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MARCH 10, 2017 | WEEKLY SINCE 1981

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WINERIES


Easy-to-Use Maps & Listings
Feature Stories, Wine-Related Events

PAGE 46
ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL
March 24-26, Petaluma PAGE 22
CASTELLO DI AMOROSA PAGE 23
A Slice of Midievel Europe PAGE 28
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Celebrating with Annual Gala PAGE 55
Californias Artisan Cheese Festival, March 24-26, Petaluma
This years weekend-long festival will take place in and around
the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma, as well as various local
farms, restaurants, creameries and tasting rooms. The festival brings
together artisan cheesemakers, farmers, educators, authors, chefs,
brewers and winemakers from all over California for three days of
cheese tasting, education and celebration.
In addition to the long-time staple events such as the Friday
Artisan Producer Tours, the Saturday Seminars and Sundays
Bubble & Brunch and Marketplace, there are many brand new
events being introduced this year. Several of these new and
exciting events take place Saturday night, March 25, and include
two Wine and Dine Cheesemaker Dinners at restaurants in
Sonoma, and a Cheese & Cocktail Celebration, taking place at
the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma.Tickets are on sale at
Guests are invited to join these once-in-a-lifetime, multi-course
www.artisancheesefestival.com.
feasts, each crafted by one of the regions best chefs, and featuring
Cheese & Cocktails local cheesemakers whose cheeses will each be featured in their
own course. The cheesemakers will also be in attendance to mingle
In honor of the Bay Areas blossoming local distillery scene and with attendees and discuss their cheeses. Each three-hour dinner
the cheesemakers who love them, this year marks the California will take place in a quintessential wine country location, and each
Artisan Cheese Festivals first ever Cheese & Cocktail Celebration!
course will also be paired with a different local beer, wine or cider.
For two hours on Saturday night, March 25, cheesemakers will
be showcasing some of their favorite cheeses while local craft Dinner with the Cheesemakers at Park 121
distilleries will be sampling their best spirits as both straight pours Chef Bruce Riezenman is hosting a multi-course Cheesemaker
and also mixing them into cocktails. This is the perfect opportunity Dinner at Park 121 at Cornerstone in Sonoma, featuring a different
for guests to taste new spirits, and compare and pair some of artisan cheesemakers cheese in every course. Chef Riezenman of
Californias best artisan cheeses and spirits. (March 25; Tickets $40; Park 121 has been cooking and sourcing locally in Sonoma County
The Sheraton Sonoma County; 5-7 p.m.) for 25 years, is one of the wine countrys foremost authorities on
Participating cheesemakers and spirits producers include: entertaining, and a sought-after instructor of food and wine pairing.
Cheesemakers: The local cheesemakers that will be joining guests for dinner while
Achadinha Cheese Company (Petaluma), Beehive Cheese Chef Riezenman utilizes their cheeses in each course include:
(Uintah, Utah), Bellwether Farms (Petaluma), Central Coast Chevoo, Cowgirl Creamery, Moonside Creamery, Pedrozo Dairy &
Creamery (Paso Robles), Chevoo (Healdsburg), Cowgirl Creamery Cheese, and Point Reyes Farmstead.
(Point Reyes Station), Cypress Grove Chevre (Arcata), Ferndale Park 121 is located at Cornerstone Sonoma. Tickets $150 per
Farmstead (Ferndale, Washington), Fiscalini Cheese Co. (Modesto), person, including beverage pairing, tax and gratuity; March 25,
Laura Chenels Chevre (Sonoma), Marin French Cheese Company 6:30-9:30 p.m. Park 121 at Cornerstone, 23584 Arnold Drive,
(Marin), Nicasio Valley Cheese Co. (Nicasio), Nicolau Farms Sonoma, CA 95476.
(Modesto), Orland Farmstead Creamery (Orland), Pedrozco Dairy
and Cheese Co. (Orland), Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company Dinner with the Cheesemakers at Suite D
(Point Reyes Station), Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese (Petaluma), Sondra Bernstein, chef and owner of the girl & the fig restaurant
Valley Ford Cheese Company (Valley Ford), Willapa Hills Cheese which is turning 20 this year, has long been an advocate and
(Doty, Washington), Winters Cheese Company (Winters) supporter of the California artisan cheese scene, so it is fitting for
Spirits Producers: the California Artisan Cheese Festival to host a Cheesemaker Dinner
Alley 6 Craft Distillery (Healdsburg), Siddiqui Rum (Windsor), at her newest event space Suite D. This unique location will be
Sonoma Coast Spirits (Petaluma), Sonoma County Distilling the setting for this delectable multi-course dinner showcasing some
Company (Rohnert Park), Spirit Works Distillery (Sebastopol), the areas best artisan cheesemakers and their cheeses, including:
Tamar Distillery (Redwood Valley), Venus Spirits (Santa Cruz) Bellwether Farms, Cypress Grove, Fiscalini Cheese Company, Nicasio
Valley Cheese Company and Orland Farmstead. In addition to each
Wine and Dine with the Cheesemakers course highlighting a different cheesemaker, a local wine, beer or
Another new element this year is the opportunity to experience cider will also be paired with each course to complement the dish.
an intimate evening with some of Californias most talented Tickets $150 per person, including beverage pairing, tax and
cheeesemakers at one of two high-end cheesemaker dinners taking gratuity; March 25, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Suite D, 21800 Schellville Road,
place Saturday night of the California Artisan Cheese Festival. Sonoma, CA 95476.

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Happy Hour with Sutter Home
The Sutter Home Tasting Room will host
a daily happy hour March 13-17 from
3-4:30pm where guests can experience a
complimentary demonstration and taste a
signature Sutter Home wine cocktail.

SANGRIA

Sutter Home Ingredients:


1 750 ml bottle of Sutter Home White Zinfandel
2 shots of brandy
2 tablespoon white sugar
Time for a libation and a little fun with friends. pound strawberries, sliced
Sutter Home Family Vineyards, known for their award-winning wines, shares 1 package of raspberries
their next evolution by showcasing the versatility of wines by incorporating them 1 package of blueberries
into refreshing cocktails. Ice
Whether youre in the mood for a Citrus Pink Love, Back Porch Martini, Sangria
liter club soda
Rosado, Super Simple Strawberry Margarita or a Mango Sunrise, Sutter Home
has cocktail recipes for you. The key ingredient? Sutter Home White Zinfandel, a Instructions:
sweeter vintage for many wine lovers dating back to the 1970s. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
The Sutter Home Vineyards & Winery started in 1948 when the Trinchero Let sangria sit in the refrigerator for one hour
family purchased the original winery. They had a vision, passion, and an insight before serving. Fill glasses and top with club soda.
into consumer tastes that continues to make them a household name today. In
the early 1970s, Sutter Home started a trend when they created White Zinfandel,
introducing a sweeter wine than had previously been available. They also changed
the way Americans enjoyed wine by offering high-quality varietals at an affordable
price. Today, Sutter Home is the second largest independent family-run winery in
the United States. Sutter Home believes that drinking wine should be fun, and best
enjoyed with friends, family and good food. They welcome you to relax into the
day to savor the lighter side of life with a glass in your hand.

2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Medal Winners


Every year Sutter Home Family Vineyards is recognized for their top-quality
wines by industry competitions. Dont miss this years 2017 winners when visiting 277 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
the tasting room: Moscato (Best of Class), Cabernet Sauvignon (Double Gold), Open daily from 10am to 5pm
Zinfandel (Double Gold), Red Moscato (Gold) and Riesling-Moscato (Gold). (707) 302-3296 | sutterhome.com

23
CONTENTS
TABLE
OF
FEBRUARY 24, 2017
ISSUE 10, VOLUME 36

52

FEATURES
22 >> ON THE COVER: SUTTER HOME
Happy Hour with Sutter Home
23 46 >> SAVOR SONOMA VALLEY
March 18 & 19
20 >> BALLETTO
Keeping It Real and Natural
24 >> SEBASTIANI
An Icon Since 1904
26 >> FRANK FAMILY
Hard to Ignore
28 >> CASTELLO DI AMOROSA
A Slice of Midievel Europe
30 >> TASTE OF YOUNTEVILLE
A Total Sensory Experience
31 >> NAPA IN NEWPORT
Elite Napa Wineries Visit Orange County

26 32 >> FLAVOR! NAPA VALLEY


Culinary-Inspired Event, March 22-26
33 >> ST. HELENA WELCOMES CABERNET SEASON
The Little Book of Big Experiences
34 >> SUMMERS ESTATE
20th Anniversary
39 >> STAGS LEAP DISTRICTS WEEKEND
Open Their Doors With Exclusive Access
48 >> PIGS & PINOT
Chef and Winemaker Roster Announced
52 >> MEADOWCROFT
Ditch the Milk and Reach for the Wine
55 >> SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Celebrating with Annual Gala
57 >> GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE HEADING TO THE TASTING ROOM

28 58 >> BARRELS, BOTTLES & BREWS


Livermore Valley Wineries

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