Page 281 – Sonoma Magazine

26 Best Pasta Destinations in Sonoma County

November 2018

By biteclub

Spaghetti alla Bolognese is served at Baci Cafe & Wine Bar in Healdsburg on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)

Pasta naysayers be damned, because a steaming bowl of ravioli with Bolognese sauce will never meet its match in a kale salad. Embracing the centuries old tradition of hearty pasta to warm the heart and soul, we’ve rounded up some of Sonoma County’s top spots for twisting and twirling spaghetti and fettuccine; for diving into chestnut gnocchi or duck ravioli; for hovering over a simple Carbonara and letting a few carbohydrates pass your lips without guilt.

Healdsburg’s Bergamot Alley Returns As Bespoke Wine Club

November 2018

By Sarah Stierch

Bergamot Alley Bar & Wine Merchants in Healdsburg which offers Old World wines, draft beer and a free movie night every Monday. February 24, 2014. (Photo: Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)

When Bergamot Alley closed in March, local oenophiles were crushed. In its 6.5-year-old existence, the Healdsburg wine bar had turned into an afterwork hangout for people in the industry as well as those seeking rare wines from Europe. The non-American wine list may have seemed a bold move in this particular part of the world but, while many of us love to drink local, we also like to taste new and interesting wines from around the globe—and there’s was not better place for that than Bergamot.

Some eight months after the brick-and-mortar bar shuttered, Bergamot Alley has now returned in the form of Bergamot Wine Company, an online wine club and shop curated by owners Sarah and Kevin Wardell.

As he did at the wine bar, Kevin Wardell uses his sommelier skills to create a handpicked selection of wines from small, family-owned producers in Europe, now available online. Let’s just say you won’t see these on the wine list at your favorite Italian restaurant in Sonoma County. (Bonus: the wines average between $22 and $30.)

The breakout star of the new Bergamot Wine Company is the Italian Wine Club. A passion project for the Wardells, club membership includes four wines focused on varietal and regional themes sent out monthly ($105 per month). A recent shipment featured wines from the “four corners” of Italy: a rosé from Sicily, a white Petite Arvine from Valle D’Aosta, a red Schioppettino (say that ten times fast) from Friuli, and a Negro Amaro from Puglia.

With over 300 distinct Italian grape varietals and over 20 regions to choose from, this is just the beginning of the journey, says Kevin Wardell: “When it comes to diversity and opportunity to expand your wine horizons and educate your palate, Italy is a treasure trove. There is no greater collection of flavors and textures in the world than that of Italian wine.”

Each shipment also includes an unpretentious guide to each wine created by Sarah Wardell, who serves as the company’s Creative Director. Stylized maps complement illustrations of each wine with details on the grape, winemaker/grower and the scent and tastes of each wine. However, our favorite fun fact comes on the bottle label descriptions—your team will win the trivia subject “Italian wines” when the time comes.

Aside from building appreciation for Italian wine, the Wardells hope that wine club members will become more knowledgeable, and thus more confident, when it comes to Italian wines. Their “Wine Smarts” series, which includes an online guide to Italian wine, informative and entertaining videos, aims to do just that. And for those who would really like to get a taste of la dolca vita, Bergamot Wine Company will also organize trips to Italy (3-4 times per year), during which participants will visit small wine producers and stay in local farmhouses, or “agriturismo” type lodging.

If you’d like to jump on board the Italian bandwagon, visit bergamotwine.com. Saluti!

Sonoma Mountain Winery Offers Back-To-The-Land Tasting Experience and Stunning Views

November 2018

By Dana Rebmann

Keeping tabs on the hundreds of wineries that call Sonoma County home is next to impossible, even for the wine-loving local. To attract visitors from near and far, unique winery experiences abound—they now include everything from swimming pools to Tuscan-style castles. But sometimes a wine tasting experience doesn’t need bells and whistles to stand out. At family-owned Belden Barns, a back-to-the-land approach offers something a little different.

The history of the Sonoma Mountain property dates back to the late 1800s; the hand painted wood sign is anything but flashy. A driveway lined with 100-year-old Cypress trees leads the way to an estate that’s been home to dairy cows and was once a rural retreat— complete with a still-standing dance hall—for nature-seeking San Franciscans. Grapes were first planted here in the 1970s.

When Nate and Lauren Belden acquired the property in 2005, they began the long process of replanting the vineyard. Only 20 acres of the 55-acre estate is planted to grapes; included in those numbers is what’s believed to be the only Grüner Veltliner planted in Sonoma County. Though the acreage may seem small, the lineup of wines is diverse: Belden Barns produces ten estate wines including Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier.

“We’re very serious about the wine we’re making,” says Nate Belden. “But we also want to highlight the rest of Sonoma County’s bounty.”

In other words, Belden Barns isn’t just about wine, it’s about celebrating Sonoma County’s agricultural roots and its spirit.

In partnership with Jenny and Vince Trotter of Kibo Farm, the Beldens have dedicated three acres of the property to crops other than wine grapes, including citrus fruits and apples. Depending on the season, field crops can range from corn and tomatoes to plants you may never have heard of before— like Physalis, an orange berry, or Celtuce, a Chinese stem lettuce. Produce is sold to local restaurants and through F.E.E.D. Sonoma. Storage crops like popcorn and dried beans are also available at Belden Barns. While the property remains rough around the edges, the Beldens have ambitious plans for the future—including milk animals and a small creamery, so that cheesemaking can become part of their venture.

Wine tastings are by appointment only and take place in a rustic century-old dairy barn. Before the tasting, guests are encouraged to roam the property and take in views of farm fields, vineyards and fruit trees. The parents of two young children, the Beldens welcome families; a backpack loaded with a scavenger hunt and other kid-friendly activities hangs at the ready for young explorers. Regardless of age, visitors should drop by the inspiration for the Belden Barns wine label—the property’s wishing tree. Add your own wish to the many already blowing in the breeze.

5561 Sonoma Mountain Rd, Santa Rosa, 415-577-8552, beldenbarns.com

Where to Do Thanksgiving Dinner in Sonoma County 2018

November 2018

By biteclub

There’s so much to give thanks for this year, especially here in Sonoma County. We say keep the focus on family and let someone else do the cooking (hint, we are). Then you can spend all your time thinking up ways to give gratitude to those you love.

By the way, Sonoma County celebrates Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, so time is running short. Click through the above gallery for some favorites to check out. (Remember that most require reservations/pre-order, so act now.)

Biteclub Pick-Franchetti’s Thanksgiving Buffet: If for no other reason than the Mashed Potato Station, I’m picking this as my top choice for eating out this holiday. Breaking all the rules, they’ll have not only mashed potatoes but cauliflower and sweet potatoes with toppings of cheese, gravy, chives, bacon, gravy, green onions and marshmallows (natch). Restaurant carving station includes coffee crusted tri-tip and herb-roasted turkey with cranberry persimmon agrodolce and mushroom thyme gravy. Other sides include sausage stuffing, green bean casserole (with a modern twist), braised red cabbage and apples, roasted veggies with cinnamon, cranberry, and nuts, apple salad with apple vinaigrette. Dessert choices are as simple as, well, pie — pumpkin and apple. $59 for adults, $20 for kids 6-12. Seatings at 3, 3:30, 4:40, 5 and 6p.m. Reservations by calling 707-526-1229, franchettis.com.

Bay View Restaurant & Lounge in Bodega Bay is offering an a la carte menu including traditional roasted turkey, pumpkin ravioli, butternut squash soup, braised lamb shank and lobster fettuccine. Traditional desserts including pumpkin pie are offered, too. 1pm-8pm, 707-875-2751, 800 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, innatthetides.com. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)

Central Market in Petaluma is offering a three-course meal with numerous options, including a wine pairing, Dungeness crab pumpkin chowder, House Smoked McFarland Springs Steelhead Trout, Local Heritage Breed Turkey and wild mushroom pot pie along with boiled Virginia goobers, rosemary onion bread and plenty of desserts. $70 for adults, $105 with wine, $25 for children. 707-778-9900, 42 Petaluma Blvd N., Petaluma, centralmarketpetaluma.com. (Photo by Christa Jeremiason)

Coast Kitchen in Jenner offers a 3-course menu with ocean views guaranteed. Appetizers include shrimp bisque, squash salad and roasted oysters. Entrees have the ever-popular turkey done “Roulade” style along with white bass, tagliatelle and braised beef short ribs. Sides for the table: Brussels sprouts, parmesan mashed potatoes and brown butter sweet potatoes. For dessert try spiced creme brulee, pumpkin cheesecake in a jar or chocolate hazelnut mousse bar. $65 per person. 707-847-3231, inside Timber Cove Inn, 21780 Highway 1, Jenner, coastkitchensonoma.com. (Photo by John Burgess)

Depot Hotel in Sonoma is offering a 4-course menu starting with corn chowder and a salad. Entrees include slow-roasted Mary’s Free Range Turkey, poached filet of salmon, spinach and ricotta ravioli (vegetarian), or boneless beef short ribs. For dessert, select cheesecake from Scandia bakery, pumpkin pie, or a chocolate torte. $58 for adults, $25 for children. Seatings from noon to 7p.m., 707-938-2980, 241 1st St. W., Sonoma, depotsonoma.com. (Courtesy photo)

Dry Creek Kitchen’s Chef Scott Romano will once again serve a stunning three-course menu. Starters include King salmon tartare, Davero Farm raviolo, ancient grain salad. Main courses include Classic B&N Ranch Turkey, caramelized diver scallops, hazelnut crusted Opah, Laura Chenel Goat Cheese Agnolotti, 48-hour amaretto and orange-glazed veal. Three dessert options are available alongside local cheese, sorbet and ice creams. $72 for adults, $35 for children. 707-431-0330, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, drycreekkitchen.com. (Courtesy photo)

El Dorado Kitchen Chef Armando Navarro’s three-course Thanksgiving includes starts of burrata and huckleberry sauce, roasted chestnut soup, crab cakes. Mains are roasted free-range turkey breast, Petrale sole, pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sauce, and braised beef short rib. Desserts are lemon pudding cake, season pie, molten chocolate cake. $65 for adults, $35 for children. 1pm-7pm, 707-996-3030, 405 1st St. W., Sonoma, eldoradosonoma.com. (Courtesy photo)

The fig café in Glen Ellen is offering a 3-course prix fixe menu for $45 ($20 for kids). Starters include their signature fig & arugula salad, fried Brussels sprout salad, and cream of cauliflower soup. Main course options are roasted turkey breast, pot roast, pan-seared flounder, and mushroom risotto. Dessert options are profiteroles or chocolate budino. 707-933-3000 x 13, 13690 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, thefigcafe.com. (Photo by Chris Hardy)

The girl & the fig in Sonoma is serving a four-course Thanksgiving meal featuring roasted apple and celery root bisque, pear salad, roast turkey breast, sautéed flounder, smoked short ribs and glazed cauliflower with truffle pesto. There are three dessert options: Chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake crisp and brown sugar braised apples. $60 for adults with a $18 wine pairing option and $20 for children. 707-938-3634, 110 W Spain St., Sonoma, thegirlandthefig.com. (Photo by Christopher Chung)

Gravenstein Grill is serving a 3-course feast with butternut squash soup, salad, Willie Bird turkey, or vegan pumpkin stew. Classic sides of herbed focaccia stuffing, green beans alandine, Yukon gold mashed potatoes. Bob’s Famous Rum Cake and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. $55 for adults. 707-634-6142, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, gravensteingrill.com. (Courtesy photo)

John Ash & Co. Executive Chef Tom Schmidt’s three-course menu includes several vegan and gluten-free options for families with special dining needs. The first course includes vegan wild mushroom soup with thyme cashew cream, French onion soup, squab terrine, spicy ahi tuna tartare, and salads. For the main course, guests can select butternut squash penne, diver scallops with gulf prawns, oven roasted turkey, sea bass, Devil’s Gulch Langley Pork Chop, and a grilled filet mignon. Pastry Chef Casey Stone will serve chocolate cremeux with brown butter granola, spiced pumpkin creme brulee, pear cranberry crumble. $75 for adults, $38 for children. 800-421-2584, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, vintnersinn.com.

Step it way up with Madrona Manor’s six-course meal of Osetra caviar and egg, Dungeness crab soup, truffle risotto, roasted white turkey meat with cippolini onions, black truffles, celery root, chevril and pain perdu, a confit dark meat of turkey with juniper, potato puree, sage and turkey bordelaise, and a “Flavors of Thanksgiving” dessert. $150 for adults with optional $80 wine pairing. 707-433-4231, 1001 Westside Rd., Healdsburg, madronamanor.com. (Courtesy photo)

Santé at Fairmont Sonoma will host their decadent, annual Thanksgiving grand buffet, complete with ice sculptures and live music. The sampling of the buffet: Foie gras parfaits, housemade pickled veggies, charcuterie, antipasti, local and imported cheeses, a NY Bagel and smoked fish station (!), chilled seafood and oyster station, a carving station with Diestel turkey, suckling pig and salt-crusted halibut, pumpkin risotto, stuffed clams, shrimp and grits, candied yams with housemade marshmallows, truffle mac and cheese grain, organic wood fire breads…breath… pine nut gingerbread tosca, petits fours, orange curd tartlets, apple charlotte, pumkin custard tart, cinnamon rice pudding and a whole lot more. $135 for adults, $50 for children, free for children 5 and under. 707-939-2407, Inside the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, 100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, santediningroom.com.

Spoonbar in Healdsburg offers a 3-course meal with creamy cauliflower soup, roasted chestnut and pear ravioli, country fried turkey with smoked Gouda mac and cheese or roasted turkey breast for the more traditional eaters. Cinnamon sugar beignets and pumpkin Panna Cotta for dessert. $65 for adults, $35 for children. 707-433-7222, 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, spoonbar.com.

MARKETS

Lucky’s: A la carte options including every turkey option available (Mary’s, Diestel, Butterball, Jennie O etc.), rib roast and hams and turkey and ham meals, with dessert, to serve 6-8 people starting at an astoundingly low price of $49.99. luckysupermarkets.com

Oliver’s Market: A la carte protein and a full meal option for 6-8 ($129.99), which includes a California-raised Diestel turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce, rolls, pie and more. oliversmarket.com

Raley’s: Offer’s a complete Diestel turkey dinner for 6-8 for $109.99 including stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato gratin, baby broccoli, cranberry sauce, raleys.com

Whole Foods: Offers à la carte (pick up a pre-cooked or raw turkey or freshly made lump-free mashed potatoes) or order a full meal to feed 4-12, including Diestel turkeys (raised in Sonora near Yosemite), ham and prime rib options. Though not cheap (an organic turkey meal for 8 can cost $159), they serve up humanely raised proteins and organic veggies. Also great choices for a vegetarian or vegan Thanksgiving meal. wholefoodsmarket.com

3 Big Restaurant Openings in Sonoma County

November 2018

By biteclub

Burger with kimchi at Mint and Liberty in Sonoma. Courtesy photo.

Mint & Liberty Open: Exploring regional favorites from across the country, Mint & Liberty Modern Diner is already gathering buzz. On the extensive menu, Executive Chef Michael Siegel (Bix, Betelnut, Shorty Goldstein’s) brings together pierogi and baked beans (North) with enchiladas (Southwest), sprouted lentil salad (West), Shrimp Gumbo (South), matzoh ball soup and egg salad on Challah (East). There’s also an all-day breakfast menu, burgers (we’ll take the one with pork belly and kim chi slaw immediately) and family-style entrees (whole roasted chicken, clambake, SF-style cioppino) after 5p.m. Owners James Hahn and Mila Chaname also own Sunflower Caffe, Honey & The Moon Bakery and Chename wines in Sonoma. 19101 Hwy. 12, Sonoma, mintandliberty.com. Open daily from 8a.m. to 9p.m.

Bibi’s Becomes Mercato: Bye, bye Bibi’s Burger Bar; hello Mercato Pasta and Produce. Pivoting away from their downtown Santa Rosa burger concept, Chandi Hospitality Group has hired Chef Nevin Patel (who a couple weeks ago opened Indian concept restaurant, Bollywood, in downtown Santa Rosa) to spin up a sort of Eataly-light. Based around freshly-made pastas and sauce, along with a market selling local produce and other goodies, Mercato soft-opened on Nov. 9. Also on the menu, vanilla gelato, garlic bread, salads and arancini. We’ll have more details next week. 630 Third St., Santa Rosa, mercatopastaandproduce.com.

Also on the radar, The Farmer’s Wife (6760 McKinley St., Sebastopol) which opened in early October and serves up owner Kendra Kolling’s gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches along with soup and pastries. Kolling, who has been a farm-market and festival staple for years, lost her Kenwood home in last year’s wildfires, but bounced back with the new cafe. She’s also eyeing some bigger projects in the future, but for now her little spot in the sunlight of the Barlow seems just about right for a farm-fresh sandwich melt and warming tomato soup.

Enter Sonoma Magazine’s Cutest Dog Contest

November 2018

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Chances are, if you’re a dog-owner, you’re taking hundreds of photos of your furry friend (trust us, we do the same). Now, in addition to posting those photos all over Instagram, you can submit your favorite shots of your pup to Sonoma Magazine’s Cutest Dog Contest!

This year, attend Pets Lifeline’s event Santa Paws and get your pooch’s picture taken professionally to submit into the contest. How cute is that?!

ENTER THE CUTEST DOG CONTEST HERE
Deadline to enter is December 5, 2018 at 11:59pm.

The winning dog will get:

A full-page photo in Sonoma Magazine with dog’s name and bio.

A professional Sonoma Magazine photo shoot (and you will get to keep the photos!).

All applicants will get:

A digital faux Sonoma Magazine “Cutest Dog” cover with their dog’s image and name.

A photo in the “Cutest Dog” gallery on the contest page on sonomamag.com.

A complimentary 1 year (6 issue) subscription to Sonoma Magazine valued at $14.99. (If you are already a subscriber, your subscription will renew at the term of 1 year at the end of your current subscription.)

The top 10 cutest dogs will be voted on by the public during the voting period (Dec. 7 – 17). A winner will be chosen from among the top 10 vote earners by a panel of judges from Sonoma Magazine and our beneficiary, Pets Lifeline.

Deadline to enter the Cutest Dog Contest is December 5 at 11:59pm.

The fee for each submission is $30, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Pets Lifeline.

Voting for the top 10 entries will be open December 7 – December 17.

Celebrate the Holidays Along Sonoma County’s Farm Trails

November 2018

By Sarah Stierch

Garlock Tree Farm in Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

For those of us who dread the mid-December mall experience, Holidays Along the Farm Trails seems the perfect antidote to seasonal panic attacks. Starting on November 14, this utterly wholesome old-school event allows Sonoma County residents and visitors to get into the holiday spirit by visiting local farms, creameries, and cideries. Special holiday activities, taking place on weekends through January 1, 2019, include DIY workshops, artisan cheese, cider and honey tastings, as well as plenty of farm animals to pet. Visitors are also able to buy local gifts (often in the form of delicious artisan foods) or try their hand at making their own. Click through the above gallery for some of the highlights at this year’s Holidays Along the Farm Trails.

Holiday Along the Farm Trails is November 14 to January 1 and is free. Guests must RSVP to receive an interactive online map of participating destinations with all the details. Learn more and RSVP at farmtrails.org.

8 Sonoma Wineries Where You Can Spend the Night

November 2018

By Dana Rebmann

In wine country, there’s certainly no shortage of extraordinary places to rest your head. From local hotels and inns with perks like Japanese-inspired rooms with deep soaking tubs to luxury resorts with lawn butlers that put together the perfect picnic, choosing where to make your home away from home can sometimes be a tough decision. But if you dream of snoozing in the very thick of wine country hospitality, there’s no better place to wake up than at a winery. An added perk: you can sample wines, even take a nap afterwards, sans worries about who will be the designated driver. If this sounds like a dream come true, click through the above gallery for eight local wineries where you can spend the night.

Sonoma County’s 8 Best Craft Spirit Tasting Rooms

November 2018

By biteclub

Sipping vodka cocktails in the Hanson Distillery tasting room in Sonoma, one thing is clear: Wine tasting rooms have never been this fun. Don’t get us wrong, because the hundreds of wineries from Petaluma to Cloverdale have a good thing going, and this is, after all, Wine Country. But a handful of enthusiastic local spirt-makers are creating artisan vodka, gin, whiskey and liqueurs that are putting something other than wine on the local tourist maps. And my tasty cucumber vodka gimlet with edible flowers is (literally) proof of that.

Walking past huge copper stills at the heart of the family-run distillery, it’s hard to figure out where the myriad pots, towering condenser columns and spiraling metal pipes start and end. Inside one kettle, patriarch Scott Hanson points to a half-way point where wine is slowly heated and sent into columns as steam. In fact, Hanson’s vodka is — appropriately — made of grapes, giving it a different flavor profile than traditional potatoes or wheat. It also makes the finished vodka gluten-free (though there’s some debate as to the fact that all distilled spirits undergo a process that makes them gluten-free).

Inside two blue barrels, Scott’s son, Brandon shows how they naturally flavor their lineup of mandarin, ginger, cucumber and yes, habanero vodkas with actual fruit and produce. Permeable bags of fragrant Hawaiian ginger are pulled out of one barrel, trailing the unmistakably peppery sweet smell. It’s hard not to just dive in and swim around inside for a little while.

It’s all in the family, with brothers Chris, Darren and sister Alanna all taking a role in the production. “The boys got me into it,” says Scott Hanson. “The vodka space is dominated by ’nightclub’ vodkas. We wanted to do the opposite of that. We were looking for something more creative.” The Hansons also share space with the multi-generational Ceja family, who help them with the winemaking process that precedes the distilling.

“We cater more to the culinary world, to chefs and mixologists,” said the senior Hanson. Each of the flavors, including limited seasonal releases like boysenberry and espresso, are designed to complement cocktails. The habanero vodka, for instance, adds a spicy-but-not-too-spicy kick to bloody Marys, featured at Disney resorts and a reputed favorite of Walt himself.

In the tasting room, visitors can choose from a tasting of the complete Hanson vodka line in addition to craft cocktails like a Moscow Mule with a kick, spinning the traditional ginger beer and lime drink on its head with the aforementioned habanero vodka; dirty martini or strawberry lemonade infused with their original vodka. Cheers to that.

Want to visit? The tasting room is at 22985 Burndale Rd., Sonoma, tours and tastings available daily by reservation at hansonofsonoma.com. Prices range from $15 for a sample of their organic vodkas, $20 for tasting and a craft cocktail, and $35 for a VIP tour and tasting. A caviar and vodka tasting is in the works.

In addition to Hanson, here are some other great distilleries with tasting rooms you’ll want to check out.

HEALDSBURG

Alley 6 Craft Distillery: This tiny tasting room is worth seeking out if you’re a whiskey fan. Their Rye Whiskey is gaining serious traction on the awards-circuit, made with malted barley from Germany, and makes for a pretty spectacular Old Fashioned. We’re also pretty taken with their single malt whiskey, made in traditional copper alembic pots, aged in American White Oak barrels and available in the tasting room only. Their Harvest Gin, made with viognier wine pomace from local wineries results in a complex and tasty gin. Want something a little different? Owners Krystle and Jason Jorgensen (a longtime Stark’s bartender) love foraging around Healdsburg, and make a distinctive and delish candy cap mushroom bitters as well as a spiced peach liqueur made with peaches from Dry Creek Peach farm. Walk-ins welcome Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment Monday through Friday. 1401 Grove St., Unit D, Healdsburg, 707-484-3593, alley6.com.

Young & Yonder Spirits: One of the sleekest tasting rooms, Young and Yonder recently moved their operations to tony Healdsburg, offering an alternative to wine tasting rooms around the square. Run by Josh and Sarah Opatz, their H.O.B.S Gin is a seriously hot commodity at local craft cocktail spots, made with Russian River water and a number of local botanicals. Fans of foraging, they’ve also released Fellows & Foragers Absinthe, made with classic herbs like anise and wormwood, ginger and tarragon. You can also taste their small-batch Stave Robber Bourbon, aged in oak for less than a year, and Persian lime vodka. Thursday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., 449 Allan Court, Healdsburg, 707-483-8077, youngandyonder.com.

PETALUMA
Sonoma Coast Spirits: Citrus Basil and Jalapeno Lime flavored vodkas were named Oprah’s “Favorite Things” for July 2018. Based in Petaluma, Jill Olsen teams with her husband, Doug, to recreated family recipes for tasty infused vodkas, which also include sweet ginger and espresso, along with ready-to-drink craft cocktails and Zinfandel grappa from Howell Mountain. Tasting room open by appointment,1333 N. McDowell Blvd., F, Petaluma. sonomacoastspirits.com, 707-331-0718.

Griffo Distillery: Master Distiller (and Physics Ph.D.) Michael Griffo doesn’t leave anything to chance when he crafts his small-batch gins and whiskeys. According to Griffo, he uses “formal analysis and fabrication of innovative still-controls” for his distilling process, which means this ain’t moonshine, but balanced spirits. Michael and wife Jenny run the Petaluma distillery with “Betty” the 250-gallon copper pot still. The tasting bar is open Thursday and Friday from 4-8p.m. and Saturday, Sunday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Tours are also available. 1320 Scott St., Suite A, Petaluma, 707-879-8755, griffodistillery.com.

SONOMA

HelloCello/Prohibition Spirits: The first of a wave of bonded distilleries in Sonoma County, Prohibition Spirits’ Fred and Amy Groth paved the way with the most unlikely of spirits — Hello Cello Limoncello di Sonoma. Their sunny citrus liqueur is made with thousands of lemons at community “peeling parties” each year, an ode to the summery Italian spirit. They’ve expanded their repertoire to include Hooker’s House whiskey, Sugar Daddy Rum, Jack’s Gin, Chauvet Brandy and a handful of specialty bottles including Nocino Black Walnut Liqueur and Grappa. The tasting room is open daily at Cornerstone Sonoma daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 3 tastes for $10. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-7507, prohibition-spirits.com.

SEBASTOPOL

SpiritWorks: It’s all about going sloe at this Sebastopol distillery. Made with owner Timo Ashby’s family recipe their signature Sloe Gin has a stunning ruby color, infused with a relative of the plum (sloe berries) that adds just a hint of sweetness. SpiritWorks barrel-aged Sloe Gin gets a rest in white oak barrels, adding depth and layers to the liqueur, available in limited quantities. Tours include plenty of licks from their Boston Terrier, Bandit. Tasting room open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., no reservation required, $18 for six tastes. Tours are Friday through Sunday at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., $20 per person and require a reservation at spiritworksdistillery.com, or 707-634-4793. 6790 McKinley St. No. 100, Sebastopol (at the Barlow).

WINDSOR

Sonoma Brothers: First-responder twin brothers Christopher (a firefighter and paramedic) and Brandon Matthies (a police officer) have created some of the county’s most-loved small-batch bourbon as a side-hustle. You’ll see their distinctive bottles at better bars, including gin, vodka rye whiskey, and apple brandy, all made at their small Windsor distillery. Located in the aptly-named Artisan Alley, you can do double or triple duty by visiting the tasting rooms of several breweries and cideries nearby. Tasting room hours are daily by appointment, 7759 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-888-2120 or sonomabrothersdistilling.com.

Landmark Sebastopol Bakery Sold

November 2018

By biteclub

Condra Easley of Patisserie Angelica makes salted caramel macarons in her bakery in Sebastopol, on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)

Patisserie Angelica, the iconic Sebastopol bakery headed by sisters Condra Easley and Debbie Morris has been sold. Chief Baker Condra said last spring she was ready to retire and will be heading abroad. Whispers of the sale were rampant at the recent Heirloom Turkey Sunday Supper where Easley was featured as the dessert chef.

The great news: Sonoma County’s Jennifer Bice (formerly of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery) and Gergana Karabelov of Mommy’s Yummy’s will be taking over.

“The legacy continues! We are passing the torch to these amazingly talented and creative ladies!#patisserieangelica #sebastopolbakery #nongmoandorganicallyfocused #localbusiness #keepitlocal #keepitsustainable #industryleaders@gerganakarabelov @jennifer.bice” read a Facebook post for Patisserie Angelica.

It’s a win-win for the 24-year old bakery that was founded in Santa Rosa and moved to Sebastopol more than a decade ago. With a focus on local, sustainable and organic ingredients, it’s been a go-to for wedding cakes and pastries for years.

Jennifer Bice sold Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery in Dec. 2015 to Swiss company Emmi. More details to come.