Party Pix: These Sonoma County Events Went All Out for the Community

Events include a rock climbing benefit gala, a wine and food pairing with an Iron Chef-style cook-off, and an awards show for sustainable businesses.


Benefit galas, annual awards shows and food and wine pairing events this year have raised money for and celebrated multiple organizations in Sonoma County.

Check out the events the county has hosted this past spring that recognized impactful organizations and raised thousands for notable causes.

Santa Rosa

Climb 2 Recovery

On March 16 in Santa Rosa, internationally known rock climber Kevin Jorgeson welcomed 130 guests to the second annual Climb 2 Recovery gala to benefit Women’s Recovery Services, a Santa Rosa nonprofit that offers addiction recovery services for pregnant and parenting women. The event raised over $120,000.

Kevin Jorgeson, co-founder and CEO of Session Climbing, gives a rock climbing demonstration for guests, on his way to the top of the wall during Climb 2 Recovery, a benefit for Women’s Recovery Services at Session Climbing’s gym, in Santa Rosa, Saturday, March 16, 2024.
Kevin Jorgeson, co-founder and CEO of Session Climbing, gives a rock climbing demonstration for guests, on his way to the top of the wall during Climb 2 Recovery, a benefit for Women’s Recovery Services at Session Climbing’s gym, in Santa Rosa, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)

The event was held at Session Climbing, the Santa Rosa gym Jorgeson founded in 2022, and featured climbing demonstrations, speakers and a live auction. The meal was provided by Park Avenue Catering in Cotati, and the auction included donations from Catelli’s Restaurant, Bricoleur Vineyards, Vérité Winery, Cline Cellars, Russian River Brewing and more. Trione Vineyards & Winery and Redwood Credit Union were among the sponsors.

The program included reflections from three women who had been given climbing instruction from Session staff members and later climbed to the top of Goat Rock on the Sonoma Coast. Their climb was captured in a video that played at the event.

“There’s not a dry eye in the house when you see the recovery and reclamation of life,” says Women’s Recovery Services executive director Diane Madrigal. “There was a standing ovation for them acknowledging their hard work and determination to change their lives.” womensrecoveryservices.org

One of dozens of different Pinot Noir pairings.
One of dozens of different Pinot Noir pairings. (Damion Hamilton/Pigs & Pinot)
Healdsburg

Pigs & Pinot

It was another fun weekend of tastings and gourmet meals at the 17th annual Pigs & Pinot celebrations, hosted by chef Charlie Palmer of Dry Creek Kitchen at locations around Healdsburg March 15-16.

The event raised over $150,000 for scholarships for culinary, wine, and hospitality students at the Culinary Institute of America and Sonoma State University, as well as scholastic music and arts programs in Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa.

Actor and Comedian Mario Cantone at the Iron Chef-style competition held at The Matheson Healdsburg.
Actor and Comedian Mario Cantone at the Iron Chef-style competition held at The Matheson Healdsburg. (Damion Hamilton/Pigs & Pinot)

Palmer rallied chef and winemaker friends to present a multi-day program of seminars, tastings and gala dinners, including an Iron Chef-style cook-off hosted by actor Mario Cantone as well as two different Pinot Noir tasting challenges.

“This was the greatest Pigs and Pinot yet,” said  Palmer.“It’s now all about our Sonoma County hospitality community.”

Winemakers Ashley Holland of Read Holland Wines (a Sonoma Magazine “Winemaker to Watch” in 2021), Jeremiah Timm and Michael Browne of CHEV wines, and Todd Kohn of Wayfarer Vineyard took home top Pinot Noir prizes. pigsandpinot.com

Sebastopol

Slow Food’s Snail of Approval awards 

A dozen Sonoma County restaurants, farms, and artisan producers were recognized for their sustainable and locally made food at the sixth annual Snail of Approval awards Feb. 28 at the Sebastopol Grange.

Leith Leiser-Miller and Nicholi Ludlow, right, serving up their Psychic Pie pizza to attendees during the Snail of Approval awards ceremony held at Grange Hall in Sebastopol, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
Leith Leiser-Miller and Nicholi Ludlow, right, serving up their Psychic Pie pizza to attendees during the Snail of Approval awards ceremony held at Grange Hall in Sebastopol, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)

Presented by the Sonoma County North and Russian River chapters of the national nonprofit Slow Food USA, over a hundred guests enjoyed samples of the winners’ food and wines before the ceremony.

“Part of our mission is to get the community involved to learn about these food businesses that are supporting local agriculture and local products and treating their employees well,” says Carol Diaz of Slow Food Sonoma County North.

The event recognized Sarmentine Artisan Boulanger, Fourteen Magpies Handmade Jams & Preserves, Goguette Bread, The Spinster Sisters, the culinary farm at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, SingleThread Farm, Americana, Psychic Pie, The Bejkr, Bricoleur Vineyards Culinary Garden, Volo Chocolate and Wise Acre Farm. slowfoodsonomacountynorth.org