Northern California Meets Northern Italy at Pop-Up Dinner in Healdsburg

By Shana Bull

Now that the weather has finally decided to play nice in Sonoma County, we’re getting in the mood for wine-centric events, barbecues with friends, lots of rosé and picnics aplenty. And just in time to kickoff the warmer season, a new pop-up dinner is happening in Healdsburg.

On Friday, June 7, Idlewild Wines will host a dinner in collaboration with Ali & Alix, a Sebastopol-based food events company founded by New York transplants Ali LaRaia and Alix Brewster. The event will feature a five-course dinner with wine pairings, celebrating Northern California and the Piedmont region in northern Italy – or Piemonte. 

LaRaia and Brewster relocated from Brooklyn to Sonoma County last year; their move “sparked by a desire to connect with the land and reconnect with their passion for food, farming and hospitality.” LaRaia, who is a chef,  grew up in the restaurant industry and has cooked at the James Beard House, competed in the Barilla US World Pasta Competition and collaborated with culinary powerhouses, Gail Simmons, Alison Roman and Katie Parla. In 2011, she launched a fresh pasta concept in the NoLita neighborhood in Manhattan. Brewster has a background in branding, marketing and PR, working with some of the world’s top chefs and wineries. Together, the two are now getting ready to launch a new project called Nebbiandra, a local agriturismo (“farm stay”). The dinner at Idlewild Wines will serve as a preview of this project.

Idlewild Wines’ founder Sam Bilbro grew up in the wine industry in Sonoma County, tasting wine blends with his father. Later, as he worked in the restaurant industry, he was exposed to wines from all over the world and was “especially struck” by wines from Italy’s Piedmont region, famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco. Now a winemaker himself, Bilbro produces “Piedmontese-inspired wines from the rugged hills of Northern California.” Bilbro met LaRaia and Brewster at a local wine event and the three bonded over their shared love of Piedmontese food and wine. 

The pop-up dinner on June 7 will start off with a crostini topped with breakfast radishes and a salsa verde butter, paired with the 2018 Idlewild Flora & Fauna Rosé. The radishes, from Preston Winery & Farm in Healdsburg, were grown and harvested with the help of LaRaia and Brewster along with most of the produce for the dinner. The second course, a crudo, is an arctic char, fennel, and pink beauty radish with finger lime. The third course is a mix of peas, garlic scapes, homemade mozzarella, pea tendrils and preserved lemon, paired with the 2016 Idlewild Dolcetto, from Fox Hill Vineyard.

For entrée, dinner guests will have pasta made by LaRaia and Brewster, with spring pea caramelle, goat’s butter, and crispy prosciutto. The grand finale is C&G, aka cookie and gelato, paired with one of Idlewild Wines’ most popular bottles: the 2015 Idlewild Nebbiolo Fox Hill Vineyard. Nebbiolo is the predominant grape in Piedmont – Idlewild has sold out of this wine every year, including this year (the wine is only available at this pop-up dinner).

According to Bilbro, “there is no other grape that captures the grace and power in the way that Nebbiolo does. The first taste of Nebbiolo I had was the first moment I felt connected to wine and all the aspects of my childhood related to vineyards, gardens, and wine in general.”

Tickets to the Idlewild x Ali & Alix pop-up dinner are $50.00 per person and are available at idlewildwines.com/events. 

Tony’s Seafood, A Great Catch in Marshall

By biteclub
Clam chowder at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)

Tony’s Seafood in the tiny hamlet of Marshall was a charming little seafood restaurant until it wasn’t.

For almost 70 years, the ramshackle little fish house was a coastal favorite run by a Croatian fishing family. But by the time the restaurant changed hands in 2017, the restaurant was a fading relic from another era.

After a two-year remodel by the owners of Hog Island Oyster Co., Tony’s has been reborn into a vibrant, modern seafood house with some of the best food and best views of Tomales Bay.

Outdoor seating at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Outdoor seating at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. Heather Irwin/PD

Old oyster shells litter the ground on the strip of land south of the cozy restaurant, giving a satisfying crunch underfoot. There is almost no parking, so expect to pull perilously close to a steep drop-off, then tiptoe your way over shells to the pier-supported restaurant. The smell of brine is a companion for the slightly harrowing journey, but the reward of a cozy, modern room filled with sunlight and bowls of shells on every table.

Clam chowder at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. Heather Irwin/PD
Clam chowder at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. Heather Irwin/PD

Shells, of course, are what you’re here for, or more specifically what’s in them — clams, mussels, crab, shrimp and, of course, oysters. There’s fresh Alaska cod, halibut, salmon and anchovies along with a handful of seafood-free items like the Tony’s burger, or battered-veggies and local greens, but really, seafood is what’s on the menu.

Chef and forager Matt Shapiro runs the kitchen and focuses on seaside classics with his own twists. The longtime Hog Island toque knows what coastal travelers want, from fish and chips and clam chowder to crab sandwiches, raw oysters and oyster po’ boys. What makes Tony’s worth the trip, however, are the little touches — house-made tartar sauce, creamy flourless chowder with piles of sweet clams, and just-from-the-ocean ingredients.

Best Bets

HIOC Clam Chowder, $16: Hog Island owner John Finger developed this recipe with two absolutes, no flour to thicken it and only fresh clams. Hog Island grows Manila clams in addition to oysters, so the sweet little clams are piled high in the bowl, shells on, making it an interactive experience as well as a tasty one. It’s heavy on the good stuff, aromatic herbs, fresh cream and bacon, and light on the fillers (potatoes and carrots). This is what chowder should always be and rarely ever achieves.

Sardines at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. Heather Irwin/PD
Sardines at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. Heather Irwin/PD

Whole SF Anchovies, $11: Even experienced eaters can be put off by a plate of fish returning your gaze, but these little anchovies are deboned and lightly fried with a blast of furikake (a mix of dried fish, sesame seeds, seaweed, sugar, and salt) and served with togarishi-sesame aioli and lime. Pop the finger-sized fish into your mouth whole and prepare for fireworks of flavor. Bonus, there’s no oily, overly salty, fishy flavor to these fresh anchovies.

Baked Stuffed Butter Clams, $15: Minced clams are mixed with bacon, jalapeno, thyme, celery, and breadcrumbs and baked onto a scallop shell. It’s a great alternative to raw oysters if that’s not your jam.

Fish & Chips & Slaw, $21: Local rock cod is the standard on the coast, but Tony’s uses Alaska “True” Cod, a sweeter, more substantial cod that was originally found on the East Coast. Sustainably sourced, it’s actually a lot better than rock cod. Light breading and house-made tartar sauce that’s flavorful and slightly runny rather than mayonnaise quicksand that swallows up the entire piece of fish.

Tony’s Burger, $17: Is it the best burger ever? Nope, but it’s a really good burger made with locally sourced Stemple Creek beef. The thick patty is cooked perfectly medium-rare and topped with Pt. Reyes Toma cheese and tartar sauce. Served with thin-cut fries. The original Tony’s was known for their burger, and this one pays homage to that tradition.

Halibut Crudo, $15: Thin slices of raw halibut float on slices of Granny Smith apples in a shallow pool of jalapeño oil and lime juice. It’s very, very tart and the lime slightly overpowers. But eaten with the apple, which seems almost sweet in comparison, lightens the dish.

Today’s Oysters: Pacific and Atlantic oysters are both on the menu, though oddly on the day we visited there were no Hog Island oysters from the nearby farm. Apparently, conditions only recently became optimal for the Hogs, and they will soon return.

Drinks

A brief but well-matched wine list with plenty of crisp whites and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle. The Hog Island Oyster Wine, White Rhone Blend, $12 per glass, has nice acidity with hints of lemon. Works beautifully with raw seafood in particular.

Local beers, including Henhouse Oyster Stout plus Mexican Coke and Sprite, house lemonade and teas.

Needs Improvement

CA Dungeness Crab Sandwich, $21: It’s end of season for fresh crab, and this version just doesn’t really do the local crab justice, lacking the sweetness that makes local Dungeness so wonderful. The crab salad felt a little dry, made with celery, dijon and house-made mayo. The ciabatta bun made the whole thing even drier. A smushy roll, more mayo and a little less mustard would have made this a more enjoyable experience.

Overall

A relic has been reborn, bringing back the tradition of just-off-the-boat seafood to a new generation.

Details: 18863 Shoreline Highway, Marshall. Open Friday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. for dinner only. 415-663-1107, tonysseafoodrestaurant.com.

Still hungry? Check out Heather’s always-updated food and dining blog at BiteClubEats.com

Chef-A-Palooza! Insane Eats and Drinks Coming Up at North Coast Wine and Food Festival

By biteclub
Chili braised pork shoulder sliders on brioche with Napa cabbage slaw by chef Crista Luedtke of boon eat + drink at The Press Democrat’s North Coast Wine & Food Festival at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park, Saturday, June 10, 2017. (Will Bucquoy)

90 gold-medal wines. 25 of the region’s best chefs. And you’re invited.

The North Coast Wine and Food Festival is coming up next Saturday, June 8, at SOMO Village Event Center in Rohnert Park. The wines poured at the event are selected from gold medal winners of The Press Democrat’s North Coast Wine Competition.

What we’re especially excited about, besides tasting all that great wine, are the top-notch chefs from some of Sonoma County’s best restaurants: Mark Stark, Tom Schmidt of John Ash and Co., Mateo Granados of Mateo’s, Niven Patel of Bollywood, Dustin Valette, Shane McAnelly of Chalkboard, Liza Hinman of Spinster Sisters, the gents of Ramen Gaijin, Scott Romano of Dry Creek Kitchen, Duskie Estes and John Stewart of Zazu and many others.

Here’s a preview of what the chefs will be serving:

Jeffry Ross, BACI Chocolatier: Assorted Chocolates
Niven Patel, Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven: Tuna Bhel
Crista Luedtke, boon eat + drink: Chili Braised Pork, Creamy Polenta and Fiesta Corn Salad
Shane McAnelly, Chalkboard: Gulf Shrimp A La Plancha, Cocktail Sauce, Kale Salsa Verde
City Garden Doughnuts & Coffee: Old Fashion Doughnut with Vermont Maple Syrup Glaze or Guittard Chocolate
Cowgirl Creamery: Assortment of Artisan Cheeses & Crackers
Scott Romano, Dry Creek Kitchen: Beet Radiatore and Romano-Palmer Coppa with Cowgirl Creamery Alfredo, Piner Farm Egg Emulsion, Mushroom Soil, Castelvetrano: Olives and Mauritson Olive Oil
Armando Navarro, El Dorado Kitchen: Coconut Tapioca with Fruit Salsa
Gerard Nebesky, Gerard’s Paella: Chorizo Paella with Marinated Fennel and Arugula
Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc.: Mushroom Salsa with Organic Tortilla Chips
Hog Island Oyster Co.: Raw Oysters with Hog Wash Mignonette
John Ash, John Ash: Exotic Mushroom Street Tacos
Tom Schmidt, John Ash & Co. at Vintners Inn: Beef and Fermented Black Bean Pot-Sticker, Chili-Tamari-Scallion Dip
Mateo Granados, Mateo’s Cocina Latina: Baby Oregon Shrimp Tacones
Niven Patel, Mercato Pasta & Produce: Fusilli with Tomato Vodka Sauce
Ted Williams, Perch + Plow: Pulled Jackfruit Barbecue Sliders with Slaw and Pickled Onions
Matthew Williams & Moishe Hahn-Schuman, Ramen Gaijin: Honnetsuki Karubi (Japanese Style Korean Short Rib)
Sift Dessert Bar: Rosé All Day French Macaron
Mark Stark, Stark Reality Restaurants: Niman Ranch Pork Belly Shawarma
Michael Degen, The Grove Café: Vegetarian Banh Mi
Darren McRonald, The Pullman Kitchen: Bacon Wrapped Dates with Chestnut Honey and Citrus Glaze
Liza Hinman, The Spinster Sisters: Monterey Bay Squid with Zucchini, Cabbage, Mint, Peanuts, and a Nuoc Cham Chili Sauce
Taylor Lane Organic Coffee: Nitro Coffee
Krisztian Karkus, Tisza Bistro: Aromatic Braised Rabbit with Spinach Gruyere Spätzle
Dustin Valette, Valette: Seared Ahi Tataki with Soy Kombu, Wakame, and Sesame Snow
Duskie Estes – VIP Access Only, Zazu kitchen + farm: Fried Liberty Duck Bologna with Pickled Cherry
Korean Chicken Wings, Corn Cobettes with Smoked Paprika Butter, Cilantro, and Redwood Hill Feta

Saturday, June 8 at SOMO Village Event Center. Tickets $50 to $135, details at northcoastwineandfood.com. This event is presented by The Press Democrat.

Get Uncorked With Biteclub

By biteclub

Each year I participate in a handful of events benefiting charities and the community. I’m really excited about these two, which will benefit fire survivors and your belly.

Harvest Uncorked: Sample wines from more than 30 wineries and nibble dessert bites from John Ash & Co., Jackson Family Wines, Criminal Baking and Whole Pie at the inaugural Harvest Uncorked event on June 2 at Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club.

Raffle prizes include an 11-course dinner with wine pairing for four at Single Thread Restaurant in Healdsburg, a four-course private dinner with wine in the private dining cellar of Stark’s Steakhouse, a two-night stay at an estate carriage house with five-course tasting menu for two in Healdsburg and many others, including a trip to the new Willi’s Wine Bar with me.

The event benefits Sonoma Family Meal and tickets are $80. $15 discount with promo code SFMUncorked. getharvestcard.com.

North Coast Wine and Food Festival: 90 gold-medal wines and 25 of the region’s best chefs will be serving up their best this annual tasting event.

Wines are selected from gold medal winners of The Press Democrat’s North Coast Wine Competition. Chefs participating include the creme de la creme: Mark Stark, Tom Schmidt of John Ash and Co., Mateo Granados of Mateo’s, Niven Patel of Bollywood, Dustin Valette, Shane McAnelly of Chalkboard, Liza Hinman of Spinster Sisters, the gents of Ramen Gaijin, Scott Romano of Dry Creek Kitchen, Duskie Estes and John Stewart of Zazu and many others.

I’ll be working with Chef John Ash (who is the nicest chef on the planet) making mushroom street tacos that, if I do say so myself, are pretty darned tasty.

Saturday, June 8 at SOMO Village Event Center. Tickets $50 to $135, details at northcoastwinandfood.com.

Sonoma County Chefs Win Best Cookbook of the Year

By biteclub
Season cookbook from Jackson Family Wines.

The luxurious “Season: A Year of Wine Country Food, Farming, Family, and Friends” (Cameron + Company) by the chefs at Jackson Family Wines has been giving top honors at the 2019 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) conference.

Co-written by Executive Chef Justin Wangler, Tracey Shepos Cenami, in partnership with master culinary gardener Tucker Taylor, pastry chef Robert “Buttercup” Nieto and master sommelier Michael Jordan, the book won both “Book of the Year” and a nod for best of “Chefs & Restaurants.”

Structured around seasonal recipes and the year-round growing cycle of Wine Country, the cookbook follows the threads between farm and ranch, kitchen and well-paired wines. What keeps it from being a stuffy tome is the charm of its central characters — Justin , Tracey, Buttercup, and Farmer T — whose side notes and “True Confessions” on each recipe are as personal as their longtime friendships. “My favorite way to serve caviar is with crème fraîche and chives on low-sodium Pringles. Try it before you judge,” writes co-author and executive chef Justin Wangler alongside the recipe for blini with caviar.

“People who visit us are always asking for recipes, they’re enthralled with how we cook,” says Shepos Cenami. As a longtime Sonoma County chef, she knows just about every farmer, cheesemaker, and producer within 100 miles. “We want this to … inspire them to go to local farm markets or even grow their own food,” she says. “Not everyone has the gardens we have, but everyone can get a taste of that.”

The recipes can be ambitious, requiring things like verjus, finishing salts, or sunchokes and referring to Liberty Duck Leg Confit as a “basic.” The K-J team has ready access to the best ingredients in the world and for them, sorrel aioli is a pretty simple recipe. But that’s also a Sonoma idyll — a vision of vineyard farm tables where women in gauzy dresses eat nasturtium leaf salad with local goat cheese in the summer sun. Tuna casserole in the microwave we ain’t.

Congrats to the team!

 

Best Sonoma County Restaurants Under $40, California Bib Gourmands 2019

By biteclub
Meal at Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma. Courtesy photo, Elise Aileen Photography.
Meal at Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma. (Elise Aileen Photography)

In advance of its first-ever statewide restaurant listings, Michelin has announced it’s inaugural class of value-priced California restaurants, referred to as Bib Gourmands.  (See previous Bay Area Bib Gourmands here.)

Tapping into previously unrecognized food scenes in San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, the San Gabriel Valley and Carmel, a total of 151 restaurants were included in the forthcoming 2019 California Michelin Guide, 88 of them new additions that include Petaluma’s Stockhome and Yountville’s La Calenda.

The Bib Gourmand category allows more accessibly-priced restaurants — pizzerias, taquerias and even burger spots — to be noted for their exceptional quality.

Inspectors described Stockhome as providing “Swedish food as found in Stockholm today; that is, with an intriguing global influence as found in kebabs and Swedish meatballs offered side by side.” Napa’s La Calenda, which opened in January, is “a casual walk-in-only restaurant that’s full of finesse. The chef’s Oaxacan upbringing shines through in regional Mexican cuisine.”

“We are so very honored to be included among the culinary best, and grateful to the Michelin Guide for including us.  We hope to continue sharing popular cuisine in Swedish culture with a wider audience, given this new notoriety,” said Stockhome chef and co-owner Roberth Sundell.

A total of 15 local restaurants were tapped as 2019 California edition, and most were already on the Bay Area list released in November. They include Backyard (Forestville), Bravas (Healdsburg), Chalkboard (Healdsburg), Diavola (Geyserville), El Molino Central (Sonoma), Glen Ellen Star (Glen Ellen), Ramen Gaijin (Sebastopol) and Risibisi (Petaluma). In Napa, Ciccio, Cook St. Helena, Farmstead, Gran Electrica, Oenotri and Redd Wood were named. Shuttered restaurants SHED and Two Birds/One Stone (which transitioned to Roadhouse 29) were named in the 2019 Bay Area Guide. Grace’s Table also fell off the list.

To be considered, restaurants must “serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less,” according to Michelin inspectors. Michelin stars have a more vigorous rubric and are considered the pinnacle of culinary stardom. Most starred restaurants cost well over $100 per person. Statewide Michelin stars, which include the vibrant Los Angeles and Sacramento food scenes for the first time, will be released on June 3.

Stay tuned for more details…

See the full list of California winners.

New Sonoma Events to Check Out This Weekend

By Dana Rebmann

With sunny skies on the forecast, it’s finally starting to feel like summer will make an appearance in Sonoma County. Temperatures are expected to climb into the 80s this weekend. Click through the gallery to discover how to spend your days off, enjoying new wine country events that pair food, wine and fun with doing good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo DiCaprio Documentary Features Mendocino Organization Working to Reverse Climate Change

By Maci Martell
Actor Leonardo Di Caprio, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, speaks at the signing ceremony for the Paris Agreement on climate change, Friday, April 22, 2016 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio produced and narrated the upcoming documentary “Ice on Fire,” which highlights a local environmental organization, among other climate change practitioners, that is working to reverse climate change and its damaging effects.

The documentary, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, May 22, and will premiere on HBO June 11, touches on the impending devastations climate change will invoke and focuses on what people are doing to stop it. Some of those people include members of the Mendocino-based organization the Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc., according to the non-profit’s press release.

Linwood Gill, RFFI chief forester, being filmed by the Tree Media film crew for "Ice on Fire" in Usal Redwood Forest. (Jeff Becker)
Linwood Gill, RFFI chief forester, being filmed by the Tree Media film crew for “Ice on Fire” in Usal Redwood Forest. (Jeff Becker)

In addition to featuring scientists, innovators, farmers and others from around the globe, the film visits RFFI’s 50,000-acre Usal Redwood Forest and interviews the chief forester, Linwood Gill, who highlights the foundation’s carbon-storage project and reforestation practices. The manager of RFFI’s North Coast Biochar operation, Raymond Baltar, is also featured in the film to discuss removing excess brush to prevent forest fires and convert the eco-waste into carbon-rich biochar soil.

"Ice on Fire" film crew filming Raymond Baltar, RFFI Biochar Project director, at RFFI’s North Coast Biochar facility near Piercy, Calif. (Jeff Becker)
“Ice on Fire” film crew filming Raymond Baltar, RFFI Biochar Project director, at RFFI’s North Coast Biochar facility near Piercy, Calif. (Jeff Becker)

Lin Morgan Barrett, RFFI community development director, said she’s hoping the film will inspire others to take action in reversing the effects of climate change.

“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to be able to get the word out about our projects – reforestation, forest management, basically sustainable forest practices,” she said.

Barret noted that the documentary highlights the frightening effects of climate change and problems at the North Pole, but it also emphasizes those who are helping to curb and reverse the effects through numerous, innovative techniques.

“It’s actually quite technical,” she said of the film, noting the scientific aspects along with the beautiful scenery. “It does urge people to take action.”

"Ice on Fire" director Leila Conners interviewing Linwood Gill, RFFI chief forester, in Usal Redwood Forest in Mendocino County. (Jeff Becker)
“Ice on Fire” director Leila Conners interviewing Linwood Gill, RFFI chief forester, in Usal Redwood Forest in Mendocino County. (Jeff Becker)

“Ice on Fire” is directed by acclaimed director Leila Conners, who has worked on a number of other environmentally-focused documentaries and shorts, such as “The 11th Hour,” which also stars DiCaprio.

“My partners and I made ‘Ice on Fire’ to give a voice to the scientists and researchers who work tirelessly every day on the front lines of climate change,” DiCaprio said in a statement for Warner Media. “We wanted to make a film that depicts the beauty of our planet while highlighting much-needed solutions across renewable energy and carbon sequestration. This film does more than show what is at stake if we continue on a course of inaction and complacency – it shows how, with the help of dedicated scientists, we can all fight back. I hope audiences will be inspired to take action to protect our beautiful planet.”

Wine On Wheels: A Mobile Tasting Room Is Rolling Into Wine Country

By Jess Lander

Considering the ever-growing popularity of the food truck, it’s no surprise that some wineries are now taking the tasting room on the road. This weekend, Malene Wines of San Luis Obispo is bringing SoCal rosé to Napa Valley via a vintage airstream trailer, aptly named Mini-Malene.

The chic mobile tasting room will be pouring pink wine at the CIA at Copia—next to the Oxbow Public Market—for three consecutive weekends, starting Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parked just a few blocks from the BottleRock grounds, the Mini-Malene is sure to become a hotspot this festival weekend. 

Since its founding in 2016, Malene Wines has garnered attention for their Provence-style rosé made from Central Coast fruit, served at the winery’s ’69 Airstream—a full-size version of the Mini-Malene, which is parked next to Chamisal Vineyards in the Edna Valley. In addition to their flagship rosé, Malene Wines also produces a rosé of mourvedre and an old vine rosé of grenache, made from 44-year old vines.

The Napa sojourn marks the beginning of a series of pop-up events for Malene Wines and their Mini-Malene. At Copia, they will take advantage of the expansive gardens—complete with a new alfresco lounge, The Grove, serving up other alcoholic beverages, pizza and barbecue. Rosé by the glass will cost between $10 and $14, a flight is priced at $12, and patrons can also purchase a bottle ($22-35) to take home or enjoy in the gardens for an extra corkage fee.

Following BottleRock weekend, Mini-Malene will return to the CIA at Copia June 1-2 and then June 8-9, celebrating National Rosé Day on Saturday, June 8. 

Sonoma Magazine Named Best Small City and Regional Magazine in the U.S.

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Sonoma Magazine has received three coveted magazine awards in the 34th Annual National City and Regional Magazine Awards competition, including General Excellence – the top national award for city and regional magazines. The awards were announced Monday at the City and Regional Magazine Associations’s (CRMA) annual conference in Minneapolis.

This is the second time Sonoma Magazine has been awarded “General Excellence” in its circulation category. This year, the CRMA judges highlighted the magazine’s coverage of the October 2017 wildfires:

“Wrapped in a package that is stunning and beautiful, Sonoma [magazine] is a top-notch regional magazine that exudes local know-how. Visual features sit comfortably alongside reader service stories, and these attributes came together in extraordinary fashion in a special issue about the area’s wildfires.”

Sonoma Magazine also won the Feature Story category for Julie Johnson’s evocative retelling of the 2017 wildfires, “October Inferno,” published in the Jan/Feb 2018 “Fire Issue.” The judges commended Johnson’s “great reporting” and “clear, clean style,” and called the piece “a harmonious amalgamation of writing and reporting.”

(Sonoma Magazine was awarded best Feature Story in 2016 for “Up Against the Wall,” Phil Barber’s gripping account of Kevin Jorgeson’s and Tommy Caldwell’s historic Dawn Wall climb.)

A woman floats on a inflatable circular raft on the Russian River in Monte Rio, California. (Photo by Ron Koeberer)
A woman floats on a inflatable circular raft on the Russian River in Monte Rio, California. (Photo by Ron Koeberer)

The magazine’s July/Aug 2018 photo essay “River of Dreams,” which featured Russian River images by Windsor-based photographer Ron Koeberer, won the top award in the Photography category. “These images possess a dream-like energy, allowing the reader to float from one page into the next,” said the judges, “Ron Koeberer builds thoughtful tension between the still and active moments to maintain the same vantage point throughout the feature.”

Commenting on winning three awards in this year’s CRMA competition, Sonoma Magazine publisher Michael Zivyak said: “With three wins out of only 35 categories in competition, Sonoma Magazine remains the Jack Russell terrier of the magazine world – the small magazine that acts like a big one.”

Other winners of the general excellence awards for their category of circulation were D Magazine (Dallas) and Washingtonian.

Subscribe to Sonoma Magazine here.