Pop (the cork) Quiz

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Pop (the cork) Quiz

This year, Swirl’s back-to-school wine quiz includes beer and spirits trivia, mostly from the past year’s columns—did you bone up or nod off?

1. Which of these sparkling wine designations has the most added sugar?

A) Brut

B) Ultra Brut

C) Extra Dry

D) Extra Brut

2. True or false: Hendry’s rare Napa Valley “Mission” wine is made from an old clone of Zinfandel brought to California in the Mission period.

3. Which of these is not a typical blend of grapes you’d find in a North Coast wine:

A) Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

B) Zinfandel, Carignane, Petit Verdot

C) Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre

D) Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot

4. True or false: Hallertau Blanc is another name for an old but once widely grown grape called Gray Riesling?

5. A wine made by the “saignée” method is:

A) Stirred with a “baton” during fermentation

B) Drained from the tank and then sprayed over the top to enhance a red wine

C) Partly drained from the tank to make a rosé wine

D) Mixed with fruit and brandy—the French version of sangria

6. Which of these statements is now true about California’s craft spirits?

A) Distilleries are allowed to offer no more than six 1.5-ounce pours of whiskey

B) Visitors may taste up to six quarter-ounce pours of gin

C) Visitors may purchase up to six bottles of spirits per day

D) Distilleries must use only California-grown grains

7. Picture round: you’ll find this wine (pictured above) at . . .

A) Stags’ Leap Winery

B) Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

C) Whitehall Lane Winery

D) Virginia Dare Winery

8. A “cicerone” is:

A) A sommelier specializing in Italian wines

B) Like a beer sommelier

C) A spittoon for winetasting

D) A tool made from a willow branch for stirring barrel-fermented Chardonnay

9. Which of these geeky technical stats indicates a wine gone most truly wrong:

A). 16.1 ABV, 5.8 g/l TA, .4 g/l VA

B). 9.0 g/l TA, 3.18pH, 1 ppt TCA

C). 12.5 ABV, 10 ppt TCA, 1.8 g/l VA

D). 5.2 g/l TA, 3.86pH, 10 g/l RS

10. Saying a wine is “corked” really means:

A) It is tainted with 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole

B) It is tainted with brettanomyces

C) It has too much methoxypyrazine

D) Pinot Grigio

(Answers on next page.)

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Answers: 1. C 2. false 3. B, it’s Petite Sirah with Zin 4. false, it’s a hop 5. C 6. B 7. D 8. B 9. C 10. A

9–10 points, grand vin; 7–8 points, fine vintage; 5–6 points, porch pounder;
4 points or less, more study required

Train I Ride

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Train I Ride

Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening but surely tomorrow.

—Samuel Beckett,
‘Waiting for Godot’

In July 2008 I was standing on a train platform in Tokyo when a Japanese acquaintance asked me, “What are train stations like in America?”

I thought long and hard before answering. “They’re like this, but we call them airports.”

The humor was lost on my companion. However, the conversation did reveal a striking difference between America and the rest of the world. American passenger trains, for the most part, have gone the way of the dinosaur. I’m not qualified to say if that’s a good or bad thing. It’s just that today, most Americans simply don’t know what to make of passenger trains that aren’t meant for sightseeing tours.

But in the fall of 2008, Sonoma County voters bucked the trend and approved SMART, the then-proposed passenger rail service that would connect Cloverdale to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal in Marin County. Rail commuters would bypass the Novato-Petaluma traffic woes on Highway 101, zooming past at a comfortable 80 miles per hour.

It would be glorious.

Nine Years Later

“I’m not paying $23 to take a train!”

The appalled man was dressed to the nines in turn-of-the-century attire, one of a dozen historical re-enactors standing on the downtown Santa Rosa SMART station platform. His mind simulating life in 1900, it’s no wonder that he thought $23 was too much for a round-trip train ride. Except today, it’s free.

Besides this group of men and women seemingly unstuck in time, the train platform was half-full when I arrived just after 8am on July 22, one of SMART’s free-preview days. There were couples, families, a few curious solo travelers.

Also on the platform were SMART ambassadors, friendly men and women answering questions and handing out Clipper cards. The question of the day, “When does real service start?” was met with shrugs and stories of pending (delayed) government approval.

The platform continued to fill up as the big moment approached. One of the SMART ambassadors reported that the train would be standing-room only. That was fine with me. I was out to discover what people thought about Sonoma and Marin counties’ long-awaited transportation revolution.

The moment arrived. More than half the crowd took pictures of the approaching train. “New train smell” escaped as the doors opened, off-gassing chemicals that the state of California will likely soon tell us cause cancer. I stood near the closed doors and braced myself.

Thankfully, the train started without a jolt. We were underway, heading south to San Rafael.

I talked to Dave Bettin, the conductor in my car. Mr. Bettin has worked for SMART since 2011, and uses his law enforcement expertise to help train other SMART conductors on how to deal with everything from disorderly passengers to medical emergencies. He also confirmed that anyone who doesn’t pay automatically gets the boot at the next station.

In the same car, I met Jennifer and her young daughter, Grace. The two were out for a pancake breakfast in Petaluma before taking the return train home. Jennifer told me that she wasn’t going to use SMART to commute, just on special occasions.

“So what do you think?” I asked Grace. It was her first time riding a train.

After some light prompting from her mother, Grace answered. “It’s fun.”

Leaving Jennifer and Grace, I changed cars and checked out the snack bar. Even at 9am, beer and wine were on tap along with a light selection of snacks. Needing to keep my wits about me, I paid $4 for a cup of OK coffee. Alas, the girl behind the counter clammed up the moment I told her I was a reporter.

“Oh, well,” I thought. “At least I still get to claim the coffee as a work expense.”

After an hour of standing, my legs were beginning to ache as the train approached the San Rafael station. I was looking forward to sitting down at a table, pulling out my laptop—but no one got off at San Rafael.

Yep, that Saturday-morning crowd of 200 people stole my idea: take SMART back and forth without getting off. In San Rafael, the number of passengers nearly doubled, and I was squished against a door. Despite the absence of personal space, I gained a captive audience for the ride back to Santa Rosa.

My compatriots included a married couple from San Rafael. “You could throw popcorn at people’s balconies they’re so close,” the husband said, taking a picture of apartments that seemed just beyond arm’s reach.

“This thing is destined to fail,” an older man reported. His very specific doomsday prediction: an earthquake will wreck the track in Petaluma and the powers that be will shut SMART down for good.

On the trip back I had a great view out the window. In some places it is breathtaking. There isn’t a single building, road, car or any sign of civilization. It’s like the train is traveling through the past. I imagined SMART television commercials based around the scenery. Picture this: a tired businessman gets on the train in San Rafael. He buys a glass of wine at the snack bar before settling in to look out the window, where the sun is setting over golden pastures.

Get on that advertising campaign, SMART. And since I’m handing out advice, please allow riders to use their Clipper card at the snack bar. You’ll make a ton of money that way.

Past Rohnert Park, homes and businesses filled up the view, along with large cannabis farms on the west side of Roseland. “You’d never see that in St. Louis,” one of the conductors said, chuckling as he pointed out the window.

My two-hour journey ended where it began. I, along with 50 or so other passengers, got off at the downtown Santa Rosa station at Railroad Square.

Walking back to my car, I planned part two of my research: How would the free ride compare to taking SMART on the first day of paid service, scheduled at the time for Aug. 2 . . .

One Month Later

It’s Aug. 23 and we’re still waiting. The SMART opening turned out to be an even rarer event than the solar eclipse this week.

But if SMART is to be believed, the trains are set to roll for real on Aug. 25, helping commuters get from point A to point B in an environmentally friendly style, complete with coffee and snacks and killer views of cannabis fields. The ride is free on Friday and fares will be half-price through Labor Day.

We will see.

When I lived in Japan and was asked about commuter train stations in America, I was an intern at the Central Japan Railway Company. JR Central, among other things, is the majority shareholder of Nippon Sharyo, the company that built SMART’s trains. On a tour of the Nippon Sharyo factory floor just outside Nagoya, I saw firsthand the care that goes into building some of the safest and most technologically advanced trains in the world.

At the time I thought how great it would be if these trains existed in America. And now that the feds have signed off on SMART’s positive train control system which shuts train service down to prevent emergencies like derailments, here they are, right in our backyard and ready to roll.

I’m glad the day is coming soon.

But until then, if anyone should ask me about SMART’s first day of service, I will continue to cite Beckett: “Surely tomorrow.”

Fall Arts Guide

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Fall Arts Guide

It’s that time again—the season of jack-o’-lanterns, raking leaves, feasts, gatherings and a bounty of entertainment throughout the North Bay. From Labor Day to Thanksgiving, there are huge music festivals, live theater productions, extravagant wine country weekends, festive art fairs and so much more happening in Sonoma and Napa counties. You can’t do it all, but our annual Fall Arts Guide does lay it all out.

EVENTS

September

Sonoma County Fermentation Festival The annual event, formerly called the Farm to Fermentation Fest, is a veritable mecca of pickled, cultured and fermented foods, from kimchi to chocolate. The day of tasting features artisan culinary vendors, with ciders, beers and meads washing down the diverse array of bites. Proceeds from drink sales will go to the Sebastopol Grange Hall, a organization that supports the farmers and sustainable food movement in Sonoma County. Saturday, Sept. 2, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. 11am to 5pm. $20–$45. fermentfestival.com.

Taste of Sonoma Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s annual tasting event has a new location, look and palette of flavors to celebrate the region throughout Labor Day weekend. Bookended by a schedule of winemaker lunches, dinners and bbqs at several restaurants and wineries on Friday and Sunday, Saturday’s Taste of Sonoma takes over the lawn at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center, with thousands of glasses of wines on hand and chefs from around the county preparing delectable bites. Live music, chef demos, seminars and more round out the premiere event on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Noon to 4pm. $180. sonomawinecountryweekend.com.

Sonoma County Cajun Zydeco & Delta Rhythm Festival This popular New Orleans–inspired festival boasts a full weekend of nationally known and critically acclaimed bands split into two days of entertainment. Day one embraces the spirited rhythms of zydeco, with acts like CZ & the Bon Vivants and the Blues Box Bayou Band. Day two goes rockabilly, with San Francisco trio the RevTones and Los Angeles outfit Kim Lenz & the Jaguars, and others. Art, wine and beer, Cajun cuisine and more are also on hand. Sept. 2–3, Ives Park,
400 Willow St., Sebastopol. 11:30am–7pm. $25–$50; kids under 12, free. winecountrycajun.com.

Fishstock There will be fun and food at Fishstock, the annual fundraiser for the Jenner Community Club. Enjoy chowder tasting, barbecue salmon, offerings from local wineries and breweries, live music from the Thugz and others, an ice cream parlor, a raffle and more in a Summer of Love–themed day by the sea. Sept. 3. 10398 Hwy. 1, Jenner. 11am–5pm. $5; kids free. visitjenner.com.

National Heirloom Exposition Dubbed the “World’s Pure Food Fair,” this massive expo of food providers and enthusiasts brings together chef demos, displays, live music, a giant pumpkin contest, antique tractors and plenty of good food benefiting school gardening education.
Sept. 5–7. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $10–$25; kids free. theheirloomexpo.com.

Sonoma Film Institute The oldest film repertory organization in the North Bay hosts another season of screenings featuring classic films and contemporary cinema. The first feature film directed by John Cassavetes, Shadows, screens on Sept. 8 and 10. The final film from iconic Polish director Andrzej Wajda, Afterimage, makes its North Bay premiere Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. The classic Mexican Western, Tiempo de Morir (Time to Die), written by Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, screens Nov. 3 and 5. Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Fridays, 7pm; Sundays, 4pm. sonoma.edu/sfi.

Hands Across the Valley Benefiting Napa Valley food programs, including the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Table, and the Salvation Army, the 25th annual event features tastings from many noted Napa chefs and winemakers, silent and live auctions, and dancing under the stars. Sept. 9. Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St., St. Helena. 4pm. $125 and up. handsacrossthevalley.com.

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Rooted in the ranching and farming tradition, this touring event intersects the cowboy life with music and entertainment. Performers for the evening include Gail Steiger, Caitlyn Taussi, Amy Hale Auker and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Sept. 9. Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. 7pm. $20. lincolntheater.com.

Sundown Get Down Formerly known as di Party di Rosa, this 16th annual fundraiser for the unique Carneros region art gallery features al fresco dining in the center’s courtyard, live auction filled with art experience packages, live music, dancing and special guests. Sept. 9. di Rosa, 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa. 5:30pm. $300. dirosaart.org.

Art in the Park Petaluma Arts Association presents the 60th annual community art event, that lets the public meet and view the works of several local artists. Works in various media will fill Walnut Park as paintings, sculptures, jewelry and more mingle among a lineup of live music, food vendors and more. Sept. 9–10, Petaluma Boulevard South and D Street, Petaluma. 10am to 5pm. Free. petalumaarts.org.

Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival A rich tradition of blues and jazz more than 40 years strong, this weekend under the sun features headliners like songstress Stephanie Mills, East Bay legends Tower of Power, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and others performing on the Russian River. A wine garden, international food court and kayaking and canoeing also await. Sept. 9–10. Johnson’s Beach, 16241 First St., Guerneville. 10am–6pm. $55 and up. russianriverfestivals.com.

Chautauqua Revue The revue is back and still finds ways to include new twists, with musicians, dancers, storytellers, performers and clowns keeping audiences on their toes while honoring the traditions of the original Chautauqua events from a hundred years ago. This revue always sells out, so act fast.
Sept. 14–16. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. Thursday–Saturday, 7:30pm; children’s matinee, Saturday, 2pm. $10 and up. Kids under five are free. 707.874.1557.

Music Festival for Brain Health Immaculately coiffed and acoustically gifted performer Lyle Lovett headlines the 23rd annual fundraising affair, which also includes science symposiums and wine tastings. Sept. 16. Staglin Family Vineyard, 1570 Bella Oaks Lane, Rutherford. music-festival.org.

Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival This event is all about the beer. A short list of the breweries participating includes Henhouse, Lagunitas, 101 North, Fieldwork, Headlands, Heretic, Plow, Fogbelt and Bear Republic. There are also food tastings,
live music and more, Sept. 16, Water Street, Petaluma (21
and over only). 1–5pm. $40;
$20 for designated drivers. petalumarivercraftbeerfest.org.

Art for Life 2017 Support Face-to-Face/Sonoma County AIDS Network in its mission to end
HIV in the North Bay, and get some fine art from hundreds of generous donors at this 30th annual auction and party. Sept. 16. Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 2–6pm. $50 and up. 707.544.1581.

Old Grove Festival It’s hard to find better acoustics in the heart of the Armstrong Woods than the 1930s-era, open-air Redwood Forest Theater, home of the annual Old Grove Festival. Headlining the festival this year is Dead Winter Carpenters, with One Grass Two Grass opening the night. Bring flashlights, seat cushions and warm clothes.
Sept. 16. Redwood Forest Theater, 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. 4:30pm. $35–$80. One child free with paying adult. 707.869.9177.

Napa Valley Aloha Festival
The Manaleo Hawaiian Cultural Foundation hosts this 10th
annual event covering two days and including live music and dance from the Hawaiian and Polynesian communities,
along with Hawaiian food, arts and crafts. Sept. 16–17. Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St.,
Napa. Saturday,10am–6pm; Sunday, 10am–4pm. Free (bring a canned food for donation). 707.418.8588.

Open Studios Napa Valley Art studios from all stretches of Napa Valley are open for this 30th annual event, taking place over the last two weekends in September. Self-guided tours feature dozens of diverse artists working in several media. The event is juried, and unlike other open studio tours in the North Bay, the artists run the entire affair. (Many also show their work at Jessel Gallery, 1019 St., Napa.) The tours run Sept. 16–17 and
23–24. 10am to 5pm. Maps and info at artnv.org.

Petaluma Poetry Walk Bipedal-powered literary event is back for its 22nd year. Readings are scattered throughout downtown Petaluma within easy walking distance of each other, featuring celebrated poets and music. Sept. 17. 11am–8pm. Free. Check website for schedule. petalumapoetrywalk.org.

Fiesta de Independencia Celebrate Mexico’s independence and Latino Heritage Month
with a day-long fiesta featuring authentic food, music, games and activities for the entire family. Dance to live mariachi bands and swing at piñatas. Sept. 18. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 1pm to 7pm. Free. 707.546.3600.

Wine Country Film Festival Cinematic magic takes over the Sonoma valley for the 31st annual festival. Feature-length and short films of every genre are presented throughout Kenwood and Glen Ellen, with attending industry specialists, musical performances and workshops. Sept. 20–25. 707.935.3456.

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival One of the oldest and biggest parties in the Sonoma Valley is back for its 120th year with live music, amazing food, spectacular wines and family activities like the traditional grape stomp, a light-up parade and more. With a focus on local culture and community, this vintage fest is organized by local volunteers and benefits several Sonoma County nonprofits and projects. Sept. 22–24 at Sonoma Plaza, First St. E., Sonoma. valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.

Santa Rosa Toy Con Nerd-tastic convention offers three buildings of comics, toys, games and collectibles from over 200 vendors. Special guests include original Star Trek actors Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and Andrew Bryniarski. There’s also the annual cosplay competition, Lego exhibition and more in store. Sept. 23. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Early-bird opening at 9am. $25; regular opening, 10am. $15. santarosatoycon.com.

Earle Fest Annual benefit concert event for the Earle Baum Center brings together two stages of music, food vendors, art and more. Los Angeles rockers
Los Lobos headline the day-long pop-up event, with support from California Honeydrops, Tift Merritt, Nina Gerber, Timothy O’Neil, Dirty Cello, Charley Peach and others. Sept. 23. SOMO Village Events Center, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park. 3pm. $55. somoconcerts.com.

Call of the Wild Jack London State Park hosts this second annual gala fundraiser under the stars and among the ruins of Wolf House. Commemorating the author’s formative time spent in Oakland, the park transforms into the vintage watering hole, Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, where London frequently sought inspiration for his writing. The immersive evening also features actors participating in period-piece interactions, Sonoma-made whiskey, catering and more. Sept. 23. 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 6pm. $200. 707.938.1003.

Sonoma County Philharmonic Community-based nonprofit organization revels in a new season of orchestral performances. First, conductor Norman Gamboa leads the symphony for a program titled “In Nature’s Realm,” Sept. 30–Oct. 1. Next, special guest violin and viola players Pam Otsuka and Robby Morales join the philharmonic for “Fanfare & Concerto” on Nov. 18–19. Santa Rosa High School Performing Arts Auditorium, 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm. $10–$15; students, free. socophil.org.

Summer of Love Celebration The music lovers at B.R. Cohn Winery in Sonoma Valley are putting together a throwback extravaganza to cap off the North Bay’s ongoing Summer of Love events. The massive weekend boasts live music, food and communal vibes. Saturday’s blowout party includes music by Creatures of Habit and Chick Jagger, while Sunday’s mellow experience features sets by Kristen Van Dyke and Dustin Saylor. Sept. 30–Oct. 1. 15000 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. 707.938.4585.

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October

Harvest Celebration Kendall-Jackson’s inaugural Harvest Celebration, formally the Heirloom Tomato Festival, pairs fine food, wine and entertainment while supporting the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. Outdoor painting sessions, live music, educational seminars and more complement the tasty array of culinary delights. Oct. 1. 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton. 11am to 3pm. $125. 707.571.8100.

Roseland Community Festival The vibrant Santa Rosa neighborhood gets its own party in this inaugural celebration, featuring live music, art, food community togetherness. Oct. 1. 555 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. Noon to 6pm. Free. facebook.com/RoselandCommunityFestival.

ArtQuest The long-running program at Santa Rosa High School nurtures talented youngsters from Sonoma County in seven different artistic disciplines and offers an above-and-beyond experience for students. Each fall, the students of ArtQuest present a showcase of their studies and work, including music, live theater, digital arts, dance and more. Oct. 5. SRHS Auditorium, 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. friendsofartquest.com.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair Hit up the World Championship Grape Stomp competition, enjoy some wine in the Grand Tasting Pavilion, go local and peruse the Wine Country Marketplace, or simply get down to some swingin’ music at this 43rd annual tradition. Oct. 6–8, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Friday, 4–9pm; Saturday–Sunday, 11am–5pm. $5; kids 12 and under, free. Tasting Pavilion tickets, $65. harvestfair.org.

Demeter USA Named for and supporting the biodynamic education initiative, this farm-to-table feast and festivity boasts a biodynamic diet of food and wines, live music by Cahoots, silent and live auctions and garden tours. Oct. 7. DeLoach Vineyards,
1791 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 5pm. demeterfund.org.

Santa Rosa Symphony Acclaimed classical orchestra opens its 2017–18 season with special guest conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong and pianist Joyce Yang performing with the symphony in a program titled “From Beethoven to Bates.” Oct. 7–9. The following month, guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen and pianist Nareh Arghamanyan appear for a program titled “Exhilarating Journey” Nov. 4–6. Weill Hall at Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org.

Sonoma Laughfest The third annual comedy festival is now a countywide event, expanding from its home base in Sonoma to include shows in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. See acclaimed sketch shows, improv acts and standup aplenty over three nights with stars of stage and screen in intimate settings. Oct. 13–15, at Sebastiani Theatre, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, and the Raven Performing Arts Theater. sonomalaughfest.com.

Marin Alfresco Fourth annual culinary festival starts with cocktails and appetizers, and follows with wine tastings, savory foods from local restaurants, and live music from Pride & Joy in a fabulous indoor-outdoor setting. Proceeds from the event provide scholarships to the many program offered by the Osher JCC. Oct. 14. 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 6:30pm. $100 and up. marinjcc.org/alfresco.

Sonoma County Art Trails With more than 170 participating artists, this annual tradition offers a self-guided opportunity to enjoy the abundance of creative local talents and to buy directly from artists while peeking into their workspaces. Oct. 14–15 and 21–22, 10am–5pm. Preview exhibit at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm; Saturday, 1–4pm. Free. sonomacountyarttrails.org.

Funkendänk Oktoberfest The second annual beer and music festival pops back up to spotlight sour suds and quality bands from near and far for a funky take on the traditional German fall festival. Intense sour beers and hoppy brews from over 40 purveyors fills the tasting lounge, while more classic European-style lagers await in the outdoor grove. The musical lineup includes Colorado funk stars the Motet, New Orleans act Dragon Smoke and San Francisco rockers Afrolicious. Local favorites Frobeck, the Pulsators and Saffell round out the entertainment.
Oct. 21. SOMO Village Event Center. 1100 Valley House
Drive, Rohnert Park. $49. somoconcerts.com.

Sonoma Bach In celebration of Claudio Monteverdi’s birthday, local countertenor Christopher Fritzsche and the chorus offers sacred and secular selections from the master composer on
Oct. 21. Then, major Baroque works are presented Nov.18–19. Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.303.4604.

November

Russian Grand Ballet One of the world’s most accomplished ballet companies presents one of the world’s most famous works, Swan Lake, for their debut in Marin. Nov. 2. Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 7:30pm. $25 and up. 415.473.6800.

Howell Mountain Harvest Celebration World-class wines from 30 Howell Mountain region wineries are paired with gourmet small bites from those wineries’ chefs. The casual celebration also features a silent auction filled with limited-production gems and winery experiences from the same participating Howell Mountain wineries. Nov. 4. Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville. 1pm. $75–$100. lincolntheater.com.

A Wine & Food Affair Russian River’s Wine Road gathers over a hundred local wineries for another delicious extravaganza of the two best things in the world. Nab early tickets starting on Sept. 1—they sell out, and quickly. Nov. 4–5. Various locations in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valley. 11am–4pm. $30–$80. wineroad.com.

Napa Valley Film Festival The North Bay’s top film, food and wine extravaganza returns to Napa Valley with 120 films playing in four towns over the course of five days. Red-carpet screenings, sneak previews, industry panels, gala parties and appearances by many A-list Hollywood actors and filmmakers are only the beginning, as the fest also boasts several culinary and winery events to satisfy any taste. Nov. 8–12. nvff.org.

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Arts Guild of Sonoma “Celebrate!,” juried group show marks 40 years of the guild’s ongoing work to bring art to the heart of wine country. Reception, Sept. 2 at 5:30pm. 140 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 707.996.3115.

MarinMOCA “Emerging Artists of Northern California,” annual juried exhibition features rising regional talent and is focused in part on installation artists. Reception, Sept. 2. 500 Palm Drive, Novato. 415.506.0137.

Napa Valley Museum “The Migrant Series,” Don Coen’s grand paintings shine a spotlight on today’s migrant farm workers against the backdrop of modern immigration policies. In addition, Smithsonian National Museum presents “Bittersweet Harvest” and Napa Valley College hosts “Braceros: the Napa Valley Story” to complement Coen’s works. Sept. 2. 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville. 707.944.0500.

Riverfront Art Gallery “Early Fall Show,” group show celebrates the gallery’s 10th anniversary. Reception, Sept. 9 at 5pm.
132 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.775.4278.

Art Museum of Sonoma County “Unpacked,” featuring contemporary works by more than 20 artists that are borrowed from private collections in Napa and Sonoma counties. Reception, Sept. 16 at 6pm. 425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.1500.

Hammerfriar Gallery “Bill Shelley & Shelley Spira Burns,” the two artists split the show,
with Shelley’s collection of drawings created while spending months in Berlin, and Burns’ sculptures inspired by geology and psychology. Reception,
Sept. 16 at 6pm. 132 Mill St.,
Ste. 101, Healdsburg. 707.473.9600.

Paul Mahder Gallery “Ann Wolff: Glass Works,” artist exhibits a collection of stained and artistically designed glass pieces to highlight both the positive and negative form of the media. Sept. 23. 222 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.473.9150.

Gallery Route One “Worlds Within,” artist Linda MacDonald explores the natural wonders of California’s diverse terrain in the main gallery, with Steven Hurwitz’s “Conversations with the Night” showing in the annex. Reception, Sept. 30 at 3pm.
11101 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347.

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art “David Ligare: Magna Fide (The Great Belief),” contemporary realist painter shows his detailed still life and landscape works. “Forge & Stone,” featuring sculpture by California women artists also displays. Oct. 14. 551 Broadway, Sonoma. 707.939.7862.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts “Got Glass,” a dual showing of glass-related works includes “Convergence,” displaying the wide range of techniques involved in glass art, and “Flamed Glass,” showing the shapes and forms glass rods and tubes make when melted and manipulated. Oct. 27. 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 707.829.4797.

di Rosa “Be Not Still: Living in Uncertain Times,” timely exhibit looks into the political landscape of today and presents diverse works of art in the newly renovated main gallery. Nov. 4. 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa. 707.226.5991.

Petaluma Arts Center “Members Exhibition,” highlights the works of over a hundred of PAC’s talented artist members. Reception, Nov. 11 at 5pm. 230 Lakeville St., Petaluma. 707.762.5600.

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CLUBS & VENUES

Blue Note Napa The intimate jazz club offers close-up and personal performances by an array of talented musicians in blues, jazz, funk, soul and other genres. Mexican-born pianist Christian Tumalán of Pacific Mambo Orchestra gets his groove on with Montuno Swing salsa band on Sept. 2. Bassist, composer and producer Kyle Eastwood (son of Clint) appears on Sept. 15. Jazz star David Sanborn sits in for a three-night celebration of Blue Note’s one-year anniversary, Oct. 19–21. Actor Dennis Quaid shows off his musical side with his band the Sharks on Nov. 7. 1030 Main St., Napa. 707.880.2300.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Longstanding arts center welcomes an array of veteran entertainers from the world of music and more this fall. Spanish language pop icons the Gipsy Kings and classic-rock band Kansas appear back-to-back, Sept. 7 and Sept. 8. Powerhouse trumpeter Byron Stripling joins the Santa Rosa Symphony for a tribute to Louis Armstrong in the annual Symphony Pops series on Oct. 22. Australian soft-rock duo Air Supply fly in on Nov. 11.
The Daily Show host and standup comedian Trevor Noah returns to the North Bay on Nov. 22. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Green Music Center Sonoma State University’s world-class music center, centered by the stunning Weill Hall, hosts another season of top-tier artists from around the world. Jazz guitarist George Benson and saxophonist Kenny G team up for the “Breezin’ & Breathless” tour on Sept. 8. The Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet joins soul queen Irma Thomas on Sept. 30. Masterful storyteller Garrison Keillor passes through the North Bay on Oct. 13. Argentine export Tango Buenos Aires waltzes into town on Nov. 12. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 866.955.6040.

McNear’s Mystic Theatre Petaluma’s historic venue celebrates 25 years of hosting live music, after decades as a movie house, this fall with a lineup of headlining performers from across the musical spectrum. Jamaican-American singer, songwriter and deejay Shaggy performs Sept. 10. Venezuelan jazz and funk band Los Amigos Invisibles plays on Sept. 24. New Orleans folk and soul sister band Rising Appalachia appear for an intimate show on Oct. 8. Hard-rock outfit Y&T hit the stage Nov. 17–18. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.775.6048.

Uptown Theatre Napa’s art deco landmark welcomes several acclaimed performers from music and comedy to the region through the fall. British rocker and co-founder of psychedelic band Traffic Dave Mason brings his Alone Together Again tour to town on Sept. 17. An eclectic array of songwriters, John Prine, Randy Newman and Shawn Colvin, hit the stage over three nights, Oct. 5, 6 and 7. Comedian and television game-show host extraordinaire Howie Mandel performs standup on Oct. 21. Born performer Louis Prima Jr. follows in his father’s footsteps on Oct. 28. 1350 Third St., Napa. 707.259.0123.

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Hard to pronounce though easy to love, Gun Bun winery makes the most of its outdoor space, redwood barn and wine cave to bring the best indie rock acts from today and yesterday. New York City proto punks Television perform Sept. 27. Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst is joined by the Felice Brothers on Oct. 4. Spacey Brit rockers Spiritualized play Oct. 16. Powerhouse folk songwriter M Ward appears on Oct. 29. 200 Denmark St., Sonoma. 707.938.5277.

THEATER

Cinnabar Theater The revered Petaluma theater presents a season full of musicals and dramatic works. Imprisoned playwright and poet Miguel de Cervantes is the subject of the popular musical, Man of La Mancha, Sept. 1–24. The wickedly funny play about art, opera and aging, Quartet, runs Oct. 13–29. Women’s chorus CinnaGals perform their fall concert on Nov. 12. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Cinnabartheater.org.

Main Stage West Intimate and exciting, the season at the Sebastopol theater starts with tragicomedy Grace, tackling themes of faith and compassion on a cosmic scale Sept. 8–24. Next, the theater presents the world premiere of a new work, Mary Shelley’s Body, written by playwright and author (and Bohemian contributor) David Templeton, based on his novella about the woman behind the story of Frankenstein, Oct. 13–29. 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Mainstagewest.com.

Sonoma Arts Live The theater company’s 2017–18 season is themed “The Way We Were,” looking back in time with nostalgic productions. Opening the season is The Spitfire Grill, a musical about second chances in a small rural town, running Sept. 8–24. Next, the Depression-era drama The Rainmaker offers a look into a pivotal day in the life of a struggling farm Oct. 13–29. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Sonomaartslive.org.

Lucky Penny Productions Napa’s theater production house covers the gamut between comedic and dramatic, opening the season with the classic Roaring Twenties–era musical Chicago, Sept. 8–24. Next, one of the most powerful plays of the 20th century, The Crucible, draws a parallel between the Salem witch trials and modern-day prejudices Oct. 20-Nov. 5. 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. 707.266.6305.

Left Edge Theatre Continuing in the traditions of longtime Santa Rosa company Actors’ Theatre, Left Edge presents another season of imaginative productions that push the envelope on a local level. First, a new stage adaptation of the wine-centric comedy Sideways makes its world premiere Sept. 8–Oct. 1. Next, thought-provoking art-world comedy Bakersfield Mist runs Nov. 3–26. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. leftedgetheatre.com.

6th Street Playhouse Housed in the heart of Railroad Square, the popular playhouse continues to engage the community with plays and musicals designed to delight and entertain. The season opener, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the classic Broadway musical based on the famous Peanuts comic strip, through Sept. 17. Next, the feel-good Southern drama Steel Magnolias runs Oct. 13 to Nov. 5. 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 6thstreetplayhouse.com.

Raven Players The players present another year of lively plays that run the gamut from farcical to frightful. The season opens with the equally dramatic and hysterical Accomplice, in which a weekend retreat leads to adultery and murder. Sept. 22–Oct. 8. 115 North St., Healdsburg. Raventheater.org.

SSU Theatre & Dance Sonoma State University’s dramatic arts department presents several exciting works this fall. Pulitzer Prize finalist Bulrusher follows a clairvoyant orphan living in 1955 San Francisco, Oct. 19–28. The rollicking cabaret-style story of colonial soldiers in India, Man Equals Man, runs Nov. 2–12. The eighth annual Super Mega Hot Molten Lava festival presents several new plays Nov. 16–19. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.644.2474.

2017 NorBay Awards

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2017 NorBay Awards

The polls have closed and the readers have spoken. Here’s the full list of the 2017 NorBay winners. Bohemian arts editor Charlie Swanson presented the awards Aug. 16 at Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square Plaza’s excellent Wednesday Night Market.

Here are the winners:

Blues

The Dylan Black Project Soulful band of veteran musicians is a fixture at community concerts and gets the crowds moving with up-tempo rhythms and scorching solos. thedylanblackproject.com.

Country

Ammo Box New Southern rock and country outfit featuring members of Bay Area party band Notorious is already making noise on the scene. ammoboxband.com.

Americana

The Rhythm Rangers Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Russell, the Rhythm Rangers perform timeless and laid-back Americana musings that never fail to please. kevinrussellmusic.com.

Folk

Oddjob Ensemble Accordionist Kalei Yamanoha
leads this Vaudevillian string
band and produces an eclectic
array of traditional folk. oddjobensemble.com.

Rock

Charley Peach Vocalist Kaylene Harry’s powerful pipes front this hard-hitting and recently revamped power-rock outfit out of Santa Rosa (pictured). charleypeachband.com.

Hip-Hop

Above Average Young and high-rising MC writes raps and plays video games, matching his lightning quick hand-eye coordination with a silver tongue that’s steadily maturing. soundcloud.com/aboveraps.

R&B

The Soul Section The eight-piece rhythm and blues revue boasts a veteran core of players who draw from influences like Otis Redding and the Meters. thesoulsection.com.

Jazz

Cabbagehead We recently caught up with the improvisational sextet and fell in love with
their spontaneous energy and advanced musicianship. Now is the perfect time to get in the cabbage patch for yourself. cabbageheadmusic.com.

Indie

The Highway Poets The North Bay’s longtime favorite DIY band has been hard at work on their new album, Chasing Youth, slated for release next month. highwaypoetsmusic.com.

Reggae

Sol Horizon North Bay purveyors of roots reggae and world music are favorites at local festivals and beyond. solhorizon.com.

Punk

One Armed Joey There’s a melodic quality to Petaluma punks One Armed Joey that calls to mind ’80s bands like NOFX in the best way—fun, fast, catchy and cool. onearmedjoey.bandcamp.com.

Metal

2 Minutes to Midnight Summoning the power of Iron Maiden, this tribute act has the chops it takes to rock like the British metal heads they emulate. facebook.com/pg/norcalmaiden707.

Electronica

Eki Shola The synthesized sounds of solo pianist and performer Eki Shola is influenced by her world travels and shares a spiritually connected message. ekishola.com.

Acoustic

Nate Lopez The instrumental solo guitarist makes the most of his eight-string guitar for dynamic melodies and inviting atmospheres. natelopez.com.

Singer-Songwriter

Dave Hamilton Hamilton has been playing music for nearly 40 years in the North Bay, perfecting an award-winning mix of folk and Americana. davehamiltonfolkamericana.com.

DJ (Live)

Joshua Bluegreen-Cripps Musician, event producer and DJ, Joshua Bluegreen-Cripps does it all—and does it with a passion for local projects. partyevententertainment.com.

DJ (Radio)

Bill Bowker Longtime North Bay radio host is a champion of the blues and the arts both on-air at the Krush and in real life, co-organizing the Sonoma County Blues Festival. krsh.com.

Open Mic

Tuesday Open Mic at Brew The weekly gathering
of musicians, poets, comedians and others that join in the
open mic at Brew is quickly gaining momentum. brewcoffeeandbeer.com.

Venue or Club

HopMonk Tavern With three North Bay locations, the HopMonk Tavern’s family of venues can’t be beat for outdoor entertainment. hopmonk.com.

Promoter

Josh Windmiller The founder of North Bay Hootenanny is once again recognized for producing events and showcasing local music in projects like the new Out There Tapes compilation featuring over a dozen bands from the North Bay. northbayhootenanny.com.

Music Festival

Railroad Square Music Festival Not even a downpour of hail (in June!) could take the fun out of this popular summer event in Santa Rosa’s lively railroad square. railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.

Aug. 19-20: Matriarchs of Music in Cotati

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Aug. 19-20: Matriarchs of Music in Cotati

The North Bay’s Cotati Accordion Festival, devoted to the old squeezebox, turns 27 this year and is marking it the “Year of the Woman” to celebrate all the contributions that women have made to the instrument. This year’s honorary director is longtime North Bay musician and instructor Marjorie Konrad, who’s responsible for teaching generations of accordion players. Headlining the fest are other veteran players, like Amy Jo Sawyer and Gail Campanella, and the event boasts international talents along with the local stars. The festival goes all weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 19–20, at La Plaza Park, Cotati. 9:30am to 8pm both days. $15–$30. cotatifest.com.

Aug. 19: Hometown Heroes in Rohnert Park

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Aug. 19: Hometown Heroes in Rohnert Park

The blues are strong in Sonoma County—just take a look at the lineup of stars gracing the stage at the Sonoma County Blues & Arts Festival. At the top of the bill is Blues Hall of Fame harmonica player and Healdsburg resident Charlie Musselwhite, with Santa Rosa High School alum Doyle Bramhall II, returning to to rock out. Local mainstays the Blues Defenders, Levi Lloyd and Volker Strifler are among others slated to play. In addition to the tunes, North Bay artist Kathleen McCallum juries a fine-art exhibit, new to the festival this year. Get the blues on Saturday, Aug. 19, at SOMO Village Event Center, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park. 3pm. $40. somoconcerts.com.

Aug. 20: Local Support in Healdsburg

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Aug. 20: Local Support in Healdsburg

Down-home diner Singletree Cafe is practically a historical landmark, having served breakfast and lunch to hungry patrons in Healdsburg for decades. But, times are tough at Singletree. Extensive street work, including the installation of a traffic roundabout, has made accessing the diner difficult, sometimes impossible. The sidewalk closures are hitting the cafe in the pocketbook, but local support is on the way with the Save the Singletree event. Headed by the folks at Healdsburg Jazz Festival, this daylong barbecue and concert features a lineup of popular bands and edible delights on Sunday, Aug. 20, at Singletree Cafe, 165 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 1pm. $20 minimum donation. healdsburgjazzfestival.org.

Aug. 23: Think About Tomorrow in St Helena

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Aug. 23: Think About Tomorrow in St Helena

There’s a lot to be concerned about today, and the need to reverse climate change is at the top of the list for many. While inconvenient documentaries are great at forecasting doom, filmmakers Mélanie Laurent and Cyril Dion show concrete and positive actions that are already working to address climate concerns in their 2015 documentary ‘Tomorrow.’ Praised as a refreshingly inspirational film, Tomorrow screens in Napa Valley as a benefit for Napa County Watershed Projects. Complimentary wine is provided by Joel Gott Wines, and free popcorn will be handed out for those who bring their own (reusable) bowl. See Tomorrow on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena. 5:45pm. $10. 707.963.9779.

Fairy Dust

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Fairy Dust

‘There has always been this perception that Shakespeare is long and boring,” says Jared Sakren, executive director of 6th Street Playhouse and the director of FairyWorlds!, the recently opened outdoor extravaganza at Santa Rosa’s Shakespeare in the Cannery Festival. Formerly artistic director of Southwest Shakespeare Company in Mesa, Ariz., Sakren says he’s heard the “long-and-boring” thing over and over.

“So,” he says, “I decided to take it on and change people’s minds.”

That’s how FairyWorlds! was born.

A 90-minute, elaborately visual, audience-interactive take on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, the dazzling show was originally staged outdoors at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix in 2014.

“The show was huge, produced on a very grand scale,” Sakren says. “It had ballet, fire-eating, amazing costumes, fairies with electric wings and all kinds of outrageous circus-type elements. It was not boring.”

Furthermore, it was successful at attracting people who had always believed Shakespeare was overly complex and hard to appreciate. “It was a show done for people who love Shakespeare, and for people who hate Shakespeare,” says Sakren.

And now that he’s relocated to Sonoma County, Sakren has brought FairyWorlds! to life again. Staged in the old cannery ruins in Railroad Square, the show has been adjusted to the open landscape of the cannery. Featuring a cast of nearly 40 actors, and enough space for the audience to be surrounded by fantastical folk, the Santa Rosa version is, if anything, even more interactive than the Arizona version.

“We have more fairies in this show than we had in the desert—not a lot more, maybe six,” says Sakren. “But they come in much closer contact with the audience now.”

Though stripped-down textually, the basic story of Midsummer is intact. After fleeing Athens to avoid the marital demands of their parents, four young lovers (Abbey Lee, Devin McConnell, Haley Rome, Benjamin Stowe) find themselves lost in the woods, and right in the middle of a battle between two powerful fairies, Oberon (Chris Schloemp) and Titania (Elizabeth Henry). Complicating matters is a band of Athenian craftsmen, led by the dim Bottom (Craig Miller), all taking to the woods to rehearse a very strange play.

“The story is all there, and then some,” Sakren says. “I don’t want to spoil it, but there’s a scene that Shakespeare refers to but never actually shows us. It’s a very, very big scene, and it involves swords. Well, in FairyWorlds! we finally get to see it. It’s pretty cool.”

Perfect Pairing

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Perfect Pairing

After five years of planning, delays and a whole lot of work, Pete and Cathy Seghesio opened Journeyman Meat Co. this month, a long-anticipated salumeria, butcher shop and wine bar located on the site of Healdsburg’s old post office.

The small, gray-and-red-accented shop is dominated by the gleaming, Ferrari-red Berkel meat slicers that artfully shave cuts of the sublime, housemade salume. A glowing, wood-fired oven produces tangy thin crust pizzas ($15), roasted sausage skewers from Seghesio family recipes ($24) and petit, three-ounce steaks served with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and grilled bread ($18).

On the kitchen wall above the day’s specials is an illustration of different cuts of beef listed in Italian and English.

Rosetta is a sirloin tip. Costata is ribeye. The terms sound so much more delicious in Italian, no?

There are a few seats at the counter and a dozen or so more in front of the massive wall hanging shaped like a pig. “It’s kind of a meat bar,” says Pete Seghesio. “That’s what we were looking for.”

Indeed, customers can belly up for a taste of the six kinds of salume paired with a glass or two of wine. Two wines and salumi goes for $15; four wines with seven salumi is $28. The small but exciting wine list reads like an old family photo album. Each wine is made by friends or family and has a story detailed on the wine list.

The Center Street shop is the public face of the meat enterprise, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. The Seghesios are opening a USDA-certified production facility in Cloverdale, where meat will be made into salume for Journeyman and other producers. Journeyman’s beef comes from its own herd of Wagyu and Angus cattle. Pork comes from Llano Seco in Chico.

Journeyman has a dream team of butchers. Chef and general manager Gillian Tyrnauer is a multitalented cook’s cook whose résumé includes Healdsburg Shed, Ramen Gaijin and Oakland’s Oliveto. Samueli Grigio trained under famed Tuscan butcher Dario Cecchini, and Crystal Waters has a Ph.D. in meat science. Seghesio is no slouch himself. He also trained under Cecchini, as well as a famed salume maker in Florence.

Seghesio’s roots in Sonoma County run deep. His grandfather, Edoardo Seghesio, emigrated from Piedmont, Italy, in 1883 to work for the Italian Swiss Colony in Asti, at one time the largest wine producer in California. In 1895, Edoardo purchased a home on 56 acres in the Alexander Valley, and made his first Zinfandel in 1902. He later went on to found Seghesio Family Vineyards, which Pete ran from 1987 to 2011, when the family sold the winery to Crimson Wine Group.

Together with his teen sons, Will and Joe, who also work at Journeyman, Seghesio makes two wines under the Journeyman and San Lorenzo labels. The San Lorenzo wines are made from a vineyard purchased by Seghesio’s great grandfather in 1896. The 2015 San Lorenzo “Rock Garden” ($48) is an elegant and velvety Zinfandel, while the 2015 “Pearl” ($70) is a juicy but complex and long-finishing old vine red blend.

A visit to Journeyman feels like being invited into a Seghesio family reunion, where the sense of history and great food and wine flow freely. Well, at least the history is free.

Journeyman Meat Co., 404 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.395.6328.

Pop (the cork) Quiz

This year, Swirl's back-to-school wine quiz includes beer and spirits trivia, mostly from the past year's columns—did you bone up or nod off? 1. Which of these sparkling wine designations has the most added sugar? A) Brut B) Ultra Brut C) Extra Dry D) Extra Brut 2. True or false: Hendry's rare Napa Valley "Mission" wine is made from an old clone of Zinfandel brought...
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Train I Ride

Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow. —Samuel Beckett, 'Waiting for Godot' In July 2008 I was standing on a train platform in Tokyo when a Japanese acquaintance asked me, "What are train stations like in America?" I thought long and hard before answering. "They're like this, but we call them airports." The humor was...
Read more

Fall Arts Guide

It's that time again—the season of jack-o'-lanterns, raking leaves, feasts, gatherings and a bounty of entertainment throughout the North Bay. From Labor Day to Thanksgiving, there are huge music festivals, live theater productions, extravagant wine country weekends, festive art fairs and so much more happening in Sonoma and Napa counties. You can't do it all, but our annual Fall...
Read more

2017 NorBay Awards

The polls have closed and the readers have spoken. Here's the full list of the 2017 NorBay winners. Bohemian arts editor Charlie Swanson presented the awards Aug. 16 at Santa Rosa's Courthouse Square Plaza's excellent Wednesday Night Market. Here are the winners: Blues The Dylan Black Project Soulful band of veteran musicians is a fixture at community concerts and...
Read more

Aug. 19-20: Matriarchs of Music in Cotati

The North Bay’s Cotati Accordion Festival, devoted to the old squeezebox, turns 27 this year and is marking it the “Year of the Woman” to celebrate all the contributions that women have made to the instrument. This year’s honorary director is longtime North Bay musician and instructor Marjorie Konrad, who’s responsible for teaching generations of accordion players. Headlining the...
Read more

Aug. 19: Hometown Heroes in Rohnert Park

The blues are strong in Sonoma County—just take a look at the lineup of stars gracing the stage at the Sonoma County Blues & Arts Festival. At the top of the bill is Blues Hall of Fame harmonica player and Healdsburg resident Charlie Musselwhite, with Santa Rosa High School alum Doyle Bramhall II, returning to to rock out. Local...
Read more

Aug. 20: Local Support in Healdsburg

Down-home diner Singletree Cafe is practically a historical landmark, having served breakfast and lunch to hungry patrons in Healdsburg for decades. But, times are tough at Singletree. Extensive street work, including the installation of a traffic roundabout, has made accessing the diner difficult, sometimes impossible. The sidewalk closures are hitting the cafe in the pocketbook, but local support is...
Read more

Aug. 23: Think About Tomorrow in St Helena

There’s a lot to be concerned about today, and the need to reverse climate change is at the top of the list for many. While inconvenient documentaries are great at forecasting doom, filmmakers Mélanie Laurent and Cyril Dion show concrete and positive actions that are already working to address climate concerns in their 2015 documentary ‘Tomorrow.’ Praised as a...
Read more

Fairy Dust

'There has always been this perception that Shakespeare is long and boring," says Jared Sakren, executive director of 6th Street Playhouse and the director of FairyWorlds!, the recently opened outdoor extravaganza at Santa Rosa's Shakespeare in the Cannery Festival. Formerly artistic director of Southwest Shakespeare Company in Mesa, Ariz., Sakren says he's heard the "long-and-boring" thing over and over. "So,"...
Read more

Perfect Pairing

After five years of planning, delays and a whole lot of work, Pete and Cathy Seghesio opened Journeyman Meat Co. this month, a long-anticipated salumeria, butcher shop and wine bar located on the site of Healdsburg's old post office. The small, gray-and-red-accented shop is dominated by the gleaming, Ferrari-red Berkel meat slicers that artfully shave cuts of the sublime, housemade...
Read more
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