The Sonoma Spiel: Recent Episodes

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau

California’s Sonoma Wine Country is known as a feast for the senses - amazing food and wine, beautiful mountains and redwood forests, and charming small towns. Go deeper into the best of Sonoma Wine Country with the Sonoma Spiel, where we talk about what’s happening in and around Sonoma Valley with guests like farmers, chefs, wine makers, artists and interesting guest stars.

Six generations, 168 harvests and one unforgettable six-wheeled vineyard vehicle: Katie Bundschu shares the story of Gundlach Bundschu, California’s oldest family-owned winery.

Katie explains how Rhinefarm was established in 1858, how the Gundlach and Bundschu families came together, and how the winery survived Prohibition and generations of change. She also talks about leaving Sonoma to pursue a career in college athletics fundraising—and what eventually brought her home to the family business.

Today, “Gun Bun” combines wine, history, regenerative organic farming and live music. Katie takes us inside the Pinz Excursion through the vineyards, the Donkey Bar, the winery’s amphitheater and historic Redwood Barn. She also discusses an unusually early beginning to Sonoma’s 2026 grape harvest.

Over a glass of dry estate Gewürztraminer, Katie and host Tim Zahner explore library wines, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, farming at Rhinefarm and the qualities that make Sonoma Valley feel like home.

During “We Get Questions,” Katie helps answer questions about the Bear Flag Revolt, finding great Chardonnay, sweet and semi-sweet Sonoma wines, visiting during the fall, dog-friendly businesses and how to convince someone to move to Sonoma.

VISIT GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU

Website: https://www.gunbun.com/
Tours and tastings: https://www.gunbun.com/visit/
Concerts and events: https://www.gunbun.com/events/

PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT

Discover wineries, restaurants, lodging and upcoming events:
https://www.sonomavalley.com/

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

GOT A SONOMA QUESTION?

Email info@sonomavalley.com, text 707-996-1090, find us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, or stop by one of our two Sonoma Valley visitor centers.

LISTEN TO THE SONOMA SPIEL

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Every Sunday afternoon, Sonoma Plaza becomes one of Wine Country's best live-music venues—and the concerts are free. Melissa Bingham, Executive Director of Music in Place, joins Tim Zahner to discuss Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza, featuring live music from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Grinstead Amphitheater.

The 2026 series runs from June 7 through October 4, with everything from funk, jazz and bluegrass to bossa nova, zydeco, swing and Oktoberfest music.

Music in Place began during the pandemic as a way to keep musicians and production professionals working. Today, the nonprofit presents free community concerts, intimate ticketed performances, youth music education programs and the MIP Cabaret series.

Melissa also explains how In Place Productions helps people book professional musicians for weddings, conferences, house parties and other events—with proceeds helping support free concerts, music education and paid opportunities for artists.

Then it’s time for “We Get Questions,” including:

• Which Sonoma Valley wineries should first-time visitors try?

• When are Sonoma’s farmers markets?

• Where can you find live music around Sonoma?

• Where should someone go for authentic French food?

• Why doesn’t Sonoma have many stoplights?

• When does the wine-grape harvest begin?

Learn more about Music in Place: https://musicinplace.org/ See the Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza schedule: https://musicinplace.org/sonoma-sundays-on-the-plaza/

Book musicians through In Place Productions: https://musicinplace.org/in-place-productions/

Plan your Sonoma Valley visit: https://www.sonomavalley.com

Need help planning? Call or text the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau at 707-996-1090.

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Listen to The Sonoma Spiel:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

SonomaValley #LiveMusic #SonomaPlaza

Antonín Dvořák traveled from Bohemia to Vienna, England, Russia and the United States—and the people, places and musical traditions he encountered helped shape his work.

Valley of the Moon Music Festival co-founder and artistic director Eric Zivian returns to the Sonoma Spiel with viola player Rose Nellis of the Amizia Quartet. Together, they preview “Postcards from Dvořák,” a festival season inspired by the composer’s travels around the world.

Eric explains how Dvořák rose from modest beginnings in Bohemia to become an internationally celebrated composer. His curiosity led him to explore music from many cultures, including African American spirituals and Native American musical traditions during his time in the United States.

Rose shares what life is like as a professional chamber musician, how the internationally based Amizia Quartet rehearses and travels together, and why the viola occupies such an important place inside a string quartet.

She also answers a surprisingly complicated question: Is a viola simply a large violin, or is a violin an undersized viola?

One of Rose’s favorite descriptions compares a string quartet to a bottle of wine: The first violin is the label, the cello is the bottle, and the viola and second violin are the wine.

Rose also performs the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 live in the studio.

The conversation covers:

• Dvořák’s travels through Europe and the United States
• His connections to Harry T. Burleigh and American spirituals
• The difference between a viola and a violin
• Fortepianos, gut strings and historical performance
• The Amizia Quartet’s international rehearsal schedule
• The Festival’s apprenticeship and fellowship programs
• Free, family-friendly and outdoor concerts in Sonoma Valley
• Why arts education matters
• Sonoma picnic supplies, sandwiches, coffee and bicycle parking

The conversation concludes with another round of “We Get Questions,” featuring visitor questions about picnic provisions, Sonoma sandwiches, California maps and where to park a bicycle around the Sonoma Plaza.

VALLEY OF THE MOON MUSIC FESTIVAL

Festival information and tickets:
https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org/

SONOMA TASTING PASS

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass. Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT

Visit: https://www.sonomavalley.com/
Email: info@sonomavalley.com
Text: 707-996-1090
Or visit one of our two Sonoma Valley visitor centers.

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceSonomaValley

Instagram and TikTok:
@ExperienceSonomaValley

Chris Schreiner of Platt Vineyard joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation that starts with peaches in Sonoma Valley and winds its way through Las Vegas, theater kids, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, wine clones, toasted barrels, Sonoma Plaza tasting rooms, and the cool-climate vineyards of the West Sonoma Coast.

Platt Vineyard’s new tasting salon is located just off the Sonoma Plaza on First Street West, while the vineyard itself sits far to the west near the coast, where fog, redwoods, ocean influence, and carefully planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir shape the wines. Chris explains how Platt’s fruit became highly sought after by respected winemakers, why the estate now makes wines under its own label, and what visitors can expect from a tasting.

Tim and Chris also keep things friendly for newer wine drinkers, breaking down terms like “stone fruit,” “buttery Chardonnay,” “toast,” “clones,” “terroir,” and “microclimate” without making anyone feel like they need a wine dictionary.

Then Chris joins the “We Get Questions” segment for a Sonoma Plaza scavenger hunt covering ducks, the visitor center, the Bear Flag Revolt, Sweet Scoops, the Sonoma Mission, General Vallejo, and more.

Learn more about Platt Vineyard at https://www.plattvineyard.com/en/

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass: https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Find more Sonoma Valley travel ideas at https://www.sonomavalley.com/

Listen to The Sonoma Spiel on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch on YouTube.

Summer nights at the Green Music Center are built for picnics on the lawn, big-name concerts, family movies, fireworks, and that unmistakable feeling of hearing live music under the stars.

Andy Shepherd and Erin Donohue from the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University join the Sonoma Spiel podcast to preview Summer at the Green 2026, a season that brings together the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler with Spin Doctors, Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge, Andy Grammer, NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, Jake Owen, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, TajMo with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Boz Scaggs, chamber music, and family-friendly Movies at the Green.

They also get into what makes the Green Music Center such a special Sonoma County venue: Weill Hall’s back wall opens to the lawn, giving guests the choice of sitting inside, reserving tables outside, or spreading out picnic-style on the grass. Bring the family, bring dinner, enjoy concessions and food trucks, and settle in for summer performances in Rohnert Park, just over the hill from Sonoma Valley.

Then Andy and Erin are deputized for “We Get Questions,” answering real visitor questions about Mexican restaurants in the Springs, where to try Pinot Noir, gluten-free lunch options, wine shops, and where to find a pressed penny machine souvenir.

Green Music Center Summer at the Green: https://gmc.sonoma.edu/summer-at-the-green-2026/

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Listen to more Sonoma Spiel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Have a question about Sonoma Valley? Email info@sonomavalley.com or text 707-996-1090.

Find more things to do, places to stay, wineries, restaurants, events, and special offers at: https://www.sonomavalley.com

Beth Costa brought bubbles, stories and 26 years of Wine Road wisdom to the Sonoma Spiel.

After more than two decades leading Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County, Beth Costa has retired — just as Wine Road celebrates its 50th anniversary. Beth joins Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to talk about how Wine Road grew from a hand-drawn map and a handful of wineries into one of Sonoma County’s best-known wine tourism organizations.

On the road we discover Barrel Tasting, Winter WINEland, Wine & Food Affair, wine futures, winery collaboration, the early days of websites and fax machines, the rise of wine podcasts, and why sparkling wine belongs in your fridge every day — not just for celebrations. Beth also talks about Wine Road’s podcast, her career path from retail to Kendall-Jackson to Wine Road, the changing wine tasting experience, how wineries can stay approachable, and what retirement might look like: gardening, champagne, felt birthday crowns and absolutely no unnecessary meetings.

Wine Road represents wineries and experiences across Northern Sonoma County, including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. Beth’s successor, Katie Ambrosi, stepped into the Executive Director role as Wine Road prepared for its 50th anniversary year.

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Summer in Sonoma already comes with a lot going for it. Add Broadway songs, live musicians, oak trees, a picnic, a glass of wine, and a stage under the evening sky, and you’re in Transcendence territory.

Tony Gonzalez and Lace Scott stop by to talk about what’s ahead for Transcendence Theatre Company as it opens a new chapter in downtown Sonoma. This year’s season brings a fresh location, a new setup, and a major creative shift toward full musicals, beginning with Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, followed by Radio Recall and Mamma Mia! later in the summer. They also talk about the artists coming in from Broadway and beyond, the excitement around this year’s cast, and why the company feels like it’s taking a big step forward without losing what people already love about Broadway Under the Stars.

The conversation also wanders through hotel packages, picnics, partner restaurants, special seating options, Fourth of July with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and the kind of joyful summer arts scene that makes Sonoma Valley feel bigger than its size. It’s theater, music, hospitality, and a little bit of magic all bundled together into one very Sonoma experience.

Learn more and get tickets at www.bestnightever.org.

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The Sonoma Community Center is one of those places that keeps surprising people. It’s an old school building that became Woodsboro High in Scream, a place where horror fans still come looking for the staircase, and also a working arts and cultural center filled with ceramics, printmaking, cooking classes, dance, comedy, fiber arts, community events, and more creative energy than seems possible under one roof.

Cat Smith joins Tim Zahner to talk about what makes the Center so special, from its history and architecture to the way it continues to evolve as a gathering place for Sonoma. They get into the annual Scream screening, Sonoma Valley Pride events, the Pride & Community gallery show, and the upcoming Priscilla Queen of the Center dinner and drag performance in the Secret Garden.

Along the way, Cat shares her own Sonoma story, from growing up here to moving to San Diego, studying theater, and eventually coming back to see the town in a completely new way.

There’s also talk of ravioli classes, screen printing, costumes, stage fright, cowboy boots, secret bakeries, and why the Sonoma Community Center is one of those places where there is always something happening, even if you had no idea you needed it in your life until someone mentioned it.

Learn more at sonomacommunitycenter.org.

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Head up Adobe Canyon Road and Sonoma starts to change. The valley floor drops away, the air cools off, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park opens into one of the wildest, most beautiful parts of Sonoma Valley. John Roney joins Tim to talk about what makes the park so special: nearly 5,000 acres of protected land, about 30 miles of trails, campsites, glamping tents, redwoods, waterfalls, wildlife, and the kind of views that make you forget you’re still only about half an hour from the Sonoma Plaza.

Along the way, John gets into the park’s partnership with the Sonoma Ecology Center, the volunteer energy that helps keep so much of it going, and the many ways people can experience Sugarloaf — whether that means a steep climb up Bald Mountain, a gentler walk through the redwoods, a first camping trip, a forest bathing session, or a night at the observatory under some very dark skies.

There’s also plenty of talk about the wildlife up there, including black bears, mountain lions, badgers, minks, rattlesnakes, and the very real science of tracking animals through trail cams and scat surveys. Add in the Planet Walk, park living rooms, full moon hikes, the Sugar Shuttle, and the Fourth of July Bald Mountain fireworks hike, and you’ve got a mountain-sized conversation about one of Sonoma Valley’s great outdoor treasures.

Learn more about Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at www.sugarloafpark.org.

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation about hospitality, local character, and what makes one of Sonoma’s best-known boutique hotels feel both elevated and genuinely welcoming. Justin talks about MacArthur Place’s roots as a historic ranch and vineyard, its evolution into a luxury property just off the plaza, and the philosophy behind making it feel like a place for both visitors and locals.

Tim and Justin also get into the Porch coffee shop, Leila restaurant, the spa, weddings, poolside events, Music Mondays, Burgers & Bordeaux, and the newer Som Saturdays classes that bring a little wine and cocktail education into the mix. It’s a good look at how MacArthur Place has built a distinct Sonoma identity by combining comfort, style, and a strong sense of place.

Along the way, Justin shares his own path through the hospitality world, from bussing tables at 15 to working with Four Seasons and Fairmont before landing in Sonoma Valley, where he and his wife decided they wanted to stay for good. It’s a warm, wide-ranging episode about service, community, and why genuine hospitality matters.

Learn more about MacArthur Place at macarthurplace.com.

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Jeannie Perales returns to The Sonoma Spiel to talk about one of Sonoma Valley’s most fascinating places to wander: Sonoma Botanical Garden. Tim and Jeannie get into the garden’s old quarry history, its pools, waterfalls, winding trails, and why it feels a lot more like a woodland adventure than a formal stroll past flower beds. They also talk about the garden’s evolution from Quarryhill to Sonoma Botanical Garden, and how its mission now includes both rare East Asian plants and California native plants.

They also spend time on Spirit Guides, the colorful new outdoor exhibition of fantastical creatures from the workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, along with the garden’s Wednesday evening programs, sunset concerts, picnics, and all the reasons this place keeps giving people something new to come back for.

Along the way, the conversation heads into Jeannie’s Florida museum-and-garden background, orchids, circus history, tomatoes, and the very real truth that sometimes the person running the botanical garden does not have the best garden at home. It’s a fun, thoughtful, slightly wandering episode in the best Sonoma Spiel way.

Learn more about Sonoma Botanical Garden at sonomabg.org.

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Kim Jones of The Future Collective and Aaron Brown of Arable about storytelling, land, farming, housing, and the future of Sonoma Valley.

Kim shares how The Future Collective grew out of a desire to bring younger community members into deeper conversations about the big issues shaping local life, from housing affordability and food insecurity to labor, mental health, and what it means to build a community that can actually sustain the people who live and work here. Aaron talks about Arable, a storytelling project exploring natural wine, cider, farming, and the people who are rethinking the relationship between agriculture, place, and community.

The conversation also touches on Sonoma Valley Collaborative, the emerging Sonoma Valley Commons, heirloom apples, hybrid grapes, documentary storytelling, and the creative overlap between nonprofit work, agriculture, branding, and local identity. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging episode about what it means to care for a place — and how culture, land, and collaboration all shape Sonoma Valley’s future.

Learn more:
The Future Collective: thefuturecollective.org
Arable / Earth and Sky Studio

About The Sonoma Spiel

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

This week on the Sonoma Spiel, Tim sits down with Amanda Doherty and Jason Palter from Sonoma Golf Studio to talk about Sonoma’s indoor golf scene and why it’s changing the way people practice, play, and connect.

They get into TrackMan simulator technology, lessons with PGA pros, memberships, beginner-friendly practice, and how the studio creates a low-pressure space to improve your game without the long drive to a course or range. The conversation also covers private events, corporate outings, wedding weekend activities, and why Sonoma Golf Studio is a great fit for both locals and visitors looking for something active and social to do in Sonoma Valley.

Plus, Tim and his guests answer a few classic visitor questions covering quirky Sonoma sights, local history, and community creativity.

Sonoma Golf Studio Website: https://sonomagolfstudio.com
Email: info@sonomagolfstudio.com
Phone: 707-938-7248

Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip: www.SonomaValley.com

Questions? Contact us at info@sonomavalley.com or text 707-996-1090.

Follow Sonoma Valley on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Stop by our Visitor Centers at the Sonoma Plaza and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards.

Watch and listen to the Sonoma Spiel on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours about one of the most memorable ways to explore Sonoma Valley: riding through wine country in a vintage Volkswagen bus.

Ronnie shares what makes West Wine Tours special, from its fleet of colorful classic VW buses to its focus on family-owned wineries, boutique tasting experiences, and a more laid-back, off-the-beaten-path feel. They talk about some of the stops guests might enjoy, including Bartholomew Estate Winery, Winery Sixteen 600, and Anaba, along with the stories, scenery, and local flavor that make the ride part of the experience.

The conversation also covers Ronnie’s path into hospitality, growing up in Sonoma, learning to drive stick, working as a farmer before becoming a tour guide, and why he enjoys helping visitors see what Sonoma Valley is really all about. Along the way there are detours into deli sandwiches, music playlists, local golf, pizza memories, and visitor questions about burgers, hostels, mashed potatoes, and hot springs.

It’s a warm, funny, local episode about classic vehicles, Sonoma hospitality, and the joy of taking the scenic route.

In this episode:

Vintage VW bus tours in Sonoma Valley
Family-owned wineries and boutique tasting experiences
Ronnie’s path from farming to hospitality
Bartholomew, Winery Sixteen 600, and Anaba
Local stories, visitor questions, and Sonoma favorites

Learn more:
westwinetours.com

About The Sonoma Spiel

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Spring has arrived in Sonoma Valley, and in this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim sits down with Kenneth “Kenny” DeAlba of Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen for a wide-ranging conversation about food, hospitality, cocktails, community, and what makes Sonoma Valley such a special place to gather.

Kenny shares the story behind Songbird Parlour, the cozy and beautifully designed restaurant located in historic Jack London Village, and talks about its evolution into a full restaurant known for seasonal, farm-forward cuisine, warm hospitality, and memorable special nights like Prime Rib Wednesdays and Epic Fried Chicken Sundays.

Along the way, Tim and Kenny talk about Kenny’s background in hospitality and bartending, his years working in Sonoma restaurants, his upbringing between Mexico and Sonoma, and his passion for creating experiences that make people feel at home. The conversation also takes a few fun detours into cocktail culture, motorcycle rides through Wine Country, local history, and even Napa’s mysterious “reebobs.”

It’s a fun, local, heartfelt episode full of great stories and plenty of Sonoma personality.

In this episode:

The story behind Songbird Parlour
Kenny’s journey in hospitality and bartending
Seasonal California fusion cuisine in Glen Ellen
Prime Rib Wednesdays and Epic Fried Chicken Sundays
Sonoma Valley visitor tips and local recommendations
Cocktails, community, and the joy of gathering around good food

Learn more:
songbirdparlour.com

About The Sonoma Spiel

The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

What do beer cruises, Sonoma theater, travel planning, and UFOs have in common? Chelsea Smith.

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim chats with Chelsea Smith about her journey through travel, beer, performance, and life in Sonoma Valley. From Germany and Lagunitas to the Sonoma visitor center and local stage productions, Chelsea shares insider tips, great stories, and plenty of personality.

Find out:
Sonoma travel recommendations
Winery and lunch ideas
Boutique hotel suggestions
A look at Chelsea’s hosted beer cruise on the Rhine
Behind-the-scenes stories from Sonoma Arts Live
And a completely reasonable amount of talk about cryptids and UFOs

Visit sonomavalley.com for more Sonoma inspiration.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Gretchen Schoenstein returns to The Sonoma Spiel for a third appearance—host of the Finish Line Moments podcast and a key part of the team behind the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon + Rosé 5K.

Tim and Gretchen talk about what makes this race weekend feel like a true Sonoma Valley celebration (not a “fly-in, fly-out” event), including the popular Show Your Bib program that encourages runners to explore local businesses, wineries, and neighborhoods throughout the weekend. Gretchen also shares what Finish Line Moments is all about—how running stories (and life stories) connect us—and what she’s covering next in the running world.

In “We Get Questions,” they answer quick visitor FAQs about the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, what to do with a 20-year-old in Sonoma, wine tasting costs for groups, where to find hot cross buns, when the Plaza roses bloom, and fun nighttime ideas (speakeasies, shows, stargazing, and more).

Race info: runnapatosonoma.com
Finish Line Moments: finishlinemoments.com

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Think you know Sonoma Valley? Sonoma podcast host Tim Zahner will be the first to tell you… he’s “expert-adjacent.” 😄

On this episode of The Sonoma Spiel podcast, Tim hangs out with two pros from The Lodge at Sonoma who 'actually' know how the magic happens:

Lori Noble — Hospitality Coordinator & Concierge (she can build your perfect Sonoma day in about 90 seconds)
Evan Perslow — Marketing Manager (former Vans shoe-store guy who can basically guess your shoe size on sight)

We talk concierge myths (“Do I have to pay extra?” “Is it fancy?” “Can they really get me in?”), how travelers plan trips now (spoiler: a lot of people arrive with zero reservations), and what the Lodge at Sonoma offers—from cottage-style rooms and spa vibes to on-site dining and an easy shuttle to the Plaza.

Then we jump into "We Get Questions” with quick, super-local tips on:

Best bar seating for solo travelers
Easy 60–90 minute hikes (Sonoma Overlook Trail + more)
Mustard flower baby photos… without trespassing
Sparkling wine picks
Great patios for lunch with a small group
Where to find beer options if not everyone wants wine

More info:

The Lodge at Sonoma: thelodgeatsonoma.com
Sonoma Valley events: sonomavalley.com

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Host Tim Zahner welcomes Jeremy Noland of Vine & Vista Tours, an e-bike rental experience based in Kenwood that’s helping visitors explore Sonoma Valley in a fun, self-guided, eco-friendly way—often with dogs along for the ride (including sidecar setups for larger pups).

Jeremy shares how the idea started, what makes their premium e-bikes different, how routes are curated with safety in mind, and the best ways to experience Kenwood and Glen Ellen by bike—wineries, parks, and great local food stops included.

In the “We Get Questions” segment, Jeremy helps answer visitor FAQs about self-guided winery biking, Sonoma food gifts that travel well, and buyout options for high-end corporate groups and private events.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

It’s late winter in Sonoma Valley—mustard in bloom, trees blossoming, and citrus everywhere—and Tim Zahner welcomes Jessie Marioni of Rosa Grande Tattoo to The Sonoma Spiel.

Jessie shares how she became a tattoo artist, what’s changed in tattoo culture over the years, and why tattooing is as much about meaning, memory, and community as it is about art. They also talk trends, styles, and some of the most common “Sonoma visitor” tattoos.

In the “We Get Questions” segment, Jessie helps answer real visitor questions about Swiss connections in Sonoma, a (wild) idea to rebuild Jack London’s Wolf House, planning Sonoma Sips for a large group, and what happened to the famous “LOVE” sculpture near Sonoma City Hall.

More info: Rosa Grande Tattoo: rosagrandetattoo.com

Events + Sonoma Sips details: sonomavalley.com

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Host Tim Zahner (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau) welcomes Sonoma local Heather Kearsley Wolf of Kersley for a wide-ranging conversation that blends design, entrepreneurship, history, and travel tips.

Heather recounts the origin story of Kersley—how she went from construction and interior design to launching luxury linens and textiles produced with expert makers in Italy (and later the UK), navigating retail and trade showrooms, and evolving into custom work and hospitality collections.

Along the way, she shares a fascinating look at textile craft and why bedding comfort comes down to fibers, weave, and real-world use—not just thread count.

Then Heather joins Tim for the fan-favorite segment “We Get Questions,” answering real visitor questions like:

• Best Italian restaurants in Sonoma
• What to do if you only have a few hours in town
• What the little “smoke puffs” in vineyards are (controlled burns?)
• Where to buy Sonoma t-shirts locally

Plus: a show-and-tell of Kearsley products (cashmere pillows, linens, and a beautifully made tote sewn right in Sonoma).

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Plan your trip + events: sonomavalley.com

Don’t miss Sonoma SIPS (Feb 15–Mar 15): $15 wine tastings at 50+ wineries

More info about Kearsley: www.Kearsleyhome.com
Youtube: @kearsleyofficial
https://heatherkearsleywolf.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kearsleyofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/KearsleyLinens
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kearsley-linens

Blog: https://kearsleyhome.com/blogs/kearsleys-threads

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Host Tim Zahner welcomes California State Parks’ Peter Ostroskie for a deep dive into Sonoma Valley’s state parks—especially Sonoma State Historic Park in downtown Sonoma.

They explore what visitors can see across the park’s historic sites (including Mission San Francisco Solano, the barracks, Blue Wing Inn, and more), what’s free vs. ticketed, and how the park interprets Sonoma’s layered early history. Then Peter jumps into a rapid-fire listener Q&A—covering everything from those mysterious white boxes in vineyard fields (spoiler: bees) to where to take a friend who doesn’t drink wine, plus concerts and jazz in September and ways to learn more about women’s history in Sonoma Valley (including the Women’s History Crawl).

A fun, practical, story-filled episode for locals and first-time visitors alike.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Tim Zahner (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau) welcomes Britney Lee, founder of Cluster Funk Studios, for a wide-ranging winter conversation about art, music, and community. Britney shares how her signature paint parties are evolving into the “Art Lounge”—a casual, social creative event built around original designs and creative freedom rather than step-by-step instruction.

They also dive into Britney’s journey from a first sip-and-paint experience in San Diego to building a full event setup—DJ booth, speakers, and all—plus the launch of her newest project, Conversation Club, designed to help people reconnect through in-person dialogue and long-form writing outside traditional social media.

Plus: Tim’s visitor center “We Get Questions” segment (wildlife photography, winter activities, and more) and a reminder about Sonoma Sips (Feb 15–Mar 15) featuring $15 wine tastings.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:
👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3Ek3EkWQk8DObR9b

Tim Zahner welcomes Lindsay and Greg Hamilton of Hamilton Family Wines in Kenwood for a conversation about Sonoma Valley’s winter beauty, Kenwood’s small-town revival, and the Hamiltons’ path from garage winemaking in Berkeley to launching a winery after losing their home in the 2017 fires. They dig into what makes Kenwood special, the village’s new energy (including eye-catching roadside sculptures), and ways to experience the area beyond a standard tasting—like PushPak electric trike tours that end with a wine tasting and charcuterie.

Plus: kid-friendly tasting tips, label/appellation decoding, winter experience ideas, and a wild scavenger hunt question you have to hear.

Hamilton Family Wines: hamilton.wine
Sonoma Valley info + deals: sonomavalley.com

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Happy New Year from the Sonoma Spiel! Tim kicks off “circle back week” with a wellness-focused episode featuring very special guest Jes Williams of Sonoma Yoga—and yes, this time we actually mean it.

Jes shares how Sonoma Yoga (formerly Yoga Community) has been a Sonoma staple for over two decades, how the studio found its home at the Lodge at Sonoma, and what’s new for 2026—including popular hybrid classes like Yoga Flow 40/20, Yoga Sculpt, and fitness-forward options that still keep yoga’s deeper purpose intact.

We also talk about yoga as a practice (not perfection), mindful movement in a distracted world, guided meditation hikes on the Sonoma Overlook Trail, and outdoor/community yoga possibilities.

Plus: a rapid-fire “We Get Questions” segment covering Safari West, real humans answering texts (not bots), Friday Farmers Market confusion, low-key Sonoma recommendations, and… where to buy local jam.

Info:

Sonoma Yoga
Website: sonoma-yoga.com
Email: hello@sonoma-yoga.com
Text: 707-935-8600

(Classes are open to locals + visitors; mats/props provided.)

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip

Events, deals, and seasonal info: sonomavalley.com

Wellness season + Sonoma Sips (Feb 15–Mar 15): $15 wine tastings at 40+ wineries.

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more Sonoma Valley stories, local tips, and visitor Q&A.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Welcome to the final Sonoma Spiel Podcast episode of 2025 — we’re closing out the year, cleaning off absolutely none of our desks, and rolling straight into 2026 with a very special guest… and this time we mean it: Bob Taylor of Sonoma TV.

Bob is the Executive Director of KSVY (Voices of the Valley), the nonprofit community radio + TV station right here in Sonoma, and the behind-the-scenes wizard who helps make a lot of our local recordings happen — including events like the Sonoma Plaza Tree Lighting, Lighted Tractor Parade, and more.

In this end-of-year edition, Tim (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau CEO) and Bob:

✅ Share favorite highlights from 2025 in Sonoma Valley (music, festivals, community events, and more)

✅ Talk about what they’re hopeful for in 2026 (hint: more live music, more community energy)

✅ Dive into an extended “We Get Questions” segment — answering real visitor questions

✅ Discuss the Toscano Hotel (new SVVB home) and yes… whether it’s haunted 😄

✅ Debate important topics like: Where exactly does Sonoma Valley begin and end? and What’s “the Mission” in Sonoma?

“WE GET QUESTIONS” — INCLUDED IN THIS EPISODE

Are there redwoods in Sonoma Valley?

Is the Toscano haunted? (and… can I just come in for the old building smell?)

Where is Sonoma Valley — and am I in it right now?

Is the Sonoma Valley Tasting Pass for one person or two?

What is Mission San Francisco Solano and why is it special?

Where can I get coffee near the Sonoma Plaza?

How do I volunteer with the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau?

Is there a fee to enter Sonoma Valley? (😆)

Gluten-free bakery options in Sonoma Valley?

When do the Plaza lights come down?

What to do in Sonoma Valley in winter / rainy days

When day do the mustard flowers bloom?

BottleRock shuttle between Napa & Sonoma? (we try!)

📍 MORE LOCAL LINKS

🌐 Plan your trip + events + offers: SonomaValley.com

📻 Listen to KSVY + learn more: KSVY.org

🏢 Visit KSVY in person: 680 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA

🎉 Coming Up in 2026:

🍷 Sonoma Sips (Feb 15 – Mar 15) — $15 wine tastings

🎬 Sonoma International Film Festival

⛵ Yacht Club events

👗 Trashion Fashion

…and plenty more — check www.SonomaValley.com for updates.

👍 If you enjoyed the episode please rate us!

And tell us: What was your favorite Sonoma moment of 2025 — and what are you most excited for in 2026?

Happy New Year, Sonoma! 🎆🍷

This week Ryan Becker of Visit California is in the hot-seat for a wide-ranging, and often hilarious conversation about tourism, travel and what it really takes to promote one of the most diverse destinations in the world. We also tried to goad him into saying bad things about Florida, but he doesn't. A true gent, he.

Ryan shares his journey from a 15-year career in journalism to helping lead marketing efforts for Visit California, the state’s unique, privately funded tourism organization representing more than 18,000 hospitality businesses. Together, Tim and Ryan dig into why tourism promotion matters, how travel drives economic development, and why “people will just show up” is one of the biggest myths in destination marketing.

Along the way, they explore:

How Visit California markets an incredibly diverse state (without overwhelming travelers)
Why long-term tourism marketing matters more than ever
The real economic impact of tourism on California communities
How AI is changing trip planning—and what it gets right (and wrong)
California road trips, visitor guides, and iconic ad campaigns
The role governors, celebrities, and cultural storytelling play in destination branding
Friendly debates on tacos, Napa vs. Sonoma, sparkling wine, and fish tacos

We also answer real visitor questions about traveling with a baby, holiday visits, shopping in Sonoma Valley, and how Sonoma compares to Napa for first-time visitors during "We Get Questions."

Whether you’re in tourism, marketing, hospitality, or just love traveling California, this episode offers behind-the-scenes insight, practical takeaways, and plenty of laughs.

Learn more about Visit California: www.visitcalifornia.com

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip: www.sonomavalley.com

🎧 Subscribe to the Sonoma Spiel Podcast for more conversations about travel, tourism, community, and what makes Sonoma—and California—so special.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The persimmoning has begun in Sonoma Valley! Host Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau kicks off this week’s Sonoma Spiel with fall fruit fever and a deep dive into Sonoma’s own winter wonderland — the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

Tim sits down with Devon Hawkins to talk geothermal hot springs, the spa “bathing ritual,” the Watsu pool, and the cozy Swiss Chalets (fondue, alpine fries, hot toddies) — aka Tahoe vibes without the chain controls.

In This Episode:

Persimmon season explained

The Fairmont’s 100-year wellness legacy & geothermal pools

Watsu therapy and day-pass “bathing ritual”

Swiss Chalets: alpine pop-up dining, perfect for groups & date nights

Holiday highlights: Thanksgiving buffet, lobby tree, New Year’s party

Devon’s path in luxury hospitality (Napa roots ➜ Sonoma)

Side tangents: Toblerone, tiki bars, tattoos & more

Listener Q&A: cioppino picks, where to fish, biking to Napa, bus to Healdsburg

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

🧖‍♀️ Links & Info

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa — fairmont.com/sonoma

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau — sonomavalley.com

🗓️ Event Shout-Outs

Holiday in Carneros (Nov 16) • Sonoma Plaza Lighting (Nov 22) • Sip & Shop + Lighted Tractor Parade (Nov 29) • Sonoma Arts Live’s Scrooge: The Musical (holiday run)

SonomaSpiel #SonomaValley #WineCountry #FairmontSonoma #SwissChalet #SpaDay #HotSprings #SonomaHolidays #Persimmons #VisitSonoma #sonoma

Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau sits down with chef/restaurateur Ari Weiswasser (Stella Kenwood, Glen Ellen Star, Park Avenue Catering) for a lively tour of Sonoma’s newest roundabout and the region’s food scene.

What you’ll hear

Why Stella Kenwood is Cal-Italian: wood-fire grill, lamb ribs, tomahawks, Denver cut
House pasta program (fresh/extruded semolina, gluten-free) + what a burrata bar really is
Farm-driven cooking from the Glentucky family farm (Thumbelina carrots, eggplant, peppers)
Inside large-format catering (150–400+ guests, caves, timelines, logistics)
Thanksgiving: Glen Ellen Star takeaway packages (serves 4 or 8) with donation matching; Stella open 11am–6pm
Kenwood’s mini-renaissance & Ari’s hints at future projects
Quick hits: running, sauna/cold-plunge, horse-friendly parks, yes you can milk a buffalo, plaza lighting timing, and what to bring to Thanksgiving (chic salad + crisp white)

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

It’s a perfect fall day in Sonoma—made even better with a milkshake with espresso (yes, really). This week, Tim sits down with Salvador Chavez, owner of Picazo Café and founder of La Luna Mezcal, for an energetic, wide-ranging conversation about food, family, and finding your own flavor in business.

Salvador shares how his family’s corner café in the Springs neighborhood evolved from a humble deli into one of Sonoma Valley’s best breakfast and lunch spots—known for its legendary burgers, funky building layout, and all-day brunch menu. He recounts the trial-and-error path from cold-cut sandwiches to handcrafted burgers and chicken & waffles, and how family teamwork (and the occasional kitchen fire) helped shape Picazo’s character.

They also dive deep into his other passion: mezcal. From his roots in Michoacán to building La Luna Mezcal, Salvador explains how true mezcal is made—from roasting agave in earth pits to winning international awards—and what makes it different from tequila. It’s part crash course, part entrepreneurial masterclass, and all Sonoma flavor.

Episode Highlights* The origin story of Picazo Café and the famous Picazo Burger * How a backyard grill turned into a local landmark * The evolution from deli sandwiches to brunch, flan French toast, and “Señor Krispy” chicken sandwiches * Building La Luna Mezcal from seed to bottle—literally * Agave, smoke, and science: why mezcal isn’t tequila * Family, community, and keeping the Springs spirit alive

🗣️ We Get Questions!In the fan-favorite “We Get Questions” segment, Tim and Salvador tackle real questions from visitors and locals, including:

“Is there a barber shop around here?” (Turns out, a lot!)
“We like cool coffee shops—any recommendations?” (Sal shares his top Sonoma picks, from Picazo’s espresso to Café Scooteria and Pillow Fight in Kenwood.)
“How many rooms are in the Toscano Hotel?” (Depends on the year you ask.)
“Is this Vallejo?” (Well… there’s a Vallejo, but maybe not the Vallejo.)
“Where can we stay with our cat—right meow?” (Fur-friendly hotel tips included.)

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Fall in Sonoma means harvest, friends—and great drinks. Tim sits down with Liz Takeuchi-Krist, co-owner of The Starling, a beloved neighborhood cocktail bar in Sonoma, to talk about building a welcoming, safe space (yes, even for solo guests) and the magic behind a truly great drink. Liz shares her path from Chicago music venues and wine auctions to bartending at the girl & the fig and finally opening The Starling, plus why the bar’s name gives grape growers a playful wink.

Expect plenty of practical tips: how to mix a White Negroni (and batch it for parties), why clear ice matters (and how to make it at home), the case for bitter elements, and The Starling’s house-made goodness—from tonic syrup to fermented ginger beer. We also dig into spirit-free options that feel adult, the legend of “Joji’s Old Fashioned” with candy-cap mushroom bitters, and crowd-pleasers like the Black Walnut Manhattan, Bacon Bourbon Sour, and Bourbon Blossom.

Beyond the bar: happy hour and Martini Monday deals, live music and events (burlesque on Halloween!), hosting wedding after-parties, plus local tips for easy hikes and bike paths. Oh—and what grape-stomping actually feels like.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

More on the Starling at www.starlingsonoma.com

Episode highlights:

The Starling’s “coffee-house vibe” and hospitality ethos
White Negroni 101, batching, and clear-ice hack
House-made mixers, fermented ginger beer, and spirit-free spritzes
Candy-cap mushroom bitters in an Old Fashioned
Happy hour, Martini Mondays, live music, and private events
Quick recs: Sonoma Mountain & Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Plaza bike path

Pull up a stool—this one’s equal parts neighborly and nerdy (in the best cocktail way).

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

🍸

Welcome back to The Sonoma Spiel from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau! We kick things off fresh from a festive homecoming pep rally (electric-guitar National Anthem, tractors, the works—Go Dragons!) and welcomes returning guest Paul Giusto of Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery.

We talk all things Sonoma Valley harvest—why 2025 is running a little late, what “crush” actually means, how rosé saignée works, and what happens when everything ripens at once (spoiler: 🚜🍇 organized chaos). Paul also brings a just-fermenting Pinot Noir rosé sample from Carneros and walks us through lees, jackets, presses, and why slow-and-steady seasons make beautiful wine.

Plus: Sonoma Valley tasting tips, non/low-alcohol wine options, fun non-limo tour ideas (bikes, trolleys, sidecars!), where the Plaza Visitor Center moved, and a PSA on what locals do (and don’t) call San Francisco. Hint: It's not two rhyming words.

What you’ll learn:

What “late” harvest means and how wineries decide when to pick

Crush 101: destemming, crushers vs. bladder presses

How rosé is made via saignée vs. whole-cluster pressing

Sonoma’s weather & why “slow and steady” = flavor depth

Non- and low-alcohol wine realities (and good alternatives)

The new address for the Sonoma Plaza Visitor Center (24 East Spain St)

Creative wine touring ideas that aren’t limos

Why locals say “the City” (and not “San Fran”)

Super Bowl in the Bay Area: yes, you can (and should) day-trip to Sonoma Valley

Shout-outs & mentions:

Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery — Tasting barn on the Sonoma Plaza; friendly, approachable tastings + wine club exclusives. Details: www.highway12winery.com

Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, Sonoma Adventures (e-bikes), West Wine Tours (VW buses), Rides By Me (motorcycle sidecars), Destination Drivers (they drive your car)

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Like what you heard?

👍 Like, 🔔 Subscribe, and send your Sonoma questions —Tim might answer them on a future We Get Questions segment!

SonomaValley #WineCountry #Harvest #Crush #Rosé #Highway12Winery #WineTasting #TravelCalifornia #GoDragons #SonomaSpiel #Podcast

You might groan when you see it, but deep down you know you love it: Pumpkin Spice Season. Born from Starbucks’ skunkworks, this cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice sensation has become a fixture in America’s culinary calendar—and Sonoma Valley is not immune.

This week, Michelle Lacy and Mark Bodenhamer return to talk all things harvest, fall, and autumn—while taste-testing pumpkin spice treats ranging from pretzels and nuts to cupcakes and even Twinkies.

Along the way, we share upcoming events and dive into real listener questions in our “We Get Questions” segment:

We want to bring a group of corporate professionals to Sonoma Valley for a three-day meeting in November. What can we do besides sitting in a conference room?
Outside of wine tasting, what else can you do at a winery or vineyard?
Are the leaves changing colors in Occidental yet? (via text)
What can we do at night in Sonoma Valley?
Can I smoke cannabis when I go wine tasting?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% on tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details here.

Got your own questions about Sonoma Valley?
info@sonomavalley.com
Text us at 707-996-1090
Connect on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok
Stop by one of our two visitor centers

Listen to The Sonoma Spiel – Sonoma Valley’s top podcast – wherever you get your podcasts:

🎥 YouTube
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🎧 Spotify

Jacob Yarrow joins Tim to unpack Sonoma State’s Green Music Center: World-class halls, wildly diverse ’25–’26 season (jazz, mariachi, contemporary circus, holiday shows & more), and how the venue keeps Sonoma County listening.

Fresh from moving the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau into its new HQ at the Toscano Hotel (come visit!), Tim sits down with Jacob Yarrow, Executive Director of Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center (GMC), for a lively tour of one of Northern California’s premier performing arts hubs. We learn what makes GMC special, such as the acoustically famed Weill Hall, intimate Schroeder Hall, and the indoor-outdoor lawn experience, and how the rooms themselves become part of the music.

They then preview the upcoming 2025–26 season: a New Orleans-style jazz kickoff with an uptown big band vibe, mariachi and swing, adventurous new-music string quartets, and a can’t-miss appearance by a contemporary circus company from Australia. Holiday favorites return with touring ensembles and Broadway star power, plus community favorites like outdoor movie nights on the lawn. Jacob also shares how GMC partners with the Santa Rosa Symphony, supports student performances, and welcomes audiences whether they’re dressed up for a night out or dropping by post-hike.

Along the way we discuss pepperoni rolls, West Virginia, marching bands, moonshine lore, and why Sonoma is sneakily packed with live music.

More info & tickets: gmc.sonoma.edu

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip & events: sonomavalley.com

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week Jacob Yarrow takes on these important Sonoma Valley questions:

We are here for two days and we don’t have a car. How can we get around and see things?

We are visiting and are wondering what we should do and what is famous here?

Are there any wineries that have cabernet?

I’m supposed to be in Napa with a car, but instead I’m in Sonoma on foot. What should I do, and can it involve white wine?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

This week, Tim sits down with Linda Keaton, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), to preview Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California, Revisited. The exhibition pairs Lange’s iconic documentation of Dust Bowl migration with contemporary artists exploring today’s migrant labor, agriculture, climate, and community—revealing what has (and hasn’t) changed.

Linda also shares how SVMA is transforming a third of the museum into a theater to present the world premiere of a stage work adapted from poet Tess Taylor’s letters to Lange—plus a slate of talks and roundtables featuring photojournalists, scholars, and farming leaders. It’s a packed season that shows how a small, scrappy museum can convene big conversations.

Along the way: Sonoma Art Walk nights, how exhibitions are chosen, why memberships (and NARM reciprocity) are such a great deal, and a few beloved local bites for a quick lunch between art stops.

Highlights

Dorothea Lange’s legacy & why it resonates now
Contemporary artists in conversation with Lange’s work
Programs: immigrant workers, sociology, and sustainability in farming
Building a theater inside the museum; student performances
How SVMA curates, collaborates, and “punches above its weight”
Visitor basics: hours, free Wednesdays, tickets, memberships & NARM

Links
• Sonoma Valley Museum of Art – SVMA.org
• Exhibit: Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California, Revisited (opening after short changeover)
• Oct 18 conversation (Eric Castro, Kin Ly/Light, Dr. Daniel Malpica) – tickets at SVMA.org
• Sustainability in Farming roundtable – tickets at SVMA.org
• Theater adaptation by Tess Taylor – performances Nov–Dec (including 2 free student shows)
• Plan your trip: SonomaValley.com

Visit SVMA
Open Wed–Sun, 11am–5pm • Free on Wednesdays • General admission ~$10 • Members free (with NARM reciprocity to thousands of museums)

Guest
Linda Keaton — Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. Former curator, art consultant, and adjunct professor of art history.

Host
Tim Zahner • Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau – SonomaValley.com

Credits
Recorded in Sonoma Valley. Theme music by Bobbo Deablo.

If this episode moved you, share it, become an SVMA member, and bring a friend to Last West. Art + community = Sonoma.

Matt Leffert from Jack London Park Partners wasn't running on a trail at Jack London State Park long enough to come to the Sonoma Spiel podcast. He told us who this Jack London guy was (evidently he owned the ranch that became the park, but turns out he was also a world-famous writer and adventurer) and why the park that bears his name is really multiple parks in one.

During the conversation we cover Jack and Charmian London, their innovations in farming and their fun parties and events on the ranch, where to go hiking, why pigs get their own palace, how to get poison oak (or how to avoid it) and how to participate in the upcoming trail challenge.

We also cover the wonder that is in-state tuition for UC and CSU universities and learn about New Mexico chiles which are a very important part of being a New Mexican.

Like all of the Sonoma Spiel podcast guests, Matt Leffert takes on real Sonoma visitor questions. This week he takes on:

Where’s the post office?

I’ve heard that there is a walk from Sonoma to Fort Ross called the Camino de Sonoma. Is this really a thing?

I put on Shakespeare plays and would like to find a spot to host some outdoor plays in Sonoma. Got any ideas?

My name is Asya and my friends and I bought sonoma valley tasting passes. We were wondering if we still had to call and reserve spaces at each place or if we could walk in? What is recommended that we should do? Thank you!

Can we watch the winegrape harvest?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Find our more about Jack London State Park at https://jacklondonpark.com.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Don't call it dirt - grapes need soil. Sam Coturri comes from a long line of farmers, and the don't just grow grapes, they grow soil. His pathway to farming started when he left the family business to go to college, work in the cannabis and marketing fields, and then coming home to his calling to help run the family businesses.

Their wine label, Winery Sixteen 600, specializes small batch, single vineyard wines, exclusively from certified organic vineyards. And while we taste three of his wines we also ramble (as we do) and cover The Grateful Dead, Stanley Mouse, what it's like being a top podcaster in Sonoma Valley, what the heck are tannins, Isabelle's idea for unconventional blends and why we are all harvesting grapes at night.

Like all of our guests Sam takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions (and from real visitors!) This week he takes on:

Are there any wineries where we can watch grapes being harvested?

Are there wineries where we can have lunch?

We are visiting from Virginia and saw that this is the birthplace of the CA Republic. What does that mean? I thought Texas was the only republic?

I see fields of these lovely blue flowers everywhere. What are they? Are they planted or are they wild?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Find out more about Sam's winery at www.winerysixteen600.com.

Subscribe to The Wine Makers podcast at https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/thewinemakers

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Let's take a walk around Sonoma - and do some wine tasting and food pairing along the way. This week our Very Special Guest is Renee ReBell from the award-winning Gourmet Food & Wine Tours, a local company that offers relaxed walks around the Plaza to Sonoma wineries and restaurants. Like her tours, our interview is a gentle amble that covers the beginning of the winegrape harvest in Sonoma Valley (ring that bell!), how she moved from helping homeowners better their curb appeal to selling wine to starting a tour company, and even what to eat when in Tennessee.

Like all of our guests she takes a moment to answer YOUR Sonoma questions and this week she answered:

Where can I find some locally made ceramics and pottery? - Visitor from Alabama

We’re visiting from Austin, and want to come to Sonoma for a longer visit next year. We are looking for long-term rentals that are in walkable areas. Do you have any suggestions?

We’re visiting from San Francisco and just got here at 3:30 PM. Can we go wine tasting or is it too late?

We just got in and want to find a cocktail or a place to get a drink while we wait for our hotel to open. Any ideas?

We have our bikes with us - what are some nice places to ride bikes around here?

Can we bring our actual service dog to the Plaza for the Sunday concerts?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

"Unite the Bay Area Through Sport" is the motto of the Bay Area Host Committee, the region’s first long-term sports entity that partners with local teams, civic leaders, and businesses to bring world-class sporting events to iconic Bay Area venues—driving lasting economic, cultural, and social impact.

This week on the Sonoma Spiel podcast, Adam Lewis of the BAHC talks about how the totality of the San Francisco Bay Area can be part of the ongoing project to bring large events to Northern California. As Adam notes, "only so many people are going to get into the stadium to see the Super Bowl or the World Cup - but the transformative power of these events should spread throughout the area."

A native of Oregon, a former avid soccer player and founder of the Portland chapter of non-profit that that aims to expand access to playing soccer by providing a free alternative to the pay-to-play model of club soccer.

In addition to talking logos, posters, sporting events and trying to name all the counties in the Bay Area, Adam explains how the Bay Area Host Committee has put together a resource kit for small businesses and groups to host public screenings of the games, available at their website: https://bayareahostcommittee.com/2026-bay-area-public-screening-playbook

Like all of the Sonoma Spiel podcast guests, Adam takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions. This week he takes on:

We received a Sonoma Valley Visitors Guide, along with a personal note from Ellie. We plan on flying into SFO from Edmonton, Alberta. Can you advise the best way to travel from the airport to Sonoma and return to SFO? - Elizabeth

I’m planning a visit from American Canyon to the following wineries:

Bartholomew Estate, Gundlach Bundschu, Jacuzzi

In this area, will it be easy to get Uber/Lyft to travel to, around & back? - via text

We just finished doing the Sonoma Valley scavenger hunt but I don’t know how to claim my prize. Where do I get my free wine glass?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Nick Ciccollela of Muscardini Cellars popped open a bottle of fabulous, limited edition wine (Contessa - get in line, people) and we were off... talking "Italifornian" wines, live music during the summer at their Kenwood tasting room for "Simmer Down Saturday," whatever happened to MTV and "Pimp My Ride," and what the wine industry can do to appeal to new customers.

Nick also talks mountain biking at Annadel State Park in Sonoma Valley and confesses that he has no idea what people are talking about when they say there are off-map trails allegedly in the park.

And, every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

This week Nick answers:

Which wineries allow outside food in their picnic areas?

We did the Sonoma 200th scavenger hunt but I wanted to get my name on the list to win harvest fest tickets. How do I do that?

We are not big wine drinkers, but we will drink sparkling wine. Where can we get sparkling wine?

What are some good trails for mountain biking in Sonoma Valley?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Find out more about Muscardini Cellars and their music series: www.muscardinicellars.com

Get in line for Contessa, the Super Tuscan wine from Muscardini: www.muscardinicellars.com/contessa

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Lisa Pidge, founder of the Laugh Cellar (since 2014) and actual certified pickleball pro, is back on the Spiel with updates on new comedy shows around Sonoma County during the Wine Country Comedy Fest. She talks about how she finds her comedians (this year's lineup includes Chase O'Donnell, Aiko Tanaka, Lisa Gilbert, JJ Barrows, Helen Chu, Vien Phommachanh, Amanda Cohen and Solange Castro) and why her wife is a great gardener.

She also decries the supposed "Gen Z Stare", what it was like being a latchkey kid and the fact that there was a smoking section on her high school campus back... in... the... day.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week Lisa takes on:

Best cafe to hang out on the Plaza and watch the scene? - Visitor from Colombia

I was in the Sonoma Plaza and I heard a high piercing shriek coming from the trees above me. It sounded like an eagle. What is it?

I was driving along Highway 12 in Kenwood and noticed large piles of what looked like branches and wood in a field all lined up. What are they doing?

Hello, we are planning a trip to Sonoma to visit some wineries. I was wondering how long do most tasting last? One hour? - via text

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

We don't know if they're dangerous, but we do know they sound good. This year, "Liaisons" is the theme for the Valley of the Moon Music Festival. In this week's podcast we have an engaging and informative liaison with Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivyan, cellist and pianist and wife and husband, and co-directors of the popular chamber music festival that takes place around Sonoma Valley.

This year they discuss "Liaisons"—a celebration of artistic and personal connections spanning centuries. "Whether you’re a devoted classical music enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this season promises to transport, inspire, and connect us all through the universal language of music."

More information about the Valley of the Moon Music Festival is at:

https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week Tanya and Eric take on:

Where are some good places to hear music outdoors in Sonoma?

We love classical music and wine - what should pair with our listening?

I'm thinking of starting a musical career: should I start with cello or piano?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Summer in Sonoma! Jump in the pool, get the BBQ going, have a Sonoma Spritz and don't forget to scream for ice cream. Luckily, Ramie Hencmann from Sweet Scoops is here to talk about her delightfully wonderful shop right on the Sonoma Plaza, making homemade ice cream with local fruits and flavors.

Ramie's husband Joe has been making ice cream since he was 19, and in Ramie's words he is always thinking about new flavors. "Joe loves making ice cream. He's always thinking about the flavors, and he has the mind to think of how it all will work."

And speaking of flavors, we do a tasting of three very delicious samples: vanilla, cherry wine (made with local wine) and lemon blueberry, with blueberries from Serres Ranch and lemons from the backyard trees of various friends and family.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week Ramie answers:

Favorite spot and dish to get on the Sonoma Square for a late lunch or afternoon bite?

We're at the Sonoma Plaza with kids for the afternoon - what should we do?

Where can we cool off in Sonoma Valley?

(And did you know you can DoorDash some Sweet Scoops right to your poolside? Yes - Ramie recommends it!)

What's your go-to pizza from Mary's in Sonoma?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Mark Bodenhamer of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce has good news for all you late-night wine tasters: the new "Friday Night Flights" wine tasting program will make sure you can find a wine tasting room open past 5 pm! And there are even restaurants pairing with them to offer corkage deals. But before we get to that, we have to talk about how proud we are of our kids for graduating high school (very) and try to remember our own high school graduations (go Santa Rosa High Panthers!)

Like all of our podcasts when Mark is on, the conversation then veers to whatever else is on our mind including the Music In Place Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza concerts, the Broadway in Sonoma from Transcendence Theatre Company and the Sonoma Stompers baseball games.

We then try to remember if Carole King is still alive. Is she? Yes? No? Google says...

Full listing of all the events we talk about is at https://www.sonomavalley.com/events

Like all our podcast guests, Mark answers YOUR Sonoma questions:

I saw something called the Old Faithful Geyser is nearby. What is that and where is it?

Which winery has the closest vineyards to the Plaza?

What kind of cheese does Sonoma make?

Best burger to eat with a view?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Fred Parker has been painting Sonoma Valley for years - vineyards, mountains, oaks and more. But he started his professional career as a photographic curator at a Southern California museum (now the Norton Simon Museum of Art.) In addition to talking about his methods and inspirations, Fred brings along his friend and patron of the arts, who is also the local small-town Sonoma lawyer, Mary Piasta.

Find Fred Parker Fine Art at www.parkerfineart.com

Get all your local legal needs met with Mary Piasta at www.hvplawoffices.com

As part of the podcast, Fred and Mary both take part in the time-honored tradition of answering YOUR Sonoma questions. This week they take on:

We are visiting Napa arriving Sunday June 29 and staying until Saturday morning July 5. What festivities do you recommend for July 4?

via text

Hola! We are visiting soon and looking for some wineries where people can do a tasting in Spanish. ¿Tienes alguna recomendación?

I see signs up and down Sonoma Valley that say walk-ins welcome. What does that mean?

Bon jour - we are visiting from Quebec. We would like a sandwich, si vous plait. Where should we go?

Are there any wineries open late on Fridays?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

There's a new tour in The Springs at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the Agua Rica comedic history tour, and we had such a good time at it that we forgot to write an intro for our podcast with returning guest Gretchen Schoenstein from the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon and Rose 5K. Gretchen takes a pause from running (she's now doing 5Ks, having retired from running more than 130 half-marathons) to tell us about the big race, what to expect and how to sign up. PLUS, she listens to our very practical pitch that we can replace the cancelled horse racing at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds with amateur athletes dressed up in cow and grape mascot costumes.

(Want to run the race? Sign up details here: https://runnapatosonoma.com)

Like all of our guests Gretchen takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions, and this week she takes on:

We are looking for a recommendation for wine MAKING and/or vineyard tours. Two or three recommendations would be appreciated. - via text

HELP! I’m hosting a party for my neighbors Scott and Scott, who are moving to Mexico, and want to choose some Sonoma wines for an informal party in San Francisco in my very small, kind of foggy backyard. - Your Much, Much Older Sister Lisa

My grandparents used to live in Sonoma - and we have the street that they lived on- how could we find their address?

Where can you go bird watching in Sonoma Valley?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Robyn Sebastiani is back on the Sonoma Spiel to talk about the Sonoma 200 anniversary celebration AND to help us make a Sonoma Spritz- the hot drink of the summer - live on the podcast. Robyn talks about the summer of celebrations of the 200 years of Sonoma winemaking, from the Sonoma Spritz month, to the scavenger hunt around Sonoma Valley and culminating in the community-wide celebration at the famous Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival.

And the Sonoma Spritz - made with Sonoma Valley wine and easy-to-find fresh ingredients - is a great way to taste the 200 years of history and have a great time.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

This week Robyn takes on:

We are visiting and need to rent a wheelchair - where can we rent a wheelchair in Sonoma?

Where can I go swimming at the Russian River now?

We’re from New Orleans - we’re just sort of driving around - we just hopped in the car in Sacramento and looked up Sonoma - and we noticed there are three Sonomas. So we’re looking for the one with the hills and the wineries and pretty views. Which one is that?

Are there any tasting rooms that are coops where you can taste more than one winery in one place? - Visitor from Arizona

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More information about the Sonoma 200 and all the great events celebrating it are at sonomavalleywine.com.

Details about the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is at valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.org.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The l-o-n-g-e-s-t running wine podcaster in the country just so happened to be near Sonoma Valley, so we tricked him into coming onto our podcast. Ray Fister with Life Between The Vines has done more than a thousand interviews with winemakers from around the world with a simple premise: he sets up the microphone and the camera and hits record. Everything else just comes out of conversation as it flows.

"Wine shouldn't be scary," says Ray, who's background as an audio engineer and musician is paired with his love for wine in this passion project. (His website: https://lifebetweenthevines.com.)

During the Spiel, Fister relates how his childhood in Cleveland and working in hospitality brought him to learn about wine, and how he's met winemakers from New York to Florida to Michigan and all over California, Oregon and Washington.

Like all our podcast guests he takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions, and this time he takes on:

-We had a great time wine tasting in Sonoma, and want to find some wines from where we are from in the Midwest. What’s a good way to find Midwestern Wines? And how are they different than those in California?

-I’ve really enjoyed listening to the Sonoma Spiel podcast, but I want to take a deeper dive into the world of wine podcasting. Can you recommend some good wine podcasts?

-I'm reaching out to request for a lodging recommendation in Sonoma & Napa . This is for a VIP group planning a trip in the area and the main purpose is to play golf as well as winery visit. The organizer is looking for a lodging with a golf course in both Sonoma and Napa.

-Where can I smoke on the Sonoma Plaza?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Rod Marymor from Music In Place brings professional musicians to the Sonoma Plaza for free concerts for the community to enjoy. What started as a way to keep musicians working during the pandemic has grown to a movement bringing concerts to the people in the Grinstead Amphitheatre at the Sonoma Plaza. Rod goes over the schedule for the summer and highlights the diversity of the concerts, with performers coming from all over the Bay Area to entertain. Oh - and there will be wine, because this is Sonoma.

He also promos the first "Battle of the Bands" to be held outdoors in the Sonoma Plaza, an all-day extravaganza with local teens showcasing their talents the weekend before Bottlerock. Is this the beginning of "Baby Bottlerock?" Find out!

Rod talks a bit more about his days as a journeyman drummer in bands and how hard it is to make a living as a musician. But, it is rewarding if you love the work.

Somewhere along the way we take a side trip to old radio and movie sounds with an impromptu foley (sound effects) demonstration.

More info on Music in Place at: https://musicinplace.org

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week Rod Marymor takes on:

Hi, What are the dimensions of the Sonoma Plaza? Inside/outside? Thanks! - via text

I’m visiting from Tucson and attending a conference in San Francisco. We’d like to come up and do some wine tasting - I like Pinot Noir, my friend likes Cabernet Sauvignon. Any suggestions?

Where can I find a good strawberry stand in Sonoma?

Can I order more than one visitor guide - like a box? Can I get a box of visitor guides?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Cows make chocolate, right? Otherwise why would one of the favorite chocolate stores in Sonoma be called "The Chocolate Cow?"

Known for shaved ice, ice cream, gelato, hot chocolate, truffles and an incredible candy selection, the Chocolate Cow is a must-stop for visitors to the Sonoma Plaza. In this episode we learn about the types of chocolate, how to hand-dip treats, what it takes to run a candy store in a wine country town and why it's always important to have plenty of fresh, cold water for visitors.

In addition to learning about the importance of fresh chocolate (especially a 65% dark), the trends of Dubai Chocolate (and how the trends have come and gone - salted caramel? Spicy chocolate?) and why pistachios are having their moment, we talk Sonoma Valley football.

Go Dragons! Max is the coach of the Sonoma Valley High School football team and has led the team to a winning season recently. (Go Dragons!)

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma, this week Max Pond of Chocolate Cow takes on:

We would like to visit both Sonoma and Napa Valleys in one day. How can we do that?

Are there any wineries that have tours of how they make wine, but we don’t have to taste the wine. We aren’t really wine drinkers, but we are interested in learning about it.

We heard that you can do a walking tour of the Sonoma Plaza - can you tell me more about that?

I have a friend from Colorado visiting who likes to go hiking and I don’t have any weekend plans but I can’t have her sleeping on my couch for two days doing nothing what should we do?

We are visiting Sonoma soon and like to play bocce. Where can we find some bocce ball courts?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More info about The Chocolate Cow: https://thechocolatecow.com/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Daedalus Howell is the editor of the North Bay Bohemian, "an award-winning alternative newsweekly serving Sonoma & Napa counties." And he's a poet. And a self-taught filmmaker. And an author. And a musician, because that's a thing in Sonoma.

Some quick notes we pick along the way: Philip Marlowe, the fictional, hard-boiled noir detective, was born in Santa Rosa. Daedalus left high school early and turned to a life of writing and performing, and then became a free lance writer for a local newspaper. He is a current independent filmmaker, with his latest release being "Werewolf Serenade," which may or may not have been filmed with permission at a Sonoma Valley winery (Kunde Family Winery.)

We also note that the North Bay Bohemian forgot to include the Sonoma Spiel in "best podcast" section for the "Best of the North Bay" awards.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week Daedalus Howell takes on these questions:

I’d like to buy a state park “poppy pass” - the annual pass that gets us into most CA state parks. Where can I get one locally?

Where can we see redwoods?

I was near Sonoma City Hall at noon and everyone was honking at the crowd of people in front of the palm tree. What’s going on there?

We want to get photos of trees and flowers in bloom in Sonoma - where should we go?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

More information about Daedalus Howell is at https://dhowell.com.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

It's always fun when Malia Anderson of Style my Malia riffs on fashion, image and style. Malia roundly rejects the "Costco Dad" look as as a "personal look," while extolling her youthful desire to be Dominique Devereaux from Dynasty. (And really, who wouldn't?)

In a free-wheeling conversation we talk about when to wear cut-off jeans ("jorts"), how to define your personal style and what, exactly, constitutes "Wine Country Casual" when one is invited to such an event.

Before we got to Sonoma questions we handled fashion questions from people in and around Sonoma, and got to these important issues:

"Should middle aged men dress their age...like jorts and white new balance sneakers or maybe dockers with a polo and boat shoes? Or is it ok to follow and follow the "younger" trends and wear baggy jeans, retro or vintage style clothes, bold prints etc? This leads me to my next fashion question. Is it ok for older men to have long hair or should they be clean cut?"
-R. Montes, the Cloverdale Lady Killer

"There are times when men have to be at least a little bit "dressed up" around here when the weather is HOT! Tips on how to do that successfully would be great.

Tell us about tailoring - what’s worth having altered...how can alterations make you look your best?

Where does vintage/second-hand fit into an overall "look" (if at all) for men, especially?"

-Jason G, the Sonoma OG

"What are some wine country style no-nos?"

Jose L, the Fashion Don of The Springs

"Where did you get your fashion sense?"

Marie G, The teaching cook and the cooking teacher

"What exactly is wine country casual?"

Tiffany P, the Credit Union queen

"I’m trying to transition from work from home wardrobe and just starting to get back to a more regular professional look. I’m at a loss on modern looks for the sharp dressed gal these days. Where does one even start!?"

Meredith R, Queen of the tax tables

And like all of our podcast guests, Malia Anderson takes time to answer YOUR Sonoma questions. This week she answers,

I’m arriving at Sonoma County Airport (Charles M. Schulz- Santa Rosa - STS) and would like to get to the city of Sonoma. How can I do that?

I’m staying near the Sonoma Plaza and looking for wineries that are nearby. Especially red wines. Any ideas?

I hear that roundabouts are popular in Sonoma. Where is the next one going to be?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

More information about Malia Anderson and her styling services is available at https://stylebymalia.com

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Splish splash in Sonoma- we're talking about the new Sonoma Splash Aquatic Center in Sonoma Valley with Jane Hansen and Allyson Etherington.

Tidbits include that Allyson's mom is a long-distance open water swimmer who took photos of other swimmers while swimming away from Alcatraz (and recently swam the Maui channel,) that Jane has been swimming for most of her life and still coaches, and that the proper term for the big puffy coat that the swim coach wears, even though she doesn't yell while doing it, is a parka.

Sonoma Splash has an Aqua Park in the summer, a zero-entry warm water pool for therapy and classes, and an entire wellness program held in their community room (which has other classes and is available for private rentals.) We also hear about how visitors who want a good lap swimming session are always welcome during lap swim times, and there are also aquatic exercise classes. And people looking to just cool off in the pool are invited as well. (Details on all the programs here: https://sonomasplash.org/)

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week the Sonoma Splashers take on:

In Boyes Springs some years ago, there was a huge swimming pool. It was really big! Is it still there?

I want to hike the Overlook Trail - do I have to park in the cemetery?

I saw a VW bus that appeared to be a tour or something at a winery. What is that?

Where is my car parked?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

There's no physical bridge between Maui and Sonoma, but there is a spiritual one. Our friends from the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau just happened to be in the San Francisco Bay Area to talk about why you should go visit Maui now, and we tricked them into coming onto the podcast. (We told them they would be our Very Special Guests, and This Time We Mean It.)

Sherry Duong and Leanne Pletcher brought their spirit of aloha to talk about where to visit in Maui, food trucks to try, adventures beyond the beaches, and the spirit and resilience of Maui's residents.

They also filled us in on loco moco, Spam Musubi, and what's all the fuss with poke bowls. (There's even a new contest for Maui residents - the "Anything But I'a (Fish) Poke Contest" that encourages creative poke bowl recipes that use anything other than fish.

We also chat about things we have in common (history tours, natural beauty, farmers markets) and things that are unique to each of us (pineapple wine, hot air balloon tours).

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. Oddly enough, we got a lot of questions in the Sonoma visitors center about travel from Sonoma to Maui, and so we were fortunate that our friends from Maui were here to help. This week they took on:

What is the tallest mountain in the world and is it true that it’s in Hawaii?

I keep hearing about this thing called poke. What is it and where should I get it in Maui?

I’m heading from Sonoma to Maui soon and want to find some local wines. Where should I go and what should I taste?

Is it better to visit Haleakalā at sunrise or sunset?

You can also find more great answers to your Maui questions at https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Rancher, hay baler, contractor, winemaker... if Steve Ledson sat in our podcast studio any longer he probably would have admitted to several other jobs he has had over a varied life in and around the Sonoma Valley.

This week on the Sonoma Spiel podcast he talks about growing up in the northern Sonoma Valley area of Kenwood and exploring the woods that would become public parks like Annadel and Sugarloaf.

In a wide ranging interview we also hear about the vaunted Moon Mountain AVA, one of the top winegrowing regions in the United States, his passion for fly fishing and his quest for conservation of natural resources.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This time Steve answered these Sonoma questions:

We're moving out of the area in 2 weeks: What are your "not to miss spots" for restaurants?

Is the Sonoma art walk continuing this summer?

I’m here in town for a few days and looking for someone to drive our car to take us wine tasting? Is this possible?

I was driving through Kenwood and I saw what looked like large, smoky campfires in the fields. What’s going on with that?

I keep seeing mannequins around Sonoma Valley wearing amazing dresses made of corks and champagne cages and all sorts of recycled items. What is this?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More information about Ledson Winery and Ledson Hotel is at https://ledson.com.

Details about the Moon Mountain District wine region is at https://moonmountaindistrict.org.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Ginny Krieger with the Sonoma International Film Fest is back on the Sonoma Spiel podcast (three-peat!) to talk about the upcoming film festival (March) and the more than 100 films showing during the big event. Like all the SIFF events there is a curious culinary component and this year it's a fiesta of Italian cooking with "Marcella's Italian Dinner," celebrating legendary Marcella Hazan. (This intimate four-course wine dinner, crafted by Sonoma’s award-winning female chefs—Domenica Catelli (Catelli’s), Tracey Shepos-Cenami (Jackson Family Wines), and Chef Gia Passalacqua (Chef and Winemaker)—promises an exquisite journey through Italian flavors paired with exceptional wines.)

As we go over the different films coming we break out some movie treats courtesy of the Sebastiani Theatre like Good & Plenty candy and popcorn.

And like all of our Sonoma Spiel podcast guests, Ginny answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

Where can we go to see wildflowers blooming now? - via email to info@sonomavalley.com

Is there a fee to enter Sonoma Valley - via email

What’s a good place for Chinese food in Sonoma?

Can I propose to my girlfriend in the Plaza? Is that allowed?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

You can't swing a cat without knocking over a baby sheep in Sonoma Valley in Spring - and Paul Giusto, a three time repeat guest, is back on the Sonoma Spiel to talk Highway 12 Winery and Sonoma Sips.

While we get the important words out of the way - namely the ones we aren't supposed to say on the radio- we then dive into winemaking, what it's like running a small winery and how to make wine in a fancy, metal-sided warehouse on the outskirts of town.

Paul also talks about what Highway 12 Winery is pouring during Sonoma Sips, the limited time special that offers tastes for $15 at more than 40 wineries. At Highway 12 they're offering four sips and a surprise, all for just $15.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week on WE GET QUESTIONS he takes on:

What local flower farms have good prices for flowers (orange, fuschia, yellow) for our June wedding? Ranunculus, marigolds, billy balls, and wild flowers not roses.

Can you tell me where the body shops are?

I see that there was a Hungarian count named Agoston Harasthazy in Sonoma in the 1850s. Do people still speak Hungarian in Sonoma?

When is the mustard going to bloom in the vineyards? We want to get good photos.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Highway 12 Winery: www.highway12winery.com

Sonoma Sips: www.sonomavalley.com/food-wine/wine/sonoma-sips

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Kathy Witkowicki stumbled into setting up a wildly successful public speakers program when she failed at being retired (life got boring) and Gavin Newsom couldn't make it to an event, but his interesting, film-making wife could.

The outcome was the Sonoma Speakers Series, an all-volunteer organization that puts together a world-class program with experts on arts, politics, media, science and sports. This week she talks about her journey from retiring from the Mentoring Alliance to starting the Sonoma Speaker Series, as well as what it takes to put it all together.

She also touches on tips for listening to people you don't necessarily agree with and how we can learn from each other.

Like all of our guests she takes a moment to answer YOUR Sonoma questions.

(We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass)

The trees on the Sonoma Plaza are incredible - and some of them are huge. Who manages all of those trees?

Hello- we just moved here from the East Bay and are looking for good Mexican food - especially from Oaxaca and Michoacan. Got any ideas?

Are there ever special wine tasting offers for people who want to try new wineries but don’t want to commit to more elaborate tastings?

We are hosting a dinner party with a diverse group of people, and will be featuring many Sonoma Valley wines. Because the group has varying opinions on so many things, and public discourse seems so fraught, what advice would you give on how to keep conversations civil? Also, should I offer a sparkling wine option?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Of course we started the podcast with a report from our trip to the Sonoma Farmers Market, because this week we had a very special guest - and this time we actually mean it- Clark Wolf, the energetic, food-obsessed, speaking-a-mile-a-minute food consultant and radio show host. And cheesemonger. And writer.

Clark rips rapid-fire into tales about Ig Vella, MFK Fisher, Alice Waters, Anthony Bourdain, Ruth Reichl and any and all other chefs, producers and food writers. And opines about Gravenstein apples, hotel restaurants and farms.

AND - just ten minutes into the podcast - another VERY SPECIAL GUEST pops in, and this time we actually, actually mean it - Seth the College Student / The Potato Chip Guy stops by on his scheduled rounds with samples of his locally made artisan potato chips from Planetary Potato Chips. (https://planetarychips.com)

Like all of our podcast guests he also answers YOUR Sonoma questions and this week he takes on:

I am visiting Sonoma in early February, and I anticipate that I will be buying some wine to bring home. I know most of the wineries offer shipping of their bottles, however I will likely buy one or two bottles each from a few different wineries and I was wondering if there is a service in town where I can take the bottles to be packaged and shipped back to my home? - via email

Beyond wine and winegrapes, what food or produce is Sonoma County identified with?

Help- my bike tire is getting flat. Is there a pump nearby that I can use? - at Plaza visitor center

I’m feeling a bit hungry - but I don’t need a full sit-down meal. Where are some good places for small bites or little dishes?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Dennis & Diane Mitchell won the Sonoma County "Visitor Center Volunteers of the Year" award and in spite of that pedigree, still came on the Sonoma Spiel podcast.

Though they haven't been volunteering for a long time (two and a half years), they have deep experience working in the wine industry, starting in the Livermore Valley. But wait, they've also worked for several dot-com companies (in the 90's when it was the first wave,) a school bus manufacturer and even ran their own day care business. Oh, and Dennis moved 17 times before he got to high school because his dad was in the Navy.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

This week they answer:

Hi - I’m coming to visit for my 40th… love my sav blanc and champagne.. any events or music events or things you recommend ?? Staying at the inn in Sonoma … open to ideas - planning a hot air balloon … and saw there’s a champagne bar and looking at a few places but anything we must see/do… 7-8 of us coming!

Is there a special code or something that I need to use the Sonoma Plaza tasting pass? How does it work?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The Napa to Sonoma Half-Marathon is one of the top runs in the United States, and includes the half-marathon and a 5K fun run, in addition to a food and wine celebration.

Local runner Gretchen Schoenstein talks about the race and the route that takes runners from the vineyards of Napa (where you might see a hot air balloon!) past rustic barns to the farms and wineries of Sonoma Valley, ending up in the historic Sonoma Plaza. Gretchen says it is one of her favorite half-marathons, and she should know, as she has completed more than 100 such races.

In addition to being a runner, Gretchen talks about her work advocating on behalf of those who have auto-immune disorders and how she raises funds for the Benroya Research Institute.

More information about Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon and Rose 5K is at https://runnapatosonoma.com.

Like all of our Sonoma podcast guests she answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions."

This week she takes on:

I’m here for a bit of wine and food indulgence, but I still want to keep up with my exercise routine. What are some good runs to do in Sonoma Valley that have good scenery?

I’m a coffee fiend - can you direct me to some coffee shops in Sonoma Valley - especially in Glen Ellen and Kenwood area?

We’d like to come visit in February or March - what’s the weather like in Sonoma then? Should we come?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

"Wine supported my France habit..."

Lori Varsames started in Vermont, studied French, ended up in France doing bike tours, learning about wine, then selling French wine, then moving to New Mexico in search of change, met her husband, and then landed in... Sonoma Valley. Not to strike it rich, but to strike it well.

This week on the Sonoma Spiel podcast, Lori talks Sonoma Wellness, especially as it relates to visiting the famed wine country in the winter. Looking for ideas? Lori has more than 100 ideas for things to do in Sonoma Valley for wellness, part of the "100 Days of Sonoma Wellness" from January to April.

She also helps us review healthy and delicious wellness juices from the fresh juice bar at Sonoma Market, using her skills as a wine taster to tell us about the citrus, kale and cardamon flavors of the nutritious beverages.

Lori is a personal and professional coach and offers some tips on how to organize yourself for the year ahead. More info about her coaching services is at https://lorivarsames.com.

Like all of our guests she answers YOUR Sonoma questions, and this week she takes on:

What kind of tree is that in front of the Visitor Center?

What fun & educational activities are there in Sonoma for families with kids?

Are there places where kids and adults can learn together about the history and science and artistry behind winemaking?

What are a couple of fun wine tasting festivals you recommend?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

I just started a BlueSky account - can I find Sonoma Valley information there?

Which movies were made in Sonoma Valley?

He performed the intro music, he did the outro music, he edited the podcast AND he makes sure the mics are plugged in: Bob Taylor from Sonoma TV and KSVY is our Very Special Guest (this time we actually mean it) and we review the year passed and the year ahead.

We debate whether or not chocolate chip cookies are actually Christmas cookies (no) and if Bob should eat cookies with nuts (also no, as he is allergic.) He also plugs his band, the Illegitimate AC/DC, which is available for gigs like weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs and all the usual places one would want 50-something men playing AC/DC. Details here: https://acdcsonoma.com/

Bob marvels at the fact that the recipes on SonomaValley.com don't have long, meaningless intros: they just have recipes. Find some wellness recipes: https://www.sonomavalley.com/food-wine/recipes-from-sonoma-valley/

And then we recap the "Top Podcast Moments" from 2024 according to our YouTube shorts channel. Did you catch them? https://www.youtube.com/@ExperienceSonomaValley/shorts

Like all of our guests he answers YOUR Sonoma questions, and this week he answered:

We love seeing the lights around the Sonoma Plaza. We want to come take some photos for a family picture - how long will they stay up?
I’m looking for Oysters. Where’s a good place to get some?
Good morning. We’re staying in Forestville, and are thinking of driving up to two hours out and then back to see some redwoods. Any suggestions on destinations for that? - via text

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Listen to Bob Taylor on Fridays on KSVY on the FM dial and also https://ksvy.org

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

George Rose is an award-winning photographer whose career has taken him from hard news in LA and celebrity portraits to in-house PR and photographer for some of the best wineries in California.

He stops by the Sonoma Spiel podcast to discuss the convoluted way California allocates water and how many communities rely on shipping it from wet Northern California to drier Southern California through a series of canals, rivers, pipes and aqueducts.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma:

"We are visiting in the winter, and we noticed that in the vineyards there are groups of people working in long lines down the rows. What are they doing out there?"

"We are looking for wineries with nice gardens - got any ideas?"

"I hear there are mountain lions in the hills above Sonoma Valley. Is this true?"

"Where can I find sweeter wines? And how do I know if a winery is making any?"

"I'm visiting Sonoma from Solvang and like to take photos - should I use my iPhone or should I use my real camera?"

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

George Rose's book "California's Changing Landscape: The Way of Water" is available here: https://store.calnatureartmuseum.org/collections/featured-products/products/californias-changing-landscape-the-way-of-water

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Angie Sanchez started the Hola Vida Collective to showcase unique gifts and foods from and inspired by Mexico. Located "right next to the Red Grape (Sonoma's go-to pizza place)" the store has handicrafts and gifts and art that with a Latino flair.

"Sonoma Valley is Michoacan, Oaxaca and Jalisco," Sanchez notes, rattling off the home regions for the majority of Mexican immigrants to Sonoma.

In addition to finding out about the classes offered in the arts at her studio, Angie goes through some of her favorite items including:

Danny Trejo's coffee
Chocolate covered grasshopper snacks
Churro flavored popcorn
Oaxacan-made wool llamas

She also details the work that goes into putting on regular festivals like Mexican Independence Day in September, Cinco de Mayo, Las Posadas and Dia de Muertos.

Like all of our guests she also answers YOUR Sonoma questions, including:

Where is the best place in Sonoma County to get a grilled cheese sandwich?

What is the significance of the Sonoma Plaza- why is it a thing? - fourth grader from San Diego

I’m a fan of the recipes on your website. What lessons did you learn in collecting these recipes and what have you seen in terms of interest about them? - Monica Poling, Cultural tourism consultant, New Mexico

I saw videos online of salmon running up Sonoma Creek all the way in to town and up. Are these real?

What are some good places to get a mocktail in Sonoma Valley?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More details about Hola Vida can be found here:
https://holavidacollective.com/es
https://www.instagram.com/vidaculturalarts

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Hey everyone - not your typical podcast this week. This is the recap of the brightest night in wine country: The Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza. Enjoy!

If you want to watch the whole show, or some of the segments, find them on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsKpmmTmnfOjx5_W9mqu6xJq

Sponsors for the Lighting of the Plaza:

Sonoma Tourism Improvement District

City of Sonoma

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau

Sonoma International Film Festival: https://sonomafilmfest.org

Pangloss Cellars: https://panglosscellars.com

Highway 12 Winery: https://www.highway12winery.com

Gehricke Wines: https://www.gehrickewines.com

Cline Cellars: https://clinecellars.com

Jacuzzi Winery: https://www.jacuzziwines.com

Beltane Ranch Winery: https://beltaneranch.com

Kunde Family Winery: https://www.kunde.com

Viansa Winery + Marketplace: https://www.viansa.com

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa: https://www.macarthurplace.com

El Pueblo Inn: https://www.elpuebloinn.com

Sparc Cannabis Sonoma: https://sparc.co

Mary’s Pizza Shack: https://maryspizzashack.com

Sonoma Clean Power: https://sonomacleanpower.org

Sonoma Botanical Garden: https://sonomabg.org

Sonoma Springs Brewing Company: https://www.sonomaspringsbrewing.com

Sonoma Market: https://sonomamarket.net

The Lodge at Sonoma: https://www.thelodgeatsonoma.com

More than fifty years ago, forward-thinking farmers in Sonoma County created Farm Trails, the oldest organization of it's kind in the United States, dedicated to promoting local farms directly to customers. Carmen Snyder of Sonoma County Farm Trails talks about the origins of the group, their beloved Gravenstein Apple Fair and how visitors can best interact with their seasonal programs.

Farm Trails: https://www.farmtrails.org/

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week, Carmen Snyder takes on:

Are there any year-round farmers markets in Sonoma?

We are looking for Cabernet Franc?

We’ve been staying in Napa, and are on our way to San Francisco tonight, and decided to stop in Sonoma and wow - this is a great place to visit! We’re looking for a great place to grab brunch in the cute town of Sonoma.

What’s in Kenwood?

It’s late fall and we still see some grapes on the vines. What is that? - Visitors from Quebec

We have someone in our group that is under 21 - what should we do? Can they go to a winery?

We want to take a walk in a vineyard- can we do that?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Jose Luciano oversees the visitor centers operations in Sonoma Valley and knows where to eat and drink. He started his schooling at Purdue with plans of becoming a veterinarian, but took a detour into hospitality and a career with Marriott Hotels. In this edition of the Spiel he talks about the joys of fried Puerto Rican treats (alcapurrias), as well as where to eat in the Springs (Sante at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Sonoma Eats, and Spread Catering to name a few.)

Jose is also in charge of literally lighting the historic palm tree in front of Sonoma City Hall during the beloved "Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza" event each year. (The Saturday before Thanksgiving.) This year's acts include the Tri-County Pomo Dancers, Sonoma Conservatory of Dance, The El Verano School Singers, The Cork Pullers and the Soul Section. Plus - it's all free.

And like all our guests, Jose takes on answering YOUR Sonoma questions. This week he answers:

There is an awful smell emanating from underneath a tree in the northeast corner of the Plaza. What is it?

Is this the Visitor Center? - received via text

We are going to the redwoods tomorrow, but want some ideas on things to see along the way. Got any ideas?

We heard that there is a bike path that runs along highway 101. What is it and how far can we ride?

I work with a guy who will sometimes - out of nowhere- loudly exclaim Wepa! What on earth does that mean and should I be concerned?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

"It's very stressful and I don't know what I'm doing." Everest, DJ for Sonoma K-pop Hour, thinks this applies to both life in high school as well as being a first time voter.

While she is indeed a "very special guest star" and this time we actually, actually mean it, she is also a smart, witty and introspective young woman. In this episode she talks about her popular radio show, the Sonoma K-pop Hour, which may be the only K-pop show on the radio in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also covers what it's like suffering through her father's idea for a new band of dad's that sing and dance (Pop pop) and why J-Rock is not the same as K-pop. Exasperated, she also describes what Discord is and how it's different from reddit. And TikTok. Or something.

And she admits the she is on the school e-sports team, where they specialize in Valorant.

Like all of our guests she has to answer YOUR questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

My kids keep saying things like, “Skibidi Ohio Rizz” and I am worried that they might be in to some bad things. Should I be take away their WiFi?

We’re here from Washington, and I’m 50 years old and my teenage child keeps telling me they want a tattoo or a nose piercing. Should I let them and why or why not?

What should I make for dinner?

I’m visiting from Nevada, and I was walking around the Sonoma Plaza wondering: Who should touch the thermostat in the house?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

We're doing a pomme reading this week on the Sonoma Spiel with Rick from wine country's best cider shop - Pomme Cider. French for apple, Pomme has a selection of gluten-free ciders as well as champagnes and "pet-nat" wines.

We taste three ciders of the 125 we has available, and go through his journey from beer-lover to cider-swiller and what makes his shop special.

Rick also answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week he answers:

We are visiting from Germany, but we’re here for an hour - what should we do?

I hear the Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza 2024 is Saturday, Nov 23. Can you let me know what time it starts and who is performing?

We are here from Canada and interested in wineries that have great vegetable gardens and farms. Any ideas?

Vegan ice cream?

We want to visit when the leaves are at peak color. When should we come?

I heard there was a place to get Walnuts from a farm - is this true and where is it? - via text

More info on Pomme Cider Shop here: http://www.pommecidershop.com

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Susan Gorin has been in political office for several decades (from school board to city council to county supervisor) and is nearing the end of her elected career. What's her take on California's crazy politics where we entrust voters with multiple ballot initiatives.? What did she want to accomplish and what was she able to get done? And does she know that one guy she just ran into at the restaurant who asked if he knew her?

Susan is ready to let 'er rip as she only has a few months left in her term and she has a few things to say. But don't worry - we also make her answer some good questions from Sonoma Valley visitors during "We Get Questions."

This week Susan Gorin answers:

We are waiting to check in to our hotel, but it’s not until 3 pm. So we have four hours on the Plaza and want to taste some wine and have lunch - any ideas?

We just got into town and someone said to go look at the Mission. What is the mission? And why should we visit it?

What should we do with babies?

I’ve been quite busy in my career, a demanding job that entailed a lot of decision making and scrutiny. Now that I’m retiring I would like some ideas on things to do in Sonoma Valley that don’t require me to attend meetings, adhere to budgets or hear complaints. Any ideas?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

While most of our guests on the Sonoma Spiel podcast are well-versed in what to do during a three to four-day visit to Sonoma Valley, this week's guest has customers that stay a bit longer. Forever, even.

Carolyn Fulton got her start working in restaurants in Healdsburg after high school, and has had stops at Agilent and others before she came to the city of Sonoma as the new cemetery manager. She oversees Sonoma's three cemeteries: Mountain, Valley and Veteran's.

During a wide ranging interview we talk what visitors can see in cemeteries, how to help with upkeep, interesting people buried here and even if you would like to leave your mortal remains in town, how to do it.

Like all of our Very-Special-Guests she took a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions during our segment, "We Get Questions."

Hi- we are so excited to visit this week. Have one reservation with a tour. Otherwise sticking to wineries that accept walk-ins. Is winging it a bad idea? Cheers!🍷- SoCo Wine Imbibers on Facebook

Hello! I am debating where to go in late December for two days. I quite enjoy Zinfandel and Shiraz. Would you recommend any wineries, vineyards or tasting rooms? Thank you- via Facebook

Hi, interested in recommendations for a private driver to take four of us to wineries around Sonoma . We will be based in the town of Sonoma. Has anyone used a company that drives your car? We will have rental car and some say they use your car—but not sure how that works with the car rental company. Any experiences or recs appreciated.- via Facebook

Dia de los Muertos altars around the Sonoma Valley? Yes!

How do I find my relative's grave? I think they are buried in Sonoma.

Find more information about Sonoma's Cemeteries here: https://www.sonomacity.org/departments/cemeteries/

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

sonoma #cemeterytour #halloween #winecountry #hospitality

Come take a few rounds on the diurnal swing - it's hot during the day, it's cool at night; harvest action is ripping along at a frenetic pace, and the Valley is abuzz with activity! What can calm us down?

A kitten. Or a puppy.

So Jody Purdom from Pet's Lifeline is on the podcast this week talking about how to adopt a pet in Sonoma Valley, the important work of Pet's Lifeline providing shelter, adoption and medical care services for the kitties and pups of wine country. Did you know that Sonoma was recently noted as being a "Better City For Pets?" Now you do.

We also hear about Jody's formative years in New Jersey and her theory on why the bagels are better back east, hence why she smuggles suitcases of bagels back to Sonoma when she visits her old stomping grounds.

And every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

Are the leaves in the vineyard pretty in fall?

What’s the weather like in Sonoma in January?

Need recommendations for dog-friendly breakfast, brunch, or bakery spots? Preferably with nice outdoor seating.

We are staying in Sonoma - Where should we visit for nightlife? And live music? And cocktails?

Traveling to Sonoma soon and can’t decide on a place to stay (so many) that would be convenient for both a visit to Sonoma and Napa wineries. Appreciate your recommendations.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Find out how you can adopt a dog - or a cat- from Sonoma at www.petslifeline.org.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

We forgot to write down our introduction when we first thought of it, so our intro is about our lack of intros. Luckily we didn't sweat it too much, because Chef Cristina Topham of Spread Kitchen in Sonoma is a laid-back very-special-guest on the Sonoma Spiel. So laid-back she won't follow the recipes exactly as written (sorry, Grandma!) but rather it's a "riff on my own interpretations of Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking."

Before she gets to answering questions from visitors, she talks about her life after culinary school where she admits she "got her butt handed to me" when she got her first kitchen job. From there it was anchors aweigh as she became a chef on yachts, traveling around the world. (And the time she had to jump ship to escape a crazy captain - who sailed them into a raging storm- for a better opportunity.)

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

Where can I go (visit, camp, etc.) if we are driving a motorhome?

Do hotels have EV chargers? Where do I find EV chargers in Sonoma?

Why is Sonoma Valley called “Valley of the Moon” - From a visitor from Missouri

We are traveling to Sonoma County in early December. Any recommendations for wineries and restaurants that go all out decorating for Christmas? (Healdsburg to downtown Sonoma) - via Facebook

What does Sonoma offer for the arts?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

See the amazing menus of Spread Kitchen at www.spreadkitchensonoma.com.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

The smell of harvest is in the air: open top fermenters, grapes being crushed and even the "Sonoma aroma" of fertilizer on the fields. And with harvest comes the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, when Sonoma Valley comes together to celebrate the hard work of the year's vintage.

Robyn Sebastiani of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers details all the happenings at one of the oldest agricultural festivals in California: the tastings, the wonderful winemaker dinners, the grape stomp, the music and arts festival and a 5K fun run.

Like all of the podcast "Very Special Guest Stars" Robyn gets a chance to answer YOUR Sonoma questions, including:

We’re driving to Napa via Trinity Road and are looking for a beautiful winery to walk around en route.

I will be in the area with a car for two weeks in November with my dog. I’d love help with suggestions for great Pinot Noir, rosè, white wine and bubbly spots, as well as any locations you recommend for pup to come along. - via Facebook

We are researching our family history from the early late 1800s to the early 1900s here in Sonoma - how can we do that? - at the Visitor Center

We are “van-lifing” it and in need of a laundromat. Where we can find one?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival: https://valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.org/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Bernie the rescue dog brought Ryan Budlong with St. Francis Winery to the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk about the Blessing of the Animals, how to take a Vineyard Adventure through their estate to learn about how their grapes are grown and why their culinary garden is now the culinary farm. While Bernie stays pretty quiet, Ryan also details the amazing food pairing experience for which St. Francis won "Best Restaurant in America" from Open Table as well as the bicycle pedal trolley that seats up to 15 visitors on a tour of the vineyards, with a stop at the famous "Welcome to Sonoma Valley" sign.

Oh, and did we mention that they were just voted "Best Winery and Tasting Room" by SFGate? Well, we will.

And we find out that St. Francis Winery - named after the patron saint of animals in the Catholic tradition, St Francis of Assist - raises funds for rescue animals and service dogs.

Like all our guests, Ryan also takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week he answered:

We are coming to Sonoma to celebrate with 3 other couples for a 25th wedding anniversary. We are all in our early 50’s and looking for good vibes, great winery experiences, food and restaurant suggestions. - Facebook Wine Imbibers Group

I heard that there may be mountain lions in Sonoma Valley? Is this true and can I see one?

We are looking for good places to watch football - any ideas?

When will the leaves be the most colorful?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Mark Bodenhamer with the Sonoma Valley Chamber is our VERY SPECIAL GUEST this week (and we actually mean it this time) and he has the updates on all things harvest and fall related in Sonoma Valley.

Mark talks about fall events like Sundays Music in the Plaza from Music in Place (free concerts), Broadway in Sonoma's finale under the stars in the "Field of Dreams" near the Montini Open Space Preserve, and the 200th Anniversary of planting winegrapes in Sonoma Valley, which will be celebrated at the 2024 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival.

Mark takes a brief detour to wonder about West Virginia's wine industry- what is it? Should they send us a sample? Does it come as a clear liquid in a mason jar? Send us some!

Before we take YOUR Sonoma questions, Mark also waxes poetic about the best parts about the harvest season in Sonoma Valley.

When he does answer your question during WE GET QUESTIONS he takes on:

What tree is that out there? - A visitor from the Plaza

I was at Jacuzzi Winery last Monday and there was an impromptu church organ concert going on in the barrel room- no audience, and just a virtuoso performer playing. What is that all about? - at the south visitor center

I'm hosting a wine pairing dinner and want to serve a charcuterie board featuring Sonoma County grown/made items. Any ideas of things I should include? I plan to visit Ovello for some meat choices and Vella for cheeses, but I'm hoping all your brilliant minds might have some other recommendations. - Sonoma County Foodies

We’re planning on visiting Sonoma Valley to take in some wineries but are completely unfamiliar with the area. We’d like to visit wineries that don’t distribute nationally. If you can find it at Total Wine on the East Coast, we’re probably not interested. At the same time, I’d like to keep the price of a bottle to around the $40-50 mark. I’m not sure if that exists but we’re open to ideas and suggestions. - via Facebook Sonoma County Wine Imbibers

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

For more than 25 years, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art has been showcasing local and internationally-renowned artists in their intimate space on Broadway, just a half-block south from the Sonoma Plaza.

Linda Keaton, Executive Director and Chief Curator, paints a picture of what the museum is about and why it's a great place for visitors to Sonoma. She also sketches her journey from a childhood in a farming community in the California Central Valley to a career teaching and curating art. Other topics include public art and the strong opinions the public holds of such art.

As always, our guest answers YOUR Sonoma questions and this week she takes on:

-Planning a honeymoon in Sonoma next summer. Curious about favorite upscale restaurants? Bonus points if you can help plan a good trip there! - Sonoma County Foodies page

-When does the winegrape harvest start? When does it end? - via text

-I’m from Fort Worth, Texas where there is a daily cattle drive down the streets of the stockyards. Do you do something similar here? - from the visitor center

-We are coming up for the Broadway in Sonoma show from Transcendence Theatre Company and are thinking about dinner before somewhere, or maybe a picnic. Any ideas?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More info about the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art: https://svma.org

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Many people know that Sonoma Valley has had two centuries of winegrowing. But a lot of people don't know that it was also the birthplace of the modern American microbrewery: New Albion Brewing Company.

The brainchild of Jack McAuliffe, New Albion was founded by him and Jane Zimmerman and Suzy Stern in 1976, when a decision was made in the driveway of Jane's house in Sonoma.

With $1000 each, Jane and Suzy became partners in the "crazy and fun idea" of starting a small brewery on the edge of town in an old fruit-processing plant. Jane recounts her days schlepping a kid to school and then another younger four-year old child to the brewhouse as she helped brew the stouts and porters and ales in a 55-gallon drum that Jack welded. "It's a miracle no one got hurt!"

She recalls, "we were so enthusiastic and naive - we just did it!"

Like all of our podcast guests, Zimmerman answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

-Are there any hotels or lodging options in a vineyard?

-We just got here from Wisconsin and we want to head out to Jenner, where the Russian River meets the ocean. How long does it take to get there from Sonoma?

-We’re here for an hour and want to see something historic and interesting. What do you recommend?

-Is there a way we can hire someone else to drive our car while we go wine tasting? Is that a thing?

-Hello! My friends and I will be staying close to the Sonoma Plaza and looking for an outdoor restaurant that will accommodate our group of 8. It is for my friend's milestone birthday!

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

This week we have a very special guest, and this time we actually, actually mean it: Karina Garcia stops by the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk about "The Springs," a collection of small former resort towns (Fetters Hot Springs, Aqua Caliente, Boyes Hot Springs and El Verano) with great food options and places to explore.

Born in Mexico, raised in Boyes Hot Springs, Garcia details her life growing up in the neighborhood with parents who worked multiple jobs, including picking grapes at the end of summer.

A proud graduate of Sonoma Valley High (Go Dragons!) and Santa Rosa Junior College (Go Bear Cubs!) and Sonoma State University (Go Seawolves!), Garcia also talks how she worked for a local Spanish-language television station (host of El Sabor de la Noche) and that eventually led to her career as part of the communications team for the County of Sonoma.

She started the popular Charla Comunitaria (Community Chat) for Spanish speakers during Covid, and continued it as a way to connect with the Spanish-speaking community in the North Bay.

Some of her memories of The Springs include watching Sunday soccer at Larson park and visiting with family, and then she talks some restaurants to check out in The Springs including Sonoma Eats Real Mexican Food (try to vegeterian mushroom or potato tacos,) La Hacienda (pitchers of margaritas on the patio) and Spread Lebanese Kitchen. And did you want taco trucks? We rattle through reviews of all of them...

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week Garcia takes on:

I purchased the Plaza Tasting Pass. Do I now need to make reservations at the 3 wineries I am interested in? Are these tastings at the wineries or at the plaza? Thank you. - via text

Hi- we’ve lived in Kenwood for 25 years, but never been down here to the Sonoma Plaza. What is this city party everyone’s talking about?

How long does it take to get from SF airport to Petaluma/Sonoma?

Where can I find a food truck in and around Sonoma Valley - especially one open later at night?

We are heading back to San Francisco Airport tonight - any recommendations for things to see and do in San Francisco along the way?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details athttps://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Sean Gerrity with Sonoma Ballooning parked his colorful balloon right outside the KSVY studio and hopped off to talk about hot air balloons in Sonoma Valley.

During the podcast we find out how to become a hot air balloon pilot, that the job has its ups and downs and landings are guaranteed. We also learn about a day in the life of a hot air balloon pilot, why the hot air balloons take off at sunrise and why Sean avoids delivering babies on hot air balloons (not that much space.) Also, the first hot air balloon pilots were French farm animals. Comme c’est intéressant!

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

This week he answers:

How do you avoid your wine purchases from getting hot in the car while visiting wineries all day? - via Facebook

Hi- I went to high school with your wife. We are visiting in October with another couple and want some ideas for where to stay and what to do? Got any ideas? - Suzy Sajoac from Wisconsin

I’m retiring in a few months after a long career in the public realm. I still want to stay active and use my skills for helping people and problem solving. Is it possible to become a volunteer at the Sonoma Valley Visitors Centers? - Delaware Joe B via press conference

I had heard somewhere that travelers could bring wine onto their Southwest airlines flight from SFO/OAK, as their carry on? - via email

I am looking for a winery to sight-see by my own car, with NO TASTING, as I am a driver. But to no success. I would like to walk/drive between the grapevines, take some photos, etc. - via www.SonomaVallley.com

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Sonoma Ballooning info: https://sonomaballooning.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

On the eve of the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, the Sonoma Spiel podcast went to the farmers market to drag two farmers into the studio: Elizabeth Stein and Tucker Stein of Cassidy Ranch farm in Sonoma.

The married couple took over the farm in 2021 and grow both grapes as well as flowers and crops. Elizabeth recounts how her time working at Ridge Vineyards in Santa Cruz attracted her to the world of food and wine, and they both wanted to start a farm that would have the experiences they wished existed in Sonoma, including classes on how to cut and arrange flowers, pick your own strawberries and - a pickleball court. Yes - you can play pickleball at their farm. (Reserve the court ahead of time!)

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week the Steins took on the following Sonoma questions:

"I'm looking for activities other than Train Town for grandkids, ages two and a half, six and nine. Any suggestions? Also, are there any wineries where you can take the kids? Thank you" - via email

"I am up to my eyeballs in plums. What should I do?"

"I am interested in connecting with a wine industry artisan. Somebody who makes things from wine barrels or which are inspired by the wine industry. Any recommendations?"

In the middle of the segment, Tucker Stein pulls out the uno reverse card and dares to ask us questions, including, "What's your idea for a great Sonoma Saturday?"

"We're visiting from Florida - do you guys ever have clouds here?" - at the Visitors Center

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

We also covered June Gloom, No Sky July, Fogust and all the months where you can visit with San Francisco's wonderful summer guest, Karl the Fog.

More details about Cassidy Ranch at www.cassidy-ranch.com

Deals and events and wine tasting passes at www.sonomavalley.com

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

We're back on the Spiel! And this week we have a VERY SPECIAL GUEST: Lisa Pidge, from the Laugh Cellar and Crushers of Comedy and now her new gig - Pickleball and comedy!

A repeat offender on the podcast, Lisa comes back to talk about what's happening with her popular comedy shows at wineries like Deerfield Ranch, Cooking With Comedians, and her new Pickleball and comedy show that supports an autism charity.

As usual we riff on random topics like the roll of AI in comedy, the addictive quality of pickleball, and we try our hand at doing an ad for the Sonoma Plaza Wine Tasting Pass. (We did... ok.)

Like all of our guests, she answers YOUR Sonoma questions on the Sonoma Spiel podcast. This week she answers:

We are taking a tour on the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley- it departs from the Sonoma Plaza at 10 AM. Where can we park our car so we don’t get a parking ticket?

Well, it's out-of-town visitor time. After 10 years, my niece drinks real wine. Her palate has matured, and we can enjoy a variety of whites. I need recommendations to go tasting for first-time relatives who like Moscato. - via Facebook on Sonoma County wine imbibers

We are coming there from Kankakee, Illinois. We don’t know much about wine, just that we like sweeter wines. Do you know anything called “Bordeaux” wine? What does that mean?

Where is pickleball around Sonoma? I’m visiting from NYC and run leagues in Manhattan and want to know! - via text

Do you have bus schedules? Where can I find a schedule for the SMART train?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Kelly Conrad is with Farm to Pantry (www.farmtopantry.org), a local organization committed to rescuing food that would otherwise go wasted and getting it to people in need.

"The food is out there; all we have to do is go get it. No one should be left behind."

On her turn on the Spiel she dishes about working with SingleThread Farms, how visitors to Sonoma Valley can participate in harvesting crops from farms and gardens around Sonoma and help fight hunger, and her journey from Portland, Oregon to life in Sonoma Valley.

Shout out to Haystack Farms in Sonoma Valley, one of their top local gleaning sites.

And like all guests no the Sonoma Spiel podcast, she answers YOUR Sonoma Valley questions.

This week she takes on:

What is the difference between a tasting room and a winery?
My daughter is getting married in Sonoma. The day after the wedding we would like to have bagels and coffee for friends on the Sonoma Plaza. Are we allowed to do that? What would you recommend?

What is a wine slushie and where can I get one?

We are visiting from the wine regions of Germany, so we are familiar already with vineyards. We would like to actually see some areas with scenic beauty and we only have one day. What do you recommend?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Returning Very Special Guest star Amy Miller brought fellow Buckeye Tony Gonzalez to the Spiel to preview the BRAND NEW season of Transcendence Theatre Company's summer series, and to detail how the new location - just steps from the historic Plaza - make this a truly magical moment for "Broadway in Sonoma."

During a rather raucous chat we cover their journey from the shores of Lake Erie to the vines of Sonoma Valley, preview the four different shows and talk how there are special deals for groups and families.

And, like all of our guests, the take a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions, including:

We are celebrating two 21st birthdays and their college graduations. Coming to Sonoma was my niece's birthday/graduation wish since she was 18. Our question- can I purchase multiple Plaza Tasting Passes for my group? - Via Text

I went to the Tuesday Night Market and saw incredibly elaborate picnic set-ups and people coming with wagons and tables and chairs. Is this a normal thing? And what’s the best way to enjoy the Tuesday Night Market? - Visitor from Seattle

Are there new bike racks on the Plaza near the playground and the bus stop? - Via email

I’m coming to visit Sonoma soon, and I use a power wheelchair to get around. Is it possible to explore the Plaza and the Mission area with a wheelchair? Are there accessible paths to explore nearby? - Via email

My young child has to learn the calendar: the number of days in the week, weeks in a month, and on and on. Sometimes it’s easiest to learn something if it’s used in a catchy tune. I was wondering if there is an easy way to remember just how many minutes there are in a year? - Via kick line

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Looking for a great place to stay in Sonoma Valley? Start here!

Safari West Foundation provides funding for programs like an "animals in hospitals" program for children who are hospital-bound, as well as a program that brings children to the Safari West, a 400-acre preserve with giraffes, gnus, lemurs and all manner of amazing African animals who are in conservation programs. The Foundation also focuses on education.

Paula Johnson from the Foundation came by to talk, and although she is a Very Special Guest, she also brought Dash the Sloth, a cranberry-eating South American mammal who doesn't move that fast but is fast enough to wreak a little bit of havoc on the studio microphones.

Dash is joined by Bonnie and Jolynn of Classroom Safari, a program that brings rescue animals into schools and youth programs and events. They talk sloths, fennec foxes, rattlesnakes, and all manner of their menagerie.

Fun fact: Dash was born in her living room, and it was actually a quick birth. "Like a jet baby on a bungee cord."

In addition to talking animals and habitat, our human guests and sloth take a moment to answer YOUR Sonoma Valley questions, during our segment, "We. Get. Questions." This week they answer:

I’m seeking out a "hidden gem" winery. Can you recommend another winery that has amazing wines? No Pinot Noir. I love big reds (but my friend enjoys whites). I've done hundreds of Sonoma wineries already. I'm looking for someplace new for next year's trip. TIA. – Sonoma Wine Imbibers Facebook

We’ve been to other missions in California – would you recommend we visit Sonoma’s mission and why?

I last visited Sonoma thirty years ago and tastings were free. Is that still the case? If not, what are some options? Has anything changed in thirty years?

We are interested in thrifting and resale shops? Can we do that in Sonoma Valley?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Not many places have a professional-level, volunteer-run observatory open to the public. But not many places have the Robert Ferguson Observatory. Luckily, Sonoma Valley does.

Executive Director Stephanie Derammelaere explains the mission of the observatory, how it came to be, why Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a good place to see planets and stars and galaxies, and how visitors can come up and see the heavens during various events.

She also details how visitors can take a walk that outlines the scale model size of the solar system.

Like all of our podcast guests she also answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she answers:

Where can we find wineries that sell wine in stores where we are from?

We are visiting from Switzerland and looking for some good hikes and walks? What would you recommend?

My best friend and I will be coming to Sonoma over the summer. We have 4 nights to explore different restaurants. We thinking of the Girl & the Fig and would love any other recs. As far as our preferences--we are both adventurous and like most of everything. I am from Texas so I am picky about Tex-Mex, but everything else is fair game. Thank you in advance for any recommendations!

I am looking for a romantic wine tasting, lunch or dinner - in a vineyard. – Call to the visitor center

Does any vineyard in the area offer a dog hike or similar activity? (A walk/tour with your dog) I am moving away from California on Sept 1 so it would need to be before then.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Mustafa Tolosa always "goes to eleven" - the local restaurant reviewer started off taking photos of his steak while on a date with his wife, and from there it has grown into a Wine Country go-to spot for locals looking for the low-down on food trucks, restaurants and more.

"I'm not a food critic - I'm a highlighter. I like to highlight things," says Tolosa, who gets ideas for his reviews from his audience.

His likes? Good experiences, polite service, fresh food.
His dislikes? Vinegar. Not a fan.
Allergies? Peaches, sadly.

Mustafa's passion for the local food scene - as well as outdoor adventures - shines through in a passionate and wide-ranging interview, covering marketing, waiting in lines to get into a restaurant, the benefits of attending a community college, how to teach yourself a new subject and applying for a job by wearing an all-white suit you get at Marshall's (like a "tropical Colonel Sanders") and oozing confidence.

"Shout out to everyone who owns a restaurant - it's super hard. I could never own a restaurant. My hats off to everyone who does it."

And just like all our VERY SPECIAL GUESTS, Mustafa answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma during "We Get Questions."

This week he answers:
We heard that there used to be a ferry from San Francisco to Sonoma? Is this true? And is it still possible to take a ferry to Sonoma?

What strawberry stands are open?

Can I use my charcoal grill in the Plaza?

Is it possible to see whales at Bodega Bay? When do they go by?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Looking for the Sonoma Plaza tasting pass, where you get your choice of three wineries for $69? Go here: https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Want to see more of Mustafa, find him on:
Instagram - www.instagram.com/nochillmustafa
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@UCk0Hgty51unKxArW7kwFrow
Website: https://thedailygrape.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

The Sonoma Valley Author's Festival is in it's seventh year in Sonoma, and founders Ginny and David Freeman come to the Sonoma Spiel and share their passion for books and the ideas expressed within. As Ginny notes, "It's an ideas festival - it's small and curated and intimate." This year we find out that among the many author's attending includes historian Doris Kearns Goodwinn, novelist David Grann ("Killers of the Flower Moon"), Amy Tan ("Joy Luck Club"), Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School, and rising star Anita Gail Jones ("The Peach Seed").

The Freemans detail how they came to the world of author festivals, and how neither of them had experience as conference or event planners. They also put on a free event, called "Authors on the Plaza" as well as bring the festival to local schools. (They've given away 15,000 books to students since the festival began!)

Like all of our Sonoma podcast guests they also answer YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions" and this week they attempt to answer:

I’ve noticed that the cover crops are mowed in every other row in the grapevines. Why is that? Why did they leave one row and then mow one row?
I was asleep last night and heard a low buzzing sound in the early morning hours. Was that a helicopter, or an airplane or just the persistent intrusive thoughts reminding me of my mortality?
Speaking of mortality, do any wineries offer the chance to dedicate a vine in memory of someone?
Where's a good place to buy a book in Sonoma?

Find more details about the Sonoma Valley Author's Festival at https://svauthorsfest.org.

Don't forget to get your Sonoma Plaza Wine Tasting Pass at www.sonomavalley.com/food-wine/sonoma-wine-tasting-pass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Caitlin Cornwall of the Sonoma Ecology Center returns to the Spiel to give her review of the eclipse (thumbs up), talk redwoods as yard trees in dry valley floors (thumbs down, usually) and encourage us to create diverse ecosystems with native plants in your front yard to get the best birds. She also details the upcoming events at Sugarloaf State Park, the Sonoma Garden Park and other places where the Sonoma Ecology Center is doing their work and public demonstrations.

As usual our guests answer YOUR Sonoma questions during We Get Questions, sponsored by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass (three wineries for $69!), and this week Caitlin answers:

We would like to sleep at a winery – is that possible?

Where can I get some Sonoma Stompers baseball hats? – Visitor from Seattle

We just flew in from Australia and we are staying here a few days. We’d like to go on a bike tour or rent some bikes – is that possible?

Are there any parks nearby with outdoor exercise equipment?

When should I plant my tomatoes?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More information about the Ecology Center: https://sonomaecologycenter.org/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Bettina Sichel got her start with Blue Nun, one of the most famous wines of the past 100 years and the one that put German wine on the map (and which her great grandfather started) and is now with Laurel Glen Vineyards in Glen Ellen. Specializing in (and famous for) cabernet sauvignon, the winery is now branching out to rose and sauvignon blanc.

Wait - did we mention Blue Nun? The special Liebfraumilch that was brought to the United States by Sichel's father, and advertised by Jerry Stiller & Ann Meara ("the delicious, imported, premium white wine that goes with everything") in a series of catchy and funny commercials. Did we mention Sichel's father, who fled Nazi Germany, then enlisted in the US Army and joined the Office of Strategic Services during World War II?

Sichel recounts her start at college at Vassar (Go Brewers!), where she majored in English and her journey from selling Blue Nun to working for some of Napa's top wineries (Quintessa, Mt. Veeder), to choosing her present in Sonoma Valley at Laurel Glen Vineyards.

Not content with just being a winemaker, Bettina is also a proud member of the elite Jack London Yacht Club, and owner of a sloop that sails down Sonoma Creek. (Granted, the yachts are 18-inches long and the Sonoma Creek is, well, a creek.)

In addition to tasting some Laurel Glen Vineyards wines (a cabernet and their new rose) Bettina takes on the great challenge of answering YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she answers:

Where can I bring my well-behaved dog to eat in Sonoma Valley?

Are there any dog-friendly hotels or lodging options in Sonoma Valley?

Hello – I have a small travel agency in Virginia and would like to order a box of visitor guides. Is it possible to order more than just one at a time?

Ah! My back hurts and I need a massage – got any recommendations?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Maeve Smith is the director of Sonoma Arts Live's latest musical, "The Hello Girls," which details the story of American women who answered the call to be switchboard operators for the US Army Signal Corps during World War I. They had to speak French, know how to operate specialized communications equipment and serve near the front lines - and yet when they returned, their time in the service was not recognized for six more decades.

"It has everything - it's funny, it's silly, it's sad. they play their own instruments," says Smith. Maeve and her husband Andrew met while studying theater and traveled with a cruise line as on-board entertainment. As part of their time at sea they were in charge of the emergency drills for the passengers, no doubt because what better way to head to the lifeboats than with a kick line?

When she's not directing plays (or acting in them), Smith is the general manager at Coursey Graves winery, located high above Bennet Valley between Sonoma and Santa Rosa.

And, like all the guests on the Sonoma podcast, she answers YOUR Sonoma questions. This week she takes on:

Heading out in October. Prefer cabs… any suggestions on where to go? – via Facebook

What are those green structures that look like pawns that line the sidewalks on the Plaza? - at the Visitor Center

Hi! We are looking into your Sonoma Wine Tasting Pass and I wanted to ask how it works:

Do we make online reservations with individual wineries after purchasing the pass, or do we walk in this Saturday when we plan to visit?

We will have a 9 year old girl with us, do we only purchase passes for the adults 21+? Will she be able to sit with us at the tastings or are there age restrictions? – via text

Where’s a good place in Sonoma to take your dog on nature walk? - via email

We are looking for smaller boutique wineries in the Sonoma, Glen Ellen, Kenwood area. Prefer Pinot Noir and Rhone varietals. Thanks! - via Facebook

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

They grew up on a dairy farm in West Marin, where the fog rolls in and grassy hills meet the rugged beaches of the Pacific Ocean, and now they are the force behind the California Cheese Trail. Vivian and Michael Straus left Marin for Portland (Vivian) and an ashram in India (Michael) but then came back to help save the family ranch and raise the profile of the cheese trail.

Now the California Cheese Trail is a map and website of the 70-plus cheesemakers in California and how to visit them, take tours, buy their cheeses and learn about the culture of California cheese.

This rollicking interview includes discussions on how to milk a water buffalo (carefully, and you can send them into ecstasy by brushing them), how to turn milk into cheese and includes a tasting of various local cheeses and how to put together a good cheese board.

After we talk about how to cheddar a cheese, they take a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions," and this week they answer:

We have nine couples coming to Sonoma later and wanted to get together a little welcome packet for them. What do you think we should include?

Are there any pretty mustard fields around?

While Pliny the Younger from Russian River Brewery is famous as a local beer, I heard the first modern microbrewery was actually in Sonoma. Is this true?

We are visiting from Northern Wisconsin and would like to find some California cheeses. Where would you recommend?

Start your journey on the cheese trail here: https://www.cheesetrail.org/

Get the Sonoma Plaza Wine Tasting pass here: https://www.sonomavalley.com/food-wine/sonoma-wine-tasting-pass/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

From Kenwood to Carneros, to Santa Rosa and Petaluma and Napa and more - coming to you LIVE and IN YOUR HEAD at THOUSANDS OF WATTS of RADIO POWER - it's KSVY-FM!

Bob Taylor and James Marshall Berry talk two decades of Sonoma radio and reminisce about how it connects community, provides a crucial link during times of duress and is a true taste of Sonoma wine country for visitors and locals.

Did you know that KSVY-FM (91.3 FM on the radio dial, ksvy.org online and on the app store) has an incredible variety of shows with a diverse cast of hosts from Sonoma Valley?

And that during the 2017 fires, KSVY was often the sole source of reliable information for residents because the cell phones weren't working?

Bob and James recount their two decades working in community radio and how KSVY-FM is a great outlet for Sonoma Valley.

Like all our guests they also answer YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions" and this week they take on:

Is there a tasting pass for wineries that I can get?

Dígame sobre la industria azucarera en California del Norte. (Tell me about the sugar industry in Northern CA.) – Visitors from Patagonia, Chile

How long will the mustard flowers be in the vineyards?

Sir- I am a loyal listener to the podcast – I love it. I am planning a visit to Sonoma Valley from North Carolina, and I have heard that there are two-for-one passes for tasting rooms. Where can I find them?

Is there a good Easter service at a winery?

Where is the Monday bakery?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Want to donate to help KSVY? Go here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/sonoma-valley-community-communications-inc/ksvy-sonomatv-2023

Want to hear some of their shows? Check out:
Uncle Dirtbag Show
Sonoma Kpop Hour
JMB's New Old Show
Friday Morning Show With Bob

This podcast brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Wine Tasting Pass, the only tasting pass that gets you a choice of eight tasting rooms near the walkable Sonoma Plaza. Get up to 25% off tasting fees with the Sonoma Plaza Tasting pass.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Ginny Krieger from the Sonoma International Film Festival is back on the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk all things film, food and wine. But this time, she's brought Carl Spence, artistic director and film fan, who gives the rundown on some of the major U.S. premiers of films at one of the best film festivals in the country.

As always our guests answer YOUR Sonoma Valley questions, and this week they take on:

Hi- we're visiting Sonoma later this year and looking for something on par to Ravenswood since they are no longer around . Any recommendations? - via Facebook

Bon jour- I have a group coming to Sonoma from France and they don’t speak English. Are there places where we can go that people speak French?

When does the Sonoma Tuesday night farmers market start up again? Where can we get some cat- or dog-themed souvenirs?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More info on the Sonoma International Film Festival: https://sonomafilmfest.org

More information about Sonoma Valley: www.sonomavalley.com

NOW - get your Sonoma Wine Tasting Pass at https://www.sonomavalley.com/food-wine/sonoma-wine-tasting-pass/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Van Solkov of Happy Traveler's Tours came by the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk cannabis growing in Sonoma Valley, how tours of farms and dispensaries serve to educate and dispel myths as well as update older traveler's about changes in the scene since the 70s and 80s.

During a wide-ranging interview he also covers how he was one of the first cannabis tours in wine country and how we got into the business, transitioning from a "party bus" to an educational and refined experience like other wine tours.

He also discusses how a serious bicycle accident in his 30s led him to cannabis for pain relief and balancing his career in the corporate world, which at the time in the 1980s, frowned on the practice. Part showman, part historian, part farmer, and all of the time an enthusiastic entertainer, Van offers great anecdotes and insight into this agricultural sector.

Plus, Van hops into the visitor center chair and answers YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week he takes on:

Who are those group of men who sit on the Plaza every Friday and what are they doing?

I’m looking for a listing of wineries with their hours of operation, their addresses and what they offer- do you have such a thing?

There is a tree on the Plaza with shocking pink, upright flowers that look like tulips that are blooming right now. What are those?

I’m on the hunt for a good winery with farm animals. Any out there?

I’m looking for recommendations on: - Wineries w/ an activity - Wineries w the best view - Winery w the best cave

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More information on Happy Traveler's Tours at https://happytravelersweedtours.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Jeannie Perales, new director of the Sonoma Botanical Garden, put down her pruning shears and stopped by the Sonoma Spiel to talk about their new upcoming summer program of concerts and the Ribbit Exhibit that will bring whimsical frog statues to the garden.

Perales talks about how she ended up leading botanical gardens from Florida to California, and her belief that there are four "natural therapies" for people: nature, movement, art and music. And how the botanical garden can incorporate those therapies for visitors to the sprawling land in northern Sonoma Valley.

And like all of our guests, she answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

I have an itinerary coming up...love any input! SALT N STONE, GLEN ELLEN STAR, Jack London bar, GOLDEN BEAR STATION, GIRL AND THE FIG... anything else in the area that I must get in? – via Facebook
Is the fahmer’s mahket open already? – Guy from Boston
I am considering a vacation to Sonoma in early March. Is there a wine pass that would cover tastings at multiple wineries? Besides wine tasting what other activities or events take place in March? – Robert from Washington, via text
I’m visiting Sonoma Valley from Malawi, and I’m interested in permaculture – are there good places to learn about these practices in Sonoma Valley? Also, where can I see redwood trees?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

San Francisco is an hour from Sonoma Valley and the majority of visitors to Sonoma Valley usually make a stop in "The City" before heading up to wine country. This week, Lynn Bruni-Perkins of SF Travel talks what makes San Francisco special, from the culture of social movements, Burning Man, and the technology that brought us the iPhone, to the next phase of technology like AI and self-driving cars (Waymo, for good or ill) as well as social movements coming on the horizon. She also directly answers critics who deride San Francisco, offering some common-sense ideas and points about the City by the Bay.

Before she good-naturedly answers visitor questions, she opines on the fact that "Dutch crunch" bread - a northern California invention - is making it's way south to LA, and reacts to a travel blogger's contention that you should choose your next destination by your astronomical sign. (We look forward to seeing all you Taureses/Tauri soon...)

And when she does answer YOUR Sonoma questions, as all our podcast guests do, she takes on:

What are all those yellow flowers in the fields?

Can I just buy tickets to Alcatraz at the wharf?

Can I get married at San Francisco’s City Hall?

Do I need a car to get around San Francisco?

Where can I find Pliny the Younger? (The beer, not the first century Roman author)

How can I get to San Francisco Airport without uber or lyft?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

To plan your next visit to San Francisco, start with the official San Francisco Travel website here: www.sftravel.com

Then get your wine country details from the Sonoma Valley website: www.sonomavalley.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Molly Spencer is with the Sonoma Community Center, a school building turned arts and culinary center complete with galleries and theater programs. She hops on the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk ceramics, chili recipes, fiber arts happy hour, ballet and a secret garden that isn't that secret because we are talking about it.

She then says that yes, the movie "Scream" was filmed at the Sonoma Community Center in 1996, thanks to Santa Rosa High School backing out of the production at the last minute. Yeah, "No thanks whatsoever to the Santa Rosa city school district governing board."

And like all of our Very Special Guests, she answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

Where is a beautiful winery? – Visitor from the UK

What is that building that looks like a church over there? – Canadian visitor at the Plaza visitor center

Looking for recommendations on wineries with tastings and paired lunches. (More than just charcuterie/snacks.) TIA!- - Facebook Sonoma County Wine Imbibers

I’m going to be staying in Sonoma in March with five other gals. Would love some recs for restaurants for dinner in Healdsburg and anywhere back down to Sonoma. Also any bakeries or places to grab sandwiches or pastries before hitting the wineries would be great( prefer closer to downtown since staying down that way). We are very mixed in what we like for food but would be looking for more Italian, seafood and burgers or mix with most prices $20-40 for entrees. TIA! - Facebook Sonoma County Wine Imbibers

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

He was inspired to start cooking because his great aunt's awful Thanksgiving dinner spurned him to action, his first restaurant job was with three Lebanese brothers in Pennsylvania, and he left Manhattan for the excitement of Sonoma Valley: Ari Weiswasser of Glen Ellen Star talks his journey to having two restaurants and a catering company in California's wine country.

And like all guests on the Sonoma Spiel, he answers YOUR Sonoma questions including:

“Hello! We are planning a trip and I have a lodging question. Is there a local alternative to booking vacation home lodging that avoids using national websites like Vrbo and Airbnb? Trying to spend our dollars locally. (Via text to 707-996-1090 from Kathy)

What do you know about the Hood house? (Via phone)

Best places to go that offer free corkage for Sonoma county wines? Don’t mind paying corkage just interested to know what’s out there. (SoCo Wine Imbibers Facebook)

Four of us (adults) will be in Sonoma 3/27-4/1. Are most wineries open on Easter Sunday? Are there other events (special brunches or lunches?) happening that day? (Via website form)

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Find Ari cooking at:

Glen Ellen Star: https://glenellenstar.com
Park Avenue Catering: https://parkavecater.com

Heidi Geffen founded Tiddle E. Winks just off the Sonoma Plaza as a place to find items of whimsy, fun and happiness. She stops by the Spiel to talk her journey from a rubber stamp saleswoman in LA to a sticker designer in Petaluma to the bringer of happiness to Sonoma.

She also talks a bit about wellness and how being happy is part of the experience, and even brought in some home-made kale chips from her secret recipe. (Brewer's yeast is the secret, so saved you a click.)

Like all our guests she also takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions, during "We Get Questions," including:

Any ideas for romantic and/or fun restaurants for Valentine's Day, which don't have jacked up prices?- via Facebook

Where do the ducks go in the winter? - H. Caulfield via text

Do you allow weddings in the park with less than ten people and no chairs? Guests just standing? Thank you – via email

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us (707-996-1090) or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Lauren Feldman (Valley Bar + Bottle and Valley Swim Club) joins us in the new year to talk all things food, wine, wellness and how she ended up leaving fashion for running front of the house at her restaurant, that she started with her husband Tanner and two friends.

In between running a new restaurant, Valley Swim Club which is a west coast take (vegan tartar sauce!) on an east coast clam shack, she also has a young child and teaches spinning classes at the local health club.

And like all our podcast guests, she answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she tackles:

A friend is doing a retreat at Westerbeke Ranch, and before I drop her back at Sonoma County Airport, we’re looking for some good places for lunch in Sonoma Valley. Any recommendations? – via email
I'm planning a visit around a concert in Santa Rosa on March 20th. Not my first trip to Sonoma so want “off beaten trail ideas”. Suggestions for wineries that have great white (not oaky chards), sparklers, interesting tours or settings. Other ideas for things to do as solo traveler welcome! – From Facebook
I’m bringing a group of senior couples to Sonoma for a day and looking for an activity that doesn’t require too much walking, but incorporates history, or culinary classes or nature. Ideas? - From a phone call
Oysters! Where is a good place to get oysters! - Via text

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Go to Valley Bar + Bottle at https://www.valleybarandbottle.com/
Find Valley Swim Club at https://www.valleyswim.club/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Lisa Carlsson with Euphoria Retreats brings people around the world to find wellness- and she even made us take some calming breaths before we started the podcast.

Then she tells us about how she approaches wellness and health and brings wellness and adventure to travelers in Sonoma Valley and beyond.

She also spends time answering YOUR questions during WE GET QUESTIONS where she helps us with:

Hello. Friends are planning an event in Sonoma for Sept 28, 2024 and asked me to research if that’s a busy weekend in Sonoma, including if hotel rooms will be hard to come by. Do you have that information?

I need a place for Birthday brunch! What do you recommend?

Where’s a good place to find a whiskey distillery around here?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Ceja Vineyards makes high-end wines from world-class vineyards, but Amelia Ceja is remarkably approachable in her turn on the Sonoma Spiel podcast. She talks her journey from a young immigrant to America in 1967, following her father who worked in the fields, to her education at UC San Diego, to starting a Latino family-owned winery with her husband Pedro and his brother Armando and his wife Martha.

Now a grandmother, and with her children in the business, Amelia talks about the tasting experiences and showcases two of her wines, all the while keeping up a patter of stories about wine, farming, cooking and how fortunate she is to have settled in the North Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area.

And like all of our guests, she takes a turn answering questions from visitors. This week she takes on:

Can I use Uber or Lyft to go between wineries in Sonoma Valley?

What if I don't drink wine - are there things to do?

I would like to buy locally-made crafts. Where can I find a place?

We are going to a preview movie for the Sonoma Film Festival at the Sebastiani Theatre. We need to find a hotel nearby – any suggestions?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Find out more about Ceja Vineyards at www.cejavineyards.com.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Margo Lowe moved her jewelry store from Berkeley (just outside the gates of Cal - Go Bears!) to Sonoma (just across from the Plaza - Go Dragons!)

On a wide-ranging podcast she talks about her journey from Pittsburgh (good bagels) to Berkeley (neighbor to Alice Waters' Chez Panisse) and then to Sonoma.

Then she takes on answering YOUR Sonoma Valley questions during "We Get Questions." This week she answers:

1) We are from Michigan, visiting our son who is stationed at Travis Air Force Base, and we heard about this place called the Plaza, but we don’t see a mall anywhere. What is a Plaza in California and where is it?

2) Where can I get a good hamburger?

3) Hi this is Brent here from San Diego. We will be up in the Sonoma County area for two weeks this winter. Are there any wine passes or are there any 2-for-1 coupons available for Bedrock and Kunde wineries, or a few others in the area?

4) Winter means fruitcake! Where can I buy a fruitcake?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

This week on the Sonoma Spiel we are looking back at some of the best of "We Get Questions" where we make our guests answer the questions we get from visitors.

Featured guests include Michelle Lacy from Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and Mark Bodenhamer of the Chamber of Commerce, Chef Lauren Kershner from Songbird Parlour, and Laura McGilley of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and Bart Hansen of Dane Cellars. The know stuff, and they are ready to share it with you!

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma Valley, California.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

We've got goldengroves unleaving, as fall is here and the vines are changing colors and winter is coming and the holidays beckon. Luckily to help us navigate the change and talk about Sonoma Valley is Ryan Lely, the creative force and eye behind Pangloss Cellars and Repris Wines. He also knows about the secret winery, that is hiding - in plain sight mind you- at Pangloss.

Ryan talks about how to create a unified look for a winery, photography and some of his favorite places in Sonoma Valley, some of which seem to employ his cousins and siblings, of which there seem to be many. He then lies and says that when he worked for Francis Ford Coppola's winery, which was cleverly named Francis Ford Coppola Winery, that his buddy Frank never asked him tips on photography or set design. So humble, Mr. Lely.

Then he takes a turn in the hot seat, answering questions that we get from visitors during our segment, "We Get Questions." This week he tackles:

Hola. We are visiting from Puerto Rico. We would like to get a fun t-shirt or hat that says Sonoma. Where can I find this?
We have a whole lot of people coming for Thanksgiving – the inlaws, the cousins, the college kids, the college kids’ friends, that one neighbor who is angling for an invitation- and really I need to know- what are the best wines to serve for Thanksgiving?
We just got here from Minnesota. Any recommendations on what to do today?
Looking for a brunch spot with bottomless mimosas that can host a large group on a Sunday & wouldn’t be annoyed to do so.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Thanks to Patricia & Scott from Stockton for listening!

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Kelly Bass Seibel from Sonoma County Tourism joins the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk about the great and wonderful world that exists beyond the borders of Sonoma Valley, and disavows us of the notion that there be dragons there.

Actually, there's a river, some beaches and a place called Rohnert Park.

Kelly got her start in tourism via a circuitous route, but her start in Sonoma began with Sea Ranch and then a degree from Sonoma State University (Go Seawolves!) While we hear about her family drives up from LA, we also find out what there is to see and do in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Guerneville, Jenner, Healdsburg and more.

She also admits that her dad specialized in capturing sound for movies, so maybe we can hire him to help with our podcast.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week she answers:

Next week, we'll be doing a split stay between Downtown Napa and Healdsburg. I'm looking for recommendations on a winery to stop at on our drive to Healdsburg. We're thinking of visiting a tasting room and having lunch in Downtown Sonoma, but we're open to all suggestions! (via Facebook)

Does anyone have any favorite bakeries and places to get cheese? I like going to farmers markets but would love to know of a good local place that i can always go to. Thanks!

You keep trying to hand me booklets and information when I walk by here – are you Jehovah’s Witnesses?

I have purchased a number of bottles of olive oil from Green String Farm, over the years. Suddenly, with their closing I am jonesing for a fix. Who has found an acceptable, and locally sourced alternative?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Want more info about Sonoma Valley - go to www.sonomavalley.com
Dare to go beyond the Valley into the greater, wider Sonoma County? Go to www.sonomacounty.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Kaleigh Rhoades came to Sonoma's Charlie's Acres from San Diego via a stint at UC-Berkeley (Go Bears!), an orangutan rescue in Borneo and a chimpanzee sanctuary in Oregon.

The mission at Charlie's Acres is two-fold: save farm animals as a sanctuary, and introduce plant-based alternatives to the more traditional American diet. But in an approachable way.

"It's not a bunch of vegans yelling at you," says Kaleigh. "We have fun picnics and tours and education, including local wines. It can be a luxury wine country experience that's totally friendly to animals."

She is also very understanding about how coop-dwelling vegetarians in Madison all ate protein pucks from the Moosewood Cookbook, and how far we've come.

Like all Very Special Guests on the Sonoma podcast, she takes a moment to answer YOUR questions during our segment, "WE GET QUESTIONS."

This week she answers:

Hiii! Looking for recommendations for about 30 employees for a work holiday party that isn't SUPER expensive but worth it! Thank you in advance :)

Where can I get dried grapes?

Is that really the original Williams-Sonoma store?

Does anyone know if strawberries are still being sold on Watmaugh?

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Rob Lorenz was going to be a sports journalist, but covering Atascadero high school sports as the writer, editor and photographer pushed him to slingin' juice, selling wine. A native of San Jose, he knows the way to Sonoma and how to find good wine. At Talisman wines we helps wine tasters find excellent wines ("all Pinot Noir, all the time") that show their pride of place, whether from the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley's Carneros region and even into Napa Valley.

In addition to discovering that we grew up near each other in the "old neighborhood" of Almaden in San Jose, Rob talks about an upcoming wine dinner that will feature nine different wines from three different vineyards. And he details the tasting experience at the Glen Ellen tasting room, which is near of the three stop signs in town.

As always he jumps in the hot seat to answer YOUR questions during "We Get Questions." This week he takes on:

What’s the weather like in December?

Is Glen Ellen a village, a hamlet, a townlet, or an outpost?

What is a vertical tasting?

Looking for a good place for a QUIET meal. We don’t like loud places.

Children at wine tastings – yes or no? (From Sonoma County Wine Imbibers Facebook)

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

It's not often we get to talk to a mayor, a commissioner of a football league, a political organizer and a bilingual math teacher. But when we sat with Sandra Lowe, mayor of Sonoma, we got all of that in one package.

She came to the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk about her journey from LA math teacher (via Cal - Go Bears!) to Sonoma Valley High bilingual algebra specialist (Vamos los Dragons!) to teacher organizer and mayor of Sonoma.

In addition to talking the ins and outs of ballot initiatives in California (good and bad) she talks about her favorite places in Sonoma Valley. Then she takes on YOUR questions during our segment, We Get Questions. This week she takes on:

Where would you recommend wine tasting for out-of-town visitors? (From Facebook)

Are the redwood trees on the plaza, redwood trees or sequoias? Do these redwood trees lose their leaves? Where can we see redwood trees around here? - Visitor from Minnesota

I'm fascinated by the ducks in the Plaza. There were a group of 5 misfit ducks who were always in the round fountain in front of the City Hall. They've left that fountain, and I haven't seen a duck in there in at least a month. Anyway, there are a lot of ducks, but never any ducklings? Why? Predators? Duck birth control? (via email)

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Nicole Whitaker started out doing cold calls for AT&T back when customers leased their cell phones, and Erin McVicar has been in the wine and hospitality business around Sonoma Valley. They both are now at the Lodge at Sonoma, a recently renovated resort within biking distance of the Sonoma Plaza. They stopped by to chat about the return of Martini Madness (huzzah!), the unique food experiences at The Lodge, and all the wellness options available at the spa.

Then they dish on the famous VW Microbus that is both a photo backdrop and occasional shuttle for guests, some of their favorite ways to celebrate events at the Lodge and we talk about how to deprogram Nicole since she has been working over in Napa, whom we love dearly. They also tell us what a concierge actually does and why they are a valuable part of a full-service hotel experience.

And it wouldn't be the Sonoma Spiel without taking a turn at answering YOUR Sonoma Questions during "We Get Questions," where our guests answer queries we get in the visitor center. This week:

-Hello, we are going to Sonoma soon and are very excited! We are interested in significant nature areas that we shouldn’t miss, specifically water related. Any suggestions would be appreciated! TIA!
(via Facebook)

We’re planning a visit to Sonoma in a few weeks. Our agent booked a hotel for us in Rohnert Park, which looks to be about a 30-minute drive from Sonoma. Would there often be a lot of traffic between the two areas? (From “Bill” via email)
I’m taking my girlfriend to an event at a winery, and then looking for a special dinner spot to celebrate her birthday. Where should we go? (Via text to 707-996-1090)

-We will be in Sonoma Valley to celebrate our 20th anniversary (we honeymooned here in 2003)... Where should we be having dinner? Is there something we should not miss? We will be there Oct 15-20.

(From Facebook- Sonoma Valley Local)

More info on the Lodge at Sonoma, An Autograph Collection resort: https://www.thelodgeatsonoma.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Brad Day knows a thing or two about getting outside in California. For almost two decades, Brad and his wife Holly have helped locals find the right trails for hiking and biking and the best lakes for kayaking and camping. Weekend Sherpa, an award-winning website, email newsletter and a podcast, details great places to get outside in Northern California. Brad stopped by, fresh from the trails it seems, to talk about his favorite hikes in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties, as well as what it was like growing up in the Central Valley of California near Sequoia National Park, the lesser-known Sierra Nevada park that is often upstaged by the every-popular Yosemite.

Brad also hops in the hot-seat and answers YOUR Sonoma questions during our segment, "We Get Questions." This week he takes on:

The six of us just got here from Australia. We are looking for a winery that offers a luncheon, and a tour and a tasting. What do you suggest?

Where can I take my dog in Sonoma Valley?

What’s a good way to identify a bug I found in Sonoma Valley?

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Find out more about Weekend Sherpa: https://www.weekendsherpa.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Chef Lauren Kershner was born in Wisconsin, raised in Arizona and then moved to Mendocino before working in Napa and settling in Sonoma... and along the way she picked up how to cook, how to make kombucha and most importantly, and how to give back to her community.

She stops by the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk about what she's cooking, events she is putting on, olive oil she uses from a local orchard, and how she got started making Valley of the Moon Kombucha.

And it wouldn't be the Sonoma Spiel podcast without "We Get Questions" where our guests answer questions from Sonoma Valley visitors.

This week she answers:

🔥How come there aren’t as many hot springs in Sonoma? The kind where you sit naked in the rocks with the water flowing – 60s style?

🎧 Is there a good podcast to listen to that covers outdoor adventures in Sonoma County?

🚗 We will come to Sonoma County next week and stay in Glen Ellen. Does anyone have any suggestions for transportation to visit wineries? We will have a rental car, but don't think other drivers are covered. Can we reserve an Uber at certain pickup times from the vineyards? (From Sonoma County Wine Imbibers Facebook)

🍽 Where can we find a restaurant in Sonoma that uses organic ingredients? And Lauren dishes on where to find places to soak au naturel in Northern California, where to hike, and how to take the Sonoma Valley bus to a winery.

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Everyone talks about Sonoma Plaza's history, but no one does anything about it.

Until now.

Jim Silverman, retired librarian (he got kicked out of library school a few times first!) and man with a plan, has launched www.SonomaPlazaHistory.com as a way for visitors to experience the unique stories of the jewel of Sonoma County: the eight-acre Sonoma Plaza.

A few things he mentions includes the fact that the Plaza originally was a dusty, muddy square in the middle of town and it took time and lots of changes to make it what it is now, the story of the Chinese immigrants to Sonoma Valley (up to 30% of the population!) as part of the Gold Rush and general migration to California and their legacy of opening businesses around the Plaza, and how insurance maps from the 1800s are basically the Google Street View of today, and allow us to see what the Plaza was like in times gone by.

But Jim isn't just a guy interested in Sonoma history, he's also an expert on children's literature in Gold Rush California, and details the first book ever published in California during the Spanish colonial period. And we hear about "Ho! For Elf-Land!" a tale by California writer Alice Kingsbury that details a young girl's journey to the moon. (He also had the FIRST bachelor's degree in children's literature in the United States. Put that in your giant peach and...)

As befits his background as a librarian, he acts like he is on the Ready Reference desk and answers YOUR questions during our popular segment, "We Get Questions."

This week he takes on:

Hi!!! We will be visiting Sonoma the weekend of October 29. We will be visiting from Minnesota. This is the weekend of the rivals Packer/Viking game. Here is our question: Can you recommend a venue-bar, restaurant, vineyard that is known to broadcast games Thanks for your time! (via text)
We are bringing a group of 35 people to Sonoma Valley in January. What kind of non-wine activities should we look at booking for them?
What are your favorite wineries in Sonoma, Glen Ellen and Kenwood areas?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Howard Sapper didn't mean to start an award-winning electric scooter tour company. But somewhere along the way from Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh to a career as a musical community organizer, concert promoter, record label owner and early player in the New Age Music scene, he found himself with three-wheeled electric trikes that were perfect for giving tours in Sonoma Valley.

Howard stops by to regale us with stories from his life and how he enjoys being a part of the Sonoma Valley community and supporting his hometown.

And then he answers your questions during "We Get Questions" including:

What will the weather be like visiting the end of February?
I need recommendations for some top reds (cabs, petite sirah’s) tastings in Sonoma area. Also, some of the best whites, Chardonnays and Rose.
What’s a good way to spend a three-day weekend in Sonoma Valley?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Allison Coats knows a thing or two about the arts in Sonoma, as she represents some of the Valley's premier arts institutions. She stops by to talk about what's happening at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, diRosa Center for Contemporary Art, wineries like Muscardini Cellars and all the live music venues like Hopmonk Sonoma and B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille.

But she's not just an expert on arts events, she can also answer YOUR questions. This Sonoma native is uniquely qualified to help out during "We Get Questions." This week she helps with:

-My 25th wedding anniversary is coming up next year. My wife keeps saying she wants to go to “wine country.” I have no idea where to begin. Our anniversary is May 29. Help! (via email)

-When is the Lighting of the Plaza this year? (via text)

Hi! Visiting Sonoma area (from the East Coast) for the first time next month, staying in Kenwood. We’ll have 2 days to explore Sonoma & Napa and want to make the most of it. How many wineries should we realistically expect to visit in a day? Any must-sees/dos? Are drivers/transportation an easy option? We like Chardonnays, Cabs & Zinfandels, open to others. Thank you! (via Facebook)
Where in New Jersey are you from?
How long does it take to get wine from a newly planted grapevine?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Two guests, one good time: we're talking the 2023 winegrape harvest and the upcoming Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival with Laura McGilley of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and Bart Hansen of Dane Cellars (and the Winemakers podcast).

We figure out what a "cellar rat" is, how crush is the fun but busy time in California's wine country, and some insight into the cultural importance of a salami toss. Then Laura confesses that Tiger the pig couldn't make it to the fair to be auctioned off, but don't worry, she'll be taken care off.

Then they help answer YOUR questions during our segment, We Get Questions. This week:

We are visiting from Orlando. I don’t like red wines- do any of the wineries have sweeter white wines? And do wineries usually have both red and white wines or just one of the other?
Where can I get white merlot wine?
What's the best place for pizza?
I’m looking for a good place to ride bikes. Any idea?
Are there any wineries/restaurants open on Thanksgiving or the Friday after?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival: https://valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.org/ Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers: https://sonomavalleywine.com/ Dane Cellars: https://www.danecellars.com/ Winemakers podcast: https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/thewinemakers/

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

"Dead Spread," the new book from local author Bethany Browning, is set in a small wine country town of Prosperity, where the mayor (Preston Brix) was recently found deceased by a local tarot reader (Carrie Detwiler) who has a pet raven (Waggery) and a few secrets as well. Sonoma serves as a key inspiration in the book, from the stone city hall in the middle of the Plaza to the controversial duck pond to even a local character who dresses up in historical regalia and then regales tourists with tall tales of the town's past.

In addition to talking books and writing and the creative arts, Browning takes a moment to help answer YOUR Sonoma questions during our "We Get Questions" segment. This week she helps us with:

We’re visiting from Miami, and I was here a long time ago on a bus tour and I remember there was something about a way to identify all the trees in the Plaza. Am I remembering this correctly?
What time of the year is not a busy or crowded month to visit?
What is a Gravenstein Apple and why should I care?
My husband and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary in early November! We are looking for a special place that comes highly recommended. We don’t eat meat, but do eat fish and my husband sometimes eats chicken.

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

More information about author Bethany Browning at www.bethanybrowning.com

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

A little bit west of Sonoma lies the town of Petaluma, and a little bit west of Petaluma is the enchanted farm at McEvoy Ranch, where some of the world's best Olive Oil comes from. Sam and Kym give us the low down on how to taste olive oil (hint: aerate it in your mouth), what it takes to get flavors into olive oil the quality way and how visitors can learn about how olives are grown, harvested and pressed into oil. Only, don't say it's a press. "We don't press anything anymore. We have both old technology and modern technology in our mill."

They also gamely answer YOUR visitor questions during our segment "WE GET QUESTIONS" including:

Any recommendations for some slower, chill nighttime drinking and lounging spots with firepit areas?? I dunno, like night-life for people in their 30s drinking and small plates/tapas kinda thing. At like 7-8pm. (From Sonoma County Restaurants Facebook)
I have a friend who reached out to me about options in Sonoma. They really like sweet wines. We don't. Any ideas where I can suggest they go?
What’s the difference between fresh olive oil and the store bought stuff that’s been sitting on a shelf for a while?

Get ready to learn everything you wanted to know about olive oil - and more about Sonoma Valley- in this episode of The Sonoma Spiel!

But take your time. As they say, "You plant grapevines for your children; you plant olive trees for your grandchildren."

World-class musicians Eric Zivian (fortepiano) and Nick Reeves (cellist) from the Valley of the Moon Music Festival stop by the Sonoma Spiel podcast to talk classical music, performing outdoors and why people should come watch them perform on instruments built from the actual period when the music was composed.

Then Nick Reeves just happens to have a cello with him and he shows his skills, live from Studio 2 at KSVY in Sonoma Valley.

More info on the Valley of the Moon Music Festival is at https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org.

They took their best shot during our weekly segment where we answer your questions about Sonoma Valley. This week: It' my first time going to Sonoma in September and would like to know if you have to make reservations in advance for wine tastings? Either way, any suggestions for good wine tastings in the Sonoma Square area would be appreciated!

I’m putting together a gift bag of Sonoma products – what kind of things should I put in there?

If Billy Joel had been born in the 18th Century, would he be known for his classic hit, FortePiano Man?

Barbie or Oppenheimer?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

He says he was the king of the third-tier market, but George Webber made a grand entrance during his first appearance on stage as he lept over a small fence on the stage, knocking down the whole set, and throw out a quip that brought the house down. This small introduction to performing and theater for Webber has grown into a lifelong passion, where he brings theatrical methods to introduce audiences to the stories of Sonoma's history, from Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), Joaquin Murrieta, General Mariano Vallejo, Count Agoston Haraszthy and a few others.

Webber has opinions on history and how it has been presented and he's not afraid to share them. Dramatically.

He also answers your questions during "We Get Questions" including:

I live in San Francisco, and two of my friends are visiting from Minnesota. We want to go wine tasting, but not have to spend a lot of money since they are new to wine. We also want to do a picnic somewhere – any ideas?

Where is a good place for live music?

I have a group coming in for a conference. I think it would be fun to do something outdoors, at night, that involves marveling at the heavens above. Are there any places that we can do that?

I heard that the bear on the California flag is the result of a mix-up, and the original intent was for a flag with a pear. This would make us the Pear Flag Republic, and also have the secondary positive effect that encourage kids to eat locally grown fruits. Is this a true story?

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Tell your friends!

This week on the Sonoma Spiel: Amy & Fred Groth from Prohibition Spirits stop by to talk summer cocktails and how to rely on fresh ingredients to provide great flavors.

With 40 different distilled spirits in their tasting room just off the Sonoma Plaza, the tasting experience is educational about the processes in how the spirits are made as well as how to best use them.

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

sonoma #cocktails #entertaining #recipes

Highway 12 in California runs from the vineyard-studded hills of Calaveras County all the way to the vineyard-covered hills of Sonoma County, passing through the vineyards of Napa, Solano, Sacramento and Joaquin counties as well.

Just as Highway 12 wends through the best parts of Northern California, so too does our conversation with Paul Giusto meander over topics of grape growing, wine making, why the Weber charcoal grill is the right answer for people who really know how to grill in the backyard, the best places to drive in Sonoma and more.

Obscenely shaped carrots? Reminisces of college radio station at Sonoma State University, KSUN? What to do with a communications degree? And finally, what the heck is happening in the vineyards of Sonoma Valley right now? Paul Giusto has an opinion, poorly-formed-and-strongly-held, on many topics.

He also dishes on what a varietal is, how apellations or "A.V.A."s work and all sorts of inside information on the wine making process like blending, labeling and making sure the government knows that the wine you have in the bottle is the wine you say it is.

Then he helps answer your questions (after we talk recipes and grilling) about visits to Sonoma Valley.

Questions this week:

We would like to go on a scenic drive in Sonoma – what would you recommend?

Is there live music in the Sonoma Plaza this summer on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 PM in the Grinstead Amphitheatre?

Can I find a smaller winery that is a local winemaker and allows walk-in tasting?

Where can we see the parade on July 4th?

It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Jana Wang wants you to put that plastic bottle down. And reconsider your approach to consumer packaged goods by just refilling that perfectly good, reusable bottle for your soap, shampoo and detergents.

Inspired by a friend's shop in Sacramento, Wang decided to open "Refill Madness" in the city of Sonoma to show that you don't need to embrace a throwaway mentality when you want to be clean. A Sonoma native, Wang traveled extensively in Asia during a stint teaching English in Taiwan.

During our weekly feature, "We Get Questions," Wang helps travelers from Indiana find a place to taste wine where they can see vineyards (a lot of places,) figures out how to find a meal at a winery, and reveals the best way to make a bug-repellant using more natural ingredients like lavender, citronella and eucalyptus. And because we are on vacation, we will of course detail where to find ice cream. As you do.

It's all this and more and it's all on the Sonoma Spiel - listen, comment, subscribe, rate it, tell your friends!

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Film maker George Dondero had the audacity to not only shoot an independent film in Sonoma, but he dared question the orthodoxy that it's "always a lovely day in Sonoma." His new movie, "War of the Wills" was filmed in Sonoma, Petaluma and Windsor and centers on the struggle between a father and a son battling over an inheritance of money and house. The catch? They have to live in the same house for a month and not leave. And they have strong feelings of dislike towards each other.

Sonoma County actors take a star turn in this dark comedy that examines generational cycles and patterns and if it's possible to break these cycles.

George then details that my large, clumsy, dwarf-like hands weren't pretty enough to be featured in a commercial about how to save water. And then admits that his partner, Bethany Browning, is a really good writer with a really twisted mind, as evidenced by her latest book Sasquatch, Baby!

As always he also helps answer YOUR Sonoma Valley questions during "We Get Questions." This week: a couple from Sweden wants to know where you can get grape juice - not wine - at a Sonoma Valley winery in June (grapes don't mature on the vines until September usually,) if Sonoma Valley is a good place to shoot movies and are we more known for our red wines or our white wines?

It's all this on the Sonoma Spiel, the most interesting podcast in Sonoma Valley.

Listen! Comment! Rate it! Subscribe!

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429| Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Or where ever fine podcasts are found!

Amy Miller started doing theater in Cincinnati, Ohio and found her way to Sonoma Valley via New York, New York then Naples, Florida dinner theater and with an interesting trip to Mexico with two recreational vehicles full of Broadway performers.

We hear about their upcoming summer season of "Broadway Under the Stars" that features a music revue of the best of the 60s to the 80s, plus a full presentation of The Full Monty. And it's not just a performance - it's a full evening of food, wine and entertainment in the ruins of a winery as the moon rises above the vineyards at Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen.

Then she helps us answer YOUR questions during "We Get Questions" including helping some Brazilians figure out how to get a tattoo. Or where to get it. Not on their bodies, but an actual shop.

It's all this on the Sonoma Spiel, the most interesting podcast in Sonoma Valley.

Listen! Comment! Rate it! Subscribe!

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429| Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Or where ever fine podcasts are found!

Deals, special offers and events for Sonoma Valley found at www.sonomavalley.com

Jill Gregory of Sonoma Raceway says the 12-turns of the famed Sonoma Valley road track make it a "high consequence race track," where you can "get into the wall pretty quickly."

Jill sat down with us to talk Nascar, Ferrari Challenge, drag racing your Camry against a cop, electric car racing and even go-karts. Then she gives us the overview of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and why "everyone circles this weekend on their race calendar." What makes it unique? Wine country, good food and amazing weather make us one of the elite races on the Nascar calendar.

She also tells us about their great hospitality venue - Turn Eleven - which is perfect for groups and conferences to rent out for a meeting and then try their hand at some racing skills.

Then gives up her spot in pole position and takes up a visitor center volunteer position, where she helps answer your queries about what to do in Sonoma Valley during "WE GET QUESTIONS."

It's all this and it's all on the Sonoma Spiel, the top podcast in Sonoma Valley.

Listen! Subscribe! Give it five stars and tell your friends!

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-_R1w9P90&list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

More info on Sonoma Raceway: www.sonomaraceway.com

And of course, more info on Sonoma Valley: www.SonomaValley.com

Every ten to fifteen years or so, pundits and wags write the obituary for San Francisco. Ink gets spilled, think pieces get thunked and opinions opined about the "cool, gray city of love," but none of these ever encapsulate the reality that San Francisco, like the mythical phoenix that flies on the city flag, is a city constantly in the process of rebirth and ascension.

Joe D'Alessandro, President & CEO of SF Travel, talks about San Francisco, the City that Knows How, and what's happening in and around the Bay. And he breaks BIG NEWS - Super Bowl 60 is coming back to San Francisco, ten years after the wildly successful party and week-long celebration when SF hosted Super Bowl 50.

Jenne Wicht was on track to go to law school but instead thought it would be better to start an interior design business in the middle of a major recession that greatly impacted the housing and office sectors. Her parents were so pleased.

She now has an interior design business, a retail shop and small vacation rentals (the JAK W Casitas) that showcase smart, sustainable design.

Jenne talks what makes for good design that lasts, what defines the "Sonoma look" versus other places, and then good places to eat in the Sonoma Springs.

Then she answers your questions during "WE GET QUESTIONS" and helps visitors from Singapore find out how to take the train from Sonoma to San Francisco Airport (you might want to rethink that,) if there are good vegetarian options in Sonoma Valley and how to find good drivers for a group of eight women here for a 40th birthday.

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Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxeXsMz-wpg&list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Jacob Yarrow and Andy Shepherd of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University tell us about the upcoming season of concerts at the world-class concert venue, describe the best strategies for enjoying a picnic out on the concert lawn as well as a program for families with their movies under the stars program.

They then help us answer some important questions like, "Is Conan O'Brien in Sonoma today?" and "Can I buy a bottle of wine at a winery?"

Concerts coming up include Nickel Creek, Los Huracanes del Norte, PianoSonoma, Pink Martini, Buddy Guy, Los Lonely Boys, Mountain Stage, Kool & The Gang and the two-day fest Global Roots Sonoma.

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Subscribe!
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Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxeXsMz-wpg&list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

This week on the Sonoma Spiel we discuss competitive gardening, how to properly do the Sonoma Tuesday Night Party/Farmers Market (bring a blanket, a bottle opener and a bag for the food) and the odd affinity for corn dogs that somehow lives eternal among Sonomans at the market.

Then Mark Bodenhamer of the Sonoma Valley Chamber advises not trying to horn in on the Friday bocce people, because they don't mess around, and Michelle Lacy tells us about her fave events for a Sonoma summer.

Then we answer your requests for info because "We Get Questions" and we want you to know that we know what you want to know. (Question: can you just pop in to Muir Woods to see the redwoods on your way from Sonoma to San Francisco? Are there other ways to see the redwoods if you don't want to make a reservation?)

Listen up! Subscribe! Tell your friends!

Our history isn't just dates and faces - when Patricia Cullinan comes to tell us, it could also be places and patookuses. The head of the Sonoma Valley historical society came by with special second guest star Lucy the Lab to talk about Sonoma Valley's startling history, from before the Mission period when Native Californians from the Wappo, Pomo, Miwok and Patwin lived in and around the area to the arrival of the Spanish and then the Mexican Empire. And the Russians. There we some Russians. And then we talked hot springs and resorts and trains and hunting and somehow it got around to the war effort of some naked Californians who got in trouble for the Sunoma nudist resort just north of town. Not so much for the cavorting in the all together but more for using their gas ration cards to get here.

And then she helps us answer YOUR question when we get to "We Get Questions" from real visitors to Sonoma Valley. This week - where to get a drink, where to go when you are a teetotaler, and more...

Remember to subscribe to this podcast and tell your friends. Every time we get a new listener, a grape vine hits bud break.

Shiloh Sophia McCloud is an artist, teacher, speaker and more, co-founder of MUSEA, "a community of creatives working together to make this world what we hope it can be."

She is joined by partner Jonathan McCloud, whom she me met in 2012 and "the two of them struck up a quantum conversation resulting in a life long partnership and working together in business with Intentional Creativity through various technology platforms."

In a wide-ranging interview over a quick 50 minutes we cover painting, the soul, epistemology, ontology, wine making, cooking, the nitrogen cycle of grape growing, inner transformation, relationships and a lot more.

Then Shiloh and Jonathan help us answer YOUR questions during "We Get Questions" including where to bring a group of 60 people when visiting Sonoma, why are there little miniature sheep in the vineyards right now and is it possible to walk from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn to the Sonoma Plaza, or should you take the bus?

Buckle up, this is another interesting episode of the Sonoma Spiel podcast, the number one podcast covering the Sonoma Wine Country in California!

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform!

Victor Ferrer didn't start out to become the leader of Sonoma Valley's Mexican dance troupe (also known as folkorico dance.) Then again, he didn't set out to become the youngest editor of the Spanish language newspaper for Sonoma Valley either. Victor Ferrer came to the Sonoma Spiel to talk the types of Mexican dance, how you have to balance respect for tradition with the opportunity to innovate and create new art, and what it takes to grow a dance organization dedicated to Mexican performing arts.

Along the way we hear about the role of African and Polish traditions on Mexican music, and why we need little windows to get quick snacks and food, and why it's hard to find good public transportation between Napa and Sonoma, but it's very easy to take the free shuttle bus between the city of Sonoma and the Springs in Sonoma Valley.

Victor then confesses that he has become a runner and has some good routes to suggest, but he has never performed folklorico dance at a 10K race. Hardest part about running in the Springs? You can smell all the good food from the Brinquito chicken guy, the Los Magos food truck, La Hacienda, Sonoma Eats and more...

The Sonoma Spiel went on Spring Break last week, so while we were busy doing spring break things, our brave podcast editor Timothy Benton (also of Yeehaw Coffee fame) put together the best of our crowd-favorite segment: We. Get. Questions.

Mark Bodenhamer from the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce answered questions from someone named Sue from the Midwest.

We talk A Boy Named Sue, emojis, breweries, bachelorette parties at wineries, and how to tell if you are in the right Sonoma.

Sheana Davis of Epicurean Connection, cookbook author of Buttermonger, has tips on where to get free lemons (offer soup), what happens to grapevines when it rains (they get wet, but that's ok because they're dormant,) and where chefs go to eat when they go eat.

Laura Schermeister of Schermeister Winery knows where the old, spooky and deserted houses are in Sonoma Valley, but if it's hit the MLS, it's already sold and the ghosts come with it. If you need sage to smudge, she also knows where to get that.

She started with covering aebelskiver recipes in a small town and worked her way to covering wineries in a small town. And her advice: don't read the comments. Emily Charrier, editor of the Sonoma Index Tribune, details life as a small town newspaper editor in Sonoma Valley. We make her try to choose which writing sample is from a live, real human being and which has been spit out by the cold, unfeeling, soulless program of an AI bot. And then of course we go for everyone's favorite part of the show, WE GET QUESTIONS.Listen along, make sure you subscribe, and if you leave a nasty comment, it's ok, we won't read it anyway. (That's what we tell ourselves, anyway.)Find the Sonoma Spiel on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9bYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNFOr wherever you get your podcasts...

Ginny and David Freeman, founders of the Sonoma Valley Author's Festival, want to be clear: it's actually a festival for the curious, for those who want to be surrounded by thinkers and exchange ideas. But there are also books available. Hear how the sixth edition of the festival will bring scientists, novelists, thinkers and poets to Sonoma wine country, including Isabel Allende, Ada Limon (Sonoma local and US Poet Laureate!), Soyoung Lee, Dave Barry, Abraham Verghese, Danielle Feinberg and many more.The main event is held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, and community events will be at the Sonoma Plaza and Sonoma Valley High School (Go Dragons!)World class thinkers? Amazing speeches? Community of the curious? As Ginny notes, "think of it as a series of Ted Talks over three days in Sonoma Valley."Then after all this heady conversation we make Ginny and David help answer questions from our visitors centers during what we call, "We. Get. Questions."Listen up! Podcasts on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9bYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF

Food, wine and film come together with the Sonoma International Film Festival, and Ginny Krieger is here to talk about how to enjoy the films and the secrets to getting the most out of your experience. (Hint: if you don't like a movie, you can actually just walk to another one...)Martin Yan, of Yan Can Cook fame, will be a featured and celebrated guest during "Devour! Chefs and Shorts."Then she helps us answer some questions about visiting Sonoma Valley, and if you are Québécois, where to find fellow French Canadians, during our popular segment of We Get Questions. For some reason she refuses to weigh in when we ask if "Cocaine Bear" is the apotheosis of American cinema. (Answer: possibly.)She didn't start out to be in film, but she is in a film festival. And it's one of the best around. Listen up! Subscribe! Tell your friends you heard it all on the Sonoma Spiel!Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sonoma-film-festival-preview-with-ginny-krieger-ep-30/id1634467429?i=1000601976032Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xhSFZbsHxW7PcnraUnJQ3?si=kR5a3VTwQlyDEryJZoz20Q

Ashley and Martin from Taub Family Outpost are here and they have cocktails! And champagne! And ice cubes with a cool design in them from The Beacon bar.Taub Family Outpost is the perfect place for first-time visitors to wine country or veterans of the food and wine scene. Ashley talks about the wine program at the distinct building on the corner of Napa Street and First Street West on the Sonoma Plaza, while Martin reveals BIG PLANS for changes to the restaurant and bar, including more event space for private parties, and a disco ball.Don't worry, though, they will still have their famous espresso machine, good for a quick hit of caffeine when you need it.Martin then reveals he learned improv from "the Yoda of Improv" in Chicago, and how we uses his acting skills in the restaurant business. And Ashley talks about how a military brat came to become a sommelier via majoring in international studies and minoring in Russian.Then we get some ideas on how to enjoy Sonoma Valley during our segment, "WE GET QUESTIONS."

Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and all the characters that sprang from the mind of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz are part of the museum (and research center) that bears Schulz's name in Santa Rosa. Gina Huntsinger comes by to talk the life of the man who created the memorable characters and the museum that celebrates his influence. Though the museum is full of Schulz's life and art, it also showcases the happiness and versatility of the medium that is the comics, from what we see in the papers to graphic novels to online comics. Huntsinger also talks about those whom "Sparky" influenced, like local artist Stephen Pastis of "Pearls Before Swine," who has very specific opinions about Jef the cyclist and a rat with some anti-social tendencies. Then she answers some questions in our ever-popular series, "We. Get. Questions." Like, where do we get Pliny the Younger beer? Hint - there's a brewery not far from the Schulz Museum where you can get it when it comes out.

Safari West stops by the talk to us about warthog courtship, giraffe birth and all the Serengeti lovin' that the animals get up to at the wildlife preserve north of Sonoma Valley, and which is the focus of their upcoming tour "Safari West Adult Romance Tour." Hear all the latest gnus about who is doing what and when, and how you can take the quiz to see how much you know about the mating habits of the earthbound elan. As for the tour?

"Pile into an open-air safari vehicle and drive out among some of the world’s most exotic and enthralling creatures for a wild safari tour led by Safari West’s animal experts as they probe the revealing “Ins and Outs” of Wildlife courtship.

You’ll learn intimate details about the mating habits of African mammals and birds including Bongo, Giraffe, Eland, Wildebeest, Gazelle, Zebra, Warthog, Cheetah and more! …When a male warthog wants to attract a female, he does a courtship “chant” of rhythmic grunts that sounds like an engine in need of a tune-up. Yes, love is in the air!"

Sheana Davis of Epicurean Connection has a new cookbook that's smooth as butter - Buttermonger, out soon! More than 70 ways to make butter at home, from sweet to savory to cocktails, plus a few vegan options. Sheana also talks about how you can take an easy cheesemaking class and make cheese to take home. Then she helps us answer your questions about visiting Sonoma Valley, like are the vineyards still there and where can you find lemons locally? (Hint- if you have a bucket of lemons, Sheana will trade you soup.)

Michelle Heston of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa knows resorts. And wellness Wednesdays. And world-class dining. But she also moonlights as fancy-cake maker that can make a chiffon cake look like a taco and a pound cake in the shape of a penny farthing.

Michelle details the history of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (it was once an R&R locale for Navy personnel during World War II), how the waters from Calistoga are the same ones that run underneath the Fairmont and some of their spa programs like watsu massage. Also, her niece wanted a Barbie cake but Michelle wasn't going to pay crazy money for a cake. She she made her own. And from that came Heston Cakes, one of the top cake makers to ever be on The Sonoma Spiel. "I do shoes, I do hats, I do lots of junk food cakes," she admits. How do we know that we, ourselves, are not actually made of cake? The wonder! The horror!

And she admits our schtick is perfect for a spiel.Listen up! Subscribe! Tell you friends!Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670

Scot Medbury of the Sonoma Botanical Garden explains that a) no, they aren't a winery and b) they used to be called Quarryhill Botanical Garden and c) Sonoma is, come on, one of the best brands in America.Hear about how Scot came to Sonoma from Brooklyn and San Francisco, and the work of the Sonoma Botanical Garden in preserving Asian plants and showcasing California native ones. And then we talk about their new exhibit, From East to Zest,

"an original, living exhibition illustrating citrus’ colorful journey across the globe. Immersed in fragrance and color, visitors learn fun facts as they stroll, from the myth of the Meyer Lemon to the cause of the Grapefruit Effect.

Virtually all citrus originated in Southeast Asia, yet today are thoroughly ingrained in the cuisines and cultures of the Americas. Imagine Peruvian food without lemons, or Mexican cuisine without limes!

Thousands of years of citrus cultivar selection and breeding has produced a vast trove of little-known, yet distinct citrus including such culinary treats as the Yuzu, beloved of chefs everywhere today, or the Sudachi, from which ponzu braising sauce is made. Bizarre forms, like the Buddha’s Hand citron, or unusual hybrids like Limequats and Mandarinquats, add to the fascinating range of citrus grown in California today. These zesty delights have travelled far from their historic ranges and new DNA evidence is changing how botanists think about this tangled floral family."

Andrew Smith lost his Long Island accent but found love and adventure along the way, as he recounts his journey from cruise ship performer to wine host at Sangiacomo Family Winery. When he's not regaling visitors with tales from the road while educating them about Sonoma Valley wine, his passion is for his family and his hobby of performing and directing with Sonoma Arts Live, a local theater company.Andrew also answers some questions from visitors, including where should I get married, and where can we see waterfalls.

This week's very special guest star? It's you.

We're just going to listen to some of the best performances from the Lighting of The Plaza 2022. All of these were recorded on the stage set up in front of Sonoma's city hall during the large public party that kicks off the holiday season.We have music from Transcendence Theatre Company, Vivo Youth Orchestra, Chris Hanlin and the Charlie Gurke Trio.Want to get in the holiday mood? Listen up.And thanks for being a part of the Sonoma Spiel this year. We love talking to all the great people that make up Sonoma Valley and make it such a great place to live and visit. We have more great guests in the coming year, so stick around.Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, New Year... whatever you celebrate or whatever you are doing - we're glad you're here in Sonoma with us.If you want to watch these performances they are on our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsLtUz-Gt-Sa8T6Pu_1x1Ui_

Michelle Lacy, Sonoma resident in the know, is the special guest on the Sonoma Spiel as we talk holiday shopping and events in Sonoma Valley. Special candle? Yes. Wreath? Got it. Cookies to go? Embroidered famous pillows from Catstudio in Petaluma? Gnomes? We have the deets!Found out where else to shop in the 2022 Sonoma Valley Gift Guide and find events at our events calendar. Guide: https://www.sonomavalley.com/blog/post/2022-holiday-shopping-guide/ Events: https://www.sonomavalley.com/events/ And don't forget to subscribe to the Sonoma Spiel podcast: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670 All the others - https://sonomavalley.podbean.com/

Hunt Bailie knows five ways to hike into Jack London State Park, and he thinks three of them are probably legal.

Sit with Sonoma's Hunt Bailie of Sonoma Adventures, and also Sonoma Valley Escapes, as he dishes on great bike rides, easy walks, secret paths of wine country, and what it was like being a bartender and bar owner at Murphy's.

Want to know where to get good eats for cheap? Hunt has a hamburger at a taco truck, tacos at a coffee shop and chicken at a gas station.

And then Hunt admits that his kids hustle pool at the backroom in the Jack London Lodge because it's not a bar if they serve food, so kids are welcome.

Listen to Hunt talk about your next Sonoma Adventure...

Sonoma Adventures: https://www.sonoma-adventures.com/ Sonoma Valley Escapes: https://sonomavalleyescapes.com/

Laura Schermeister of Schermeister Winery in Glen Ellen stops by the Sonoma Spiel to talk about native-yeast fermentation, what it's like to sell out an entire vintage of wine, and why winemaker and how husband Rob chose winemaking over the cattle when an incontinent cow nudged him in the right direction.

Laura also spiels on their secret wine label, how to dress like a winemaker, and then she helps answer some visitor queries when we do "We Get Questions."

She strikes under cover of night, bringing witty social commentary and whimsical observations to vertical surfaces around the North Bay. Political insights, personal encouragement and even reflexive references to the process are all part of The Velvet Bandit's catalogue of wheat paste-ups that can be found around northern California.

Her day job as a self-described "lunch lady" provides time at night to seek out spots for the next bit of agitprop or absurdist art. The mom graffiti gang has art and they aren't afraid to use it.

Plus we find out what it was like when a certain New York congresswoman wore a dress to the Met Gala that was really, really similar to some artwork from VB.

Listen now, and then be on the lookout for her work. She can strike at any time, in any place.

Find the Velvet Bandit online here: https://www.thevelvetbandit.com/

Why does Sonoma have so many quality bands? And how is it that a place that is 12-miles long has a huge variety of venues to hear live music? And why can't we get any postage stamps that are scratch and sniff?

If you want to ask the big questions, but not necessarily get the big answers, turn to Sonoma bassist and performer James Marshall Berry. Just don't call him a musician, since the last song he wrote was 45 years ago and it may not be worth sharing because "they were some of the stupidest lyrics ever penned."

He's a guy who knows all things Sonoma music, but he also helps us answer some questions. Count us in, James...

Fresh from the fields and just out of the farmers market, Arden Bucklin-Sporer of Glen Ellen's Oak Hill Farm stops in to tell us about what it's like growing food in the Sonoma Valley and why they have set aside land for wildlife. Then she details the upcoming harvest and pumpkin festival when they will launch pumpkins using a specially-made gourd trebuchet (sort of like a catapult) that uses Cardi P - an enormous pumpkin- as a counterweight. There will also be pumpkins to buy, an apple press, and large pumpkins to take photos with and in. (Oak Hill Farm has a pumpkin specialist - Jimmy- who likes to grow enormous pumpkins.)

And- Weekend Along the Farm Trails in Sonoma County - is coming up! Arden has insights and ideas, and she may take you out to see some birds because "Oak Hill Farm is an incredibly birdy place."

Mark Bodenhamer from the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce returns to the Sonoma Spiel and dishes about Pumpkin Spice Everything (Spam? Cup O' Noodles? Butter?) and what happens what a porpoise swims up the Petaluma River, which isn't a river, but a slough. Speaking of, he also has a slew of wine country events like the Pangloss party, Weekend Along Farm Trails, Lighting of the Plaza and more.

Then we answer Sue from The Midwest who posted in a recent Facebook group asking about what to do during her stay here. Mark has ideas, Sue!

He also brings a special deal: 50% off tasting at a winery when you mention this podcast? Yes - believe it. Listen for the details...

It's all things Sonoma and it's all in the Sonoma Spiel - listen up!

Meggie and Colin are in studio (with a guitar and a song) with details on happenings with Transcendence Theatre Company, including their Gala performance, the holiday program and a teaser about the major show they will be unveiling soon. We try to get them to tell us a bit early, and all they can say is that it isn't "Cats."

Speaking of cats, we riff about Nubbins, the cat who was cat-napped from Sonoma and eventually returned and hear how hard it is to get cast in Law & Order: SVU, even as a body found in a duck pond. Evidently that's a hard role to get.

Andriana Duckworth of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance has the low-down on the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, the longest running agricultural festival in California. We also find out that, in fact, the making of wine in Sonoma Valley during "crush" season of harvest does not entail an army of Italian girls in red skirts stomping grapes barefoot in barrels.

Duckworth also shares how the winegrape harvest in Sonoma Valley is a time of excitement and exhaustion as the farmers and vintners race to get the grapes off the vines and made into wine in the barrels. Did you know that Sonoma Valley high school has a program where ag students learn how to grow grapes that go into actual wines?

And finally - Sonoma Valley Traffic Alert - watch our for grape trucks on the road and please drive carefully!

Caitlin Cornwall is a biologist and botanist who just wants to see a badger, and has only seen a mountain lion in person once. She sits with us to detail what the Ecology Center does as it advocates for the Sonoma Valley watershed, as well as some great hikes in Sonoma Valley. We also hear about the campgrounds at Sugarloaf Ridge and the fig tree picnic spot at Sonoma Garden Park. And the one plant she just doesn't like... (Looking at you, Yellow Star Thistle.)

For more information about Sonoma Ecology Center check out https://sonomaecologycenter.org.

To camp in Sonoma Valley go to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at https://sugarloafpark.org/.

Lisa Pidge (one of our favorite Lisas) always has a pocket of almonds because you never know what you'll need when you are bringing some top-notch comedians to Sonoma Valley for the Crushers of Comedy program.

We talk about why comedians love playing on a winery crush pad with the Mayacamas mountains in the background and bins of grapes surrounding the stage, Lisa's past as a not very cut-throat talent agent (she wasn't cut-throat enough to be a good cut throat), and the fact that she won't respond to the Kardashians' calls.

She also good naturedly goes along with our bad dad jokes and talks about her wife who really helps out with her good gut feeling about people.

More info about the Crushers of Comedy is available at www.crushersofcomedy.com.

And of course, Sonoma Valley deals, events and insider tips can be found at www.sonomavalley.com.

Breaking away from talking specifically about Sonoma Valley, we are joined by Jake Steinman of TravelAbility, the organization that explores the nexus of travel and disability, and provides resources for companies and destinations to make sure they provide good information and are strategic in how they make their experiences more inclusive.

Big takeaway - eventually many people will "age into a disability." Have we created a world that is inclusive and ready for this?

Jake got into this by accident.

As Jake relates, "The journey that led us to the creation of TravelAbility Summit started with a bogus award!

In 2018 North American Journeys received a “Travel Agent of the Year” award from the City of Sausalito, California, where are located. Though we are not a travel agency we started to receive a trickle, then a stream, of individuals stopping by our headquarters seeking help in planning and implementing a trip with a disabled family member.

With little in the marketplace to provide help or offer referrals, we embarked on a two-month listening tour to better understand the travel challenges and needs of disabled persons today.

Our findings were eye-opening."

Heather Irwin of Bite Club is the restaurant writer, trend watcher and all-around-scene-spieler in Sonoma County, and she comes to talk about what's hot, what's new, and how to tell if the font on the menu bodes well for the success of a restaurant.

She also talks about starting Sonoma Family Meal, a non-profit borne out of the need to feed hungry people displaced by tragedy and how it met a need to provide food and keep restaurants busy.

Always funny, witty and self-effacing, Heather is ready to spiel about Sonoma Valley's dining scene.

The Sonoma Spiel previews upcoming harvest events like the Gravenstein Apple Fair, the Sonoma Music Festival, Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival and other reasons to come visit Sonoma Valley in the upcoming months.

Plus we learn about Anthony, the last Payphone Repairman in Northern California.

A fast and furious version of the Sonoma Spiel - make sure to subscribe to get all the details.

If you want special offers and news right to your inbox, sign up here: https://www.sonomavalley.com/about/newsletter-sign-up/

Matty Vino - the manbottle that dares to seek out wine country beyond the wine - breaks free from roaming among the redwoods and dining in great restaurants to tell us about his mission to bring the appeal of Sonoma Valley and greater Sonoma County to the world. The brainchild of noted writer and journalist Matt Villano, who also makes an appearance, Matty Vino brings the naïf like wonder of Mr. Bean, Pee Wee Herman blended with a bottle of merlot.

He also has a chardonnay body suit if a white wine is preferred. Where to French kiss a giraffe? Do you know where the rhinos go? Can you paddle a canoe in a large wine bottle? Matty Vino tells all and then says New Jersey doesn't actually have the best pizza, and neither does Chicago.

Take it away, Matty...

https://mattyvino.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thatmattyvino/

Sebastian Juarez and Daniel Zamanillo from Rancho Maria Wines sit to talk about what it's like being the only place to do a wine tasting in Spanish on the Sonoma Plaza, as well as why Sebastian has one of the top three beards on the Plaza.

We also cover Mexican wines from the Valle de Guadalupe, why we need more walk-up lunch windows on the Plaza and sushi, and talk about whether or not Thomas Keller will ever get the hang of that restaurant thing.

Sebastian talks about starting with 200 cases of Zinfandel by selling wine from the back of his car at age 23, and how the winery uses the best of their fruit from northern Sonoma County to make their wines.

Born in Mexico, raised in a family that worked in agriculture in Arizona and California, and he used to have the loudest, lowest Isuzu Pup pickup in the Sacramento Valley - Sonoma's own police chief Orlando Rodriguez joins the Sonoma Spiel to talk about where to go for lunch, remind us that they do in fact have cops on bikes and try to guess the opening music of various cop shows.

He also reminds us that by statute there has to be one grizzled veteran in the briefing room and woe be to the rookie that sits in that seat, and how the smarty-pants cops in the crime scene lab are crucial to solving crime. Then he dishes some advice about visitors (and locals) in Sonoma Valley - please drive carefully!

Intro music - which has that 80s cop vibe - Miami Sky, Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio. Used with kind permission.

Gary Saperstein from Out in the Vineyard's Gay Wine Weekend details all the happenings on the upcoming Gay Wine Weekend and how the getaway event has evolved over the years. He's joined by Alexandra O'Gorman and Kelly O'Brien from Chateau St. Jean, where the big Twilight T-Dance is held as part of the weekend.

Listen up, people, as Gary knows Sonoma Valley and he is ready to dish!

Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian from Valley of the Moon Music Festival hit us right in the gut (strings) with details of wine country's premier classical music festival, featuring instruments from the period when the music was composed. Hear about less-known composers (Fanny Mendelsohn, Josephine Lang, Rebecca Clarke) as well as more well known ones like Schubert and Beethoven.

We also hear about their apprentice program and how audiences can enjoy music al fresco at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park or public concerts like the one at the Sonoma Community Center.

Bob T. knows things about Sonoma. Gritty history of "the Springs?" Bob was there.

Skaters in the Plaza with the crew called "The Cronies?" Bob lived it.

Plus he occasionally dresses up as Angus from AC/DC and his alter ego let's rip a pretty awesome set at local venues. That's when he's not making sure the live feed for the local pro baseball team is working on the local TV channel. (Yes, Sonoma has it's own TV channel and a radio station.)

Want to know more about the unknown in Sonoma? Sit down with Bob and listen...

Music: Avowal [Original Mix] by Numall Fix is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM

On the first episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Mark and Michelle join Tim and go over events in Sonoma Wine Country for the summer, where to get the best blueberries and strawberry ice cream, why wine in cans is ok, and break open their lunches from Les Pascals in Glen Ellen, Taub Family Outpost in Sonoma and Spread in The Springs. Then we go over events like NASCAR at Sonoma Raceway, Huichica music at Gundlach Bundschu, and more.

Music: Avowal [Original Mix] by Numall Fix is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM