The Sonoma Spiel

Codi Binkley grew up touring in a converted school bus, became a musician and eventually helped transform a long-vacant building on Sonoma Plaza into B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille.
Codi joins Sonoma Spiel host Tim Zahner to share stories from his unconventional Sonoma journey. He explains how he and Executive Chef Carlo Cavallo built B&V, why its early days were filled with live music and how his experiences touring with The Whiskey Thieves shaped his approach to hospitality.
And then the good stuff: an oversized burger bearing Codi’s name, the pirate flag that stirred up controversy, rumors of tunnels beneath Sonoma Plaza and a hidden wishing well.
During “We Get Questions,” Codi and Tim answer practical wine-country questions, including what to wear wine tasting, where visitors can stomp grapes, whether Sonoma Valley has cooperative tasting rooms and which winery experiences may work well for families traveling with children.
Learn more about B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille, view the menu or make a reservation:https://bvsonoma.com/
Find Codi Binkley’s music and upcoming performances:https://www.codibinkley.com/
SAVE ON SONOMA WINE TASTINGS
Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
ABOUT THE SONOMA SPIEL
The Sonoma Spiel introduces you to the people, places and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special destination. The podcast is produced by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.
Plan your Sonoma Valley visit:https://www.sonomavalley.com/
Questions about Sonoma Valley?
Email: info@sonomavalley.comCall or text: 707-996-1090
Follow Experience Sonoma Valley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceSonomaValleyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonoma_valley/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@experiencesonomavalley
VISIT OUR SONOMA VALLEY VISITOR CENTERS
Historic Sonoma Plaza24 East Spain Street at the Toscano HotelSonoma, CA 95476
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards24724 Arnold DriveSonoma, CA 95476
WATCH AND LISTEN
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNFApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
#SonomaValley #TheSonomaSpiel #BVSonoma

Six generations, 168 harvests and one unforgettable six-wheeled vineyard vehicle: Katie Bundschu shares the story of Gundlach Bundschu, California’s oldest family-owned winery.
Katie explains how Rhinefarm was established in 1858, how the Gundlach and Bundschu families came together, and how the winery survived Prohibition and generations of change. She also talks about leaving Sonoma to pursue a career in college athletics fundraising—and what eventually brought her home to the family business.
Today, “Gun Bun” combines wine, history, regenerative organic farming and live music. Katie takes us inside the Pinz Excursion through the vineyards, the Donkey Bar, the winery’s amphitheater and historic Redwood Barn. She also discusses an unusually early beginning to Sonoma’s 2026 grape harvest.
Over a glass of dry estate Gewürztraminer, Katie and host Tim Zahner explore library wines, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, farming at Rhinefarm and the qualities that make Sonoma Valley feel like home.
During “We Get Questions,” Katie helps answer questions about the Bear Flag Revolt, finding great Chardonnay, sweet and semi-sweet Sonoma wines, visiting during the fall, dog-friendly businesses and how to convince someone to move to Sonoma.
VISIT GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU
Website: https://www.gunbun.com/Tours and tastings: https://www.gunbun.com/visit/Concerts and events: https://www.gunbun.com/events/
PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT
Discover wineries, restaurants, lodging and upcoming events:https://www.sonomavalley.com/
Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
GOT A SONOMA QUESTION?
Email info@sonomavalley.com, text 707-996-1090, find us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, or stop by one of our two Sonoma Valley visitor centers.
LISTEN TO THE SONOMA SPIEL
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Every Sunday afternoon, Sonoma Plaza becomes one of Wine Country's best live-music venues—and the concerts are free. Melissa Bingham, Executive Director of Music in Place, joins Tim Zahner to discuss Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza, featuring live music from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Grinstead Amphitheater.
The 2026 series runs from June 7 through October 4, with everything from funk, jazz and bluegrass to bossa nova, zydeco, swing and Oktoberfest music.
Music in Place began during the pandemic as a way to keep musicians and production professionals working. Today, the nonprofit presents free community concerts, intimate ticketed performances, youth music education programs and the MIP Cabaret series.
Melissa also explains how In Place Productions helps people book professional musicians for weddings, conferences, house parties and other events—with proceeds helping support free concerts, music education and paid opportunities for artists.
Then it’s time for “We Get Questions,” including:
• Which Sonoma Valley wineries should first-time visitors try?
• When are Sonoma’s farmers markets?
• Where can you find live music around Sonoma?
• Where should someone go for authentic French food?
• Why doesn’t Sonoma have many stoplights?
• When does the wine-grape harvest begin?
 
Learn more about Music in Place: https://musicinplace.org/ See the Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza schedule: https://musicinplace.org/sonoma-sundays-on-the-plaza/
Book musicians through In Place Productions: https://musicinplace.org/in-place-productions/
Plan your Sonoma Valley visit: https://www.sonomavalley.com
Need help planning? Call or text the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau at 707-996-1090.
Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
Listen to The Sonoma Spiel:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
#SonomaValley #LiveMusic #SonomaPlaza

Antonín Dvořák traveled from Bohemia to Vienna, England, Russia and the United States—and the people, places and musical traditions he encountered helped shape his work.
Valley of the Moon Music Festival co-founder and artistic director Eric Zivian returns to the Sonoma Spiel with viola player Rose Nellis of the Amizia Quartet. Together, they preview “Postcards from Dvořák,” a festival season inspired by the composer’s travels around the world.
Eric explains how Dvořák rose from modest beginnings in Bohemia to become an internationally celebrated composer. His curiosity led him to explore music from many cultures, including African American spirituals and Native American musical traditions during his time in the United States.
Rose shares what life is like as a professional chamber musician, how the internationally based Amizia Quartet rehearses and travels together, and why the viola occupies such an important place inside a string quartet.
She also answers a surprisingly complicated question: Is a viola simply a large violin, or is a violin an undersized viola?
One of Rose’s favorite descriptions compares a string quartet to a bottle of wine: The first violin is the label, the cello is the bottle, and the viola and second violin are the wine.
Rose also performs the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 live in the studio.
The conversation covers:
• Dvořák’s travels through Europe and the United States• His connections to Harry T. Burleigh and American spirituals• The difference between a viola and a violin• Fortepianos, gut strings and historical performance• The Amizia Quartet’s international rehearsal schedule• The Festival’s apprenticeship and fellowship programs• Free, family-friendly and outdoor concerts in Sonoma Valley• Why arts education matters• Sonoma picnic supplies, sandwiches, coffee and bicycle parking
The conversation concludes with another round of “We Get Questions,” featuring visitor questions about picnic provisions, Sonoma sandwiches, California maps and where to park a bicycle around the Sonoma Plaza.
VALLEY OF THE MOON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Festival information and tickets:https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org/
SONOMA TASTING PASS
Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass. Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
PLAN YOUR SONOMA VALLEY VISIT
Visit: https://www.sonomavalley.com/Email: info@sonomavalley.comText: 707-996-1090Or visit one of our two Sonoma Valley visitor centers.
LISTEN AND FOLLOW
Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceSonomaValley
Instagram and TikTok:@ExperienceSonomaValley

Chris Schreiner of Platt Vineyard joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation that starts with peaches in Sonoma Valley and winds its way through Las Vegas, theater kids, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, wine clones, toasted barrels, Sonoma Plaza tasting rooms, and the cool-climate vineyards of the West Sonoma Coast.
Platt Vineyard’s new tasting salon is located just off the Sonoma Plaza on First Street West, while the vineyard itself sits far to the west near the coast, where fog, redwoods, ocean influence, and carefully planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir shape the wines. Chris explains how Platt’s fruit became highly sought after by respected winemakers, why the estate now makes wines under its own label, and what visitors can expect from a tasting.
Tim and Chris also keep things friendly for newer wine drinkers, breaking down terms like “stone fruit,” “buttery Chardonnay,” “toast,” “clones,” “terroir,” and “microclimate” without making anyone feel like they need a wine dictionary.
Then Chris joins the “We Get Questions” segment for a Sonoma Plaza scavenger hunt covering ducks, the visitor center, the Bear Flag Revolt, Sweet Scoops, the Sonoma Mission, General Vallejo, and more.
Learn more about Platt Vineyard at https://www.plattvineyard.com/en/
Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass: https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
Find more Sonoma Valley travel ideas at https://www.sonomavalley.com/
Listen to The Sonoma Spiel on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch on YouTube.

Summer nights at the Green Music Center are built for picnics on the lawn, big-name concerts, family movies, fireworks, and that unmistakable feeling of hearing live music under the stars. Andy Shepherd and Erin Donohue from the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University join the Sonoma Spiel podcast to preview Summer at the Green 2026, a season that brings together the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler with Spin Doctors, Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge, Andy Grammer, NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, Jake Owen, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, TajMo with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Boz Scaggs, chamber music, and family-friendly Movies at the Green. They also get into what makes the Green Music Center such a special Sonoma County venue: Weill Hall’s back wall opens to the lawn, giving guests the choice of sitting inside, reserving tables outside, or spreading out picnic-style on the grass. Bring the family, bring dinner, enjoy concessions and food trucks, and settle in for summer performances in Rohnert Park, just over the hill from Sonoma Valley. Then Andy and Erin are deputized for “We Get Questions,” answering real visitor questions about Mexican restaurants in the Springs, where to try Pinot Noir, gluten-free lunch options, wine shops, and where to find a pressed penny machine souvenir. Green Music Center Summer at the Green: https://gmc.sonoma.edu/summer-at-the-green-2026/ Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPassListen to more Sonoma Spiel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNFApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9bHave a question about Sonoma Valley? Email info@sonomavalley.com or text 707-996-1090. Find more things to do, places to stay, wineries, restaurants, events, and special offers at: https://www.sonomavalley.com

Beth Costa brought bubbles, stories and 26 years of Wine Road wisdom to the Sonoma Spiel. After more than two decades leading Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County, Beth Costa has retired — just as Wine Road celebrates its 50th anniversary. Beth joins Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to talk about how Wine Road grew from a hand-drawn map and a handful of wineries into one of Sonoma County’s best-known wine tourism organizations. On the road we discover Barrel Tasting, Winter WINEland, Wine & Food Affair, wine futures, winery collaboration, the early days of websites and fax machines, the rise of wine podcasts, and why sparkling wine belongs in your fridge every day — not just for celebrations. Beth also talks about Wine Road’s podcast, her career path from retail to Kendall-Jackson to Wine Road, the changing wine tasting experience, how wineries can stay approachable, and what retirement might look like: gardening, champagne, felt birthday crowns and absolutely no unnecessary meetings. Wine Road represents wineries and experiences across Northern Sonoma County, including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. Beth’s successor, Katie Ambrosi, stepped into the Executive Director role as Wine Road prepared for its 50th anniversary year. Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Summer in Sonoma already comes with a lot going for it. Add Broadway songs, live musicians, oak trees, a picnic, a glass of wine, and a stage under the evening sky, and you’re in Transcendence territory.
Tony Gonzalez and Lace Scott stop by to talk about what’s ahead for Transcendence Theatre Company as it opens a new chapter in downtown Sonoma. This year’s season brings a fresh location, a new setup, and a major creative shift toward full musicals, beginning with Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, followed by Radio Recall and Mamma Mia! later in the summer. They also talk about the artists coming in from Broadway and beyond, the excitement around this year’s cast, and why the company feels like it’s taking a big step forward without losing what people already love about Broadway Under the Stars.
The conversation also wanders through hotel packages, picnics, partner restaurants, special seating options, Fourth of July with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and the kind of joyful summer arts scene that makes Sonoma Valley feel bigger than its size. It’s theater, music, hospitality, and a little bit of magic all bundled together into one very Sonoma experience.
Learn more and get tickets at www.bestnightever.org.
The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit.
🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at info@sonomavalley.com, text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.
It’s Sonoma Valley’s top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, includingYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNFApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b