The Sonoma Spiel

Accessible Wine Country - Sonoma Spiel Episode 10

Breaking away from talking specifically about Sonoma Valley, we are joined by Jake Steinman of TravelAbility, the organization that explores the nexus of travel and disability, and provides resources for companies and destinations to make sure they provide good information and are strategic in how they make their experiences more inclusive. Big takeaway - eventually many people will "age into a disability." Have we created a world that is inclusive and ready for this?Jake got into this by accident.As Jake relates, "The journey that led us to the creation of TravelAbility Summit started with a bogus award!
In 2018 North American Journeys received a “Travel Agent of the Year” award from the City of Sausalito, California, where are located. Though we are not a travel agency we started to receive a trickle, then a stream, of individuals stopping by our headquarters seeking help in planning and implementing a trip with a disabled family member.
With little in the marketplace to provide help or offer referrals, we embarked on a two-month listening tour to better understand the travel challenges and needs of disabled persons today.
Our findings were eye-opening."

Food Trends and The Wrong Font Spells Doom: Heather Irwin, Bite Club - Episode 9

Heather Irwin of Bite Club is the restaurant writer, trend watcher and all-around-scene-spieler in Sonoma County, and she comes to talk about what's hot, what's new, and how to tell if the font on the menu bodes well for the success of a restaurant.
She also talks about starting Sonoma Family Meal, a non-profit borne out of the need to feed hungry people displaced by tragedy and how it met a need to provide food and keep restaurants busy.Always funny, witty and self-effacing, Heather is ready to spiel about Sonoma Valley's dining scene.

Harvest Preview & Last Payphone Repairman - Sonoma Spiel Episode 8

The Sonoma Spiel previews upcoming harvest events like the Gravenstein Apple Fair, the Sonoma Music Festival, Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival and other reasons to come visit Sonoma Valley in the upcoming months.
Plus we learn about Anthony, the last Payphone Repairman in Northern California. A fast and furious version of the Sonoma Spiel - make sure to subscribe to get all the details.
 
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Matty Vino: Wine Country Beyond The Wine

Matty Vino - the manbottle that dares to seek out wine country beyond the wine - breaks free from roaming among the redwoods and dining in great restaurants to tell us about his mission to bring the appeal of Sonoma Valley and greater Sonoma County to the world. The brainchild of noted writer and journalist Matt Villano, who also makes an appearance, Matty Vino brings the naïf like wonder of Mr. Bean, Pee Wee Herman blended with a bottle of merlot. He also has a chardonnay body suit if a white wine is preferred. Where to French kiss a giraffe? Do you know where the rhinos go? Can you paddle a canoe in a large wine bottle? Matty Vino tells all and then says New Jersey doesn't actually have the best pizza, and neither does Chicago. Take it away, Matty... https://mattyvino.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thatmattyvino/
 

Rancho Maria Winery and The Best Beard on the Sonoma Plaza Ep. 6

Sebastian Juarez and Daniel Zamanillo from Rancho Maria Wines sit to talk about what it's like being the only place to do a wine tasting in Spanish on the Sonoma Plaza, as well as why Sebastian has one of the top three beards on the Plaza. We also cover Mexican wines from the Valle de Guadalupe, why we need more walk-up lunch windows on the Plaza and sushi, and talk about whether or not Thomas Keller will ever get the hang of that restaurant thing. Sebastian talks about starting with 200 cases of Zinfandel by selling wine from the back of his car at age 23, and how the winery uses the best of their fruit from northern Sonoma County to make their wines. 

”Guess The Cop Show” - Chief Orlando Rodriguez Ep. 5

Born in Mexico, raised in a family that worked in agriculture in Arizona and California, and he used to have the loudest, lowest Isuzu Pup pickup in the Sacramento Valley - Sonoma's own police chief Orlando Rodriguez joins the Sonoma Spiel to talk about where to go for lunch, remind us that they do in fact have cops on bikes and try to guess the opening music of various cop shows.He also reminds us that by statute there has to be one grizzled veteran in the briefing room and woe be to the rookie that sits in that seat, and how the smarty-pants cops in the crime scene lab are crucial to solving crime. Then he dishes some advice about visitors (and locals) in Sonoma Valley - please drive carefully!
 
Intro music - which has that 80s cop vibe - Miami Sky, Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio. Used with kind permission.

Gay Wine Weekend with Gary, Alexandra & Kelly Ep.4

Gary Saperstein from Out in the Vineyard's Gay Wine Weekend details all the happenings on the upcoming Gay Wine Weekend and how the getaway event has evolved over the years. He's joined by Alexandra O'Gorman and Kelly O'Brien from Chateau St. Jean, where the big Twilight T-Dance is held as part of the weekend.Listen up, people, as Gary knows Sonoma Valley and he is ready to dish! 

Violas in the Merlot: Valley of the Moon Music Festival Ep.3

Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian from Valley of the Moon Music Festival hit us right in the gut (strings) with details of wine country's premier classical music festival, featuring instruments from the period when the music was composed. Hear about less-known composers (Fanny Mendelsohn, Josephine Lang, Rebecca Clarke) as well as more well known ones like Schubert and Beethoven.
We also hear about their apprentice program and how audiences can enjoy music al fresco at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park or public concerts like the one at the Sonoma Community Center.