Yellow outdoor seating at Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (Adahlia Cole and Colin Peck)
Just weeks before the announcement of California’s 2024 Michelin star awardees, Healdsburg’s Molti Amici restaurant has been named among 13 culinary gems throughout the state considered “too good to keep secret” by the renowned restaurant guide.
Though the recognition will not necessarily translate into a coveted star or Bib Gourmand award (for value-priced restaurants) at the Aug. 5 ceremony in Half Moon Bay, it’s a nice feather in the cap. Molti Amici will now be included in the “recommended” section of the 2024 Guide.
“The Molti team couldn’t be more excited and honored to receive this recognition. (We) are very thankful for everyone who has been a part of this special journey, past and future staff, guests and our community. We’re looking forward to a bright 2025,” said owner Jonny Barr.
Also included in the recent list of notables were restaurants in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Oakland (Burdell) and San Francisco (Azalina’s, Hed 11, Tiya). Ten other restaurants — primarily in Southern California — were added to the guide in March and five in May. This is the first nod to the North Bay this year.
A wood-fired pizza at Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin)
“Wine Country certainly has no shortage of this sort of casual Italian eatery, with a menu featuring the expected wood-fired pizzas and housemade pasta — but few of them manage to hit their mark quite so dead on as they do here,” said Michelin Inspectors in a news release Wednesday.
“They may not be reinventing the wheel, but those pizzas are ideally blistered and feature simple but compelling toppings like squash blossom with fontina and balsamic, and the pasta, like a satisfying take on bucatini amatriciana topped with crunchy breadcrumbs, offers an ideally al dente chew,” the press release continued. “On one of Healdsburg’s not-infrequent balmy days, the enclosed patio, complete with bocce court, is indeed an excellent spot to gather with ‘many friends,’ as suggested by the name.”
Molti Amici opened in the former Campo Fina space last July with former SingleThread employees Jonny Barr and chefs Sean McGaughey and Melissa Yanc at the helm. McGaughey and Yanc, who are married, own Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor Bakery, Troubadour and Le Diner, a prix-fixe dinner hosted at Troubadour.
The restaurant was named among sonomamag.com’s “Best of 2023 Openings” for its stellar lineup of woodfired pizzas, fresh pasta and craft cocktails.
An Italian style family villa on 35 acres in west Petaluma is currently listed for $12,500,000. The four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom estate is named Terra Rosa in honor of the late owners, Terry and Rose Collins who built the Papa Murphy’s take and back pizza chain. (Peter Lyons)
Papa Murphy’s founders, Terrence and Rose Collins, built a business in the 1990s that made take-and-bake, restaurant-quality pizzas accessible to millions via the company’s compact takeout stores.
The couple topped off their accomplishments by building an Italian-style villa crowning a hilltop on 35 acres in west Petaluma. The four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom estate — named Terra Rosa in honor of the late owners — is on the market for $12,500,000.
The grounds include bridges, water features and an olive grove. A variety of shrubs and plants dot the terrace.
The 11,000-square-foot dwelling has stately stone walls and arched doorways. Limestone floors throughout were harvested from a French monastery.
In line with their foodie inclinations, the Collinses included a chef’s kitchen with a large island, an outdoor dining room and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.
The grounds include bridges, water features and an olive grove. (Peter Lyons)
Entertainment amenities include a pool, bocce ball court, billiard room and movie theater. Add to the dream home checklist private access to the fifth hole at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club, which borders the estate.
The primary suite has a gym, copper soaking tub, a spa-like bathroom and a seating area.
According to the estate’s co-listing agent, Nicole Marzo, the home housed friends and four generations of family in summer and on holidays. The property’s one-bedroom, one-bathroom casita no doubt helped accommodate their guests.
The property includes five parcels, two of which are zoned for development. The remaining two are protected open space.
Co-listing agent Abe Matar says that “attempting to replicate such a marvel…would prove futile, given the scarcity of land of comparable size and in such a prime location.”
For more information about 11 Mount Rose Lane in Petaluma, contact listing agents Nicole Marzo, 707-217-1386, Compass Real Estate, and Abe Matar, 650-670-0890, Avenue 8 Inc., villaterrarosa.com
A four-bedroom, six-bathroom estate on 268-acres of the revered Chalk Hill viticultural region is currently listed for $6,495,000. (Nic Meerholz / SeaTimber Media)
A four-bedroom, six-bathroom estate on 268 acres of the revered Chalk Hill viticultural region in Healdsburg is currently listed for $6,495,000.
The property is fertile ground for someone wanting to lean into Wine Country living. There’s a 13-acre vineyard and a horse barn with a caretaker’s apartment and office. Adjacent to the garage are guest quarters and a worker space — perfect for winemaking, woodworking or exercising. For cooling off, there’s a pool and pool house.
The lot is made up of two parcels, opening up the potential to develop the area further. The current home’s parcel is zoned for renting.
The light-drenched, open-concept interior warmed by honey-hued beams and wood floors throughout. (Nic Meerholz / SeaTimber Media)
The home is a 1995 build, with a light-drenched, open-concept interior, warmed by honey-hued wood floors throughout and beams lining the great room’s cathedral ceilings. Plentiful windows offer views of the Mayacamas mountains.
There are many spots to gather, such as the circular seating of the turreted living room or by one of the home’s three wood-burning fireplaces. There’s also an outdoor firepit, spa and a rounded nook of the pool, which seem to say, grab a glass and gather.
The Potato Chip Extravaganza at Silver Trident Winery in Yountville features five wines paired with five different artisanal potato chips. (Silver Trident Winery)
The wait is finally over. Summer is here and with it, a good reminder of why Wine Country is a top getaway spot.
Warm, sunny days make it oh, so easy to spend more time outside. From lingering on winery patios, to watching movies under the stars, there’s a plethora of fun reasons to add Napa Valley to this summer’s must-do list. If it’s been a bit since you visited the county, here are a few of our favorite new spots to sip, eat, and call it a night.
Summer Sips
Back and Better Than Ever
After more than six years of planning and construction, the new Signorello Estate winery is open for daily tastings. Destroyed by the 2017 Atlas Fire, the new state-of-the-art winery is virtually fireproof, built into a hillside and is constructed of steel, concrete and glass. Solar-powered, it now operates entirely off-the-grid. Open daily by appointment. 4500 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-255-5990, signorelloestate.com
Silver Trident Winery is settling in to its new location on Washington Street in Yountville. (Silver Trident Winery)
Just Down the Block
Small production winery Silver Trident is settling in to its new digs on Washington Street in Yountville. The new location is just a short walk from the original, next to the Yountville Visitors Center and across the street from another recent newcomer, Thomas Keller’s RO Restaurant and Lounge.
Guests can choose from a traditional, sit-down wine tasting experience, or crunch their way through a flight of five wines paired with potato chips in Silver Trident’s Potato Chip Extravaganza tasting. The tasting room also carries a wide range of Ralph Lauren products, olive oil, coffee, tabletop goods, artwork and more. Open Thursday through Monday; reservations required. 6484 Washington St., Yountville, 707-945-0311, silvertridentwinery.com
Casual, Walk-In Wine Tasting
Wine label Adaptation now has a dedicated space to call its own at Odette Estate Winery in Napa. Part of the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries, the new tasting space is geared toward folks searching for a casual wine tasting experience.
The Adaptation Experience features four wines, including two vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Odette Reserve Chardonnay. Each wine is paired with a different flavored potato chip.
Cost is $60; bottle service is also available. 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-690-1213, odetteestate.com
New Look
The historic stone barrel room at St. Helena’s Ehlers Estate is fresh off a redesign. Dating back to 1886, the updated tasting room interiors showcase the building’s rich Napa Valley history. 3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena, 707-963-5972, ehlersestate.com
Owner Robert Jones shaking things up behind the bar at Robert’s Tropical Table in Calistoga. (Robert’s Tropical Table)
Fresh Eats & Drinks
Grand Opening
If you needed another excuse to head to Calistoga, Robert’s Tropical Table is it. The outdoor space, located next to the Mount View Hotel on Lincoln Avenue, features tropical-inspired specialty cocktails and bites, including jerk chicken and a jerk pork belly slider. Raised in Jamaica, owner Robert Jones, has been a mixologist in Napa Valley for more than seven years with stints behind the bar at nearby Solage, and most recently Brasswood Bar & Kitchen in St. Helena. 1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, robertstropicaltable.com
Mother Nature’s Flavor
You’ll happily eat your veggies at the Grange Harvest Dinner Series at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Napa. Celebrating local ingredients and the farmers that grow them, dinners are held at the property’s onsite chef’s garden, The Grange. July’s theme is tomatoes. Yum! 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, 707-699-6200, aubergeresorts.com
Now through mid-October, a pizza pop-up at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia will feature a number of award-winning pizza chefs, including chef Leah Scurto, owner of PizzaLeah in Windsor. She’ll be in Napa preparing her signature pizzas Aug. 2 – 3. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Endless Summer of Pies
Pizza pies, that is. Now through November, The Grove restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia is hosting a pizza pop-up.
Diners will be able to try a variety of pizzas from around the world, including Napoletana, Siciliana, Okonomiyaki, New York, Chicago (deep-dish), California Neapolitan and more. Featured pizza styles will change every two weeks and guest chefs will drop by through mid-October to make pizza on The Grove’s outdoor terrace. Chef Leah Scurto, owner of PizzaLeah in Windsor, will be on hand Aug. 2 – 3. 500 First St., Napa, 707-967-2500, ciaatcopia.com
Celebrating 25 Years
2024 marks a quarter of a century for Gott’s Roadside and the eatery is celebrating with monthly seasonal specials. July choices include a wild coho salmon sandwich, wild coho salmon Nicoise salad paired with grilled street corn, and watermelon wedges with feta and mint. There’s also a rotating selection of milkshakes, with blueberry on the menu for this month.
Since its founding, Gott’s has grown from one restaurant to eight locations throughout the Bay Area. Along with the original location in St. Helena, there’s a second Napa Valley location in Oxbow Public Market. 933 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-3486; 644 First St., Napa, 707-224-6900, gotts.com
Hotel Happenings
Calling All Art Lovers
Local artists have a new venue to showcase their talent. Hosted by Napa’s River Terrace Inn, the monthly Art Along the River series will feature a diverse selection of work, including ceramics, jewelry, oil paintings and other handmade items. It’s free to attend; artists will have their work available for sale, and food and drink will be available for purchase.
The Art Along the River series will be held along the River Terrace Inn’s riverwalk from 1 to 7 p.m. on select Saturdays, July 13, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9. 1600 Soscol Ave., Napa, 707-927-2217, riverterraceinn.com
Moonlight Movies
The lush lawn at Carneros Resort and Spa is doing double-duty as an outdoor movie theater during the month of July. Onsite restaurant Farm will be offering seasonal small plates inspired by each featured movie. Moonlight Movies on the July calendar include Ratatouille (July 5), The Devil Wears Prada (July 12) and Wine Country (July 26). All movies start at sunset, between 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. Admission is complimentary; outside food, drinks and chairs are not allowed. 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 866-860-2328, carnerosresort.com
The Double Trouble Clarified Margarita with El Mexicano tequila blanco, coconut washed rum, Cointreau, lime, watermelon juice, Coco Lopez and rosé-mint-watermelon water with a plate of oysters from Arandas Friday, June 28, 2024 in Healdsburg. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Update: Nieto is no longer at the restaurant and quality has declined
The smell of dried chiles toasting in his mother’s kitchen is one of chef Adrien Nieto’s favorite childhood memories. As she prepared her homemade salsa with spicy chile de arbol, he would wake with a coughing fit, a sure sign that breakfast was ready.
“Basically, the stuff was pepper spray,” he said.
It’s also one of the most nostalgic recipes on the opening menu of Healdsburg’s Arandas restaurant. Located at the former Chalkboard restaurant space inside Hotel Les Mars, the new Mexican-inspired eatery is part of entrepreneur Bill Foley’s business portfolio, which includes Healdsburg’s Goodnight’s Steakhouse and Chalk Hill Winery, The Farmhouse Inn and restaurant in Forestville, sports venues, the Vegas Golden Nights hockey team and hotels.
In a town already rich with Mexican cuisine, Nieto focuses instead on creating dishes that express the complexity of being American-born while straddling his Mexican family’s history, culture and identity.
“I grew up with this duality, which is a really interesting experience for lots of us who grew up Chicano,” said Nieto, describing an identity that also encompasses his food.
“We say, ‘It’s ni aqui ni alla,’ not from here or there. It’s the soul of our family and our experiences as Americans.”
Executive Chef Adrien Nieto from Arandas Friday, June 28, 2024 in Healdsburg. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)La Pera Perfecta, front, an alcohol-free cocktail with prickly pear, lemon juice, agave, kiwi and egg white. Rear, a Churro-tini with brown butter washed rum, borghetti, espresso, cinnamon simple sugar topped with Drambuie cinnamon whipped cream from Arandas Friday, June 28, 2024 in Healdsburg. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
From server to celebrity
In 2011, Nieto was the runner-up on “MasterChef,” besting 16 home cook contestants on the Gordon Ramsay reality show. At the time, he was a 28-year-old server and vowed to keep cooking despite the loss.
The near-win catapulted Nieto into culinary jobs in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with his most recent stint in Dallas with “MasterChef” alums Jennie Kelley and Ben Starr at a private, invitation-only dinner party called Frank.
A web of chef connections landed him a tryout for the Arandas job in May, followed by a whirlwind month that included hiring staff and creating an entirely new menu after wowing the Foley team. The former Chalkboard restaurant was remodeled into a cozy, modern cantina with dramatic lighting, leather Equipal chairs and low, vaulted ceilings that enhance the warmth of the space.
The Cerdo Tacos are served deconstructed with green chorizo, radish, chili, artichoke, white bean & guajillo salad from Arandas Friday, June 28, 2024 in Healdsburg. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The menu
Just over a month after Nieto was hired, Arandas is a beautiful work in progress. The young kitchen staff are quickly jelling into a cohesive team. Nieto encourages them to contribute to the menu, meaning every dish has a backstory that only makes the experience of dining at the restaurant more charming.
Nieto’s sous chef, Felipe Hurtado, created one of the restaurant’s simplest dishes, Frijoles, $18. The preparation of heirloom Rancho Gordo beans cooked in dashi and piled onto local sourdough bread is an elevated version of a sick-day dish made by Hurtado’s mother. It’s incredibly comforting with a combination of mashed and whole beans topped with cheese.
“I want you to feel like you’re at my family’s house,” said Nieto, who expresses that sentiment on the menu.
“When you visit my family’s home, my relatives will ask you if you are hungry or thirsty, and if you shake your head ‘no,’ they will bring you a plate and tequila anyway. It’s that kind of soulful experience, of feeling you’re in our home, that I want to create here, at Arandas.”
Best bets
Guacamole Y Mas, $28: Fresh guacamole served with crispy chicharrones, pickled vegetables (escabeche) with mango and pineapple, and homemade tortilla chips made with Masienda heirloom corn masa. Served with Salsa de Alma, Nieto’s mother’s salsa made with tomatoes, tomatillo, onion, garlic and chile de arbol.
Ostiones, 3/$14, 6/$28: Nieto has a flair for presentation, and these oysters are a showstopper. Simple oysters get dolled up with tart, sunset-orange leche de tigre sauce with pops of turmeric, ginger and lemongrass.
Papas, $18: A can’t-miss dish. Nieto poaches baby potatoes in dashi broth and then roasts them to crispy perfection. Served with chili salt, avocado crema, chives, sesame seeds, furikake and topped with smoked trout roe.
Esquites, $18: A riff on the creamy corn street food, but, er, without corn (at least until corn season). It’s a flavor bomb of fresh vegetables from Chalk Hill Farm with huitlacoche emulsion, sumac tajin, guajillo-kimchee mayo and cheese. You can try to figure it all out or just enjoy the layers of sweet, savory, salty deliciousness.
Cerdo Tacos, $32: Nieto’s taco game is still evolving, but these green chorizo tacos with artichokes and white beans are the best of the bunch, a DIY affair with stunning blue corn tortillas.
Aztec Chocolate Terrine, $15: Leave ample room for Arandas’ desserts. A rum crème Anglaise is the base for a wedge of creamy chocolate flavored with cinnamon and smoked chiles. It’s inspired by spicy hot chocolate made by chef Felipe’s grandmother but takes it up a level with ground, spicy Takis and a cacao tuile.
Panna Cotta, $15: This button-cute dessert has layers of flavor, starting with a saffron horchata panna cotta topped with strawberries, almond granita and rose water crema.
Dillicioso Cocktail, $16: We were wary about this “savory” cocktail, but it’s a refreshing delight with gin, tomato-dill shrub, cucumber, celery bitters and coriander flakes. Trust us.
The menu also includes a large selection of tequila, mezcal and several Latin American wines.
Open daily for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., happy hour at the front bar from 4 to 6 p.m. 29 North St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8030, arandashealdsburg.com.
The end of an era for Chicago’s Cock Robin burger chain signaled a new beginning for Barlow owner Barney Aldridge. Now, he’s bringing the childhood memories of burgers and shakes to Sebastopol with the help of chef Jared Rogers of Petaluma’s Easy Rider.
The fast-casual, value-oriented restaurant replaces Seismic Brewing at the 12-acre outdoor marketplace. Seismic moved into the Golden State Cider tasting room in 2022 after vacating the high-profile, 4,000-square-foot space at the corner of Highway 12 and Morris Street.
Chef Jared Rogers from Easy Rider will consult on the new menu for Cock Robin in Sebastopol. (The Press Democrat)
A healthier spin
Though Chicago’s Cock Robin restaurants were known for artery-clogging burgers, milkshakes and ice cream, Rogers wants to put a healthier spin on the menu while keeping the family-friendly vibe.
“I want it to be as healthy and organic as possible,” Rogers said. Though the final dishes are still in development, he plans to include salads, sandwiches, plant-based dishes, and old-school classics with a modern spin.
“The staples will all be there,” he said, including the signature “One-in-a-Million” milkshakes and malts. Aldridge purchased the brand after the last Cock Robin closed in 2008 with hopes of recreating the same magic in Sebastopol.
Rogers will continue his work at Easy Rider, so fried chicken dinner lovers need not panic.
Restaurant designer Doug Washington will bring the Barlow space to life with a large, open kitchen and family-focused details, including an expansive outdoor patio. A September opening is anticipated.
Plus, a smoothie and juice bar
Rogers is also behind the menu at the recently opened Purple Acai smoothie and juice bar at the Barlow.
The health-conscious walk-up kitchen features hefty bowls filled with frozen, fair-trade acai, a South American berry hailed for its antioxidant qualities. Toppings and mix-ins include peanut butter, chia seeds, cacao nibs, flax seeds, coconut and protein powder.
If you go: Try the Mango and Greens Smoothie ($12) with mango, cashew milk, orange juice and spinach; the Toasty Rice Tea Fusion ($10), cold-pressed juice with a green tea and ginger kick; or the Nutty Bowl ($14) with acai, candied peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, flax seed, banana, honey and bee pollen.
6760 McKinley Ave., Suite 130, Sebastopol, 707-503-6412, purpleacai.net. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The Stewarts Point Ranch bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gualala River to the east, Wednesday Feb. 22, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017
Looking to spend a day by the coast but want to avoid the crowds? These seven secret spots and unique experiences are perfect for the solitary ocean aficionado. Click through the above gallery for all the details.
Though they might seem like just another visitor attraction at a winery, wine caves do serve a specific purpose — to store wine at a steady, cool temperature as it ages to perfection. And when when it’s hot outside, these underground caverns also do a great job of keeping wine tasters comfortably chilled. Here are a few favorite carved-out hillsides where you can taste wine and stay cool in the hot days ahead.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in a comment below.
Stillwater Cove Regional Park north of Fort Ross, Monday Oct. 2, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Hot and sunny summer days don’t have to put a damper on plans to get outside in Wine Country. You can lace up your boots and stay cool in one of Sonoma County’s many shady parks. Tree-lined paths make hiking excursions a breeze, even when the sun is blazing and temperatures soar. Click through the gallery above for details.
The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park. (Courtesy of Festival del Sole)
This summer, Northern California welcomes the return of Festival del Sole, which will be held at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University from Aug. 1 to 4.
The event, presented in collaboration with arts entrepreneur and pianist Barrett Wissman, will feature a lineup of international musicians, wine events and an exclusive gala dinner and auction, which will welcome actor Robert Redford and his wife, multimedia environmental artist Sibylle Szaggars Redford.
Originating in the 1990s in Italy, Festival del Sole was conceived by Wissman and his wife, cellist Nina Kotova, as an event where friends could gather to make music in a welcoming atmosphere.
Barrett Wissman, concert pianist and co-founder of Festival del Sole. (Courtesy of Festival del Sole)
The couple, who were living in Italy at the time, frequented a 19th-century theater in Cortona, Tuscany, that used to screen movies one day a week on Sundays. “Back then, there were spiderwebs everywhere. We thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a festival here,” Wissman said.
The festival officially launched in Cortona in 2003, featuring concerts, art exhibitions, culinary events, wine tastings and literary gatherings. Over the next couple of years, it grew rapidly. Barrett attributed the success to the fact that the festival was dedicated to the artists themselves.
“It was the one time in the summer where they had time to come together, and it led to interesting collaborations that they normally wouldn’t be able to do,” Wissman said. “We had the best artists from across the world. From Anthony Hopkins to Sting.”
In 2006, Wissman brought Festival del Sole to Napa Valley, and the event was renamed Festival Napa Valley in 2016. However, this August will be Festival del Sole’s reincarnation.
Wissman set out to unite the purest form of collaboration and talent, from wineries to chefs, with the notion of bringing all artists together.
Festival del Sole concerts will be held inside Weill Hall in the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park from Aug. 1 to 4. (Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat)
“The idea is to build something in Sonoma like what Ravinia is to Chicago. The highest level of performance and arts combined with food and wine,” Wissman said.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 1, with performances by acclaimed instrumentalists Olga Kern, Nina Kotova and Viktoria Mullova. “This is the first time these musicians are coming together, they’ve never played together,” Wissman said.
On Friday, Aug. 2, celebrated violinist and violist Pinchas Zukerman will perform alongside cellist Amanda Forsyth and pianist Michael Brown. On Saturday, Aug. 3, tenor Joseph Calleja, known for his “golden-age” voice and commanding stage presence, will perform.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 4, with a screening of “The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth—A Symphony for Our Planet.” The film captures the October 2023 live performance at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, Texas, featuring narration by Robert Redford and music by Tim Janis. Sibylle Szaggars Redford and Robert Redford will attend the screening and gala dinner.
Robert Redford with violinist Chad Hoopes, 14, and Alondra de la Parra, conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas at the Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley, part of the 2009 Festival del Sole. Redford and his wife Sibylle Szaggars Redford will attend the film screening and gala dinner at this year’s Festival del Sole at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park. (Courtesy of vibottaro.com)
Buena Vista Winery and French vintner Jean-Charles Boisset will host the grand gala dinner and auction on Aug. 4. The event will benefit The Way of the Rain, a nonprofit founded by Sibylle Szaggars Redford that promotes environmental awareness through artistic performances.
Attendees can enjoy wines from Buena Vista and a special Bordeaux crafted by enologist Michel Rolland. Additionally, Vinous, a renowned wine publication, has organized a series of lunches and tastings at wineries such as Freeman Vineyard & Winery and Three Sticks Wines. One of the festival’s main draws will be the culinary and wine experiences curated by private wine club Domus Artium Reserve.
Montage Healdsburg will offer accommodations for artists and participants. The resort is located on 258 acres in Sonoma and features 130 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites and 40 private residences.
“We really want to bring the community together, something that Sonoma can be really proud of and proud to host. I really want to try to encourage anyone who wants to collaborate to be a part of it,” said Wissman.
Tickets for Festival del Sole range from $45 to $70 for music performances, $190 for lunch and wine tastings, and $500 for the gala dinner. Purchase tickets at gmc.sonoma.edu or by calling 707-664-4246. For more details on the gala and wine events, visit festivaldelsolearts.com.
