How Hollywood Does Wine Country

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Leonardo DiCaprio is not the only Hollywood star who likes to spend time in Sonoma. According to a recent article in The Hollywood Reporter, wine country continues to gain in popularity as a destination for a-listers. “Why is that?” you might ask. The magazine lets Rich Frank, Disney studio president turned Napa Valley vintner, provide the answer: “It’s the perfect departure from big-city living into a beautiful rural environment where life is much calmer and where the people are welcoming. You can actually have quality of life here, breathe fresh air and not sit in traffic for hours. Oh, and drink some of the best wine in the world.”

The say birds of a feather flock together. And celebrities seem to escape the spotlight in the same carefully selected spots – St. Tropez, Aspen, St Barts, Cabo San Lucas… And, once they’ve reached their destination, most of them also like to hangout in the same hotels, restaurants, wineries and bars. (This observation is based on our pretty limited knowledge of celebrity behavior, so feel free to dispute our conclusion). In wine country, VIPs definitely have their favorites, a fact that makes things easier for celebrity-spotters. To make things even easier, we’ve created an abbreviated version of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Insider’s Guide to Wining and Dining in Napa and Sonoma” in the above gallery. You’re welcome!

‘Rebel Junk Vintage’ Market Comes to Santa Rosa in October

By Karen Kizer

In home styling, catalog-page-perfect isn’t the decorating ideal anymore. The current pushback toward overspending and over-consumption has steered shoppers in the secondhand direction. Add to that social media influencers who are decorating the internet with their DIY interpretations of what major designers are peddling, and you’ve got yourself a serious case of vintage mania. Thank you, Pinterest.

Riding into town on that resale-lovin’ vibe is Rebel Junk Vintage, with a pop-up sale of antique, vintage, farmhouse, DIY, re-purposed and upcycled items. Style seekers can shop the touring market at their Santa Rosa stop, the Sonoma County Event Center, on October 12 and 13.

Couer D’Alene-based Rebel Junk Vintage features local and traveling vendors “with a heart for junk and an eye for aesthetics” according to the market’s CEO, Dixie De Rocher. De Rocher and her team select small business vendors who handcraft or procure items, the best junk around it appears.

De Rocher is no stranger to loving what’s old. Her formative shopping years were spent scouring garage sales with her mother and four siblings who, with little money to spare, learned how to upcycle the purchases they loaded into their old Ford truck. De Rocher’s junking talent has won awards, and she’s even styled pop-up shops and seating areas at some major music festivals, like, oh, y’know…COACHELLA and Desert Trip and Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

The work of De Rocher and others beautifully illustrates the aesthetic possibilities of this greener, more economical approach to home design. Shoppers can create an individualized look based on a mix of skill and luck in finding the “that piece” which can enliven a space. By keeping gems out of the garbage, decorators can achieve good-looking, landfill-to-living room style, if you will.

Santa Rosa is one stop in several Rebel Junk Vintage pop-up locations around the country.

Rebel Junk Vintage Market, $5-$10, October 12, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., October 13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Santa Rosa Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4200, rebeljunkmarkets.com

For tickets and information, visit rebeljunk.com/new-events/2018/2/2/rebel-junk-market-california

How to Use Fashion to Feel Empowered According to Stylist Malia Anderson

By Karen Kizer
Malia Anderson stylist and founder of Style by Malia at her studio in Santa Rosa, California, on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)

Although Sonoma County stylist and fashion writer Malia Anderson rejects the idea that “the clothes make the man,” she won’t sign off on your wardrobe rut. “We’re all really great people stuck in really bad outfits,” says the fashion industry veteran who offers personal styling services, style advice and brand ambassadorship under her brand Style By Malia. Click through the gallery above for some of Anderson’s top tips on how to use fashion to feel empowered and look fabulous.

Style By Malia, 1011 Second Street, Suite 101, Santa Rosa, 707-484-9000, stylebymalia.com

New Napa Resort Brings Wineries to Its Front Yard

By Dana Rebmann

There’s been a recent explosion in new hotel offerings in both Napa and Sonoma. But instead of letting tourists have all the fun, think of this as an incentive to plan a getaway in your own backyard.

In true wine country fashion, these new properties all offer some amazing perks, ranging from off the charts spas, to ryokan-style suites with deep granite soaking tubs, to historic properties that come with a high-tech salt room. Napa newcomer Vista Collina is hoping to convince visitors and local alike that the best of wine country is ready and waiting, quite literally, in its own front yard.

Vista Collina features 145 guestrooms and suites with all the amenities folks have come to expect from a wine country address; there’s a heated pool, hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, and vineyard views. But it’s what the resort has done around an eye-catching stretch of grass that makes it stand out. Covering a majority of the property’s ground level, the “Village” is home to eight wine tasting rooms, a brewery, gourmet grocery, and a massive 16,000 square foot picnic-ready lawn complete with outdoor games.

Some of the tasting rooms here, like Luna Vineyards, the Foley Food & Wine Society, and Napa Smith Brewery, will most likely be familiar, but there are new names worth getting to know as well. Mi Sueño Winery produces wine from eight estate vineyards located throughout Napa and Sonoma. GEN 7 Wines boasts a family tradition of making wine that dates back to the 1800s. If winemaker and owner Tim Bacino is pouring, ask him to share stories about his unique family history. Bottom line, you can taste your way through multiple wineries and a brewery, without ever having to think about getting behind the wheel.

Fivetown Grocery offers an assortment of picnic-inspiring goodies. Hearty sandwiches are made with bread from The Model Bakery, and are more than big enough to share. Combinations include the likes of fennel salami with prosciutto, mortadella, Calabrian chili aioli, and smoked mozzarella, or house smoked chicken breast with muenster and brown mustard aioli. Wine, beer, and soft drinks, are also available for purchase. Put together a picnic and head out to the lawn to dig in, or if you’re looking for splurge-worthy experience, Fivetown Grocery has a lawn butler that will take care of everything, right down to the picnic blanket and pillows.

The Village Food and Wine Center, with cooking classes and demonstrations, is expected to open toward the end of the year.

Vista Collina offers a complimentary shuttle to downtown Napa, which is about four miles away. Deluxe King or Double Queen room rates (the property’s standard room equivalent) range from $259 to $739. There is also a $25 resort fee. The hotel is located across the street from sister property, The Meritage Resort and Spa. 850 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 888-965-6676, meritagecollection.com/vista-collina

Photo Gallery: The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala in Santa Rosa

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
Naomi Campbell
SANTA ROSA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Naomi Campbell arrives at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation)

In case you missed it, Leonardo DiCaprio hosted an invitation-only gala and art auction in Santa Rosa on September 15, benefiting environmental causes. The event was presented in partnership with Jackson Family Wines. Coldplay singer Chris Martin performed and the event was attended by a number of celebrities. Click through the above gallery for photos.

Watch Coldplay Singer Chris Martin’s Ode to DiCaprio’s Cargo Shorts at Santa Rosa Event

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
SANTA ROSA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: attends the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California.

Now that’s one headline we never thought we would write: Coldplay, Leonardo DiCaprio, cargo shorts and Santa Rosa all in one. But stranger things have happened when celebrities descend on an otherwise (pretty) ordinary town.

On Saturday, September 15, Leonardo DiCaprio’s foundation hosted a benefit art auction at Santa Rosa’s Jackson Park Ranch. Coldplay singer Chris Martin performed at the event, which benefited environmental causes. But before the band came on stage, Martin took the opportunity to perform a solo number he had written for the occasion. It was an ode to something slightly odd: not the preservation of the environment or endangered species, but to Leo DiCaprio’s love of cargo shorts.

“I studied him very closely,” Martin sang, accompanied by his guitar, “Personally, and on the Daily Mail website … for about five or six years. What became clear to me was his unbelievable service, his commitment to the business of cargo shorts. This is a guy who said ‘I’m going to save these shorts from extinction, they should’ve gone out about 25 years ago.’”

The moment was captured on video by an audience member, and has now gone viral.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzK7Nhh-Kc/?taken-by=missy_ib

The lyrics to Martin’s (hilarious) song include these opening lines:

“Hello, I’m Leo. How do you do?
There’s a sad side of me I want to show to you.
All my movies, I’m the star, I swear,
But they won’t let me wear what I want to wear!

You see, I have an outfit that I think is fine,
So much that I wear it nearly all the time.
Find 100 pairs on my wardrobe shelf,
So tell the director I’ll be dressing myself:
In my cargo shorts, my cargo shorts!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzLsJ5hHpL/?taken-by=missy_ib

Martin’s song also mentions DiCaprio movies, including “Romeo + Juliet” and “The Aviator,” while saying that the actor’s character in “Titanic” might have survived if only his character had worn cargo shorts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzMsPcBa_o/?taken-by=missy_ib

The event raised $11 million, according to The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Let’s just hope it did not also manage to revive the cargo shorts trend… 

Celebrate the Seventh Art: Film Festivals to Visit in Sonoma and Napa

By Bronwyn Simmons

To most outsiders, Sonoma and Napa are primarily associated with wine but, as locals will confirm, there’s more than wine to Wine Country. Beyond wineries and tasting rooms, there’s a whole world to explore – including several regional film festivals. And if you want to pair the “seventh art” with world-class wine, that can easily be arranged. Click through the above gallery for a list of upcoming Wine Country events for lovers of the big screen.

Offbeat Dining Spot at Marin’s Oldest Bar Worth a Coastal Detour

By biteclub
Seafood chowder at William Tell House in Tomales, California. Heather Irwin/PD

For years, “Marin’s Oldest Bar”, The William Tell House, was a favorite locals spot for a night of prime rib with the family — pretty much what it had been for the last 140 years or so — as a bar and restaurant (and sometimes hotel). Named for a Swiss folk hero who had a thing for apples and arrows, it’s the oldest continually-serving bar in the county, having opened originally in 1877. The place burned to the ground in 1920, but was quickly rebuilt.

The old clapboard house has changed hands only four times in the last century, so when the building came up for sale, San Francisco chef, caterer and restaurateur Ted Wilson got a call from friends in the area where he grew up. As co-founder of Oakland’s Metal and Match Catering, founder of food incubator, The Hall in SF and head of The Alice Collective, Wilson already had several plates spinning when he opened a limited-menu “pop-up” featuring “humble casual” food sourced from the farms, fields and beaches of the region.

Chalkboard to share a drink at William Tell House in Tomales. Heather Irwin/PD
Chalkboard to share a drink at William Tell House in Tomales. Heather Irwin/PD

Just get there before the day-trippers fill up the leave-a-drink chalkboard.

Best Bets
Since our initial visit in 2018, the menu has expanded to include a full menu of salads, burgers, and seafood specialties like cioppino. Much of the food is sourced from nearby farms. The current menu is here.

Seafood Chowder ($8/$15): Why is it that you can’t get a decent cup of chowder at the coast? Though we’ve had a handful of pretty good versions, the standard seems to be lumpy, floury, deeply uninspired chowders that make us want to cry. This is not one of those. A haul of Bolinas rock cod, Manila clams, mussels and Gulf Shrimp honor this creamy white chowder studded with homemade Applewood bacon and potatoes. Stunning.

Local cheese and charcuterie plate ($14): While we didn’t get the advertised blackberry-jalapeño preserves (quince paste was served instead) or caramelized vegetables, but the stars of this show are the local cheeses (Bleating Heart, Cowgirl Creamery) and the hard-to-find pink pearl apples, which have a rosy pink interior and sweet-tart flavor.

Ceviche tostadas with pickled cabbage, pumpkin seeds, radish and Bolinas rock cod at William Tell House in Tomales, Claifornia. Heather Irwin/PD
Ceviche tostadas with pickled cabbage, pumpkin seeds, radish and Bolinas rock cod at William Tell House in Tomales, Claifornia. Heather Irwin/PD

McFarland Springs Trout Dip ($10): One of the best local(ish) fishes, this tender pink fish is perfect as a creamy dip with house-seasoned potato chips.

William Tell Cobb ($15): Braised Petaluma chicken, fried egg, Pt. Reyes blue cheese, fried egg, garden tomatoes, avocado buttermilk dressing.

Cioppino ($26): Similar to the chowder, but with a spicy tomato broth.

Cocktails ($10-12): The William Tell includes Laird’s Apple Brandy, maple, black walnut bitters, Angostura bitters; the Black Betty is bourbon with lemon and seasonal jam; and your choice of thick or thin Bloody Marys with vodka, gin or mezcal.

26955 CA-1, Tomales, 707-879-2002, williamtellhouse.com. Open Friday through Sunday.

Sonoma’s Fremont Diner Reopens as Boxcar Fried Chicken and Biscuits

By biteclub

The beloved Fremont Diner has been reborn as Boxcar Fried Chicken and Biscuits,

Owners Erika and Chad Harris closed Sonoma’s much-loved Southern-inspired diner in late June saying the spot was a victim of its own success. Now, however, they’re back in business with a pared-down menu featuring some of their most popular dishes — fried chicken, biscuits,  sandwiches, and sides like pimento cheese, collard greens and baked beans.

The key is offering fast service, something that plagued the Fremont Diner. The restaurant opened Wednesday, and we’ll have more details and pictures coming soon. Open Monday through Friday from 11a.m. to 3p.m., 2698 Fremont Dr., Sonoma, boxcar-friedchicken.com

Jennifer Hudson to Join Top Winemakers at Napa Festival for Good Cause

By Dana Rebmann

Giving back always feels good. But donating to a great cause while listening to a two-time Grammy award winning-performer – world class wine in hand – that’s the kind of charitable giving that strikes a chord, at least in Wine Country.

Since it began nearly a quarter century ago, the Music Festival for Brain Health has raised almost $300 million (including grants from U.S. Government agencies and private organizations.) Every penny of the event’s expenses are underwritten by sponsors, so all proceeds go directly to brain disorder scientific research and treatment programs across the United States.

Last year, when Lyle Lovett performed at the festival, approximately $6 million was raised to support the research and treatment of physiological brain disorders. This year, Jennifer Hudson is set to take the stage in Rutherford on Saturday, September 15.

The daylong festival begins with a scientific symposium surrounding brain disorders followed by a wine tasting reception. Participating wineries include: Abreu Vineyards, Bryant Estate, Colgin Cellars, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Gargiulo Vineyards, Kosta Brown Winery, Scarecrow, Screaming Eagle, Vineyard 29, Williams Selyem, and many, many more. Hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Victor Scargle, Culinary Director of The Boisset Collection, will be served during the wine tasting.

In the afternoon, R&B artist Jennifer Hudson takes the stage for an intimate performance. (In addition to being a Grammy-winning recording artist, Hudson is also an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress, and award winning author.)

A VIP post-concert dinner will be served as the sun sets. Staglin Family Vineyard wines will be paired with a menu created by 3-Star Michelin Chef Christopher Kostow of The Restaurant at Meadowood and The Charter Oak in St. Helena.

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy is scheduled to attend, along with Congressman Mike Thompson, and Congressman John Garamendi.

The 24th Annual Music Festival for Brain Health, takes place Saturday, September 15, at Staglin Family Vineyard, 1570 Bella Oaks Lane, Rutherford. Tickets are sold out, but there is a waiting list for tickets. music-festival.org

There’s no shortage of local events where you can have fun while doing good:

The Santa Rosa High School Foundation 23rd Annual Golf Tournament takes place Friday, September 14, at Oakmont West Golf Course. Check-in at 11:15am, Shotgun start at 12:45pm, $150 per golfer. srhsf.org

The 26th Annual Hands Across the Valley will be held on Saturday, September 29, from 4pm to 10pm at the Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena. The event includes a walk-around-tasting of offerings prepared by popular Napa Valley chefs, restaurants and winemakers, silent and live auctions, and a VIP dinner. Hands Across the Valley has raised millions for programs including Meals on Wheels, The Table, and The Salvation Army. General admission tickets cost $125. handsacrossthevalley.com

The Safeway Open Golf Tournament takes place October 4th through the 7th at the Silverado Resort & Spa. The Safeway Open Concert Series lineup includes performances by Sammy Hagar & the Circle, (Thursday, October 4th) Young the Giant, (Friday, October 5th) and Billy Idol (Saturday, October 6th). 100 percent of all ticket sales support fire relief in Napa Valley. Tickets start at $30. safewayopen.com

Put November 4, 2018 on your calendar. The Heritage Turkey Sunday Supper will be held from 3pm to 7:30pm at Atwood Ranch in Glen Ellen. The event benefits local youth agriculture programs including: Sonoma County 4-H Heritage Turkey Project youth farmers, Slow Food Russian River, Sonoma County Farm Trails Agriculture Scholarships, and the Worth our Weight Culinary Internship program. Dinner will be prepared by a star-studded lineup of local chefs the likes of Daniel Kedan of Backyard, John Stewart and Duskie Estes of Zazu Kitchen + Farm, Bryan Jones, recently retired Executive Chef at St. Francis Winery, WOW Executive Chef Robb Ledesma, and Pastry Chef Condra Easley of Pâtisserie Angelica. There will also be a silent auction, and guests can purchase turkeys from the Sonoma County 4-H Heritage Turkey Project. Tickets are $100. slowfoodrr.org/projects/heritage-turkeys/