Important Vineyards in Sonoma County

Not necessarily the best, oldest, biggest, or most famous vineyards, though they could be. These are important because of their influence. We are talking about the vineyards that grow wine grapes, not wineries. 

Who Controls Wine (Plus Beer and Spirits) Availability?

Like many businesses, the alcohol biz tries to exert control over the country's laws that affect their bottom line through lobbies and contributions. You can blame them, as alcohol in the U.S. has a ton of federal, state, and county rules on what you can do.

One segment outspends everyone else by a large margin. 

Should Glass Wine Bottles Go Away?

Almost half of a winery's greenhouse gas emissions are from the production and transport of glass bottles. It could be a big win if there's a reasonable alternative.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2025

The Harvest Fair, est. 1975, awards medals to wines and foods from the county. The evening public tasting is Saturday, Oct 11th. The link below takes you to PDFs for the Best of Class and Gold medal wines.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2025 winners. 

The Other White Wine, Sauvignon Blanc

"The Other White Meat" was a 1980s advertising campaign slogan for pork. Sauvignon Blanc is the other white wine. As there is more than chicken to the lighter meats; there's more than Chardonnay when you want a white wine.

Multi-Generational Sonoma Family Wineries

From Grape Collective, an industry online news website, the author of the "Keeping It in the Family" article talks with six independent family wineries about the past and future generations in their family businesses. Rafanelli and Rochioli are the two better-known ones of the six wineries. Enjoy learning what it's like to run a small winery with family members. 

Late autumn at Hawley Winery
image from Grape Collective

Click on the link below

Keeping It in the Family: Next Generation Successes in Sonoma County

Direct URL is https://www.grapecollective.com

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Sonoma County For Zinfandel Lovers

Sonoma County's premier grape isn't Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. It's actually Zinfandel. No, it isn't the most-planted or most-famous wine from Sonoma, but it's still on top because nobody does Zin like Sonoma County.

Wine Tasting in Sonoma County on Foot

Visitors often wonder about the best way to experience the wineries with worrying about getting a DUI. Some ways are having a DD, hire a driver at a significant expense, share tastings with your SO, and spitting. Perhaps a better way to enjoy a day of wine tasting is on foot. There are some places you can do that. It's called one-stop sipping.   :)

The Way We Sell Wine Needs to Change

The American wine industry, like all alcohol businesses, has been shaped by two major regulatory changes that dramatically increased access and market power. These changes have paved the way for today's ongoing consolidation, affecting both which wines reach consumers and how.

The first was the 1933 repeal of Prohibition, shifting from criminal alcohol operations to a legal three-tier system of producers, wholesalers, and retailers. The second was the Supreme Court overturning state direct-to-consumer laws in 2005, which opened the entire country to home delivery.

Chardonnay, the Commodity Wine

Commodity - A basic good like crude oil, grain, or steel that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type. A soybean is a soybean, it doesn't matter where it comes from.

To some, Chardonnay is a commodity.

Air Travel Into Sonoma County

Southwest Airlines has just announced upcoming service to STS, Sonoma County's commercial airport. SW will be offering flights to and from Denver, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Burbank. Vegas and San Diego will be daily. Ticketing is available now, but the flights don't begin until April 2026.

Currently, Alaska Airlines has the most flights to STS with Los Angeles, Orange County, Burbank, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle routes. 

American Airlines has service to Dallas and Phoenix. 

You may see mention of Avelo Airlines flights to STS, but they have pulled out, and good riddance. 

BTW, the nearest winery tasting room to the airport terminal is less than three miles.  :) 

Sonoma County Harvest Events 2025

Autumn is harvest time in Wine Country and there are many special events to celebrate the harvest. If you're going to be in the area this fall, don't miss the last item on the list!