Wineries

Well not exactly stomp, but stroll, saunter, maybe even run, on a self-guided tour through four different wineries. Every wanted to walk among the vines and learn about what it takes to get those puppies growing and producing the grapes.  Right now there are four participating wineries, Mantanzas Creek, Paradise Ridge, Balletto Vineyards and Mauritson Winery each route is less than a mile long and the self-guided tours emphasize sustainable farming.  Just show up at the tasting room, ask for a laminated vineyard guide and away you go. Make it a long slow informative jaunt or whip through it and end in the tasting room. With the weather being so agreeable now, there’s no better time to be outside and get your share of vitamin D, exercise and education . www.sonomavineyardadventures.com or 522-5860

A former employee of ours, Mike Lee, who use to work at our Quality Inn, is now a professional photographer and soon-to-be-med student. Besides having a thriving graphic design/photography business, www.Focus97, he gives his time to Operation Rainbow, www.operationrainbow.org, serving as their documentarian.

In the last week Mike has been serving with Operation Rainbow in Haiti bringing some relief to everyone who needs medical attention. Mike has blogged and posted photos of the tragedy and resilency of the Haitians. Please visit either http://blog.focus97.com or www.operationrainbow.org to see what’s happening real time and help financially if you are able. Thank you

For those of you who didn’t know, the Lagunitas IPA you’ve been drinking is manufactured in our little town of Petaluma. Yep, right here just down from our Quality Inn about a block or so. And they’ve just opened  their TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary, closed Monday and Tuesday, with live music. So forget about winetasting too foo foo, come check-out the brewskis, take a tour, have a bite to eat. Yo ho ho and a bottle of Pale Ale. . .

www.lagunitas.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Larson Family Winery is a family-run operation in Sonoma whose history in Wine Country dates back to the 1800s. The winery sits on Sonoma Creek on the spot that was once the Embarcadero for steamships traveling from San Francisco Bay. The land has been in the Larson family for over 100 years. Today, the Larson Family Winery is known for its world-class wines.

The Sonoma Valley’s Robledo Family Winery story begins in 1968 when Reynaldo Robledo, Sr., moved from Mexico to work Sonoma Valley vineyards. Today, the Robledo family owns approximately 200 acres of local vineyards. While most fruit is sold to area wineries, the Robledo Family Winery produces estate wines under its own label.

Graton Ridge Cellars has been a familiar Russian River Valley entity since 1945. The Paul family started their business in apples and fresh apple juice. Today, Graton Ridge Cellars is known for its oak-aged chardonnays and pinot noirs.

Hook & Ladder Winery is small, family-owned and operated winery with nearly four decades of winemaking experience. Hook & Ladder Winery produces a variety of Russian River Valley wines including pinot noir, zinfandel, merlot, and chardonnay.