Business Insider Says Napa Offers Better Wine Country Experience Than Sonoma, Here’s Why They’re Wrong

By Peg Melnik
Napa Valley
(Asif Islam / Shutterstock.com)

A recent article by Melia Robinson of the Business Insider compares Sonoma and Napa counties and concludes that Napa, while more expensive, offers the better Wine Country experience. 

As part of her research, Robinson did a jaunt up to Northern California, spending one day in Napa Valley and the other in Sonoma County. She endeavored to find out why tourist dollars have risen more swiftly in Sonoma County than Napa Valley (according to a recent economic impact report, travelers spent $1.9 billion in Sonoma County, compared with $1.3 billion in Napa County in 2016) and compared the experiences by factoring in tastings and price to determine the winner of the tourist competition. In both areas, Robinson visited two to three wineries where she tried a chardonnay and a house specialty. In the end, she enjoyed Sonoma County’s relaxed vibe and flexibility (compared to the Disneyland-feel of Napa Valley), but maintained that “Napa remains king.”

While interesting, Robinson’s article fails to acknowledge an important compass in Wine Country travel – your palate.

I read a lot of stories comparing Sonoma County and Napa Valley, but frankly this type of rivalry completely misses the point. As more and more visitors to Wine Country come here with far more than a passing interest in wine, we are now seeing a paradigm shift in Wine Country vacations toward “Palate Travel.” The driving force behind this shift are sophisticated Millennials, who roughly range in age between 21 and 31. They know their likes and dislikes and are intent on pointing their palate in the right direction. (A 2015 national survey by Dr. Liz Thach of Sonoma State University found 30 percent of Millennials said they had traveled to wineries to taste wine, compared to 18 percent of Gen-Xers and 17 percent of Boomers).

As co-author of the Explorer’s Guide to Napa & Sonoma, I have witnessed the trend of this savvy new traveler who lets taste set the course.

Pinot noir fanatics want to explore the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, both in Sonoma County, and the Carneros, a sprawling region at the base of both Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

Cabernet-lovers, meanwhile, want to venture into to Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, and Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap District, Oakville and Rutherford.

Palate travelers do not let geography set their course – taste always trumps county lines.

But if you want to argue logistics, here’s a point you can’t ignore. It’s easy for travelers to roam through Napa Valley and Sonoma County within minutes or even nanoseconds. My best example of the later, of course, is Pride Mountain Vineyards. Perched 2,100 feet atop the Mayacamas Mountains, this winery’s crush pad runs along the county line so tourists can stand with one foot in Napa Valley and one foot in Sonoma County. Yet another example is the Carneros region, which has Napa Valley and Sonoma County portions side by side. A longer stretch, but certainly feasible, is the distance between Napa Valley’s Calistoga and Sonoma County’s Santa Rosa, a mere 29 miles.

With all this in mind, I challenge you, Ms. Robinson, to acknowledge the paradigm shift brought on by the Palate Traveler, the ultimate Millennial disruptor. Palate Travelers would never opt for Napa Valley over Sonoma County or vice versa. They roam throughout Wine Country, drinking it in region by region.

New Late Night Eats in Petaluma

By biteclub
Poutine at Brewster’s Beer Garden in Petaluma.Copyright 2017 anathea meade. All rights reserved.
Poutine at Brewster’s Beer Garden in Petaluma.Copyright 2017 anathea meade. All rights reserved.

Okay, so we all know the joke about sidewalks rolling up at 9p.m. in much of Sonoma County, but one more spot is now staying open until midnight for you night owls.

Brewsters Beer Garden has announced a weekend menu available from 10p.m. to midnight that includes a hearty burger, chicken sandwich, hot wings, grilled corn and a trio of cocktails including a strawberry margarita and “Balls of Fire” cinnamon whiskey. 

But here’s what really spoke to our inner inebriate in search of sustenance: Poutine. Fries, brown gravy, garlic thyme sausage, Wm. Cofield cheese curds and parmesan. If you’re not familiar with Cofield cheeses, they’re the British cheesemongers that recently moved into the Barlow. The Cofield gents are in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their Sonoma County cheese making, currently, so if you’re all about the cheddar, look them up

The Cofield gents are in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their Sonoma County cheese making, currently, so if you’re all about the cheddar, look them up at Kickstarter and donate.

Want more late night eats? Click here for another 24 spots open past 9p.m.

USA Today: Best Sonoma and Napa Restaurants, Tasting Rooms, Hotels

By Sarah Stierch

The 2017 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Wine Country awards have been announced, and we’ve got the scoop on which Sonoma and Napa wineries, restaurants and hotels made the cut. Click through the gallery above for all the details, and read about the awards below. 

Every year, USA TODAY asks top travel and industry experts to select 20 of their favorite Wine Country destinations, including wineries, restaurants, and hotels. After the experts nominate their favorites, the vote goes to the public, who cast thousands of votes over the course of four weeks, narrowing down the nominees to the 10 best winners in each category.

15 Easy-Sipping Sonoma Sauvignon Blancs to Drink Now

By Sarah Stierch

Summer is ending, fall is around the corner and life is more hectic than ever. Like any hard-working wine lover, when I head home after a long hectic day, I just want to pop open (or unscrew) a bottle of wine and serve myself a pat on the back in a glass.

My go-to wine is sauvignon blanc. It’s refreshing, light, inexpensive, low alcohol, and easy to drink. Whether you sip it after a long day at work, enjoy a glass before the kids come home from school, or cook up a hearty dinner for hungry vineyard workers, sauvignon blanc will satisfy everyone.

Here’s a selection of Sonoma sauvignon blancs (and three Napa options) to make your go-to house wine this summer and fall.

SAUVIGNON BLANC STANDARDS

Dry Creek Vineyards 2016 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County ($15)
Don’t let the “Fumé” fool you – clever winery marketers started calling sauvignon blanc “Fumé Blanc” after sauv blanc gained a bad reputation in the 1960s for, to simply put it, tasting like crap. Dry Creek Vineyards jumped on the Fumé train in 1972 and has been making a tasty sauv blanc dressed as a Fumé Blanc ever since. Their 45th vintage has all the standards of a tasty SB: lime, lemongrass, lemon, fresh cut grass. Unscrew and pound it back with a plate of oysters. Available nationwide.

Balletto 2016 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc ($19)
Balletto’s sauvignon blanc has all you want out of this varietal: accessible, easy drinking, and well priced. It’s also one of the few 100% estate grown Russian River Valley SBs – and it’s sustainably grown! It’s crisp, on the nose and palate, with lemon and lime, Asian pear, and a touch of wet stone and lemongrass – classic notes of a white Burgundy. You get a bit of tartness, a bit of acid, and a bit of tropical fruit, making it a well-balanced liquid treat.

Beltane Ranch 2016 Estate Sauvignon Blanc Drummond Block ($29)
A sixth generation, family-owned and operated ranch in northern Sonoma Valley, Beltane Ranch has created a cult following around their sustainably grown sauvignon blanc. The Drummond Block was first planted in 1879, surrounded by farmland, orchards, and plenty of chickens. It’s an elegant SB, with a nose perfumed with lilac, lemon blossoms, and tuberose and a taste of Asian pear. This wine is balanced and is great on its own or paired with fresh seafood.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Ty Caton 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley ($26)
Kenwood winemaker Ty Caton is known for his big, bold Bordeaux blends. This is his first time making a sauvignon blanc and he knocked it out of the park. This estate wine is super refreshing and bright. It will open your eyes wide with a nose of Kefir lime and honeydew, and tickle your palate with white stone fruit and great acid. Only 282 cases. Get it.

Father & Son Wines 2016 Dayton Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($28)
After 16 years as winemaker at Stryker Sonoma, Tim Hardin has created a new chapter in his wine life with his new label: Father & Son Wines. His first wine is this sauv blanc, which takes me north to the Loire valley, rather than south to Bordeaux. It’s reminiscent of a sancerre, with a fresh clean nose, a touch of lemon, and an easy drinking personality. It has got a bit of lime zest, a pepperiness, and a touch of grass. This should be your new small lot patio pounder – only 4 barrels were made.

2016 Rickshaw Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
Brought to you by the fine folks at Banshee Wines, Rickshaw makes easy drinking vino at a decent price point, meaning they’re already two steps closer to making a great sauv blanc. They succeeded with their first vintage. It has a funky nose, filled with jasmine, passionfruit, and Chinese white pepper. Upon taste, this wine is filled with minerality, great acid, and a nice lemon-infused mint palate. Add a pretty label with California poppies and a screw cap on top, and it’s a perfect beach or picnic wine.

ECO-FRIENDLY PICKS

Quivira Vineyards 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley ($18)
Sustainable, organic, biodynamic – Quivira does it all! Their current release sauvingon blanc is the best they’ve ever made – it’s a blend of grapes from various vineyards, including their estate – all from Dry Creek. It’s a clean, fruity wine with a nose of pineapple, lilac, and honeydew – all which journey over into the taste. It was the first varietal harvested last year and should be the first you open when you’re ready for a drink.

Ehlers Estate 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($32)
Ehlers Estate’s fifth sauvignon blanc vintage is a delicious wine, and tasting good isn’t its only perk – it’s also 100% organic. Kefir lime and fresh lemon start the nose and head into the mouth with fresh herbs like rosemary and tarragon. It provides a surprise in the back of the mouth with ginger that makes it a perfect wine for spicy Nepalese or Indian food. As if this wine can’t get any better – it’s only 13.2% alcohol. Drink up.

Preston Farm & Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($22)
When the team at Preston Farm & Winery isn’t busy feeding their plethora of winery cats, they’re busy making delicious 100% organic wine. This SB is entirely fermented in stainless steel, creating a nose of honeydew melon with a touch of vanilla, and a taste of citrus, lemon, and gooseberry, the latter which gives a grassy, gingery note at the tip of the tongue. This is a super food friendly wine – pair it with Thai food or keep it simple with grilled oysters.

IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS

Cade 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley ($32)
Napa Valley is known for cabernet sauvignon, and where cab grows, sauvignon blanc thrives. Cade’s SB is a luxurious patio pounder, one you treat yourself to when you get that well-deserved raise. Its nose will send you to a babbling brook with fresh river rock and it tastes of powderly lime rind, Thai spices like lemongrass, and a bit of that fancy cucumber water served at a spa. Yes, please.

Belden Barns 2016 Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($26)
Belden Barns’ estate vineyards are located 1,000 feet above sea level, on beautiful Sonoma Mountain. It’s a special place, where grapes enjoy plenty of fog in the morning, sun drenched days, and more volcanic soil than one can shake a stick at. This SB has a haze  – it’s unfiltered, making it a great conversation starter. It has a funky, fun nose filled with grass, lychee and stone fruit. It tastes great – with a bit of savory green apples, apricots, honeydew and a long finish. A must try.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2016 AVETA Sauvignon Blanc ($26)
Named after the Gallo-Roman goddess of fresh spring water, Dea Aveta, this SB can be described in one word: elegant. It epitomizes old world white Bordeaux, comprising 73% sauvignon blanc, 19% sauvignon muscat, 2% semillon and 1% muscat, blending about half and half in French oak barrels and stainless steel. It fills one’s nose with guava, lemon blossom, and a bit of gooseberry, and follows through with an exceptional acidity and fresh citrus flavor. Drink now, or be bold and age a bottle for 2-4 years to see how it evolves.

INDIE SURPRISES

Passaggio 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Zoller Vineyards, Lake County ($32)
Winemaker Cynthia Cosco is renowned for her white wines and her sauvignon blanc is no exception. The grapes come from a small vineyard (20 acres planted with vines) just a few miles south of Clear Lake, in Lake County. Cosco creates a savory sauvignon blanc that has classic notes of key lime, pineapple, Thai spices, and a touch of grass, paired with high acid. Screw cap is an added perk.

Brassfield Estate Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
Brassfield Estate is one of the premier wineries in Lake County. Their estate wines are grown high on a volcanic-soil driven vineyard that presides above Clear Lake. Even cooler: this wine spends time in a big concrete egg instead of a standard wood barrel. It has a beautiful nose that smells like warm weather and fresh flowers. Upon taste, great acid coats the mouth and classic notes of guava, Asian pear, and a touch of green apple. It’s a delicious wine from a Lake County icon.

Fulcrum 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($30) 
With a mere 102 cases made, Fulcrum’s sauv blanc uses grapes from Calistoga to make a complex and delicious wine. Fans of fruit-focused SBs will enjoy this wine, which stars guava on both the nose and the mouth. It’s complemented with pineapple and grapefruit on the finish making for a nice wine to pair with grilled shrimp from the barbecue, tossed in lime, on a warm end-of-summer day.

A TASTE OF NAPA VALLEY

2016 Stewart Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
It’s a family affair at Stewart, where two-generations operate the winery and even the winemaker, Blair Guthrie, is married to a Stewart! They make not only tasty cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, but also sauvignon blanc. It’s a tropical, lovely wine with notes of guava and dragonfruit on the nose and lots of minerality on the mouth, which transforms from a touch of grass into kefir lime and savory orange marmalade. Yum!

2016 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($25)
Cliff Lede Vineyards makes big, bold wines that match the personality of owner Cliff Lede, who has named all of his vineyards after his favorite rock n’ roll songs. This wine is 82% sauvignon blanc, with 14% semillon, 3% sauvignon vert and 1% muscat, which makes for an excellent white Bordeaux crafted in Napa Valley. It has a vibrant nose, with a richness that reminded me of fresh lemon bars. It has a long finish, filled with meyer lemon, Asian pear, and light, dried cooking herbs. Food friendly for sure.

Rutherford Ranch 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley ($23)
Family-owned Rutherford Ranch was founded in 1978. The winery, nestled amongst 100-year old olive groves, makes sustainably grown wines. Their sauvignon blanc is no exception, made from grapes picked just before the fall rains ended last year’s harvest suddenly. It’s 100% stainless steel fermented, making it a refreshing wine. It offers honeydew and fresh lemon on the nose, which travels into the mouth with a hint of pink grapefruit. It’s a great wine to pair with your favorite take-out rotisserie chicken or taco truck eats.

Pete Seghesio’s Journey to Journeyman Meat Co. in Healdsburg

By biteclub
Pete Seghesio's Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.
Pete Seghesio’s Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.

Eighteen inches nearly cost Pete Seghesio his longtime dream of becoming a salumist.

The two-story building he’d constructed at the site of the former Healdsburg post office was just a foot-and-a-half shy of fitting a custom-built meat processing room he’d specially commissioned. Okay, there was that, and the concern about loading whole animal carcasses into the building just steps from the downtown square. 

So, Seghesio punted. He leased out most of the space in the building to Single Thread Restaurant and Farm, now being called the most important new restaurant in America. Single Thread also manages several rooms above the restaurant.

That left a small nook in the building for Seghesio to put in a retail butcher shop, salumieria and tasting bar, which has now opened as Journeyman Meat Co. His meat processing facility, called a Salumificio in Italian, has been relocated to Cloverdale, where engineers are putting the final touches on the multi-million dollar salumi fermentation, sausage and hot-dog making, and estate beef-packaging space. Soon, all of Journeyman’s products will go directly from farm to table straight through Seghesio’s company.

Pete Seghesio's Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.
Pete Seghesio’s Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.

Suffice to say, Seghesio now has his sopressata and can eat it, too.

The newly opened salumeria is every bit as luxurious as its nearby restaurant and tasting room comrades that line Healdsburg’s streets — a warm, yet minimalist space that showcases several hand-operated Berkel meat slicers, hanging salumis, extensive wine racks, a wood-fired pizza oven and casual seating for sharing plates of charcuterie, pizzas, sausages, sandwiches and a glass of wine. As a butcher shop, it holds a carefully curated case of estate beef and heritage breed pork, along with bacon, smoked and fresh sausages and assorted salumi.

Pete Seghesio's Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.
Pete Seghesio’s Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.

Sausage-making legend Bruce Aidells was among the early visitors, holding court with his assistant-dog in a cozy alcove one afternoon, giving serious cred to the fledgling salumeria. Behind the counter is Samueli Grigioni, an Italian butcher who describes the charcuterie plate in a heavy accent, lending additional cred. SHED and Ramen Gaijin alum (and recent Acre Coffee culinary director) Gillian Tyrnauer manages the shop, though it’s hard to find anyone, including Pete’s wife Cathy, who doesn’t have an obsession with artisan meats.

The simple opening menu is worth snacking through, with best bets including:

Butcher’s Steak: Our favorite bite of the day is a roasted bit of perfectly cooked market steak served with Parmigiano-Reggiano, a roasted tomato, compound butter and grilled bread ($18).

Pete Seghesio's Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.
Pete Seghesio’s Journeyman Meat Co in Healdsburg features wine tasting, homemade salumi, a butcher sho and more.

Salumi Boards: Handmade regional Italian charcuterie boards come with five ($25) or eight ($34) varieties including Sopressata, Bianco (made with white wine and sage), Rosso (with red wine and juniper), Spanish chorizo, Fattoria (with chilis and oranges) and Pio with white wine, garlic and allspice, a family recipe of the Seghesio’s. “This is the salami that made this all happen,” said Seghesio, who has been making Italian salumi with his family for decades.

Sausage Skewers: The sausage of the day ($10) made from locally-raised pork. Smoked and fresh sausage selections include all-beef hot dogs, smoked Andouille, cheddar IPA beer brats, Terrona (fresh Italian sausage with Parmesan) and Avi di Seghesio, made from an ancient family recipe.

Bianco Pizza: Wood-fired pizza with roasted leeks, bacon and an egg ($15) .

Wine and Salumi Flights: 2 wines with 4 salumi selections ($15) is a great way to try Seghesio’s Journeyman and San Lorenzo wines.

Overall: A perfect pairing of old school Italian and Sonoma County tradition.

404 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-395-MEAT, journeymanmeat.com.

So…about Simply Vietnam closing in Santa Rosa

By biteclub

Lots of hubbub about the sudden closure of longtime Vietnamese destination, Simply Vietnam on Dutton Ave. in Santa Rosa. We sat down with co-owner Jon Nguyen at his family’s second location, Simply Vietnam Express (3381 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa), to see what happened and what’s in store.

“It’s been an emotional few weeks,” he said. After 10 years, the family was unable to come to an agreement on continued leasing terms with the property owner, according to Nguyen. “We were hoping to relocate, but couldn’t find anything,” Nguyen added.

The owner of the building did not immediately return calls.

So, the family has moved their operations to their second location. The team is working on the transfer, bringing staff, recipes and new equipment to the Cleveland Ave. location which has a smaller kitchen. “We’re not leaving. It’s the same owners, and we’re gonna tune this restaurant up,” Nguyen said.

Expect to see their stir fry, pho, and other favorite dishes, along with shaking beef and fried rice appear at Simply Vietnam Express. And, while the fast-casual tea, noodle and banh mi spot will remain a walk-up counter during the day, Nguyen plans sit-down restaurant seating after 4p.m. in the near future.

Current menu online at simplyvietnamexpress.com.

17 Hidden Gems & Secret Spots in Sonoma

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

It may be a hole-in-the-wall eatery down a remote country lane. Or a great place to visit, right there in plain sight, yet never before noticed. These hidden things give Sonoma County its texture, its, substance, its je ne sais quoi. They’re what you find if you stay awhile, and allow yourself to sink below the surface. And they’re yours for the seeking. Click through the gallery for our favorite hidden gems and secret spots in the town of Sonoma.

10 Sonoma County Bands You Should Know

By Estefany Gonzalez

The North Bay music community has a long and colorful tradition of local and regional bands jamming, innovating, mixing it up, and crossing genre lines in search of a beat, a sound, or an attitude. 

In the 60’s and 70’s, the North Bay was a hub for talented musicians playing venues as wide reaching and diverse as Cotati’s Inn of the Beginning, San Anselmo’s Lion’s Share, Fairfax’s Sleeping Lady, Marin’s Rancho Nicasio, and Mill Valley’s Sweetwater.

Today, following in this rich tradition, the Sonoma County music community is both tight-knit and diverse. You may discover the same musician popping up in three or four different bands, and you’ll also notice that the musical forms on display run the gamut of the genres: from honky-tonk to funk, bluegrass to indie – even punk.

Check out the list below of ten local bands you should know. (Listen to their music by clicking through the gallery above). This article kicks off our monthly “Sonoma Bands” series – a collection of music profiles and portraits to introduce you to the faces of music within the local scene.

Oddjob Ensemble is a collection of talented North Bay musicians lead by Kalei Yamanoha, whom you might have seen share the stage with a number of other local musical acts. The band integrates instruments such as the accordion, stand up bass, trombone and pump organ to create a wild sound you could imagine as the love child between a bohemian wanderer and a Carribbean pirate. Song to check out: “The Air Up Here,” live at The Lost Church in San Francisco, to hear the band’s quick yet catchy sound.

Trebuchet is the result of the coming together of four Sonoma State University College students to create sounds unobtainable in the classroom. The four-piece group met in the early 2000’s and has since played a number of shows, including Napa Valley’s BottleRock, and released a spectacular album named Volte-Face earlier this year. The band’s sound has evolved from indie-folk tunes (see the catchy bright tunes found on the band’s first album Carry On) to the more layered sounds of electric guitar and backing tracks evident in more recent concerts. Song to check out: “A Page From Someone Else’s Book,” off Volte-Face shows the band’s musical progression since the debut album.

OVVN (pronounced “Own”) blends distorted notes, gritty sounds, and feedback to inhabit a musical territory which is dark, gritty and at times odd. Its members choose clashing notes and dissonant tones to back vocals processed through both microphone and guitar pedal. Song to check out: “Sores,” off I Love Myself And Want To Live, has a cool music video that portrays the band’s sound and visual aesthetic.

The Easy Leaves brings together a pair of hard working Sonoma County cowboys. Whether you’ve caught them at OutsideLands, or a small intimate venue such as Bergamot Alley in Healdsburg – or perhaps you’ve seen them on the news as the first band to play an impromptu concert on a commercial airplane over the on-board PA system, this duo is constantly headed down some dirt road lassoing much more than their share of local shows. Song to check out: The music video for “Get Down” follows the North Bay duo around monkey ranch dairy farm in West Petaluma. The song is catchy and makes you want to get down.

The Down House came together after a Fourth of July party in 2013, and now create a blend of shoegaze music reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain or The Ronettes. The band channels a variety of musical eras: 60s psychedelic nostalgia, gritty grunge tunes and early punk. Song to check out: Wonder what happens in Petaluma Market after closing time? The Down House answer that question with its newest music video for “Parker Posey.”

Culture Abuse just signed with Epitaph Records and has toured the UK and United States. Garage, grunge or punk – the band’s tunes are good time and so is the band’s new single “So Busted.” It’s the band’s take on the modern love song – the world sucks; but love doesn’t. Song to check out: Life is a party and so is the video for “Perfect Light.”

Brown Bags delightfully combines punk-rock tunes with catchy hooks. The energetic four-piece Santa Rosa band carefully crafts heartfelt lyrics that entice you to dance and sing along. The Brown Bags’ rumbling bass lines, lively guitar riffs and powerful drums create a cool and unique sound. Song to check out: Despite its dark lyrics, “Ernest Goes to Jail” is a catchy song worth a listen. Check out the band’s OnStage with Jim and Tom performance at the Phoenix Theater.

The New Trust, formed in 2003 from members tired of hearing about good bands breaking up, are still together after 10 years and a number of amazing albums and US tours. This indie-rock band is clearly in it for the long haul. Song to check out: “Compromise” of the band’s album 2013 Keep Dreaming, gives you a few clues as to how the band manages to stay together after so many years of making killer music.

Slow Bloom has a nouveau approach to a post-punk/hardcore sound. Think Circa Survive and At The Drive In. The band, remnants of a national tour between State Faults and Strike to Survive, has a sound that’s raw, unique and unfitted. Song to check out: Gory, slightly creepy and horror-film inspired, the video for Slow Bloom’s “Phantom Tantrum” is directed by the band’s guitarist Timmy Lodhi.

Royal Jelly Jive treats audiences to a roaring good time with 1920’s band vibes mixed with soulful catchy hooks. The band has graced the stage of  OutsideLands, Santa Rosa’s Rail Road Square music festival and smaller venues such as HopMonk Sebastopol. Royal Jelly Jive offers a fresh mix of soul and hip-hop, a hint of swing and a feel-good rock n’ roll attitude. Song to check out: Recorded in the Victorian style library of the Petaluma home of two of the band’s members, their NPR Tiny Desk Contest performance of “Bad,” highlights the engaging way in which the band combines a variety of musical genres.

County Bench Closes in Santa Rosa

By biteclub
The County Bench in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD
The County Bench in Santa Rosa. Heather Irwin/PD

A little more than a year after opening, downtown Santa Rosa restaurant County Bench has shuttered. The upscale-casual restaurant from the Chandi Hospitality Group (Bibi’s Burger Bar, Stout Bros., Beer Baron, Mountain Mike’s) never quite found its groove despite hiring two top-notch Sonoma County chefs, Bruce Frieseke (Applewood, Bella Vineyards) and Ben Davies (Petite Syrah, Spoonbar, Mirepoix) to lead the kitchen.

Locally-sourced food and creative takes on Wine Country cuisine, along with a stellar wine library were hallmarks of the restaurant, but a rainy winter spring along with ongoing construction during the reunification of Courthouse Square proved to be too much for several downtown spots. Though County Bench weathered the storm,  the departure of both chefs — Frieseke left County Bench earlier this spring, and Davies moved on to Russian River Vineyards’ restaurant in early summer — left the restaurant rudderless. 

“It has been a battle to find chef who can bring business and creativity together. We have a lot of connections in Indian chefs so we plan to reopen as Indian Food & Social Club–that has been in the plans for a long time. We anticipate to offer a much more friendly price point and still high quality food and drinks,” said Sonu Chandi of the Chandi Hospitality Group,.

In a note on the restaurant’s door reads “All good things must come to an end. We have decided to close the County Bench Kitchen and Bar for rebranding. We are thankful for all the love and support the community has given us over the last year. We are very excited to bring our new concept to downtown Santa Rosa!”

With so much invested in the renovation of the space, we look forward to seeing a new concept.

Meanwhile, Beer Baron has opened in the former Rendez Vous space on the downtown square.