The Sonoma Spiel

Wrong intro, right guest! Matt Leffert from Jack London Park on museums, arts, poison oak & more!

Matt Leffert from Jack London Park Partners wasn't running on a trail at Jack London State Park long enough to come to the Sonoma Spiel podcast. He told us who this Jack London guy was (evidently he owned the ranch that became the park, but turns out he was also a world-famous writer and adventurer) and why the park that bears his name is really multiple parks in one.
During the conversation we cover Jack and Charmian London, their innovations in farming and their fun parties and events on the ranch, where to go hiking, why pigs get their own palace, how to get poison oak (or how to avoid it) and how to participate in the upcoming trail challenge.
We also cover the wonder that is in-state tuition for UC and CSU universities and learn about New Mexico chiles which are a very important part of being a New Mexican.
Like all of the Sonoma Spiel podcast guests, Matt Leffert takes on real Sonoma visitor questions. This week he takes on:
Where’s the post office?
I’ve heard that there is a walk from Sonoma to Fort Ross called the Camino de Sonoma. Is this really a thing?
I put on Shakespeare plays and would like to find a spot to host some outdoor plays in Sonoma. Got any ideas?
My name is Asya and my friends and I bought sonoma valley tasting passes. We were wondering if we still had to call and reserve spaces at each place or if we could walk in? What is recommended that we should do? Thank you!
Can we watch the winegrape harvest?
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at 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.Find our more about Jack London State Park at https://jacklondonpark.com.
 
It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Angels with soiled faces: Great grapes don't grow in dirt! Sam Coturri of Winery Sixteen 600

Don't call it dirt - grapes need soil. Sam Coturri comes from a long line of farmers, and the don't just grow grapes, they grow soil. His pathway to farming started when he left the family business to go to college, work in the cannabis and marketing fields, and then coming home to his calling to help run the family businesses.
Their wine label, Winery Sixteen 600, specializes small batch, single vineyard wines, exclusively from certified organic vineyards. And while we taste three of his wines we also ramble (as we do) and cover The Grateful Dead, Stanley Mouse, what it's like being a top podcaster in Sonoma Valley, what the heck are tannins, Isabelle's idea for unconventional blends and why we are all harvesting grapes at night.
 
Like all of our guests Sam takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions (and from real visitors!) This week he takes on:
 
Are there any wineries where we can watch grapes being harvested?
Are there wineries where we can have lunch?
We are visiting from Virginia and saw that this is the birthplace of the CA Republic. What does that mean? I thought Texas was the only republic?
I see fields of these lovely blue flowers everywhere. What are they? Are they planted or are they wild?
 
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
 
Find out more about Sam's winery at www.winerysixteen600.com.
Subscribe to The Wine Makers podcast at https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/thewinemakers
 
 
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, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Walking the Plaza, sampling wine and tasty pairings: Renee ReBell with Gourmet Food & Wine Tours

Let's take a walk around Sonoma - and do some wine tasting and food pairing along the way. This week our Very Special Guest is Renee ReBell from the award-winning Gourmet Food & Wine Tours, a local company that offers relaxed walks around the Plaza to Sonoma wineries and restaurants. Like her tours, our interview is a gentle amble that covers the beginning of the winegrape harvest in Sonoma Valley (ring that bell!), how she moved from helping homeowners better their curb appeal to selling wine to starting a tour company, and even what to eat when in Tennessee.
 
Like all of our guests she takes a moment to answer YOUR Sonoma questions and this week she answered:
 
Where can I find some locally made ceramics and pottery? - Visitor from Alabama
 
We’re visiting from Austin, and want to come to Sonoma for a longer visit next year. We are looking for long-term rentals that are in walkable areas. Do you have any suggestions?
 
We’re visiting from San Francisco and just got here at 3:30 PM. Can we go wine tasting or is it too late?
 
We just got in and want to find a cocktail or a place to get a drink while we wait for our hotel to open. Any ideas?
 
We have our bikes with us - what are some nice places to ride bikes around here?
 
Can we bring our actual service dog to the Plaza for the Sunday concerts?
 
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at 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, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Super Bowl in Sonoma? World Cup in Kenwood? The Bay Area Host Committee Invites the World...

"Unite the Bay Area Through Sport" is the motto of the Bay Area Host Committee, the region’s first long-term sports entity that partners with local teams, civic leaders, and businesses to bring world-class sporting events to iconic Bay Area venues—driving lasting economic, cultural, and social impact.
 
This week on the Sonoma Spiel podcast, Adam Lewis of the BAHC talks about how the totality of the San Francisco Bay Area can be part of the ongoing project to bring large events to Northern California. As Adam notes, "only so many people are going to get into the stadium to see the Super Bowl or the World Cup - but the transformative power of these events should spread throughout the area."
 
A native of Oregon, a former avid soccer player and founder of the Portland chapter of non-profit that that aims to expand access to playing soccer by providing a free alternative to the pay-to-play model of club soccer.
 
In addition to talking logos, posters, sporting events and trying to name all the counties in the Bay Area, Adam explains how the Bay Area Host Committee has put together a resource kit for small businesses and groups to host public screenings of the games, available at their website: https://bayareahostcommittee.com/2026-bay-area-public-screening-playbook
 
Like all of the Sonoma Spiel podcast guests, Adam takes a turn answering YOUR Sonoma questions. This week he takes on:
 
We received a Sonoma Valley Visitors Guide, along with a personal  note from Ellie. We plan on flying into SFO from Edmonton, Alberta. Can you advise the best way to travel from the airport to Sonoma and return to SFO?  - Elizabeth 
 
I’m planning a visit from American Canyon to the following wineries:
Bartholomew Estate, Gundlach Bundschu, Jacuzzi
In this area, will it be easy to get Uber/Lyft to travel to, around & back? - via text
 
We just finished doing the Sonoma Valley scavenger hunt but I don’t know how to claim my prize. Where do I get my free wine glass?
 
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at 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, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Nick Ciccollela of Muscardini Cellars: Italian wines, live music & illicit mountain biking trails

Nick Ciccollela of Muscardini Cellars popped open a bottle of fabulous, limited edition wine (Contessa - get in line, people) and we were off... talking "Italifornian" wines, live music during the summer at their Kenwood tasting room for "Simmer Down Saturday," whatever happened to MTV and "Pimp My Ride," and what the wine industry can do to appeal to new customers.
 
Nick also talks mountain biking at Annadel State Park in Sonoma Valley and confesses that he has no idea what people are talking about when they say there are off-map trails allegedly in the park. 
 
And, every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. 
 
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass
 
This week Nick answers:
 
Which wineries allow outside food in their picnic areas?
 
We did the Sonoma 200th scavenger hunt but I wanted to get my name on the list to win harvest fest tickets. How do I do that? 
 
We are not big wine drinkers, but we will drink sparkling wine. Where can we get sparkling wine? 
 
What are some good trails for mountain biking in Sonoma Valley?
 
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.
 
Find out more about Muscardini Cellars and their music series: www.muscardinicellars.com
 
Get in line for Contessa, the Super Tuscan wine from Muscardini: www.muscardinicellars.com/contessa
 
It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Down in The Laugh Cellar with Lisa Pidge: Wine Country comedy

Lisa Pidge, founder of the Laugh Cellar (since 2014) and actual certified pickleball pro, is back on the Spiel with updates on new comedy shows around Sonoma County during the Wine Country Comedy Fest. She talks about how she finds her comedians (this year's lineup includes Chase O'Donnell, Aiko Tanaka, Lisa Gilbert, JJ Barrows, Helen Chu, ​Vien Phommachanh, Amanda Cohen and Solange Castro) and why her wife is a great gardener.
She also decries the supposed "Gen Z Stare",  what it was like being a latchkey kid and the fact that there was a smoking section on her high school campus back... in... the... day.
Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. 
 
This week Lisa takes on:
Best cafe to hang out on the Plaza and watch the scene? - Visitor from Colombia
I was in the Sonoma Plaza and I heard a high piercing shriek coming from the trees above me. It sounded like an eagle. What is it?
I was driving along Highway 12 in Kenwood and noticed large piles of what looked like branches and wood in a field all lined up. What are they doing?
Hello, we are planning a trip to Sonoma to visit some wineries. I was wondering how long do most tasting last? One hour? - via text
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at 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, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The best chamber music festival in California? Liaising with Valley of the Moon Music Festival

We don't know if they're dangerous, but we do know they sound good. This year, "Liaisons" is the theme for the Valley of the Moon Music Festival. In this week's podcast we have an engaging and informative liaison with Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivyan, cellist and pianist and wife and husband, and co-directors of the popular chamber music festival that takes place around Sonoma Valley. 
This year they discuss "Liaisons"—a celebration of artistic and personal connections spanning centuries. "Whether you’re a devoted classical music enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this season promises to transport, inspire, and connect us all through the universal language of music."
More information about the Valley of the Moon Music Festival is at:
https://valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org
Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma. This week Tanya and Eric take on:
 
Where are some good places to hear music outdoors in Sonoma?
We love classical music and wine - what should pair with our listening?
I'm thinking of starting a musical career: should I start with cello or piano?
 
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at 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, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The latest scoop: We scream for ice cream with Ramie from Sweet Scoops

Summer in Sonoma! Jump in the pool, get the BBQ going, have a Sonoma Spritz and don't forget to scream for ice cream. Luckily, Ramie Hencmann from Sweet Scoops is here to talk about her delightfully wonderful shop right on the Sonoma Plaza, making homemade ice cream with local fruits and flavors. 
 
Ramie's husband Joe has been making ice cream since he was 19, and in Ramie's words he is always thinking about new flavors. "Joe loves making ice cream. He's always thinking about the flavors, and he has the mind to think of how it all will work."
 
And speaking of flavors, we do a tasting of three very delicious samples: vanilla, cherry wine (made with local wine) and lemon blueberry, with blueberries from Serres Ranch and lemons from the backyard trees of various friends and family. 
 
Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.
This week Ramie answers:
 
Favorite spot and dish to get on the Sonoma Square for a late lunch or afternoon bite? 
 
We're at the Sonoma Plaza with kids for the afternoon - what should we do?
 
Where can we cool off in Sonoma Valley?
 
(And did you know you can DoorDash some Sweet Scoops right to your poolside? Yes - Ramie recommends it!)
 
What's your go-to pizza from Mary's in Sonoma?
 
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.
We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% off tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details at https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass 
 
It's Sonoma Valley's top podcast and you find it wherever you find fine podcasts, including
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b