Welcome to the final Sonoma Spiel Podcast episode of 2025 — we’re closing out the year, cleaning off absolutely none of our desks, and rolling straight into 2026 with a very special guest… and this time we mean it: Bob Taylor of Sonoma TV.

Bob is the Executive Director of KSVY (Voices of the Valley), the nonprofit community radio + TV station right here in Sonoma, and the behind-the-scenes wizard who helps make a lot of our local recordings happen — including events like the Sonoma Plaza Tree Lighting, Lighted Tractor Parade, and more.

In this end-of-year edition, Tim (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau CEO) and Bob:

✅ Share favorite highlights from 2025 in Sonoma Valley (music, festivals, community events, and more)

✅ Talk about what they’re hopeful for in 2026 (hint: more live music, more community energy)

✅ Dive into an extended “We Get Questions” segment — answering real visitor questions

✅ Discuss the Toscano Hotel (new SVVB home) and yes… whether it’s haunted 😄

✅ Debate important topics like: Where exactly does Sonoma Valley begin and end? and What’s “the Mission” in Sonoma?

 “WE GET QUESTIONS” — INCLUDED IN THIS EPISODE

Are there redwoods in Sonoma Valley?

Is the Toscano haunted? (and… can I just come in for the old building smell?)

Where is Sonoma Valley — and am I in it right now?

Is the Sonoma Valley Tasting Pass for one person or two?

What is Mission San Francisco Solano and why is it special?

Where can I get coffee near the Sonoma Plaza?

How do I volunteer with the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau?

Is there a fee to enter Sonoma Valley? (😆)

Gluten-free bakery options in Sonoma Valley?

When do the Plaza lights come down?

What to do in Sonoma Valley in winter / rainy days

When day do the mustard flowers bloom?

BottleRock shuttle between Napa & Sonoma? (we try!)

📍 MORE LOCAL LINKS

🌐 Plan your trip + events + offers: SonomaValley.com

📻 Listen to KSVY + learn more: KSVY.org

🏢 Visit KSVY in person: 680 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA

🎉 Coming Up in 2026:

🍷 Sonoma Sips (Feb 15 – Mar 15) — $15 wine tastings

🎬 Sonoma International Film Festival

⛵ Yacht Club events

👗 Trashion Fashion

…and plenty more — check www.SonomaValley.com for updates.

👍 If you enjoyed the episode please rate us! 

And tell us: What was your favorite Sonoma moment of 2025 — and what are you most excited for in 2026?

Happy New Year, Sonoma! 🎆🍷

This week Ryan Becker of Visit California is in the hot-seat for a wide-ranging, and often hilarious conversation about tourism, travel and what it really takes to promote one of the most diverse destinations in the world. We also tried to goad him into saying bad things about Florida, but he doesn't. A true gent, he.

Ryan shares his journey from a 15-year career in journalism to helping lead marketing efforts for Visit California, the state’s unique, privately funded tourism organization representing more than 18,000 hospitality businesses. Together, Tim and Ryan dig into why tourism promotion matters, how travel drives economic development, and why “people will just show up” is one of the biggest myths in destination marketing.

Along the way, they explore:

* How Visit California markets an incredibly diverse state (without overwhelming travelers)

* Why long-term tourism marketing matters more than ever

* The real economic impact of tourism on California communities

* How AI is changing trip planning—and what it gets right (and wrong)

* California road trips, visitor guides, and iconic ad campaigns

* The role governors, celebrities, and cultural storytelling play in destination branding

* Friendly debates on tacos, Napa vs. Sonoma, sparkling wine, and fish tacos

Whether you’re in tourism, marketing, hospitality, or just love traveling California, this episode offers behind-the-scenes insight, practical takeaways, and plenty of laughs.

Learn more about Visit California: www.visitcalifornia.com

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip: www.sonomavalley.com

🎧 Subscribe to the Sonoma Spiel Podcast for more conversations about travel, tourism, community, and what makes Sonoma—and California—so special.

🍷 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 [email protected], text us at 707-996-1090 or contact us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or just walk into one of our two visitor centers.

Youtube: 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

The persimmoning has begun in Sonoma Valley!  Host Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau kicks off this week’s Sonoma Spiel with fall fruit fever and a deep dive into Sonoma’s own winter wonderland — the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

Tim sits down with Devon Hawkins to talk geothermal hot springs, the spa “bathing ritual,” the Watsu pool, and the cozy Swiss Chalets (fondue, alpine fries, hot toddies) — aka Tahoe vibes without the chain controls.

In This Episode:

Persimmon season explained

The Fairmont’s 100-year wellness legacy & geothermal pools

Watsu therapy and day-pass “bathing ritual”

Swiss Chalets: alpine pop-up dining, perfect for groups & date nights

Holiday highlights: Thanksgiving buffet, lobby tree, New Year’s party

Devon’s path in luxury hospitality (Napa roots ➜ Sonoma)

Side tangents: Toblerone, tiki bars, tattoos & more

Listener Q&A: cioppino picks, where to fish, biking to Napa, bus to Healdsburg

 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

🧖‍♀️ Links & Info

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa — fairmont.com/sonoma

Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau — sonomavalley.com

🗓️ Event Shout-Outs

Holiday in Carneros (Nov 16) • Sonoma Plaza Lighting (Nov 22) • Sip & Shop + Lighted Tractor Parade (Nov 29) • Sonoma Arts Live’s Scrooge: The Musical (holiday run)

#SonomaSpiel #SonomaValley #WineCountry #FairmontSonoma #SwissChalet #SpaDay #HotSprings #SonomaHolidays #Persimmons #VisitSonoma #sonoma

Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau sits down with chef/restaurateur Ari Weiswasser (Stella Kenwood, Glen Ellen Star, Park Avenue Catering) for a lively tour of Sonoma’s newest roundabout and the region’s food scene.

What you’ll hear

Why Stella Kenwood is Cal-Italian: wood-fire grill, lamb ribs, tomahawks, Denver cut

House pasta program (fresh/extruded semolina, gluten-free) + what a burrata bar really is

Farm-driven cooking from the Glentucky family farm (Thumbelina carrots, eggplant, peppers)

Inside large-format catering (150–400+ guests, caves, timelines, logistics)

Thanksgiving: Glen Ellen Star takeaway packages (serves 4 or 8) with donation matching; Stella open 11am–6pm

Kenwood’s mini-renaissance & Ari’s hints at future projects

Quick hits: running, sauna/cold-plunge, horse-friendly parks, yes you can milk a buffalo, plaza lighting timing, and what to bring to Thanksgiving (chic salad + crisp white)

🍷 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 [email protected], text us at 707-996-1090 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

Youtube: 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

It’s a perfect fall day in Sonoma—made even better with a milkshake with espresso (yes, really). This week, Tim sits down with Salvador Chavez, owner of Picazo Café and founder of La Luna Mezcal, for an energetic, wide-ranging conversation about food, family, and finding your own flavor in business.

Salvador shares how his family’s corner café in the Springs neighborhood evolved from a humble deli into one of Sonoma Valley’s best breakfast and lunch spots—known for its legendary burgers, funky building layout, and all-day brunch menu. He recounts the trial-and-error path from cold-cut sandwiches to handcrafted burgers and chicken & waffles, and how family teamwork (and the occasional kitchen fire) helped shape Picazo’s character.

They also dive deep into his other passion: mezcal. From his roots in Michoacán to building La Luna Mezcal, Salvador explains how true mezcal is made—from roasting agave in earth pits to winning international awards—and what makes it different from tequila. It’s part crash course, part entrepreneurial masterclass, and all Sonoma flavor.

In the fan-favorite “We Get Questions” segment, Tim and Salvador tackle real questions from visitors and locals, including:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at [email protected], text us at 707-996-1090 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

Youtube: 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

Fall in Sonoma means harvest, friends—and great drinks. Tim sits down with Liz Takeuchi-Krist, co-owner of The Starling, a beloved neighborhood cocktail bar in Sonoma, to talk about building a welcoming, safe space (yes, even for solo guests) and the magic behind a truly great drink. Liz shares her path from Chicago music venues and wine auctions to bartending at the girl & the fig and finally opening The Starling, plus why the bar’s name gives grape growers a playful wink.

Expect plenty of practical tips: how to mix a White Negroni (and batch it for parties), why clear ice matters (and how to make it at home), the case for bitter elements, and The Starling’s house-made goodness—from tonic syrup to fermented ginger beer. We also dig into spirit-free options that feel adult, the legend of “Joji’s Old Fashioned” with candy-cap mushroom bitters, and crowd-pleasers like the Black Walnut Manhattan, Bacon Bourbon Sour, and Bourbon Blossom.

Beyond the bar: happy hour and Martini Monday deals, live music and events (burlesque on Halloween!), hosting wedding after-parties, plus local tips for easy hikes and bike paths. Oh—and what grape-stomping actually feels like.

🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

More on the Starling at www.starlingsonoma.com

Episode highlights:

* The Starling’s “coffee-house vibe” and hospitality ethos

* White Negroni 101, batching, and clear-ice hack

* House-made mixers, fermented ginger beer, and spirit-free spritzes

* Candy-cap mushroom bitters in an Old Fashioned

* Happy hour, Martini Mondays, live music, and private events

* Quick recs: Sonoma Mountain & Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Plaza bike path

Pull up a stool—this one’s equal parts neighborly and nerdy (in the best cocktail way). 

Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at [email protected], text us at 707-996-1090 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

Youtube: 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

🍸

Welcome back to The Sonoma Spiel from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau! We kick things off fresh from a festive homecoming pep rally (electric-guitar National Anthem, tractors, the works—Go Dragons!) and welcomes returning guest Paul Giusto of Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery. 

We talk all things Sonoma Valley harvest—why 2025 is running a little late, what “crush” actually means, how rosé saignée works, and what happens when everything ripens at once (spoiler: 🚜🍇 organized chaos). Paul also brings a just-fermenting Pinot Noir rosé sample from Carneros and walks us through lees, jackets, presses, and why slow-and-steady seasons make beautiful wine.

Plus: Sonoma Valley tasting tips, non/low-alcohol wine options, fun non-limo tour ideas (bikes, trolleys, sidecars!), where the Plaza Visitor Center moved, and a PSA on what locals do (and don’t) call San Francisco. Hint: It's not two rhyming words.

What you’ll learn:

What “late” harvest means and how wineries decide when to pick

Crush 101: destemming, crushers vs. bladder presses

How rosé is made via saignée vs. whole-cluster pressing

Sonoma’s weather & why “slow and steady” = flavor depth

Non- and low-alcohol wine realities (and good alternatives)

The new address for the Sonoma Plaza Visitor Center (24 East Spain St)

Creative wine touring ideas that aren’t limos

Why locals say “the City” (and not “San Fran”)

Super Bowl in the Bay Area: yes, you can (and should) day-trip to Sonoma Valley

Shout-outs & mentions:

Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery — Tasting barn on the Sonoma Plaza; friendly, approachable tastings + wine club exclusives. Details: www.highway12winery.com

Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, Sonoma Adventures (e-bikes), West Wine Tours (VW buses), Rides By Me (motorcycle sidecars), Destination Drivers (they drive your car)

 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Like what you heard?

👍 Like, 🔔 Subscribe, and send your Sonoma questions —Tim might answer them on a future We Get Questions segment!

#SonomaValley #WineCountry #Harvest #Crush #Rosé #Highway12Winery #WineTasting #TravelCalifornia #GoDragons #SonomaSpiel #Podcast

You might groan when you see it, but deep down you know you love it: Pumpkin Spice Season. Born from Starbucks’ skunkworks, this cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice sensation has become a fixture in America’s culinary calendar—and Sonoma Valley is not immune.

This week, Michelle Lacy and Mark Bodenhamer return to talk all things harvest, fall, and autumn—while taste-testing pumpkin spice treats ranging from pretzels and nuts to cupcakes and even Twinkies.

Along the way, we share upcoming events and dive into real listener questions in our “We Get Questions” segment:

We want to bring a group of corporate professionals to Sonoma Valley for a three-day meeting in November. What can we do besides sitting in a conference room?

Outside of wine tasting, what else can you do at a winery or vineyard?

Are the leaves changing colors in Occidental yet? (via text)

What can we do at night in Sonoma Valley?

Can I smoke cannabis when I go wine tasting?

We Get Questions is brought to you by the Sonoma Plaza Tasting Pass: Save up to 25% on tasting fees and choose three great wineries around the historic Sonoma Plaza. Details here.

Got your own questions about Sonoma Valley?

Listen to The Sonoma Spiel – Sonoma Valley’s top podcast – wherever you get your podcasts:

🎥 YouTube

🍏 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

Jacob Yarrow joins Tim to unpack Sonoma State’s Green Music Center: World-class halls, wildly diverse ’25–’26 season (jazz, mariachi, contemporary circus, holiday shows & more), and how the venue keeps Sonoma County listening.

Fresh from moving the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau into its new HQ at the Toscano Hotel (come visit!), Tim sits down with Jacob Yarrow, Executive Director of Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center (GMC), for a lively tour of one of Northern California’s premier performing arts hubs. We learn what makes GMC special, such as the acoustically famed Weill Hall, intimate Schroeder Hall, and the indoor-outdoor lawn experience, and how the rooms themselves become part of the music.

They then preview the upcoming 2025–26 season: a New Orleans-style jazz kickoff with an uptown big band vibe, mariachi and swing, adventurous new-music string quartets, and a can’t-miss appearance by a contemporary circus company from Australia. Holiday favorites return with touring ensembles and Broadway star power, plus community favorites like outdoor movie nights on the lawn. Jacob also shares how GMC partners with the Santa Rosa Symphony, supports student performances, and welcomes audiences whether they’re dressed up for a night out or dropping by post-hike.

Along the way we discuss pepperoni rolls, West Virginia, marching bands, moonshine lore, and why Sonoma is sneakily packed with live music.

More info & tickets: gmc.sonoma.edu

Plan your Sonoma Valley trip & events: sonomavalley.com

Every week our podcast guests answer YOUR questions about wine country and visiting Sonoma.

This week Jacob Yarrow takes on these important Sonoma Valley questions:

We are here for two days and we don’t have a car. How can we get around and see things?

We are visiting and are wondering what we should do and what is famous here?

Are there any wineries that have cabernet?

I’m supposed to be in Napa with a car, but instead I’m in Sonoma on foot. What should I do, and can it involve white wine?

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 at 707-996-1090 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

Youtube: 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

This week, Tim sits down with Linda Keaton, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), to preview Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California, Revisited. The exhibition pairs Lange’s iconic documentation of Dust Bowl migration with contemporary artists exploring today’s migrant labor, agriculture, climate, and community—revealing what has (and hasn’t) changed.

Linda also shares how SVMA is transforming a third of the museum into a theater to present the world premiere of a stage work adapted from poet Tess Taylor’s letters to Lange—plus a slate of talks and roundtables featuring photojournalists, scholars, and farming leaders. It’s a packed season that shows how a small, scrappy museum can convene big conversations.

Along the way: Sonoma Art Walk nights, how exhibitions are chosen, why memberships (and NARM reciprocity) are such a great deal, and a few beloved local bites for a quick lunch between art stops.

Highlights

Dorothea Lange’s legacy & why it resonates now

Contemporary artists in conversation with Lange’s work

Programs: immigrant workers, sociology, and sustainability in farming

Building a theater inside the museum; student performances

How SVMA curates, collaborates, and “punches above its weight”

Visitor basics: hours, free Wednesdays, tickets, memberships & NARM

Links

Visit SVMA

Guest

Host

Credits