Many people know that Sonoma Valley has had two centuries of winegrowing. But a lot of people don't know that it was also the birthplace of the modern American microbrewery: New Albion Brewing Company.

The brainchild of Jack McAuliffe, New Albion was founded by  him and Jane Zimmerman and Suzy Stern in 1976, when a decision was made in the driveway of Jane's house in Sonoma.

With $1000 each, Jane and Suzy became partners in the "crazy and fun idea" of starting a small brewery on the edge of town in an old fruit-processing plant. Jane recounts her days schlepping a kid to school and then another younger four-year old child to the brewhouse as she helped brew the stouts and porters and ales in a 55-gallon drum that Jack welded. "It's a miracle no one got hurt!"

She recalls, "we were so enthusiastic and naive - we just did it!"

Like all of our podcast guests, Zimmerman answers YOUR Sonoma questions during "We Get Questions." This week she takes on:

-Are there any hotels or lodging options in a vineyard?

-We just got here from Wisconsin and we want to head out to Jenner, where the Russian River meets the ocean. How long does it take to get there from Sonoma?

-We’re here for an hour and want to see something historic and interesting. What do you recommend?

-Is there a way we can hire someone else to drive our car while we go wine tasting? Is that a thing?

-Hello!  My friends and I will be staying close to the Sonoma Plaza and looking for an outdoor restaurant that will accommodate our group of 8.  It is for my friend's milestone birthday! 

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 [email protected], text us 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

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF