Those working in the wine industry associate Healdsburg with some of Sonoma County’s finest wineries, not realizing it is also the location of the Sonoma County Wine Library. The public library at the Healdsburg branch of the Sonoma County Library holds approximately 5,000 wine books. The books on the shelves include the most recent literature, as well as rare books. The focus of the Sonoma County Wine Library is to provide information about viticulture, enology, and winemaking, but it has also become a valuable resource for the business side of the industry. It also chronicles the region’s wine history. The following data and research resources are available to wine professionals and wine lovers.
Wine Periodicals
The library subscribes to 40 wine periodicals, trade publications, and academic journals. The selection includes popular magazines such as Decanter and Wine Spectator. The peer-reviewed journals include the Journal of Wine Research and the Journal of Wine Economics. The trade publications most frequently accessed are the Gomberg-Fredrikson Report and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter, which provide the most up-to-date wine data and trends. As with any public library, visitors can browse the wine periodicals while there. You can check out any back issues if you have a Sonoma, Lake, or Mendocino County library card.
Reference Materials
The Wine Handbook by the Beverage Information Group is a popular resource for sales and marketing professionals providing comprehensive data on wine sales and consumption trends. The handbook costs almost $1200, so it is not always a feasible purchase for small wineries or independent consultants. Other reference materials at the library include the wine industry’s Directory and Buyer’s Guide, and various annual reports from the 1980s to the present. Another example is the Economic Impact of California Wine, a research report by Motto Kryla and Fisher. Reference materials will always be there for patrons visiting the branch.
Online Resources
The Biblioteca Vinaria Sonoma is a digital online collection of historic wine books and documents. It is a valuable resource for wine industry professionals looking for historical reports. The majority of the collection is from 1800-1923. An example from the collection is the History and Description of Modern Wines from 1833 by Cyrus Redding. It is considered one of the first books in English dedicated to wine. The collection also focuses on Sonoma viticulture and winemaking resources, such as the Soil Survey of the Healdsburg area, California from 1917 or Observation on some vine diseases in Sonoma County, California from 1905. The Biblioteca Vinaria Sonoma is a publicly accessible online resource.
The library has several other wine-related resources useful for researchers and scholars. The International Wine Research Database (IWRDB) is an online citation database dedicated to current and historical wine literature. The Wine Library collection also contains 26 oral histories of wine industry pioneers from Sonoma County. If visiting the branch, check out the ephemera folders, which hold menus, newsletters, and advertising for specific wineries in Sonoma County. There is also an extensive current and historical map and poster collection.
Megan Jones has been the Curator of the Sonoma County Wine Library since 2017 and has become a valuable resource for information to the local wine industry. Next time you are in Healdsburg, consider visiting the Sonoma County Wine Library. It’s like a small wine museum.
Writing Between the Vines
Tuesday, February 07, 2023, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Free
Description
Co-hosted with Sonoma County Library and the Sonoma County Wine Library Association
Join us for an evening honoring the writers and wineries that participate in the annual “Writing Between the Vines” program. For the past ten years wineries have provided vineyard retreats to writers for a week-long retreat. Adam McHugh (2019 participant) will read from his recently published book “Blood From a Stone” along with selected readings from past and current program retreat recipients. Wine will be available for a small donation from participating wineries Moshin Vineyards, Keller Estate, West Wines, DeLoach Vineyards, and Jordan Vineyards & Winery.
To learn more about the writing program visit: https://www.writingbetweenthevines.org/.
Event Contact
Sonoma County Wine Library
Megan Jones
mjones@sonomalibrary.org
707-433-3772
Pacific meets Atlantic at bicoastal wine event
Wine lovers have a chance to taste varietals rarely, if ever, grown in West Coast vineyards at an event showcasing wines from the Atlantic seaboard. Hosted by the Sonoma County Wine Library Association from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Healdsburg Golf Course Clubhouse, guests will taste some of the top wines from the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association’s 2022 competition.
Featured varietals include chambourcin, petit manseng and tannat along with more familiar varietals such as merlot, riesling and pinot noir, all produced with an East-Coast flair. The event includes a presentation by the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association about what makes their wines unique. Tickets are $35 and available at sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events. 927 S. Fitch Mountain Road.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Atlantic Meets Pacific in Best-of-Show Tasting Event
Healdsburg, CA – On Saturday afternoon, January 28th, the Sonoma County Wine Library Association hosts a special presentation and tasting event by the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association. The event will showcase the wines that earned Best of Show and other top awards from the Atlantic Seaboard’s 2022 wine competition. Guests will have the opportunity to taste and learn about the wines from the East Coast association leaders, who will pour 24 wines. The tasting will take place in the Healdsburg Golf Course Clubhouse, 927 S. Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg, from 3 to 5 p.m.
“We are excited to welcome our East Coast partners in wine,” says Julie Pedroncelli St. John, Sonoma County Wine Library Association board president. “This event, our first of 2023, gives Californians a special opportunity to taste award-winning wines from Atlantic seaboard AVAs. This annual event is always a highlight of the year – highly anticipated by our board, our members and friends. And the clubhouse is the perfect setting, with plenty of parking available.”
“For many years we have enjoyed bringing top wines from the East Coast to California, to highlight the diversity and quality of the wines being produced in our area,” says Grant Crandall, president of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association. “And we believe that the best way to appreciate the wines of the more than 2,000 wineries on the East Coast is to taste them.”
The tasting will feature varietals like Chambourcin, Viognier, Petit Manseng, Tannat and other hybrid and less common grape varietals, in addition to more familiar varietals such Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, sparkling and other wines, all with an East Coast flair. Tickets are $30 for members, $35 for non-members and are expected to sell out. For more details visit SonomaWineLibraryAssn.org/Events.
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that supports the Wine Library’s mission, resources and activities. Association activities engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Meet The Future of Sonoma County Wine – Legends: Next Gen
Healdsburg, CA – After a three-year pause, the Sonoma County Wine Library Association is bringing back its Sonoma County Wine Legends event at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10th, at the Steele Lane Community Center in Santa Rosa.
A fundraiser for the Sonoma County Wine Library, Legends: Next Gen will feature a panel of five next-generation professionals of the local wine community. Journalist, Sommelier, and host of YouTube’s “The Varietal Show,” Christopher Sawyer, will moderate the panel discussion of these legends in the making: Jamie Benziger, Winemaker, Imagery Wine Estates; Drew Damskey, Winemaker/Consultant, Palmeri Wines; Mari Jones, President, Emeritus Vineyards; Shelly Rafanelli, Winemaker and Owner, A. Rafanelli Wines; and Alan Ramey, President, Ramey Wine Cellars.
In addition to discussing the past, present and future of the Sonoma County wine industry, the panelists will be pouring their wines during the reception, and a charcuterie platter will be offered. To help support the wine library’s mission, a silent auction will feature special wines, gifts and wine country experiences.
“Year after year, our Legends event has always been the biggest fundraiser for the Wine Library,” said Julie Pedroncelli St. John, president of the Sonoma County Wine Library Association.
“We’re looking forward to resuming this ‘fun-raiser’ and are grateful for the support of our wine community here in Sonoma County and beyond.”
The event is open to the public. Early bird tickets are $45 for members and $60 for non-members, and $55 and $70 respectively after October 31st. For tickets, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that supports the Wine Library’s mission, resources and activities. Association activities engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
Passing the torch at 3 Sonoma County wineries
SARAH DOYLE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
December 13, 2022
Image: Chad Surmick
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Screening the Life of Legendary Winemaker Joel Peterson
Healdsburg, CA – The winemaking history of Joel Peterson, the founding winemaker of Ravenswood Winery and the “Godfather of Zinfandel,” will be featured at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, at the Sonoma Community Center as part of the Sonoma County Wine Library Association’s Visual OralHistory series.
In a 70-minute recorded video interview, Peterson describes his entry into the wine industry and how he worked tirelessly to make Zinfandel famous as California’s heritage grape. Before the screening Peterson will be pouring wines from his latest venture, Once and Future Wine. After the video presentation, he will answer audience questions.
When Peterson started Ravenswood in 1976, he focused on crafting complex Zinfandels in an old-world style, using indigenous yeasts and fruit from organic farms. He came up with the whimsical slogan “No Wimpy Wines” to describe his bold style. Peterson is a founding board member and two-time president of the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP).
Early in his career, Peterson studied with the renowned Joseph Swan, which also gave him the opportunity to work with “the dean of American winemakers,” André Tchelistcheff. Ravenswood boomed with the introduction of Peterson’s Vintner’s Blend, and he sold his 25-year-old business to Constellation Wines in 2001. Peterson started Once and Future in 2013, returning to his roots by specializing in wines from unique vineyards and made with a sensitivity to place.
“We’ve had great attendance in the past at our in-person oral history events,” said Julie Pedroncelli St. John, president of the Sonoma County Wine Library Association. “We look forward to our fourth Visual Oral History event in 2022, and we’re thrilled to host this event in the town of Sonoma.” The visual oral histories are produced by Jeff Davis, the host of the popular radio show “On the Wine Road.”
The event is open to the public. Two glasses of wine are included in the price of the ticket. Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for non-members. For more information about memberships, donations and to purchase tickets, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us/
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities. Association activities are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
Take tour at Oliver Ranch
PRESS DEMOCRAT August 18, 2022
The Sonoma County Wine Library Association will lead a tour Sept. 10 at Oliver Ranch of the 18 remarkable site-specific art installations on the property commissioned by the Oliver family.
Over the years, acclaimed artists have created works that are enhanced by Oliver Ranch’s natural beauty. The tour will cover approximately 2.5 miles and take nearly two and a half hours. Similar to a light hike in the woods, the paths are unpaved with 600 feet of up-and-down elevation change. Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes are recommended.
9:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A shuttle to the tour will leave at precisely 9:50 a.m. from Geyserville. Attendees will receive directions on where to meet after reserving a spot. Tickets are $125 and benefit the Sonoma County Wine Library Association. For more information and to get tickets, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Tour of Oliver Ranch’s Renowned Outdoor Sculptures Will Benefit Sonoma County Wine Library
Healdsburg, CA – Sonoma County Wine Library Association will offer a private tour of Oliver Ranch’s monumental sculptures at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 10. The two-and-a-half-hour tour, led by owner Steve Oliver, will cover approximately 2.5 miles of the Geyserville property. All funds raised from the event will benefit the non-profit Sonoma County Wine Library.
Motivated by their shared “love of art and a desire to support artists,” Steve and Nancy Oliver began commissioning site-specific installations for their ranch in 1985. Twenty artists are represented in 18 installations, including works by Andy Goldsworthy, Bruce Nauman, Richard Serra, Robert Stackhouse and Ann Hamilton’s eight-story cylindrical tower where sensory performances are held.
The Oliver’s philanthropic efforts began in mid-1990 with tours to benefit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Now, tours of the ranch and performances in the tower raise funds for various Bay Area non-profits, including the Wine Library.
“We are excited to offer our members and supporters this unique opportunity to view these sculptures, which are beautifully integrated into the ranch’s environment,” says Julie Pedroncelli St. John, board chair of the Sonoma County Wine Library Association. “We are very grateful to the Olivers for their generosity and support of the Wine Library.”
The tour is like an easy hike in the woods and takes place on unpaved paths with 600 feet of elevation change. Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes are recommended. The private tour is limited to 30 guests. Tickets are priced at $125 and can be purchased at https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events/. For more information about Wine Library Association memberships and donations go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us/.
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities. Association activities are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Sonoma County Wine Library Celebrates Founder Millie Howie with Tales and a Toast
Healdsburg, CA (June 3, 2022) At 5:00 p.m., on Monday, June 13, the Sonoma County Wine Library Association will celebrate its founder, Millie Howie, with a special sparkling toast on the anniversary of her 100th birthday.
The celebration will be held on the Millie Howie Patio outside the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Center Street, in Healdsburg. Special guests will share remembrances of Millie and her decades of achievements. Korbel Winery is providing the California Champagne, and sparkling cider also will be served.
“Millie understood the importance of capturing the histories of the winemakers, growers and all the people who created the wine industry in Sonoma County. Along with dedicating the Linda and Hank Wetzel Visual Oral History event on June 9th to Millie, we want to have a special remembrance toast at the Library on the site that’s been dedicated to her,” says Board President Julie Pedroncelli St. John. “I’m sure Millie would approve!”
“Millie worked non-stop to promote our region, our wineries and, with the help of other like-minded locals, created the Sonoma County Wine Library at the Healdsburg Regional Library. She campaigned tirelessly and her passion bore fruit – a wonderful collection of books, research material, labels, posters, maps and more, all focusing on wine and grape growing,” says Pedroncelli.
Tickets for this event are available at the Wine Library website, and at the door. The $5.00 donation benefits the Millie Howie Century Fund.
More information about upcoming events, membership, and donations is available at the Sonoma County Wine Library Association website, sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us/
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities.
Association activities are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
Sonoma County Wine Library a Haven for History Buffs
Millie Howie’s Legacy
Sonoma Magazine, Wednesday, May 18, 2022
By Sarah Doyle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Wine Library Showcases a History of Family Winemaking with Linda and Hank Wetzel of Alexander Valley Vineyards
Healdsburg, CA (May 17, 2022) At 7p.m., on Thursday, June 9, at the clubhouse of the Healdsburg Golf Club at Tayman Park, the Sonoma County Wine Library Association will present the third program in its 2022 Visual Oral History series.
The evening includes a premier screening of “A History of Family Winemaking and the Founding of Alexander Valley Vineyards,” featuring Hank and Linda Wetzel. After the screening, Jeff Davis, the video producer, will host an informal question-and-answer session with the Wetzels. The Wetzels will pour their Alexander Valley wines at the reception.
“The Wetzel family has been deeply rooted in Alexander Valley since the beginning, when they purchased their property in 1962 and founded Alexander Valley Vineyards in 1975,” says Davis. “The family-owned business, now in its fourth generation, has earned its reputation for fine wines in the Valley and beyond.”
“We are dedicating the event to Wine Library founder Millie Howie, in honor of her 100th year birthday anniversary,” says Board President Julie Pedroncelli St. John. “Millie understood the importance of capturing the histories of the winemakers, growers and all the people who created the wine industry in Sonoma County.”
The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets are available. Register for the event at https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events/ or visit the website sonomawinelibraryassn.org.
Two glasses of wine are included in the price of the ticket. Ticket prices range from $30 to $40 and members of the Wine Library Association receive savings on all event tickets. For more information about membership and donations, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us/
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities. Association activities are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Wine Library History Program Showcases Acclaimed Winemaker Zelma Long at Paradise Ridge Winery
Healdsburg, CA (March 15, 2022) The Sonoma County Wine Library Association will celebrate acclaimed winemaker Zelma Long at the Paradise Ridge Winery at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.
Long, a renowned enologist and winemaker with an international reputation, is a female pioneer in the male-dominated wine industry. The Vintner Hall of Famer has held executive positions in Napa and Sonoma wineries. She was CEO of Healdsburg’s Simi Winery and is a founding partner of the Vilafonté Winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
The event will feature a screening of the association’s newest Visual Oral History video and will be followed by an informal question-and-answer session with Long. The video interviews are produced by Jeff Davis, host of the radio show “On the Wine Road.” “I feel it’s important to capture the stories of wine makers who have made major contributions to the industry,” says Davis. “That’s especially true for Zelma, who burst through the proverbial glass ceiling.”
The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets are available; register for the event at https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events/ or visit the website sonomawinelibraryassn.org.
Two glasses of Paradise Ridge wine are included in the price of the ticket. Members of the Wine Library Association receive savings on all event tickets. For more information about membership and donations, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us.
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities. Association activities are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community. A 501c3 nonprofit support organization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Events Return to the Wine Library with Book Tour:
South of Somewhere: Wine, Food and the Soul of Italy
Healdsburg, CA (February 27, 2022) The Sonoma County Wine Library Association will feature noted American author and contributing editor to Wine Spectator, Robert Camuto,
at an event open to the public in Healdsburg on March 18. Camuto will discuss his new book, South of Somewhere: Wine, Food and the Soul of Italy, which will be available on site for purchase at a specially discounted rate for attendees.
The March 18 event will be the first held at the Wine Library since COVID-19 closures began two years ago, although the association has hosted two in-person events at other locations in 2022. A limited number of tickets are available; register for the event at https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org/events/ or visit the website sonomawinelibraryassn.org.
“Our community and supporters have been eagerly awaiting the day when we could gather again for these educational events and tastings at the Wine Library,” says Association Board President Julie Pedroncelli. “We’re very excited to come together again at our library ‘home’ for this special event. We’re proud to introduce Robert to our community and we look forward to tasting and toasting with Italian varietal wines from Italian and Sonoma County wineries.”
Members of the Wine Library association receive savings on all event tickets. For more information about membership and donations, go to sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us/
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities.
Association activities throughout the year are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peg Champion
peg@pegchampion.com
650.492.0342
Sonoma County Wine Library Association Heads “Back to the Future” with New Name, New Look
Healdsburg, CA (January 3, 2022) The Friends of the Sonoma County Wine Library, a 501(c)3 organization that supports the acclaimed county wine library, has a new name: the Sonoma County Wine Library Association. The “new” name was, in fact, the original name of the organization when it was created in 1985.
The name is an outgrowth of the organization’s renewal process, which began in 2021 and includes the 2022 launch of a new website, https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org, a public education and fundraising effort, and a schedule of public events. The first event, a wine tasting of the winners of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, is planned for Saturday, January 29, at Costeaux’s French Bakery and Café in Healdsburg. A limited number of tickets are available; register for the event at bit.ly/3Kd1baF. For visit our website.
“As the ‘champions’ of the Wine Library, we’re excited about the new direction we’re taking. We’re planning a robust schedule of events planned for 2022 – tastings, interviews, panel presentations and winery visits,” says Association Board President Julie Pedroncelli. “We want to engage with the community and earn your support.”
Donations to the association help underwrite essential resources of the Sonoma County Wine Library, including the digitization of the collection and the preservation of the rich history of Sonoma County’s internationally heralded wine culture.
Industry members are invited to join the Sonoma County Wine Library Circle and members of the public are invited to become Members of the Wine Library. You also can make a one-time or sustaining contribution. For more information about membership and donations, go to https://sonomawinelibraryassn.org/join-us.
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The Sonoma County Wine Library Association is a 501(c)3 support organization that is dedicated to supporting the Wine Library’s mission, resources, and activities. Association activities throughout the year are designed to engage, inform, and empower our wine community.
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