Page 46 - Sonoma County Gazette January 2016

The winter season has begun with the chill and rains brought on by El Nino. But there are many ways to cope with the weather. One good start is to participate in the 24th Annual Winter WINEland, a celebration of the grapes grown in the many vineyards throughout Sonoma County.
The grape leaves have dropped from the vines along Route 128, abruptly leaving the bare wintry vines and the spindly branches of the plum trees lining part of the route. While this season is less colorful than the time of turning leaves, it has a more austere, stark beauty offset by the rapidly
greening earth. We have some of the color of spring but the temperatures of winter.
Driving back from Calistoga recently, I saw something unexpected, a swirl of oily smoke in the grey sky. After the season of fires – and smelling smoke in Calistoga earlier – I feared that, despite the recent rains, something new was on fire. Yet this “smoke” seemed different – jet black, moving quickly in swirls that looked like what comes off my calligraphy brush when I dip it into a clear glass of water, sometimes even seeming that the source must be projectiles of some sort with black vapors trailing off of them. It was unnerving to glimpse this swirling smoke as I drove, because it didn’t seem to be behaving like smoke. I thought I was observing some bizarre wind phenomenon or even some inexplicable cosmic event. Finally, the road curved and I found myself closer to the “smoke” – which wasn’t smoke at all but a massive whirling flock of starlings, thousands of them, diving and twisting, briefly forming complex shapes in the sky, then scattering. I drove more carefully, wondering if part of this huge flock might dip and dive across the winding road, thick enough to be blinding. Should I turn on my windshield wipers ahead of an unavoidable impact? I was not being paranoid – last year hundreds of starlings littered
101 between Healdsburg and Geyserville, victims of an encounter with a semi truck which had driven through a low-flying flock at high speed. But nearing Geyserville after the turn at the Medlock-Ames winery, I stopped at the side of a vineyard and tried to catch the acrobatic birds on my cell phone video, but the show was over. The birds seemed to calm and behave as just a flock of birds again, huge but not so disturbing – or fascinating.
Upcoming Events in Geyserville
Other fascinating phenomena coming up in the Geyserville area include the annual Black and White Ball held at the Oddfellows Hall on New Year’s Eve. This event may sell out. Contact Cosette at Hope-Merrill House bed and breakfast via email moreinfo@hope-inns.com for more information and tickets.
A new hopefully annual upcoming event is the Beer Fest at the Geyserville Grille on February 6th. This event runs from 1pm to 5pm and will feature a number of local breweries offering their best beers. Fun beer-friendly foods will also be on offer for the day, and visitors can enjoy watching the day’s sporting events on the big screens in the bar area. This event will happen rain or shine. Tickets are $20 and include entry, a special commemorative tasting glass, and three beer tasting tickets and one free “bite”, with more beer and food available at a small extra fee. Call the Geyserville Grille at the Geyserville Inn for ticket information at (707) 857-4343 or by email at geyservilleinn.com/ contact-us-en.html.
Foodie Moment of the Month
Speaking of the Geyserville Grille, my most memorable mouthful in Geyserville this month was the Tortilla Soup at the Grille. Is there an award for best soup in Geyserville? I’m making one up now – and I’m giving it to the Grille. On a cool December afternoon, it was hot and flavorful, thick with chicken, and with a rich warm orange color that helped stave off the chill of the day all by itself. It’s available by the cup or the bowl – but honestly, be bold and skip the cup. You’ll want the whole bowl.
On the weekend of January 16 and 17, choose from the more than 100 wineries in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Meet winemakers, taste limited production wines, new releases or library wines. All wineries will have something on sale; some wineries will offer food pairings and others will have tours. You can also enjoy breakfast with the winemakers on Saturday, January 16. Go to wineroads.com for more info, and to purchase tickets.
Saggio Hills Hopes to Break Ground Soon
Saggio Hills, a high-end resort planned for the northeast corner of Healdsburg on the former Passalacqua Ranch, passed a major milestone last month when the Healdsburg Planning Commission gave unanimous approval of the design for the 130-room resort and 25 villas.
Planning Commissioner Kathi Engler “was surprised and pleased to see the gentle care and respect that is shown in this project.” Her fellow commissioners expressed the same feelings.
Commissioner Phil Luks stated, “The architecture is modest and respectful of the land. It will be an
elegant and wonderful addition to the town.”
Saggio Hills developer Robert Green and his team stressed an effort to save
trees and avoid extensive earthmoving at the site.
“The natural beauty of this site is the most valuable attribute we have,”
said Green, outlining plans to minimize grading and maximize oak tree preservation. ”We’ve developed a love affair with the oaks on this property.”
Out of 92 heritage oaks on the property, only two will be removed: one healthy, and one diseased oak.
Warren Watkins, a party in a lawsuit against Saggio Hills, was skeptical about the city’s ability to provide water to Saggio Hills and protection of the valued trees.
Green said that the project will include a graywater reclamation system and that water conservation measures will be designed into the project.
The project could start this spring, with the resort and first 25 villas completed by the end of 2017. The project includes another 45 homes, which are being designed now and submitted to the city for design review later this year.
Cities Will Keep Their Distance
Imagine walking down a street in Healdsburg, and seeing a sign stating that the other side of the street is where Windsor begins. It hasn’t happened
so far. For almost two decades, various communities have had 17,000 acres
of farmlands as environmental separations, from Healdsburg to south of Petaluma, as well as other areas south of Petaluma, around Sebastopol, and the Springs area.
The original voter initiative expires next year, but voters will have the chance to renew the buffer zones – environmental protection areas called community separators – in November 2016. If voters approve, no housing developments or other commercial projects will be permitted.
February is Healdsburg Sustainability Month
The month of February will honor the sustainable methods in farming, cooking, and lifestyle. Many of Healdsburg’s restaurants and lodging facilities will be offering specials. On February 27 there will be a gala collaboration with Monterey Bay Aquarium at Jordan Winery’s “Cooking for Solutions”. On February 28 there will be a brunch at the Healdsburg SHED, and discussion with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. More info is available at healdsburg.com.
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