Make a Sonolution to Explore Sonoma County

This is one of the times of the year I'm not enthusiastic about - The dreaded New Year's resolutions. I have the usual ones that I pull out whenever anyone asks: Exercise more, lose weight, get taller, blonder and younger. (OK, the last three are just wishful thinking. Well, except for the "blonder" part - only my hairdresser knows for sure.)

This year, however, I'm taking a different approach; I'm building what I call my "Sonolutions," resolutions to enjoy all Sonoma County has to offer.

Mine goes something like this:

• Take time from my hectic schedule to enjoy different parts of Sonoma County. That means, getting out of the office, grabbing the camera and exploring something new at least once a month. If you see me gawking around your area, please come up and say hi. A lunch recommendation would also be nice.
• Share my passion about Sonoma County with others. Talk with visitors, media, and locals about something new in Sonoma County, whether in person, on the phone, with a blog (inside-sonoma.com) or by press releases. Keep you informed about what the rest of the county is doing through this monthly newsletter.
• Turn on the weather channel or Chicago's WGN at least once a month to see how the rest of the country is dealing with winter blizzards, snow, black ice, or white-out conditions. Take a moment to appreciate our version of winter: rolling green hills and pastures; the happy yellow color of wild mustard blooms in dormant vineyards. (And, I admit, some happy dancing and laughing at friends and family in those areas will probably ensue.)
• Be more of a "locavore." Eat in-season vegetables, frequent restaurants that have their own kitchen gardens or farms, and buy products and gifts that are made in Sonoma County. Also, enjoy the heck out of my favorite thing about winter: Fishing fleets are active with Dungeness crab season.
• Take a moment to watch the whales that are migrating from the several overlooks along more than 55 miles of Pacific coastline that makes up Sonoma County's western border.

So, that's pretty much it for my list. What about you? Are you sticking with the traditional resolutions, which usually tell you what not to do? Or, will you join me in creating a Sonolution list and start enjoying this fabulous place we get to share with others?

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Speaking of sharing with others, SCTB is sharing collateral with you. In fact, you may have already gotten your shipment of the first-quarter Calendar of Events and Wine Map. Inside the box you'll find information on how to adjust your shipping quantities and request additional collateral. For more information, contact Beth Snow, bsnow@sonomacounty.com.

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Upcoming Events 

Here's a list of annual food and wine events. You can always find out the latest events at www.sonomacounty.com/events.

20th Annual Winter Wineland; Jan. 14-15

Celebrating wine, art and education, Winter Wineland invites guests to create their own journey through wine country discovering new wines, speaking with special artists in residence, viewing art installations and learning about vineyard practices at more than 100 wineries throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys. This two-day event, taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, is a great opportunity to meet winemakers, taste limited production wines, new releases or library wines. Advance online ticket prices are $45 for Saturday and Sunday, $35 for Sunday only and $5 for designated drivers. Tickets purchased at the door are $55 for Saturday and Sunday, $45 for Sunday only and $5 for a designated driver. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-723-6336 or visit www.wineroad.com.

VinOlivo; Feb. 17

Part of the annual Sonoma Valley Olive Season, the VinOlivo fundraiser is a Gala Celebration and Feast for the Senses. Guests can sip Sonoma Valley's best wines; eat from the finest restaurants; sample local olives and olive oil and finish the night with a variety of desserts. This event is taking place 7-10 p.m. at The Lodge at Sonoma and tickets cost $85. For more information, call (707) 935-0803 or visit www.sonomavalleywine.com.

13th Annual Sonoma County Pruning Championship; Feb. 24

The Sonoma County Pruning Championship will feature expert pruners from several of Sonoma County's American Viticultural Areas including Dry Creek, Sonoma, Russian River, Knights and Alexander Valleys. The pruning competition, which will take place at Shone Farm, is complimentary (including lunch), open to the general public and begins at 10 a.m. All proceeds benefit the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation to support the Employee Development Program for vineyard employees. For more information, call (707) 522-5862 or visit www.sonomawinegrape.org.

34th Annual Barrel Tasting; March 2-4 and 9-11

Sample wine directly from the barrel, talk to wine makers and explore wineries throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. Ticket prices are $30 in advance and $40 at the door, per person, per weekend. Tickets for designated drivers are free for the weekend. Many wineries will be offering "futures" on their barrel samples, where guests can purchase wine often at a discount and return roughly 12-18 months later to retrieve the bottled wine. For more information, call (800) 723-6336 or visit www.wineroad.com.

Sonoma International Film Festival; April 11-15

Set amidst the unparalleled beauty of the Sonoma Valley wine country, the 15th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to a sun-drenched, luxurious extended weekend, pairing great food, fine wine and more than 90 new independent films from around the world. Film presentations at a variety of venues, including the historic Sebastiani Theatre on the Sonoma town plaza, will include: world cinema, feature length narratives, documentaries, shorts and a student film program. For more information, call (707) 933-2600 or visit www.sonomafilmfest.org.

23rd Annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley; April 28-29

Passport to Dry Creek Valley is an annual event showcasing the wineries, vineyards and exceptional beauty of Dry Creek Valley. Over 50 wineries and numerous growers will join together to celebrate new wine releases paired with local cuisine. The exclusive weekend event also offers live entertainment, vineyard tours and much more. For more information, call (707) 433-3031 or visit www.wdcv.com.

Amgen Tour of California; May 13-20

The Amgen Tour of California, one of the nation's largest and most recognized sporting events, is coming back to Sonoma County in 2012, and this year Santa Rosa has the privilege of hosting the overall start of the tour. Santa Rosa is home to three-time Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer, the U.S. headquarters of the 2011 Tour de France winning team, and hosts many elite pro-cycling teams, making it the perfect fit to host the tours overall start. The start of the tour will showcase the diverse landscape and provides a long-term economic impact to the culture and community of Sonoma County. For more information, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Taste of Alexander Valley; May 19-20

More than 30 wineries throughout Alexander Valley are showcasing wine and food pairings, live entertainment and special weekend wine discounts. Experience Alexander Valley's finest with tickets to this weekend event, which starts at 11:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. starting at $75 for a two-day pass or $55 for Sunday only. Designated drivers entrance fee is $30 for both days, $25 for Sunday. For more information, call (707) 484- 3532 or visit www.tastealexandervalley.org.

Russian River Passport; June

Russian River Passport is an annual event that showcases the wineries, vineyards, and exceptional beauty of the Russian River Valley within Sonoma County. As a Russian River Passport holder, you will receive: unlimited wine tasting at up to 50 Russian River wineries; preferred access to pre-release, library and limited edition, winery-only wines; discount pricing on select wines; tours and wine education at wineries not open to the public; food and live music. For more information, visit www.russianriverpassport.com.

Gay Wine Weekend; June 15-17

Out In The Vineyards is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Gay Wine Weekend, a three-day festival where guests will enjoy wine tasting excursions, culinary delights, comedy performances and a Twilight T-Dance to benefit Face to Face, Sonoma County AIDS Network. For more information, call (707) 495-9732 or visit www.outinthevineyard.com.

Rodney Strong Vineyards Summer Concert on the Green Series; Summer 2012

The 22nd Annual Rodney Strong Vineyards Summer Concert series returns this year. On Saturday evenings, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views and signature wines while watching contemporary artists perform. For more information, call (707) 869-1595 or visit www.rodneystrong.com.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend; Aug. 3 - Sept. 2

This highly-anticipated event, now in its fifth year, combines the elegance, sophistication and style of the Taste of Sonoma with the festivity, frivolity and fundraising of the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction during three unforgettable days. Sonoma Wine Country Weekend brings together more than 200 world-class wineries and chefs showcasing their talents at stylish winemaker lunches and dinners, a show-stopping Taste of Sonoma as well as the hugely popular Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. Ticket prices vary. For more information, call (800) 939-7666 or visit www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com.

Sonoma County Grape Camp; Oct. 1-3

Known as the ultimate getaway for food and wine lovers, the sixth annual Sonoma County Grape Camp is an experiential vacation which offers hands-on experience harvesting grapes and blending wine during harvest season. Campers will have exclusive access to the influential grape growers, winemakers and chefs who help make Sonoma County a world-class culinary destination. Guests who participate in Sonoma County Grape Camp leave with an in-depth understanding of the grape growing and winemaking process, along with the lasting memory of a shared experience with new friends from across the country. Tuition for Grape Camp 2012 is $1,850 per person, per couple (single supplement $150) and includes two nights' accommodations, all meals, tastings and transportation during camp. An additional third night is available for $250 and the optional end-of-camp celebration dinner is $155 per person. For more information or to register, please call (707) 522-5860 or visit www.sonomagrapecamp.com.

For more information on insider tips for upcoming travel to Sonoma County, please visit www.sonomacounty.com.