SANTA ROSA, Calif. (December 10, 2019) – Sonoma County Vintners announces this year’s harvest produced outstanding grapes, and wine lovers can look forward to world-class wines. With Mother Nature’s support, the 2019 growing season provided fantastic grape growing conditions. As a result, wine enthusiasts should mark their calendars now to gather in Sonoma County to taste this vintage beginning in spring 2020. “This has been a nearly ideal winegrowing season in Sonoma County,” says Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director Michael Haney. “There was just the right amount of heat early in the growing season to acclimate the grapes, mild temperatures continued throughout the season and offered superior flavor development.” Sonoma County experienced late rains into May that benefitted winegrowers. This was followed by a series of warm days that carried on through September. The result was outstanding fruit ready for harvest. “2019 was a remarkable harvest here in Sonoma! We had a later summer with mild temperatures, which lead to long hang times, and even ripening, giving us some pretty distinctive flavor development,” says Cline Family Cellars Second Generation Vintner Megan Cline. “I’m expecting the wines of 2019 to be incredibly age-worthy, I’m pretty sure it will be one for…

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (October 1, 2019) – Celebrating its Fourth Anniversary, Sonoma County Vintners shares exceptional programming for Sonoma County Wine Month in October. With more than 60 varietals of wines, unique special offers and extraordinary regional events there are more reasons than ever to honor Sonoma County Wine Month this year. Wine lovers can celebrate at home with stunning wines and start planning their next Sonoma County wine country visit in October with inspiring emerging details. “We are thrilled to commemorate Sonoma County Wine Month with the world,” says Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director Michael Haney. “We are fortunate to work with more than 250 vintners across Sonoma County and share award-winning, distinguished wines from 18 appellations. There is truly something for everyone from our prestigious wine region.” Travelers can plan their visit with friends, partake in harvest adventures and learn more about wine with valuable insights from Sonoma County Vintners. Families looking to take advantage of school being back in session, can escape to the grand terroir of the Sonoma County. Solo travelers can relish in the meditating moments of luxurious adventures with approachable hospitality to fill their soul and broaden their wine knowledge. Regional events fill every…

Santa Rosa, CA (Aug 28, 2019) — Today, the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation and Honorary Co-Chairs Gina Gallo and Christopher Jackson unveiled the complete list of one-of-a-kind auction lots available at the 2019Sonoma County Wine Auction, presented by Visa Signature®. The auction lots are an exclusive way to procure sought-after wines, private experiences, dinners with America’s top chefs, and excursions not typically available to the public. A few examples include: an evening with celebrated band Lady Antebellum hosted by Christopher and Ariel Jackson of Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, a tour of Northern Italy curated by Gina Gallo and E. & J. Gallo Winery, the ultimate fan experience with San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famers and iconic vintner Merry Edwards, and a stay at Francis Ford Coppola’s private island from The Family Coppola. The live auction will be hosted at La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard and will be the culmination of a weekend of activities taking place September 19-21.  Proceeds from this event support more Sonoma County non-profit organizations than any other local fundraiser. Over $30 million has been raised since the auction’s inception, making a direct local impact on education, health and human services, the environment, and arts and culture….

GEYSERVILLE, Calif. (June 5, 2019) – The Family Coppola, including Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Virginia Dare Winery, join together with Sonoma County Vintners and Santa Rosa Junior College to offer a new entry-level, practical training course for students who wish to enter the Sonoma County wine industry this harvest season. The three-day experiential program includes combined classroom and practical learning to provide a unique wine industry introduction. “It’s important we work together as a community to create innovative ideas that encourage more interest in careers in the wine industry,” says Corey Beck, The Family Coppola CEO and Winemaking Chief. “This innovative program is a win-win for students and for wineries. Students go beyond the classroom for a behind-the-scenes look into an operating winery and the chance to build relationships with its experts who are actively recruiting for current or future positions.” Mornings will be spent in the classroom with Santa Rosa Junior College faculty and industry expert, Pat Henderson, addressing a variety of critical topics for winery operations, cellar work and beyond. Participants will roll up their sleeves each afternoon for wine facility tours and hands-on training with industry professionals. Educational topics include an overview of wine (crush, fermentation…

Santa Rosa, CA (May 23, 2019) – On May 22, 2019 Sonoma County Vintners Foundation presented Mark West Community Preschool with a $25,000 grant at a check presentation ceremony to support rebuilding the school, after it was lost in the Tubbs Fire in 2017. “We at the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, and the Sonoma County wine community are honored to support Mark West Community Preschool,” said Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director. “After touring the school’s temporary facility and seeing what the school has meant to the children, parents and teachers, we knew that helping Mark West Preschool was of utmost importance for this community.” The new school will be made of steel and fire resistant materials and will serve as a model building for the community. The building is planned to be energy efficient, solar powered and complete with rainwater catchment systems, heated flooring and ample natural light. The glass walls, windows and skylights will allow children to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. The new school is scheduled to reopen in June 2020. The Proceeds Matter “The generous donation gives us hope that we can rebuild our school,” said Renee Whitlock-Hemsouvanh, of Mark West Community Preschool. “Losing…

Santa Rosa, CA (May 6, 2019) – National and international trade buyers convened on Friday, May 3 in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley at the spectacular MacMurray Estate Vineyards for the Fifth Annual Sonoma County Barrel Auction. Eighty-five “Never Before, Never Again” wine lots handcrafted for this year’s auction raised a total of $645,000. The Sonoma County Barrel Auction has generated over $3.4 million since its inception in 2015. This year’s auction was attended by over 450 guests and featured rare small lot wines ranging from 5 to 20 cases. These unique wines from Sonoma County’s top vintners and growers were made exclusively for the auction. Each lot was crafted to showcase the region’s highest quality and to express the story of Sonoma County’s diverse grape growing and winemaking styles. Selections included unique single vineyard bottlings, specific clonal selections, blends, wines aged using special barrel regimes and joint lot wines produced by collaborating vintners and AVA groups. Auctioneer John Curley’s unique style and dynamic energy engaged and entertained the crowd throughout the event. Trade bidders vied for top lots which included Silver Oak Cellars’ “First of Its Kind” 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon which sold for $40,000 and Williams Selyem’s…

Santa Rosa, CA (April 23, 2019)—Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, through the generosity of the wine community, donors and guests of the Sonoma County Wine Auction, is donating $1.1 million in grants to more than 60 local nonprofit organizations to address the community’s critical needs. “We are proud to be able to support so many nonprofit organizations throughout Sonoma County,” said Clay Mauritson, Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Board President. “This was my first year sitting on the Community Grants committee. It was inspiring to see how the Sonoma County wine community can have a direct impact to essential nonprofits where we live and work. We want to be able to continue supporting organizations like these not only now, but in the future as well, to ensure they continue to thrive for years to come.” Grants were made through the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Community Grants program with funding from the 2018 Sonoma County Wine Auction. The event, which has raised more than $30 million since its inception, is the region’s leading annual fundraising event. The 2018-2019 Community Grants program targets four key areas: education, health and human services, environment, arts and culture, and fire relief. Nonprofits are eligible to apply for…

SANTA ROSA, CA (April 17, 2019) – Sonoma County Vintners Foundation is pleased to announce that Christopher Jackson of Jackson Family Wines and Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery, two key members of prominent winemaking families in Sonoma County, have joined to co-chair the 2019 Sonoma County Wine Auction, the region’s leading charitable fundraising event. The event, presented by Visa Signature®, will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard. “We are thrilled to be working with Christopher and Gina to support us with our charitable fundraising this year,” stated Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director. “Each year our Honorary Chairs are selected for their leadership and commitment to helping others. Christopher and Gina’s families have a long legacy of giving back and supporting Sonoma County.” “Our family has always been proud to support and work with local nonprofit organizations,” said Christopher Jackson. “I am proud to continue the tradition especially during this critical time in our community—help is needed now more than ever.” As Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke’s only son and a second-generation proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, Christopher is involved in all aspects of the family business. He…

Santa Rosa, CA (March 26, 2019)—Sonoma County Vintners has revealed a diverse collection of lots with 84 “Never Before, Never Again” wines to be auctioned at the Fifth Annual Sonoma County Barrel Auction. Hosted at MacMurray Estate Vineyards, this invitation-only event for licensed members of the wine trade will take place on Friday, May 3, 2019. Auction lots can be viewed on the Sonoma County Barrel Auction website. “We’re excited to unveil the collection of wines offered for the 2019 Sonoma County Barrel Auction,” said Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director, Michael Haney. “This event gives us the opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of our wines and our world-class wine region to visiting buyers from across the nation and around the world, and shine a spotlight on our renowned vintners and growers.” The 2019 Sonoma County Barrel Auction lots are representative of the exceptional diversity of Sonoma County.  Sonoma County is home to 18 appellations, has over 400 wineries and grows over 60 varieties of wine grapes. Attendees can expect to find sparkling, white and red wines from the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Fountaingrove District, Knights Valley, Moon Mountain District, Petaluma Gap, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and…

Santa Rosa, CA (March 11, 2019)—Sonoma County Vintners Foundation has donated $50,000 to United Way of the Wine Country to support flood recovery and relief efforts in Sonoma County. United Way of the Wine Country will leverage this $50,000 gift as a matching gift on donations made by all other donors to its Sonoma County Flood Recovery & Wellness Fund. Gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations are eligible for this match. “The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation and our wine community are committed to supporting Sonoma County and being there for our community, especially during emergencies like the recent flooding in parts of our region,” said Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director. “By partnering with United Way of the Wine Country and Community Foundation Sonoma County, we are able to provide urgent support and assist those who were affected by the floods.” Lisa Carreño, President/CEO for United Way of the Wine Country, said, “We are one undeniable community when we reach out to support one another in times like these. This generous gift from the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation demonstrates their genuine commitment to our neighbors and the firm belief that we are in this recovery together.” The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation…