma Plaza. Contact Sonoma Chicks on Instagram, by texting 415-307-4410 or by visiting their website. Read more about Sonoma Chicks in this article.
Angerer Family Farms in Geyserville is known for its truffles, but also has a flock of chickens. They are offering eggs through an “online farm stand” set up by Dragonfly Floral. Orders can be placed online and delivery is scheduled for a different part of the county each day of the week. Contact Dragonfly Floral’s farm stand at 707-433-3739 or visit their website.
