What's New: November 2017

Editors: At the end of the release, there's information on how to access high-resolution photos.

There's never been a better time to visit Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — The recent wildfires in Northern California are 100 percent contained. That means it's time to book a getaway to Sonoma County, California.

Covering more than a million acres, 90 percent of the county was untouched by the recent wildfires. The hospitality community is stronger, and more committed than ever to providing visitors with a world-class welcome and unforgettable experiences.

Sonoma County is waiting for you.

There's never been a better time to visit Sonoma County. Come discover fine wines, cold beers, farm-fresh cuisine, natural beauty, and resilient spirit. Here's this month's quick overview of what is new or changing in Sonoma Wine Country.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800 or 800-576-6662. For a complete calendar of upcoming events, visit http://www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-events.

FEATURED

Visit Jack London State Historic Park for free The beautiful 1,400-acre Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen emerged unscathed from the recent wildfires. In celebration, admission to the park will be free through the end of the year. Tour the historic home and farm buildings, explore more than 29 miles of trails with stunning views, visit the small museum, or simply sit under a tree and relax. The weekly Saturday morning guided hikes are also free through Dec. 31. Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 707-938-5216.

Harvest some great deals on your next getaway Discover the charms of Sonoma County with fall harvest specials and discounts; it's the ideal time to come see the beauty of the vineyards, stunning coastline, and rolling hills. For example, get 50 percent off your second night in a restored 1905 cabin at the Dawn Ranch Lodge, or get a free bottle of wine at check-in and a passport for complimentary tastings at selected wineries with the Romantic Wine Country Package at several Sonoma County's charming and unique inns and B&Bs.

These are just a few of the special packages available online at www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-listings/deals. Find delightful offers from romantic inns, world-class resorts, spas, wineries, acclaimed restaurants, and more.

LODGING

Holiday Inn opens full-service hotel in Windsor The doors are open at the brand-new Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country, the first full-service hotel in the town of Windsor, in central Sonoma County.

Relax by the indoor pool or keep up your workout regimen in the well-equipped fitness center. Meet up with friends or colleagues for a drink, and then dine on five-star cuisine at the onsite Tisza Bistro and Bar.

The facilities include 2,500 square feet of meeting space, ideal for hosting a flawless event whether it's for a small group of 15 or a larger gathering for 200. There's also free wired and wireless Internet access, and a 24-hour business center.

Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country 8755 Old Redwood Highway Windsor, CA 95492 707-838-8000 www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/windsor/stshi/hoteldetail

Media Contact Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country 707-838-8000 s_sanchez@sonomahi.com

Astro Motel reborn in Santa Rosa Built in 1963 during the heyday of the American motor lodge, The Astro Motel has been brought back to life by extensive (and loving) renovations in Santa Rosa, in central Sonoma County.

Its 34 rooms face onto a garden courtyard, and are filled with original mid-century-modern furniture, fixtures, and art. You'll also find unique finishes by Sonoma County artisans, like concrete sinks cast in Geyserville and retro tiles made in Windsor. The renovations focused on creating a fun place where interesting travelers genuinely want to hang out before or after a day of hiking, cycling, wine tasting, and otherwise enjoying Sonoma County's abundance.

Located on the corner of beautiful Julliard Park and across the street from the historic Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, The Astro opened to the public on Oct. 27, 2017. The motel's rebirth is the work of Liza Hinman, chef and owner of the acclaimed (and nearby) Spinster Sisters restaurant.

The Astro Motel 323 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-200-4655 theastro.com

Media Contact The Astro Motel 707-200-4655 lizzie@theastromotel.com

WINERIES

Taste Kelley & Young Wines in Cloverdale Founded in 2007, Kelley & Young Wines is now pouring in its new tasting room in Cloverdale, in northern Sonoma County.

Winery owners Jim Young and Kathleen Kelley Young believe that great wines start in the vineyard, and their Robert Young Vineyard includes nearly 320 acres of hand-cared-for vines, grown sustainably with the end product kept in sight every step of the way. They carefully craft Malbec, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Fume Blanc, and Zinfandel wine.

Following their passion for wine, food, and hospitality, this husband-and-wife team also owns the Kelley & Young Wine Garden Inn, a lovingly preserved 1901 Queen Anne Victorian, surrounded by magnificent gardens in Cloverdale.

Kelley & Young Wines at the Library 119 S. Cloverdale Blvd. Cloverdale, CA 95425 707-894-4535 www.kelleyyoungwines.com

Media Contact Kathleen Kelley Young 707-894-4535 kathleen@kelleyyoungwines.com

Incavo Wine Tasting & Collective adds Petaluma site Sip a variety of boutique specialty wines while enjoying live music or an open mic session at the newest location of Incavo Wine Tasting & Collective, now in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County.

Known for its carefully curated selection of local wines and knowledgeable staff in a relaxed atmosphere, Incavo opened its original site in June 2016 in downtown San Rafael, in Marin County. Now it has expanded to a second site in Petaluma.

Both locations offer flights, glasses, and bottles of boutique local wines from a rotating group of small winemakers. In the Petaluma location, you can order food from the menu of the nearby Central Market, a farm-to-table restaurant serving rustic California-Mediterranean cuisine. Live music and open mic sessions are held several evenings each week.

Incavo Wine Tasting & Collective 100 Petaluma Blvd. N., #103 Petaluma, CA 94952 707-789-0505 www.incavowine.com

Media Contact Incavo Wine Tasting & Collective 707-789-0505 leannew@incavowine.com

RESTAURANTS & EATERIES

Savor sushi, small bites at Izakaya Kitaru Sushi and sashimi take center stage at the new Izakaya Kitaru in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County.

The menu features an extensive selection of nigiri and rolls, plus sashimi in a variety of cuts and platters. Choose classic rolls like Rainbow and spicy tuna, or try signatures like the Tokyo Cowboy (seared beef, tempura green onion, and shiitake mushrooms) or the Aburi Saba (seared mackerel, tempura scallion, avocado, and ginger).

Consider more exotic options like ankimo (monkfish liver) decorated with shiso leaf, kaiware (radish sprouts), and oroshi (grated daikon radish), for dipping into ponzu. Or, try authentic Japanese bites like gyutan (grilled beef tongue), ika maruyaki (whole grilled squid), or takoyaki (octopus dumplings). However, Kitaru also offers a wide variety of more mainstream dishes, like pepper steak and rice in a sizzling cast iron pot, grilled miso salmon, or tempura.

Izakaya Kitaru 212 Western Ave. Petaluma, CA 94952 707-789-9068 www.facebook.com/Izakaya-Kitaru-1376865799029531

Media Contact Izakaya Kitaru 707-789-9068 izakayakitaru@gmail.com

Dine at Tisza Bistro and Bar in the Holiday Inn Windsor Enjoy meals crafted with the finest seasonal ingredients in a setting that blends old-world charm with modern elegance at the new Tisza Bistro and Bar in Windsor, in central Sonoma County.

Located onsite at the brand-new Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country — the first full-service hotel in Windsor — Tisza serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, using locally sourced ingredients with a focus on sustainability and responsible growing techniques. The menus feature Chef Krisztian's passion for culinary elegance and inspirations from around the globe.

The dinner menu starts with appetizers like selected Sonoma County artisan cheeses, or IPA-steamed black mussels with smoked ham hocks and Swiss chard. Main dishes include ricotta and sorrel gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and Roasted Skuna Bay salmon with potato pancake, sautéed spinach, and Riesling reduction.

Tisza Bistro and Bar 8757 Old Redwood Highway Windsor, CA 95492 949-878-6959  tiszabistro.com

Media Contact Tisza Bistro and Bar 949-878-6959 info@tiszabistro.com

Smokin' Bowls dishes up fun, funky comfort food Choose from Asian, Southern, Tex Mex, and food-truck inspired bowls and healthy salads at the new Smokin' Bowls in Rohnert Park, in central Sonoma County.

The focus is on flavor, value, and fun, and the entire menu is gluten-free. Those with legume allergies will also find no peanuts or soy protein in any of the food. Rather than actual bowls, the food is served in compostable rectangular boxes, and the 17-item menu includes entrées, salads, dessert, and sides.

Try the Bowl Named Sue, a down-home combination of homemade mashed potatoes, corn, bacon, chicken, and gravy. The Dragon Bowl includes fried rice with bacon, chicken, and hot sweet Asian sauce. Or there's the Rohnert Pork, with fries, barbecue pork, cheese sauce, and bacon.

The French fries are made the old-fashioned way — hand-cut and fried in 100 percent beef fat to maximize flavor, then tossed with a blend of seasonings. And for dessert, consider the Salted Caramel Apple Fries, or maybe the S'mores Fries, which are smothered in cinnamon, then topped with ice cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Open daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Smokin' Bowls 295 Southwest Blvd. Rohnert Park, CA 94528 707-665-5265 www.smokinbowls.net

Media Contact Smokin' Bowls 707-665-5265 contact@smokinbowls.net

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Find your passion in Sonoma County, located only 30 miles north of San Francisco and featuring more than 425 wineries, 100-plus organic farms, and 50 miles of stunning Pacific Ocean coastline.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.

Birgitt Vaughan Public Relations Manager Sonoma County Tourism 400 Aviation Blvd., Suite 500 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-522-5826 bvaughan@sonomacounty.com

EDITORS: High-resolution photos can be found at sonomacounty.smugmug.com/PhotoLibrary/Whats-New/ Password: SonomaPassion

Find high-resolution photos of Sonoma County that have been taken since Oct. 10, 2017, and show Sonoma County is largely undamaged by the recent wildfires, visit sonomacounty.smugmug.com/Current [NO PASSWORD NEEDED]