What's New in Sonoma Valley
Sonoma, CA (February 4, 2021) – There is no place like Sonoma Valley in the winter. The 17-mile-long valley encompasses the city of Sonoma and the villages of Carneros, The Springs, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood. During this time of year, the crowds subside, and the slower pace of winter lends itself to cozy evenings by the fire, enjoyment of the best wines from the region and immersion in nature.
This month, we’re sharing ways to celebrate the Big Game and big love as well as new tasting experiences, culinary creations, alluring arts and a new way to get wild.
ROMANCE
It’s all about romance in Wine Country this month. Three Sticks Wines can complete your love fest with unique Valentine’s Day gifts available at the tasting room. From February 12 to 14 at The Adobe, the winery is offering Fleur Sauvage chocolate truffles and Bloom Event Co. flowers, as well as a variety of hand-crafted and local gifts for your special someone.
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is the ideal place to treat that special someone on Valentine’s Day. The Wine, Roses & Romance package includes a beautiful room, a sparkling wine & chocolate truffle amenity, daily breakfast in bed, rose petal turndown and a sparkling wine tasting at Gloria Ferrer Winery. Bon vivants can opt for the upscale Reignite the Romance package, which includes a bottle of JCB 69 sparkling rosé, accommodations in the Valentine’s Day decorated Jack London Suite, a bespoke Valentine’s bath amenity and rose petal turndown.
The pandemic has made the concept of “mini-monies” (or tiny weddings) popular and The Gables Inn takes it to the next level with their elopement packages. With a two night stay on Valentine’s weekend, the hotel provides an officiant, witness, rose, chocolate strawberries and a bottle of champagne at no extra charge. If the couple prefers to plan ahead, the inn is offering a variety of small wedding packages at its gorgeous Victorian estate in the heart of wine country.
The Flamingo Resort’s Dip and Dine with Your Valentine getaway package includes, accommodations, a bottle of sparkling La Crema Rosé, sweet treats and a dining credit that can be used for takeaway from their Wild Bird restaurant, as well as two passes to yoga classes (including a Candlelight Yoga on February 13th). The package is available throughout February.
STAY, WORK AND PLAY
A weekend is just not enough in Sonoma Valley and area hotels are welcoming guests for extended stays - or offering ways to “work from home” in Wine Country.
The Flamingo Resort is making remote work and school a lot more fun with the Work From Flamingo package. Guests will have their room rate decrease the longer they stay and have access to the pool and outdoor yoga classes. Those tired of staring at the same four walls can bring their business to The Kenwood Inn & Spa which has converted a relaxation room into a private day-use office space. The Inn’s provides a desk, chair, wide-screen monitor, laser printer and scanner as well as complimentary wifi, coffee or tea delivery, lunch delivery, a glass of wine and a fridge full of non-alcoholic beverages. Guests are welcome to take a dip in the spa’s Tuscan-style pool between meetings.
WINE AND SPIRITS
Gloria Ferrer has created new food and wine pairings that couple both their sparkling and still wines with specially curated culinary experiences, including Caviar and Wine, Terrace Lunch, Cheese & Charcuterie and a Culinary Wine Pairing. If you can’t make it to the winery, they’ve introduced an exciting virtual tasting program with experiences that pair sparkling wine and chocolates, truffles or cheese as well as a Sparkling 101 class designed to stimulate your senses.
The Three Cab Labs from Larson Family Winery in Carneros are welcoming wine lovers and their dogs back to for tastings this month. The winery’s outdoor area is ideal for sipping, picnicking, playing bocce or exploring the memorabilia that tells the story of five generations that have been farming in Sonoma since 1877. Muscardini Cellars, at Cornerstone Sonoma, is featuring two tasting experiences – Explore Your Senses and All Things Italian – which can be enjoyed at the tasting room or shipped to enjoy at home. Loxton Cellars has reopened after a seven week closure. Guests can once again picnic on the grounds while sampling wines including their newest NV Shiraz blend, which is out now.
Prohibition Spirits has moved to a prime spot on the historic Sonoma Plaza and showcases the distillery’s artisanal spirits. Prohibition’s “Adventurous Spirits for Spirited People” can be sampled at the new tasting room, which will also sell bottled cocktails, bar accessories and creative gifts. The newlocation will introduce more people to their locally crafted spirits and guests are encouraged to come in and share their knowledge and passion for spirits.
DINING
El Dorado Hotel + Kitchen’s new to-go concept, ED Cantina, spotlights Chef Armando Navarro's fan-favorite authentic Mexican specialties right on Spain Street. The menu will feature the region’s freshest local and seasonal ingredients.
Sonoma Eats is the new go-to spot where Sonoma goes to, uh, eat. The popular restaurant features regional Mexican specialties from Oaxaca as well as Argentinian dishes like empanadas. Located an easy walk from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the neighborhood spot has a large outdoor patio that looks out on Boyes Blvd to catch the action as locals stroll the avenue.
Looking for some Filipino food? And can you believe it's inside a bakery? That's the news from SweetPea Bakeshop in the town of Sonoma. Thursday through Sunday they have their popular "Filbox" (Filipino + Box) lunches that feature Filipino faves like pork buns, glass noodle soup, shrimp & vegetable fritters and sauteed pork belly. Chef Albert Rivera's popular Filipino specialties are a great option for visitors looking for a picnic on the Plaza or at a nearby winery.
ARTS
Rarely seen original Peanuts comic strips are virtually on display at The Charles M. Schulz Museum newest exhibit, “Hidden Treasures.” These originals have only been displayed once before and offer an intimate look at classic favorites. New audio and visual enhancements have been added specifically for online audiences. Viewers will be able to zoom in closely to see Schulz’s pen strokes, margin notes and other fine details while listening to behind-the-scenes commentary from the cartoonist’s widow Jean Schulz.
The Sonoma International Film Festival has adapted its annual marquee event from at-the-theater to in-the-home and you can watch all of it with the 2021 Virtually Everything Pass which is on sale now. SIFF returns from March 24 to 28 and will feature more than 100 films, panels, Q&As and specially curated events throughout the year.
Jack London State Historic Park is launching the 2021 Young Writers Contest on 145th Birthday of Jack London. The program encourages middle school students to write an original story inspired by the works of Jack London. Students can submit their story until March 31, 2021. Everyone who enters will receive a free pass for admission to the park, which includes one carload of guests.
OUTDOORS
Sonoma Valley is home to incredible regional parks that allow ample room for social distancing while enjoying the area's breathtaking great outdoors. Sonoma County Regional Parks offer opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts across 42 parks, including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, camping and swimming. New for 2021, regular visitors to Sonoma Valley can purchase an annual pass to the regional parks at the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau inthe Sonoma Plaza (or email info@sonomavalley.com.)
Get wild inside with the all-gnu, all-digital edition of Safari West. Guests can virtually journey through the animal kingdom at the Sonoma Serengeti with a professional guide on one of Safari West’s signature trucks. Participants can ask questions, share ideas and interact with the knowledgeable guides while encountering giraffes, rhinoceros, zebras, buffalo and 17 species of African Antelope. Safari@Home is brought to you by the Safari West Wildlife Foundation, using the Safari West Live technology that’s designed to bring safaris to bedridden, hospitalized children and underserved children anywhere in the nation.
SERVICES
The Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau is moving its second visitor center location to Viansa Sonoma Winery. The new location, just five minutes north of Highway 37 on Highway 121, is ideally located for visitors to stop by on their way into the Valley to get tips on where to go and what to do from the locals. The new visitor center is open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Craving Sonoma Valley, but can’t make it the trip? The Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau has launched a new section of their website to showcase recipes – for food and cocktails – from the area’s best restaurants and spirit producers. Organized by season, it is now easier than ever to bring a taste of Sonoma Valley into the home kitchen (or bar) and get inspired to try the real thing on your next visit.
About Sonoma Valley, California
Located in the heart of Northern California wine country, Sonoma Valley is a 17-mile-long area within Sonoma County, and which encompasses the city of Sonoma and the villages of Carneros, The Springs, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood. The birthplace of the state of California, as well as the state’s wine industry, the year-round destination is home to more than 100 premium wineries, 85 percent of which are family owned. For more information, visit SonomaValley.com, or follow us on Instagram at @sonoma_valley, and on Facebook at @ExperienceSonomaValley.
Note to editors: Photos of many of the businesses mentioned are available at https://sonomavalley.smugmug.com/. If you need something else, let us know and we will do our best to get it for you.