The restaurant chain also serves bulgogi fries (a Korean-style poutine), takoyaki (Japanese octopus dumpling), pork buns with katsu sauce and japchae (glass noodles with veggies and stir-fried beef) on the menu.
Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, are enjoyed during Hanukkah. In Sonoma County, they also come in flavors like Meyer lemon and dulce de leche cream. (Shutterstock)
Hanukkah, The Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7. This year, there are a variety of ways to take part in the celebration and observance of the holiday in Sonoma County. From events hosted by local Jewish congregations to special meals from popular restaurants and bakeries, the area is replete with traditional — and not so traditional — Hanukkah events and culinary treats.
On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, Jewish families gather around the menorah to recite a special blessing and light another candle on the nine branch candelabrum until all candles are aglow on the last night of the holiday (eight candles for each night, as well as a shamash candle, used to light the other candles).
Latkes (fried potato pancakes) with sour cream and applesauce are traditionally enjoyed during Hanukkah, as well as sufganiyot, a deep-fried jam or custard doughnut topped with powdered sugar. Family and friends exchange presents during this time and enjoy playing dreidel for gelt (usually chocolate coins covered in gold foil).
Here’s how to celebrate the holiday Sonoma-style.
Hanukkah Events
The Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma
Chanukah Party Limo: Celebrations will get off to a festive start for students on Thursday, Dec. 7 with a Chanukah Party Limo taking 6th to 12th graders to San Francisco in style. Rolling to the beat of Hanukkah music, the limo leaves Petaluma at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in Union Square at 4:45 p.m. for the 48th lighting and celebration at the Bill Graham Menorah, “the first giant public menorah outside of Israel.” $25 per student. Registration is required by Sunday, Dec. 3. jewishpetaluma.com/partylimo
Chanukah Celebration with Helicopter Gelt Drop: The Chabad Jewish Center says it plans to take its 9th annual Chanukah Celebration at the Petaluma Fairgrounds to “new heights” with this year’s Helicopter Gelt Drop. The event also includes a Grand Menorah Lighting with community leaders and guests, LED and fire performance, jelly doughnuts, hot latkes, live DJ Chanukah music, the “world’s biggest dreidel,” an interactive menorah game, a grand raffle and Chanukah crafts. 4:30-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec 10. Free with RSVP at jewishpetaluma.com/chanukahcelebration, 707-559-8585.
Chanukah Shoppe: Those interested in getting ready for the holiday can visit The Chanukah Shoppe pop-up store in downtown Petaluma where candles, menorahs, dreidels, chocolate gelt, gift items, decorations and toys will be available for purchase. 205 Keller St., Suite 101, Petaluma. For hours and questions, call 707-559-8585.
Among the other Hanukkah events sponsored by Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma are a menorah workshop for kids (Dec. 3), a Resin + Rosé women’s social (Dec. 4), as well as a Chanukah Shabbat Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 ($25 for adults, $15 for children).
Rabbi Dovid Bush of Chabad Jewish Center lights the first candle of the Grand Menorah at the 5th Annual Chanukah at the River celebration on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Petaluma. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma
B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma is hosting its “Around the World in Eight Days” event from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. It will include latkes from around the world, sufganiyot, cocktails, mocktails and “dreidels made of everything but clay.” 740 Western Ave., Petaluma. Entrance fees are $36 for adults, $72 for families and free for kids, but no one will be “turned away due to lack of funds.” Space is limited, RSVP at bnaiisrael.net.
Congregation Ner Shalom in Cotati
Ner Shalom in Cotati will host a Chanukah Party from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 that includes games and activities for families, singalong, stories, a dinner of salmon and latkes, and candle lighting. The congregation encourages guests to bring their own menorah to the party. 85 La Plaza Cotati. nershalom.org
The Joseph Weingarten Chabad Jewish Center in Santa Rosa
This year’s Chanukah Festival begins 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa and will include a live band, Jeremy the Juggler, a Grand Menorah lighting, doughnuts, latkes, crafts, prizes and more. The Healdsburg Chanukah Celebration begins 5 p.m. on Dec 14 at at Oakville Grocery (7856 St. Helena Highway). 707-577-0277, jewishsonoma.com.
The Joseph Weingarten Chabad Jewish Center will also host a Cantorial Shabbat with cantor Chaim Freund followed by a “deluxe dinner” at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. ($25 for adults, $10 for children). At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, Cantorial Shabbos and Chanukah Services will be followed by lunch (RSVP at JewishSonoma.com/Cantor). At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, there will be a Kids Chanukah Lego Land event that promises on its poster that participants can “go home with your very own light up Menorah set.”
Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa
Shomrei Torah is hosting a tisch-style Shabbat Hanukkah Party 6:15 – 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 that will include candle lighting, latkes, doughnuts, dreidels and music. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own menorah with candles and wear their “Hanukkah gear.” Make reservations at cstsr.org ($18 for members, $22 for non-members, kids 13 and under free). 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa.
Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa
Beth Ami will be putting on two events during the holiday: a takeout latke fundraiser and a Chanukah Latke Dinner. As part of the fundraiser, latkes will be sold in packages of 10 for $15 with a portion of the money raised going to Magen David Adom (first responders of Israel). Orders must be received by Monday, Dec. 4 and the latkes can be picked up Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Friday, Dec. 8.
The Chanukah Latke Dinner will begin 4 p.m. on Dec. 10 and includes card and board games, a short service and candle lighting, a latke and salad dinner, as well as music and singing. The event is free, but donations are accepted. RSVP for the dinner is required by Dec 6. 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. bethamisr.org
Congregation Shir Shalom in Sonoma
Featuring a Chinese buffet dinner and a showing of the movie Yentl (starring Barbra Streisand), Shir Shalom’s Hanukkah Party also includes the lighting of menorahs in Burlingame Hall. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the event begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 ($25 for adults, free for children 12 and under). RSVP online or by making a payment by check. The Congregation will also hold a Last Night Community Menorah Lighting with latkes, hot chocolate and lively songs in front of Burlingame Hall 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. shir-shalom.org
Wildberry Jam Bismark sufganiyot from Johnny Doughnuts in Santa Rosa. (Johnny Doughnuts)
Hanukkah Food Specials
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar
This Jewish-style restaurant and deli in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square will offer a takeout brisket dinner for two ($99) that includes sweet and sour braised brisket with horseradish cream; four potato leek latkes; spinach salad with dates, feta and pistachios; pomegranate molasses roasted carrots; braided challah loaf and two sufganiyot. Orders must be received by Dec. 3; pickup Dec. 7-14.
Grossman’s will also have a variety of a la carte items for the holiday, such as Loaded Knish ($17) with caramelized onions, farmers cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut and gruyere cheese; Smoked and Pickled Fish Board ($26) with lox, kippered salmon, smoked salmon rillette, pickled herring, mackerel and matzoh crackers; as well as baked goods, such as a half loaf of chocolate or cinnamon babka ($10) and chocolate-orange or brown sugar-almond Rugelach ($2.50).
308 1/2 Wilson St., Santa Rosa. 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Zoftig Eatery
Zoftig Eatery in Santa Rosa is making latkes and cinnamon-walnut rugelach for Hanukkah that will be available for pickup Thursday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8. The latkes with applesauce and sour cream are $24 for half a dozen and $45 for a dozen. The cinnamon-walnut rugelach are $10 for half a dozen and $18 for a dozen. 57 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. 707-521-9554. Online orders can be placed at zoftigeatery.com.
Marla Bakery
Marla Bakery, which recently opened a new location in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, will be offering a blue and gold Sufganiyot Box ($15) with four of the Hanukkah treats.
The sufganiyot come in two flavors — Meyer lemon cream and dulce de leche cream — and will only be available for pickup Dec. 7 through Dec. 10 at the cafe at 208 Davis St. in Santa Rosa, as well as at the Saturday Healdsburg Farmers Market and the Sunday Sebastopol Farmers Market.
Marla will also be selling its sufganiyot at the 22nd Annual Town of Windsor Holiday Celebration on the Windsor Town Green 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. The event includes a menorah lighting, youth performances and fun activities for kids.
Johnny Doughnuts is selling a Hanukkah Gift Box ($50) that includes 12 Mini Wildberry Bismarks dusted in sugar and wrapped in fall twine. The box is available from Dec. 7 to Dec. 15 and orders must be placed at least two days in advance. 1200 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-308-4836, johnnydoughnuts.com
Penngrove Market
Penngrove Market is offering a Hanukkah Dinner for four ($95) that will be hot, ready to eat and available for pickup 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. It will include beef brisket, potato vegetable latkes, matzoh ball soup and a green salad with honey-lemon dressing. Make advance reservations at the market or by calling 707-753-4974. 10070 Main St., Penngrove. 707-753-4974, penngrovemarket.com
Ethel’s Delicatessen
In Petaluma, Ethel’s Delicatessen is offering latkes, golden raisin challah and handmade milk chocolate gelt.
Four hot organic latkes ($10) served with organic sour cream (organic local applesauce is also available as an add-on) will be available for dining in, pickup and delivery through Dec. 17. (Larger orders for catering can also be preordered by emailing catering@ethelsbagels.com.)
Preorders can be placed for Ethel’s organic, round, braided golden raisin challah ($16), available from Friday, Dec. 8 to Sunday, Dec. 10.
The handmade milk chocolate gelt, made by Zingermans in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is available throughout Hanukkah for $8.99.
Harvey’s Gourmet Donuts in Sonoma will be selling powdered sugar and raspberry jam mini doughnuts for Hanukkah (gluten-free versions available). They also will have “Hanukkah sprinkles” for the doughnuts. Customers can purchase a dozen mini doughnuts or Harvey’s famous “single” — a homemade doughnut that comes in a box and can be given as a gift. For more information, visit harveysdonuts.com or call 707-246-5928. Harvey’s Donut Bar, 414 First St. East, Sonoma; Harvey’s Gourmet Donuts & Catering, 19030 Railroad Ave., Sonoma.
A La Heart Kitchen
A La Heart Kitchen in Forestville will have potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce ($12 for three latkes) and matzoh ball soup with roast chicken ($19 per quart) Thursday Dec. 7 through Saturday Dec. 9, and Wednesday Dec. 13 through Saturday Dec. 16. Order ahead via email alaheart@sonic.net. These food items will also be available in A La Heart’s grab-and-go case on a first-come, first-served basis on the same dates. All items are cold and to be heated a home. Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 6490 Mirabel Road, Forestville. 707-527-7555, alaheart.com
Birria Ramen from Jalapeño Mexican Grill on Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Birria has become the latest food phenomenon. The long-simmered chile-infused stew from Mexico is in no way new, but it’s suddenly capturing the attention of taqueria regulars.
Traditionally it’s made with goat meat and strong herbs and spices to mellow the meat. As birria moved northward from Mexico, beef was substituted. Stuffed into tacos with the addition of cheese, the quesabirria was born.
Moving to the next logical level, the consommé and beef of birria met cheap ramen noodles, and some multicultural magic happened.
Though Tacos Los Iniguez (460 Mission Blvd., Santa Rosa) isn’t the first to come up with the idea, theirs is the best I’ve had so far. Chewy noodles hide chunks of beef that melt faster than an ice cube in a hot tub. Dots of spicy oil congregate at the top of the red broth. It’s a perfect winter soup. And it’s also available at Jalapeño Mexican Grill (1630 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa).
Lamb roasted over a live fire with shiso, nori, and housemade ssamjang at chef Joshua Smookler’s Animo. (Kim Caroll/for Sonoma Magazine)
Sonoma’s Animo restaurant and Rutherford’s Auberge du Soleil are among the best in the country, according to OpenTable’s recently released “Top 100 restaurants in America for 2023” ranking. The online restaurant reservation and review site scoured more than 12 million reviews and ratings to make this year’s selection.
OpenTable described Animo as “American Korean cuisine with focus on open hearth cooking” in an “intimate and cozy setting in Sonoma.”
“The setting and first impression is modest, but Animo over-achieves big-time … Perfect execution; not one off note or misstep. Already looking forward to our next visit,” wrote Tim E. in an OpenTable review of the restaurant.
At Animo restaurant in Sonoma. (Kim Caroll/for Sonoma Magazine)
Animo will temporarily close in mid-December, as owners Josh Smookler and Heidy He turn their attention to the late-December opening of their new restaurant, Golden Bear Station, in Kenwood. The forthcoming restaurant will focus on Italian-American-style cuisine and is located in the former Tips Roadside. The menu will include pizza, pasta, burgers and steak.
The couple plans to reopen Animo next summer in a new Sonoma Valley location with a four-course tasting menu. Smookler described the new Animo concept as “fire omakase.”
Smookler and He opened Animo in 2022 after moving to Kenwood from New York City, where they operated Mu Ramen, named the best ramen shop in the city by The New York Times.
Leaving ramen behind, the couple opted for a more eclectic menu at their Sonoma restaurant, with dishes like lobster with XO sauce, lamb roasted over a live fire with shiso, nori and housemade ssamjang, and pastrami kimchi fried rice. Less than a year after opening, Animo was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire magazine.
The Michelin-starred Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil was featured on the OpenTable list of top 100 restaurants in 2022, reprising the honor this year. The restaurant at the luxury hotel in Rutherford has been awarded a Michelin star for the last 16 years, a rare feat.
In San Francisco, The House of Prime Rib and Kokkari Estiatorio were included on the list. California topped the list with 14 restaurants.
The annual OpenTable list also includes a number of dining insights for the year, based on what diners mentioned in their reviews. For 2023, OpenTable found that:
— Dining out held steady, but going out on special occasions grew by 15% in 2023.
— Solo dining is on the rise, with Thursday and Friday being the most popular nights to eat out alone.
— Top-trending cuisines were West African, African and Lebanese cuisines.
— Dishes with East Asian ingredients were a hot topic. Mentions of crispy rice, omakase, yuzu, lychee, miso, ramen and kimchi were popular.
— Mentions of mocktails increased by a whopping 48%, while cocktails including espresso martini, Aperol spritz and negroni were highly popular.
— If you’re planning to go out with a group during the holidays, make a reservation early. The most popular dates for groups are Dec. 10, 16 and 17.
Courtyard with a fountain. (Open Homes Photography / Sotheby’s International Realty)
A hacienda-style home in Sonoma with extraordinary design details has hit the market. The 3,925-square-foot home sits on 2 acres and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. It is listed for $5,000,000.
Built in 2000, the home at 19407 Wyatt Road features hacienda-style design elements, including a clay tiled roof, wood beams and doors, arched hallways, wrought-iron lamps and a courtyard. But the traditional architecture is styled with a modern and minimalist sensibility, striking a balance between understated white walls and modern furniture, on the one hand, and wood columns, exquisite tilework and spots of bright color on the other.
The home’s kitchen and bathroom tile features colorful, if not whimsical, patterns. The tranquility of the interior is interrupted by other bold design surprises, like a green door in the office, red curtains in the bedroom and red tiles in a bathroom. The overall scheme is a winning combination of understated and opulent.
An open floor plan allows for casual living and lets the kitchen function as an entertainment hub. The loggia shelters al-fresco lounging and dining. Cool evenings on the patio are warmed by an outdoor fireplace. A pool house provides 570 square feet of additional living space for guests.
A surround of olive trees, wisteria over the awning, and views of vineyards offer this estate some of the best in Wine Country living. Click through the above gallery for a peek at the property.
For more information on the home at 19407 Wyatt Road, contact listing agents Daniel Casabonne and Marie Bradley of Sotheby’s International Realty – Wine Country Brokerage, 28 First St. E., Sonoma,707-494-3130, 707-939-2222, sothebysrealty.com
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards in Healdsburg. (Kim Carroll)
Sonoma County is on a roll as a travel destination and its popularity will only continue to grow next year, according to a venerated New York-based travel magazine.
Travel + Leisure magazine has included Sonoma County on its coveted international list of “The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024.” The publication’s enthusiastic travel recommendation is the latest in what has been a string of praise for the area from a variety of sources this year. In 2023, Sonoma County played host to a live episode of the Today Show, the region was featured in a New York Times wine column and separate travel story on Geyserville, and “Sonoma” was even unveiled as the name of Apple’s new desktop operating system.
Travel + Leisure just published a story on Guerneville’s Dawn Ranch in August and called Healdsburg “the jewel of California Wine Country” in September, so it perhaps comes as no surprise that the magazine has now included Sonoma County in what the publication describes as its hand-picked list of “destinations that have captured our imaginations.”
Not only is Sonoma County included on the Travel + Leisure list, the region also is one of just over a handful of locations that the magazine highlights in the list’s brief introduction. (Paris—host of next year’s Olympics, Istanbul, Canada’s Métis Crossing, a “remote corner” of Australia and a “Himalayan Hideaway” are the other noteworthy 2024 travel destinations also mentioned in the list’s introduction).
Scribe Winery in Sonoma was featured in the Travel + Leisure article. (Eileen Roche/for Sonoma Magazine)Flowers Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg was featured in the Travel + Leisure article. (Flowers Vineyards and Winery)
The Travel + Leisure top 50 list is divided into seven categories. Sonoma County is featured in the “For Food and Drinks” section alongside two other 2024 epicurean travel destinations: The Austrian countryside and Merida, Mexico. (The list’s six other travel categories are: For Cultural Immersion, For Big-City Thrills, For Moments on the Water, For Nature Lovers, For Beach Vibes, and For Adventurous Travelers).
Travel + Leisure’s glowing review of Sonoma County begins: “More than double the size of Napa, Sonoma might offer twice as much to do.”
Describing small towns in Sonoma County as places where “new businesses are doing big things,” the magazine says this Northern Californian area is among the world’s travel destinations that are “on the rise.”
Following last year’s addition of the new West Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), Sonoma County now has 19 AVAs producing vintages that include chardonnay, pinot noir and zinfandel by vintners such as Flowers, Scribe and Vérité Wines, writes Travel + Leisure magazine.
But Sonoma County’s allure is “not just about the wine,” according to the magazine, which also spotlights the long, enticing coastline from Bodega Bay to Sea Ranch, the many diversions of the Russian River town of Guerneville, as well as the burgeoning culinary reputation of Healdsburg.
Dawn Ranch in Guerneville was featured in the Travel + Leisure article. (Gentl and Hyers)The “idyllic spa” at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Gentl and Hyers)
Among its recommended places to stay, the magazine highlights the “dreamy” newly renovated cliff-top Sea Ranch Lodge as well as the recently reopened Dawn Ranch in Guerneville with what Travel + Leisure describes as a 22-acre haven of “tree house-like cabins, creekside glamping tents, and alfresco redwood tubs at the idyllic spa.” In describing Guerneville, the magazine also mentions the town’s thriving LGBTQ+ scene, proximity to the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and Piknik Market (formerly Big Bottom Market), which continues to serve Oprah’s favorite biscuits under its new ownership.
Beyond Sonoma County, other international locations on Travel + Leisure’s list of “places that thoughtful, curious travelers should consider in 2024″ include Cartagena, Colombia; Ålborg, Denmark; Rajasthan, India; Douro River, Portugal; Amboseli National Park, Kenya; Hokkaido, Japan; Coastal Campania, Italy; AlUla, Saudi Arabia; Bahia, Brazil; and Sri Lanka.
Click through the above gallery for a peek at the Sonoma County businesses highlighted in the Travel + Leisure piece.
Chef/owner Domenica Catelli opened the two outdoor dining patios last Thursday at Catelli�s restaurant in Geyserville. (photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat).
Geyserville was recently featured in The New York Times as a trending yet down to earth travel destination where “farmers and food lovers mingle.”
Author and journalist Amy Tara Koch writes about the noteworthy restaurants, distinctive wineries, vibrant locales and rich history of Geyserville in her Nov. 14 travel article “A Salt-of-the-Earth Town that Sparkles.”
The article profiles chef Douglas Keane’s restaurant Cyrus, which opened last year in a new location 10 years after Keane closed a previous iteration of the restaurant in Healdsburg, which had been awarded two Michelin stars.
The new version of Cyrus is helping to increase interest in Geyserville as travelers discover the “town’s buzzy bar and stylish eateries, the home goods shop that feels like a beefed-up flea market, and intimate, tucked-into-the-landscape wineries,” according to The Times.
Chef Keane has created a “15-course feast” that highlights local agriculture and is inspired by the Japanese culinary experience kaiseki, “the formal multicourse meal that showcases seasonality with dishes served elegantly, but without pretense,” wrote Koch.
Chef Doug Keane works the kitchen at Cyrus in Geyserville. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)Sonoma Duck, Kosui pear and turnips are plated for service at Cyrus in Geyserville. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)
Cyrus diners get to move through a variety of locations throughout the 8,000-square-foot space during their meal: from champagne and snacks served in the “leather-accented lounge or outside among the olive trees,” to courses served in a “moodily lit area adjacent to the open kitchen” where diners are invited to interact with the chefs, to a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that beautifully frame the landscape, to a “cocoon-like room” where the meal concludes with a “parting gift” of boxed chocolates.
Contrasting Geyserville’s rustic charm with the “supremely 21st-century” design and flavor of its restaurants, The Times also visited the Corner Project, with its craft beers and tacos and sandwiches made from locally sourced meat and produce, the trattoria-style pizzeria Diavola and the third generation Italian restaurant Catelli’s. The bar and live music space The Geyserville Gun Club and coffee house Fermata were also mentioned in the article.
The colorful history of Geyserville’s vineyards (personified by the Pedroncelli and Mazzoni families), the wineries’ intimate tasting ambience and the appellation’s diverse varietals all contribute to the town’s allure. The Times article highlights Pedroncelli Winery, which began selling grapes to households in 1927 and blossomed into a “premium brand with 14 varietals” after Prohibition; Zialena Winery, run by siblings Lisa and Mark Mazzoni; and Locals Tasting Room, the first independent collective tasting room in California, owned by father and daughter Dick Handal and Doralice Handal.
Ramen, tacos and cocktails at the Geyserville Gun Club. (Emma K. Morris)A wide selection of cowboy hats at Bosworth & Son on the main drag in Geyserville. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Other facets that imbue Geyserville with its distinctive character, according to The Times, are its downtown “straight out of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’” with shopping at cowboy hat and Western wear store and museum Bosworth & Sons, the 45-vendor flea market emporium Gin’gilli’s Vintage Home inside what was once a 1930s Ford dealership, and the town’s sculpture garden located in a formerly derelict lot.
Wine Country hotels are offering a plethora of activities to get visitors, holiday guests and locals into the festive spirit this holiday season. From a tropical Santa cocktail pop-up to holiday afternoon tea, merrymaking possibilities abound in Sonoma County. Click through the above gallery for all the details and a peek at the properties.
For a fun family activity outdoors, you can choose and cut your own Christmas tree at several farms in Sonoma County.
Celesta Farms: Owned by Christmas-loving couple Steve and Carol Schwartz, this ranch, with views for days, often posts pictures of the cute dogs who visit on their website. Dogs are greeted with treats, and their humans enjoy housemade chocolate chip cookies. 3447 Celesta Ct., Sebastopol. 707-829-9352, celestafarms.com
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm: The farm’s picturesque red barn—a 50-year-old former apple-packing warehouse—is home to Santa’s Workshop, with a holiday boutique, popcorn, peppermint bark, and other treats. Mrs. Claus reads stories inside the barn, and there’s a new “train” ride through the fields, pulled by a vintage tractor. 3600 Mariola Rd., Sebastopol. 707-829-2351, frostymountaintreefarm.com
For a fun family activity outdoors, you can choose and cut your own Christmas tree at several farms in Sonoma County. (Kim Carroll)
Garlock Christmas Tree Farm: The Garlocks are tree farm royalty in these parts—the three kids of founders Bob and Sally Garlock now each run farms in the area. Son Keith and his wife Becky took over the original 1966 farm at this site, and Keith’s siblings’ farms, Reindeer Ridge and Frosty Mountain, are just over the ridge. 2275 Bloomfield Rd., Sebastopol. 707-823-4307, garlocktreefarm.com
Grandma Buddy’s: Think Grandma Buddy’s looks like something out of a Pottery Barn catalog? It is! The picturesque property, graced with a beautiful barn and a seasonal stream, is so pretty, it’s been a cover model. 8575 Graton Rd., Sebastopol. 707-823-4547, grandmastrees.com
Graton Fire Department Christmas Tree Farm: Proceeds from this farm, staffed by firefighters, benefit the all-volunteer department. Time your visit right, and you might meet Santa in a fire helmet. This site was formerly the Del Davis Tree Farm, memorialized in a 1995 song from the band Primus. 3750 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol. 707-322-2091, gratonfire.com/christmas-tree-farm.html
Larsen’s Christmas Tree Farm: This old-school spot is especially welcoming for first-timers: they offer saws, carts, and even “lumberjacks” to help you select and cut your tree. The land, in the same family since 1918, has a pretty red barn and scenic grounds that make a great background for last-minute Christmas pictures. 391 Marshall Ave., Petaluma. 707-762-6317, petalumachristmastree.com
Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm: Little Hills isn’t just a tree farm—it’s also home to a happy- hearted menagerie that includes Carol and Kriss Mungle’s sweet Newfoundland dog, Chloe, plus alpacas, rescue pigs, and mini-donkeys. The sales barn is made from reclaimed wood from the property’s old chicken barns. 961 Chapman Ln., Petaluma. 707-763-4678, littlehillschristmastree.com
Pronzini Ranch: A few weeks after their famous pumpkin patch closes down, the ranch’s Adobe Road location (a separate spot from their downtown Petaluma lot of pre-cut trees) opens for you-cut tree harvesting. The 128-acre ranch has an impressive petting zoo with ponies, pygmy goats, and distinctive, long-horned Watusi cows. 3795 Adobe Rd., Petaluma. 707-778-3871, pronzinifarms.com
Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm: Right next door to Frosty Mountain, this spot is run by Paul and Debbie Garavaglia and their daughters. Reindeer Ridge is especially great for kids, with Christmas characters scattered around the farm and Santa visits every weekend. 3500 Mariola Rd., Sebastopol. 707-829-1569, reindeerridgetrees.com
As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, it is a time for giving thanks and a time for giving back. Many local wineries have taken that spirit to heart, finding a variety of ways to do good and serve the community. Some donate wines or experiences to charitable events, some make donations on behalf of worthy causes, while others have created foundations that focus on raising awareness and rallying support for specific issues.
Here are some of the Sonoma County wineries that give back to the community.
Kendall—Jackson / Jackson Family Wines
The Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate in Santa Rosa has fostered a culture of good works among its staff by giving paid time off to employees interested in donating their time for community service. The company’s employees have made the most of the program, logging nearly 6,000 volunteer hours a year on everything from environmental initiatives to food banks, literacy programs to shelters.
In an effort to support the country’s grocery and supermarket workers, Jackson Family Wines created the Grocery Worker’s Relief Fund in 2020 just as the Covid-19 pandemic was putting those workers at greater risk. The company pledged an initial sum of $200,000 to the fund and made a commitment to raise an additional $2,000,000 over the next ten years with the aim of alleviating food insecurity and layoffs in the sector.
5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa. 800-769-3649, kj.com
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Healdsburg’s Jordan Vineyard & Winery has channeled philanthropic work through the John Jordan Foundation for more than a decade. Established by John Jordan in 2012, the foundation has taken part in a variety of initiatives and worthy causes since its inception, including support for over 300 partner organizations.
With the credo “It’s not a charity, it’s an investment in the future—our future,” the foundation has served more than 400 California schools with grants provided to over 1,000 teachers for their classrooms. The organization’s original focus—helping disadvantaged youth and young adults succeed in school and the workplace—has expanded to also include programs that serve seniors, support animal welfare, health and wellness, and a myriad of important causes.
1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-5250, jordanwinery.com
Landmark Vineyards
Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood provides local support through its Landmark Community Grants program that was launched in 2014. During the intervening years, the program has given nearly $700,000 in funding to over 125 projects and supported more than 109 teachers and 46 schools.
This year, $60,500 went to grant recipients, with $15,000 of the funds going toward supporting K-12 schools in the community. Among this year’s grant recipients were Conservation Corps North Bay, Kid Scoop News, Living Room Center, Inc, Sonoma Valley Mentoring, and Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services.
Remy Dorrance, the daughter of Noah and Kelly Dorrance of Reeve Wines and BloodRoot Wines in Healdsburg, is a 12-year-old surfer who is passionate about protecting the environment. Together with her father, she makes Remy Saves the Sea, a wine that benefits the 5 Gyres Institute. The nonprofit, based in Southern California, is committed to raising awareness about and reducing plastic pollution in the ocean.
In spring 2023, Noah and Kelly Dorrance began the legal process of establishing a nonprofit, Light Catchers, in honor of Kelly’s 9-year-old niece, Evelyn Dieckhaus, who was killed in the shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 27, 2023. The couple also organized Wine Country Unites, a fundraising campaign benefitting national nonprofit Everytown For Gun Safety.
4551 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-235-6345, reevewines.com
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
Through its philanthropic partnerships and hosting of benefits such as Wishes in Wine Country, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards’s charitable activities have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits over the years. Among the causes the winery has supported, Sonoma-Cutrer and Woodford Reserve have donated $300,000 to No Kid Hungry since 2018, most recently making a joint donation of $50,000 announced in November. The Windsor winery plans to donate an additional $1,000 to No Kid Hungry (a national campaign to end childhood hunger) on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28.
B.R. Cohn Winery is another vintner with a long tradition of raising money for charity through direct donations as well as the hosting of fundraising events. The Glen Ellen winery, which was sold to Vintage Wine Estates in 2015, was founded in 1984 by Bruce Cohn who managed rock and roll band The Doobie Brothers. Cohn’s connections in the entertainment business helped the winery bring in star talent to perform at annual charity concerts and participate in celebrity fundraiser events that raised millions for nonprofits.
15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen. 707-938-4064, brcohn.com
Rodney Strong Vineyards
With a history of local philanthropy that stretches back decades, Rodney Strong Vineyards continues to support a variety of organizations in the community. Among the beneficiaries of its annual donations are The Redwood Empire Food Bank, The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Meals on Wheels Sonoma County, Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE), and Sonoma County Fund the Future for children’s literacy. Since its founding in 1959, the Healdsburg winery has also taken part in numerous charitable events and donated its wine to local fundraisers for worthy causes.
11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg. 707-431-1533, rodneystrong.com
Benovia Winery
Benovia Winery in Santa Rosa is among the vintners who donate proceeds from particular wines to charitable causes. The winery donates $10 from each purchase of its 2021 “Liberation” Pinot Noir to the Gary Sinise Foundation with its mission of “honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.” Nonprofit The Anderson Family Foundation has pledged an additional $5 toward the Gary Sinise Foundation for every bottle sold. Now in its third vintage, the wine was originally created to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Windsor’s Bricoleur Vineyards has made a pledge to support cancer research foundations and raise awareness for the cause. In October, the winery began donating $5 from the purchase of each bottle of its Isla Rose Brut Rosé to the V Foundation for cancer research. The founders of Bricoleur Vineyards will match the $60 donation for every case of the wine purchased.
