The Sonoma Spiel

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

California’s Sonoma Wine Country is known as a feast for the senses - amazing food and wine, beautiful mountains and redwood forests, and charming small towns. Go deeper into the best of Sonoma Wine Country with the Sonoma Spiel, where we talk about what’s happening in and around Sonoma Valley with guests like farmers, chefs, wine makers, artists and interesting guest stars. Plus, we answer YOUR questions about visiting California’s famed wine country during our recurring feature, ”We Get Questions.” Send us a question via email (info@sonomavalley.com) or tag us on one of our pages (From Facebook to IG to TikTok) and we might just answer your question

  1. Temptations Under the Stars: Broadway Bash in Sonoma with Mama Mia, Radio Recall & Ain't Too Proud

    3d ago

    Temptations Under the Stars: Broadway Bash in Sonoma with Mama Mia, Radio Recall & Ain't Too Proud

    Summer in Sonoma already comes with a lot going for it. Add Broadway songs, live musicians, oak trees, a picnic, a glass of wine, and a stage under the evening sky, and you’re in Transcendence territory. Tony Gonzalez and Lace Scott stop by to talk about what’s ahead for Transcendence Theatre Company as it opens a new chapter in downtown Sonoma. This year’s season brings a fresh location, a new setup, and a major creative shift toward full musicals, beginning with Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, followed by Radio Recall and Mamma Mia! later in the summer. They also talk about the artists coming in from Broadway and beyond, the excitement around this year’s cast, and why the company feels like it’s taking a big step forward without losing what people already love about Broadway Under the Stars. The conversation also wanders through hotel packages, picnics, partner restaurants, special seating options, Fourth of July with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and the kind of joyful summer arts scene that makes Sonoma Valley feel bigger than its size. It’s theater, music, hospitality, and a little bit of magic all bundled together into one very Sonoma experience. Learn more and get tickets at www.bestnightever.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    47 min
  2. Cat Smith on the Sonoma Community Center, Scream, Pride, Art, and the Secret Garden

    May 20

    Cat Smith on the Sonoma Community Center, Scream, Pride, Art, and the Secret Garden

    The Sonoma Community Center is one of those places that keeps surprising people. It’s an old school building that became Woodsboro High in Scream, a place where horror fans still come looking for the staircase, and also a working arts and cultural center filled with ceramics, printmaking, cooking classes, dance, comedy, fiber arts, community events, and more creative energy than seems possible under one roof. Cat Smith joins Tim Zahner to talk about what makes the Center so special, from its history and architecture to the way it continues to evolve as a gathering place for Sonoma. They get into the annual Scream screening, Sonoma Valley Pride events, the Pride & Community gallery show, and the upcoming Priscilla Queen of the Center dinner and drag performance in the Secret Garden. Along the way, Cat shares her own Sonoma story, from growing up here to moving to San Diego, studying theater, and eventually coming back to see the town in a completely new way. There’s also talk of ravioli classes, screen printing, costumes, stage fright, cowboy boots, secret bakeries, and why the Sonoma Community Center is one of those places where there is always something happening, even if you had no idea you needed it in your life until someone mentioned it. Learn more at sonomacommunitycenter.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    59 min
  3. Bears, Bald Mountain, and Big Views at Sugarloaf State Park - John Roney Comes Down the Mountain

    May 6

    Bears, Bald Mountain, and Big Views at Sugarloaf State Park - John Roney Comes Down the Mountain

    Head up Adobe Canyon Road and Sonoma starts to change. The valley floor drops away, the air cools off, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park opens into one of the wildest, most beautiful parts of Sonoma Valley. John Roney joins Tim to talk about what makes the park so special: nearly 5,000 acres of protected land, about 30 miles of trails, campsites, glamping tents, redwoods, waterfalls, wildlife, and the kind of views that make you forget you’re still only about half an hour from the Sonoma Plaza. Along the way, John gets into the park’s partnership with the Sonoma Ecology Center, the volunteer energy that helps keep so much of it going, and the many ways people can experience Sugarloaf — whether that means a steep climb up Bald Mountain, a gentler walk through the redwoods, a first camping trip, a forest bathing session, or a night at the observatory under some very dark skies. There’s also plenty of talk about the wildlife up there, including black bears, mountain lions, badgers, minks, rattlesnakes, and the very real science of tracking animals through trail cams and scat surveys. Add in the Planet Walk, park living rooms, full moon hikes, the Sugar Shuttle, and the Fourth of July Bald Mountain fireworks hike, and you’ve got a mountain-sized conversation about one of Sonoma Valley’s great outdoor treasures. Learn more about Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at www.sugarloafpark.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    58 min
  4. Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place on Luxury Hospitality in Sonoma Valley

    Apr 28

    Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place on Luxury Hospitality in Sonoma Valley

    Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation about hospitality, local character, and what makes one of Sonoma’s best-known boutique hotels feel both elevated and genuinely welcoming. Justin talks about MacArthur Place’s roots as a historic ranch and vineyard, its evolution into a luxury property just off the plaza, and the philosophy behind making it feel like a place for both visitors and locals. Tim and Justin also get into the Porch coffee shop, Leila restaurant, the spa, weddings, poolside events, Music Mondays, Burgers & Bordeaux, and the newer Som Saturdays classes that bring a little wine and cocktail education into the mix. It’s a good look at how MacArthur Place has built a distinct Sonoma identity by combining comfort, style, and a strong sense of place. Along the way, Justin shares his own path through the hospitality world, from bussing tables at 15 to working with Four Seasons and Fairmont before landing in Sonoma Valley, where he and his wife decided they wanted to stay for good. It’s a warm, wide-ranging episode about service, community, and why genuine hospitality matters. Learn more about MacArthur Place at macarthurplace.com. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    50 min
  5. Spring Blooms, Spirit Guides, and Sonoma Botanical Garden with Jeannie Perales

    Apr 22

    Spring Blooms, Spirit Guides, and Sonoma Botanical Garden with Jeannie Perales

    Jeannie Perales returns to The Sonoma Spiel to talk about one of Sonoma Valley’s most fascinating places to wander: Sonoma Botanical Garden. Tim and Jeannie get into the garden’s old quarry history, its pools, waterfalls, winding trails, and why it feels a lot more like a woodland adventure than a formal stroll past flower beds. They also talk about the garden’s evolution from Quarryhill to Sonoma Botanical Garden, and how its mission now includes both rare East Asian plants and California native plants. They also spend time on Spirit Guides, the colorful new outdoor exhibition of fantastical creatures from the workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, along with the garden’s Wednesday evening programs, sunset concerts, picnics, and all the reasons this place keeps giving people something new to come back for. Along the way, the conversation heads into Jeannie’s Florida museum-and-garden background, orchids, circus history, tomatoes, and the very real truth that sometimes the person running the botanical garden does not have the best garden at home. It’s a fun, thoughtful, slightly wandering episode in the best Sonoma Spiel way. Learn more about Sonoma Botanical Garden at sonomabg.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    51 min

  6. Apr 22

    Kim Jones and Aaron Brown on The Future Collective, Arable, and Sonoma Valley’s Future

    In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Kim Jones of The Future Collective and Aaron Brown of Arable about storytelling, land, farming, housing, and the future of Sonoma Valley. Kim shares how The Future Collective grew out of a desire to bring younger community members into deeper conversations about the big issues shaping local life, from housing affordability and food insecurity to labor, mental health, and what it means to build a community that can actually sustain the people who live and work here. Aaron talks about Arable, a storytelling project exploring natural wine, cider, farming, and the people who are rethinking the relationship between agriculture, place, and community. The conversation also touches on Sonoma Valley Collaborative, the emerging Sonoma Valley Commons, heirloom apples, hybrid grapes, documentary storytelling, and the creative overlap between nonprofit work, agriculture, branding, and local identity. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging episode about what it means to care for a place — and how culture, land, and collaboration all shape Sonoma Valley’s future. Learn more: The Future Collective: thefuturecollective.org Arable / Earth and Sky Studio  About The Sonoma Spiel The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    58 min
  7. Sonoma Golf Studio: Indoor Golf, TrackMan Lessons, Group Events & Better Practice in Sonoma

    Apr 8

    Sonoma Golf Studio: Indoor Golf, TrackMan Lessons, Group Events & Better Practice in Sonoma

    This week on the Sonoma Spiel, Tim sits down with Amanda Doherty and Jason Palter from Sonoma Golf Studio to talk about Sonoma’s indoor golf scene and why it’s changing the way people practice, play, and connect. They get into TrackMan simulator technology, lessons with PGA pros, memberships, beginner-friendly practice, and how the studio creates a low-pressure space to improve your game without the long drive to a course or range. The conversation also covers private events, corporate outings, wedding weekend activities, and why Sonoma Golf Studio is a great fit for both locals and visitors looking for something active and social to do in Sonoma Valley. Plus, Tim and his guests answer a few classic visitor questions covering quirky Sonoma sights, local history, and community creativity. Sonoma Golf Studio Website: https://sonomagolfstudio.com Email: info@sonomagolfstudio.com Phone: 707-938-7248 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Plan your Sonoma Valley trip: www.SonomaValley.com Questions? Contact us at info@sonomavalley.com or text 707-996-1090. Follow Sonoma Valley on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Stop by our Visitor Centers at the Sonoma Plaza and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. Watch and listen to the Sonoma Spiel on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

    44 min
  8. Cruising Sonoma Valley in a Vintage VW Bus with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours

    Apr 3

    Cruising Sonoma Valley in a Vintage VW Bus with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours

    In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours about one of the most memorable ways to explore Sonoma Valley: riding through wine country in a vintage Volkswagen bus. Ronnie shares what makes West Wine Tours special, from its fleet of colorful classic VW buses to its focus on family-owned wineries, boutique tasting experiences, and a more laid-back, off-the-beaten-path feel. They talk about some of the stops guests might enjoy, including Bartholomew Estate Winery, Winery Sixteen 600, and Anaba, along with the stories, scenery, and local flavor that make the ride part of the experience. The conversation also covers Ronnie’s path into hospitality, growing up in Sonoma, learning to drive stick, working as a farmer before becoming a tour guide, and why he enjoys helping visitors see what Sonoma Valley is really all about. Along the way there are detours into deli sandwiches, music playlists, local golf, pizza memories, and visitor questions about burgers, hostels, mashed potatoes, and hot springs. It’s a warm, funny, local episode about classic vehicles, Sonoma hospitality, and the joy of taking the scenic route. In this episode: Vintage VW bus tours in Sonoma Valley Family-owned wineries and boutique tasting experiences Ronnie’s path from farming to hospitality Bartholomew, Winery Sixteen 600, and Anaba Local stories, visitor questions, and Sonoma favorites Learn more: westwinetours.com About The Sonoma Spiel The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at 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

    50 min
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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

California’s Sonoma Wine Country is known as a feast for the senses - amazing food and wine, beautiful mountains and redwood forests, and charming small towns. Go deeper into the best of Sonoma Wine Country with the Sonoma Spiel, where we talk about what’s happening in and around Sonoma Valley with guests like farmers, chefs, wine makers, artists and interesting guest stars. Plus, we answer YOUR questions about visiting California’s famed wine country during our recurring feature, ”We Get Questions.” Send us a question via email (info@sonomavalley.com) or tag us on one of our pages (From Facebook to IG to TikTok) and we might just answer your question

Information

  • Creator
    Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Sonoma Spiel

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