December in Sonoma County is particularly magical, when the brightly-lit town squares and twinkling lights floating over the al fresco spaces of restaurants, tasting rooms, and breweries invite guests to enjoy life’s little luxuries. Excitement awaits thanks to restaurants featuring the bounty of crab season, cozy fireplaces in luxurious and boutique hotels, intimate and personalized experiences, holiday displays, and seasonal deals. Take in the fresh air and end-of-season fall colors as you cozy up for the lovely California winter. This month, Sonoma County celebrates new festive products, restaurant openings with indulgent dishes for the locavore, and exciting new ways to entertain with wine, art and adventure. 

Note: Visitors and residents are asked to continue to wear face coverings in public and practice physical distancing. Please be sure to make reservations (same-day reservations available) and review The Safe Travels Promise before visiting. 

WINERIES & SPIRITS 

Sonoma Coast Spirits Peppermint Vodka  

Enjoy the smooth prominent taste of peppermint in this new holiday vodka launch from Sonoma Coast Spirits. Flavored with natural ingredients, the Peppermint Vodka pairs well in hot chocolate or a White Russian, best served fireside with friends. Get into the DIY craft cocktail spirit this season and impress with the new Peanut Butter Whiskey or the Pumpkin Spice Vodka. Be sure to check out the bacon-flavored olive oil and cocktail mixers when shopping and get 15% off when you join the Spirits Club.  

Sonoma Coast Spirits is a woman-owned craft distillery, run by Jill Olson and her children. Her award-winning products are hand-crafted, artisan in nature, and feature many ingredients from the herb garden and citrus trees in her yard. Crafted in small batches in Petaluma, Sonoma County, all of the products Jill makes are gluten free and vegan. 

Sonoma Coast Spirits 
429 1st Street, Suite 130 
Petaluma, CA 94952 
707-331-0718 
https://www.sonomacoastspirits.com/  

Media Contact 
[email protected]  

Unique wines at Rootdown Cellars’ new tasting room 

Sip on unique and obscure wine varietals at Rootdown Cellars’ new tasting room space, shared with their friends Leo Steen Wines in Healdsburg. Visitors can explore wines like the Trousseau Carbonic that boasts flavors of violets, cut strawberry and fennel, or the Mourvèdre, offering a gentle expression of purple aromatics like plum and violet intermingled with savory spice. Rootdown focuses on varietal-specific wines from single vineyards that lead with earth and texture, rather than only fruit.  

Indulge in a wine experience applaudable for its high standards at Rootdown Cellars’ newspace, where the wines by Mike Lucia are fermented with native yeasts, no new oak, and sulfur only in amounts equal to what is found naturally on the vine. Outdoor tastings are offered 7 days a week from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., where guests can enjoy pourings of both Rootdown and Leo Steen. 

Rootdown Cellars Tasting Room 
53 Front Street 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
707-489-1700 
http://www.rootdownwinecellars.com/  

Media Contact: 
[email protected]  

Laurel Glen Tasting Room moves to historic building 

Explore great, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc grown and made on Sonoma Mountain in Laurel Glen Vineyard’s new tasting room. Warm and full of charm, the Laurel Glen Tasting Room is located in the historic Poppe Building in the hamlet of Glen Ellen. Enjoy the intimate, seated wine tasting experiences of Laurel Glen’s current releases such as the Blanc Slate Sauvignon Blanc, Rosella Rosé, and three distinct Cabernet Sauvignons. Or, explore the Laurel Glen library tasting of rare wines, featuring the perfectly stored Cabernet Sauvignon vintages chosen from their extensive library and spanning at least a decade.  

The 14-acre estate is farmed organically and planted entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon, and ranges from an elevation of 850 to 1,000 feet. The combination of high altitude, eastern exposure, and rocky soils combine to produce memorable wines, rooted in a sense of place. Tastings available daily by reservation.  

Laurel Glen Tasting Room 
13750 Arnold Drive 
Glen Ellen, CA 95442 
707-933-9877 
https://www.laurelglen.com/  

Media Contact:  
[email protected] 

RESTAURANTS & EATERIES 

Melissa Yanc & Sean McGaughey opens Quail & Condor 

Explore the sensations of Quail & Condor’s superlative pastries, bread and pies, where shatteringly flaky croissants and soft and pillowy textures lend to incredibly flavorful treats. In true Sonoma County spirit, the treats at Quail & Condor are made fresh with seasonal local ingredients to create exciting new bakery delights like Persimmon and Walnut Campagne bread or Miso Pumpkin Muffins. Melt into the sweet aromas and bursting flavors of exquisite seasonal pastries like the Cardamom Cream Bun, and you’ll understand why Melissa Yanc is the Season 6 winner of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship. 

Wife and husband duo Melissa Yanc and Sean McGaughey’s new bakery is now open in Healdsburg, and visitors can reserve their selections online for pickup, or visit during business hours to enjoy tugging on a warm hunk of freshly baked sourdough bread.  

Quail & Condor  
149 Healdsburg Ave. 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
818-3789753 
https://www.quailandcondor.com/  

Media Contact 
[email protected]  

Hazel Hill, Scout Bar, and the Healdsburg Country Store to open at the Montage Healdsburg 

The highly anticipated new refined dining experiences at the Montage Healdsburg will open on December 12, each establishment celebrating the bounty of Sonoma County’s local purveyors, farms, and wineries. 

Step into the culinary hideaway at Hazel Hill, offering inventive, refined, and comforting dishes that are deeply infused with Sonoma Wine Country’s flair with a touch of French cuisine. This restaurant features astounding treehouse-inspired private dining rooms and an al fresco dining area overlooking 258 acres of rolling vineyards, heritage oak groves, and hazelnut trees. 

Live music and a glowing fireplace set the mood for pre-dinner cocktails, evening nightcaps and every moment in between at Scout Field Bar. Indulge in an innovative menu of seasonal cocktails highlighting herbs and citrus from the property. Infused spirits and locally sourced ingredients come together to create a menu of share plates to pair with each libation.  

Find delicious gourmet grab-and-go foods, barista-crafted coffees, warm pastries, flavorful sandwiches and regional wines at the Healdsburg Country Store. Take these artisanal goods on your visit to nearby redwood groves and woodland-filled parks for a picturesque picnic followed by an afternoon of wine tasting in Sonoma County Wine Country.  

Hazel Hill, Scout Bar, and the Healdsburg Country Store 
100 Montage Way 
Healdsburg, CA 95448 
707-979-9000 
https://www.montagehotels.com/healdsburg/dining/  

Media Contact 
[email protected]  

Ippinn Sushi & Ramen delivers beautifully fresh Japanese indulgences 

Trade in your sushi cravings for artfully-plated, ocean-fresh sashimi served with colorful fresh flowers and petals atop a bed of carved ice at Sonoma County’s newest sushi restaurant, Ippinn Sushi and Ramen in Santa Rosa. Taste through the exclusive Nigiri sushi offerings like the buttery Otoro (fatty tuna), melt-in-your-mouth Uni (sea urchin) and sweet Amaebi (spot prawns), or, indulge in classic Japanese sushi rolls that combine colorful mouthwatering seafood with fried tempura or local vegetables, topped with delicious house-made sauces. Those looking for Japanese-style comfort food will relish in the soul-healing ramen bowls served in flavorful broths or the wok-cooked fried rice and Yakisoba options.  

It’s no wonder this new spot has reinvigorated Japanese cuisine in the region, as Ippinn Sushi is a sister restaurant to the beloved nearby Ippinn Udon restaurant, serving fresh handmade udon daily. Outdoor seating is garnished with twinkling lights, and once pandemic restrictions are lifted diners can enjoy the fun Japanese conveyor belt sushi experience indoors – the first in Sonoma Wine Country! 

Ippinn Sushi & Ramen 
1985 Mendocino Ave. 
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 
707-800-7699 
http://www.ippinnsushi.com/  

ACCOMMODATIONS 

Stay at a fresh and modern B&Bs with Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville 

Escape to a modern bed and breakfast in the heart of the Russian River Valley, set on two and a half acres of natural landscapes. Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville, is a restored 1906 farmhouse curated with modern design, fresh amenities and welcomes four-legged guests with its expansive outdoor spaces. Included in your stay is a locally-driven, full organic breakfast complete with house-made juices.  

This charmingly rustic property is buried in towering redwoods near river waters and unique eateries. Using enhanced cleaning standards and proudly complying with the California Hotel and Lodging’s Clean and Safe standards for Covid-19, the inn places guest wellbeing at the top of their priorities. Formerly the Sonoma Orchid Inn, this property has been re-branded to Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville, under new ownership with trendy new updates. Located near Korbel Winery and minutes away from downtown Guerneville, guests are invited to enjoy the Russian River Valley experience of a lifetime.  

Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville 
12850 River Road 
Guerneville, CA 95446 
707-869-4466 
https://mineandfarminn.com/  

Media Contact 
Suzanne Szostak 
[email protected]  

SHOPPING & ACTIVITIES 

Wild Honey Mercantile comes to Montgomery Village

Peruse through the new mecca of all things Sonoma County cool at Montgomery Village’s newest boutique, Wild Honey Mercantile, where the shop is buzzing with products created by local designers alongside popular labels all displayed thoughtfully in a wonderful home-like setting. This serene style hub offers refined goods spanning the categories of fashion, home, beauty, and art. Score some sartorial gems like locally sourced handmade jewelry, trendy clothing pieces, and cozy lightweight scarves donning beautiful ombre colors. Shop for brands whose values align with yours and bring home purposefully crafted products like Poppy & Pout’s cruelty free flower-powered lip balms, woman-owned Rosmarino Candle’s nontoxic hand-poured scents, or wild harvested organic teas. 

Woman-owned and operated, this boutique store showcases a love for neutrals and timeworn pieces, complimented by fresh finds to make your home and personal style feel relaxed, comfortable, and most of all, pretty.  

Wild Honey Mercantile 
2332 Magowan Drive 
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 
707-483-1345 
https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneymercantile/  

Media Contact 
Heather Walters 
[email protected]  

New El Mercadito Farmers’ Market in Roseland 

Gather locally grown produce, freshly made food from vendors, and beautiful seasonal florals at this new farmers’ market next to Mitote Food Park in Roseland. Experience the vibrant culture at El Mercadito, and savor some fresh crepes, hot churros, and sweet crunchy kettle corn while shopping for unique seasonal produce freshly plucked from nearby farms. Find a variety of different mushrooms, persimmons, peaches, squashes, tomatillos, papayas, and much more. 

Vendors include Fidel’s Gourmet Growers, Rojas Family Farm, Myriad Coffee, Camacho Family Farms, Ortiz Brothers Farm, Crepe du Jour, Churroteka, Lucky Pop Kettle Corn, and more.  

Visit Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

El Mercadito Farmer’s Market 
777 Sebastopol Road 
Santa Rosa, CA 95407 
https://www.facebook.com/Mercadito-Market-at-Roseland-Village-103434601521829/  

Media Contact 
Guadalupe Gallegos 
[email protected]  

Getaway Adventures gets a new storefront in Healdsburg  

Take an adventurous trip and explore the beauty of Sonoma County Wine Country through the lens of Getaway Adventures by bike, kayak, hike, or van. Stop by the new storefront in Healdsburg and explore an array of experiences that can be fully customized to include any combination of activities, including carefully curated wine tastings and delicious picnic lunches under towering redwood trees.  

Choose your adventure and embark on full-day or half-day excursions. Getaway Adventures is the ideal place to start when planning thrilling adventures on the Russian River, in the redwoods, by the Sonoma Coast, or through rolling vineyard views. With a new merger between Getaway Adventures and Wine Country Bikes, visitors can do it all with bike rentals, multi-day vacation tours and multi-sport night tours, guiding any adventure seeker and wine lover through truly memorable escapes.  

Getaway Adventures 
61 Front Street 
Healdsburg, CA 
800-499-2453 
https://getawayadventures.com/  

Media Contact 
[email protected]  

Creative Sonoma’s “Creative ReOpening” livens up Sonoma County with public art displays 

Experience the bold new expressions of public art that are popping up around Sonoma County’s shopping, eating, and drinking destinations. Funded by Creative Sonoma, Creative ReOpening projects have transformed community spaces with interactive murals, tiny galleries, labyrinths, light installations, sculptures and poetry. 

“This project has been a great way to support our artists, our businesses and our community.  We are using the arts to enliven pop-up and repurposed spaces that businesses need in order to accommodate patrons at distances that keep them safe”, said Kristen Madsen, director of Creative Sonoma. “The artists have helped make these new spaces more comfortable, interesting and engaging.” 

Sonoma Valley’s Plaza-area restaurants received one of the first treatments, expanding public dining areas with canopies and parklets that is expected to continue until October 2021 or longer. In downtown Santa Rosa, where 4th Street at the Historic Railroad Square has been transformed into European-style outdoor dining, the most recent installment is a festive gold mailbox inviting letters of love, grievances, and questions to the past or future. It even has its own Instagram page that posts the anonymous submissions.  

Those visiting the Russian River corridor will find an installation spanning over 5 miles, created by world-renowned artist Jim Iserman. In Healdsburg, artist Jessica Martin is curating a program titled “Voices,” including light installations, video art, murals, and interactive art projects. The Windsor Town Green is decorated with artwork that celebrates the community’s global cuisine, where diners can traverse the globe in 20 blocks. And Petaluma’s dining scene is reimagined with parklet programs across the town, creating charming shared environments for entertainment. 

Media Contact 
[email protected]  

# # #  

Experience Sonoma County, where Life Opens Up. Just as wine “opens up” when it’s allowed to breathe, Sonoma County inspires visitors to open up to new experiences.  

Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is one of California’s top food and wine destinations, home to more than 425 wineries ranging from rustic to regal. Hike among towering redwoods, cruise along rugged Pacific coastline, and get to know inviting small towns. Or, just sit back and take it all in. Because here, you’re free to go your own way.    

Sonoma County was named Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Wine Region of the Year. Discover why by visiting it yourself. Start planning today at www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.  

Media Contact  
Anna Yan  & Biggi Vaughan
Sonoma County Tourism     
[email protected]  

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