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Category - General
Posted - 05/05/2021 10:49am Sosie tasting room opens in downtown Sonoma
LORNA SHERIDAN
INDEX-TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
April 29, 2021, 4:55PM

The Sonoma-based boutique winery, Sosie, has opened its first tasting room downtown on the Plaza. The winery was founded in 2015 by owners Regina Bustamante and Scott MacFiggen.

Bustamante and MacFiggen specialize in organically and sustainably farmed wines, guided by a low-to-no intervention principle ‒ meaning their wines are made as naturally as possible, just as the grapes were grown. The back of every bottle of Sosie specifies how the wine was made and what went into it, and most labels state "No Amendments," which equates to native fermentations, and the avoidance of additions such as acid, enzymes, tannin or anything else besides a little sulfur.

Sosie (pronounced soh-ZEE), means "look alike" in French. This doppelganger reference describes the winery’s affinity for French varieties and Old World winemaking.

"We love being part of the historic Sonoma square, and Vine Alley has the charm of feeling like the quaint alleyways of France where we initially discovered our passion for wine,“ MacFiggen told the Index-Tribune. ”We are excited to bring Sosie to Sonoma by creating an inviting space where guests can relax in the California sun and enjoy our wines made, as we say, with French soul,“ added Bustamante.

Sosie is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with plans to expand hours in the summer months. Guests can choose from outdoor or inside seating.

The tasting room will be managed by Jeremy Phillips, formerly of Elizabeth Spencer and Foley Family Wines.



Category - General
Posted - 05/05/2021 10:42am Sonoma Court Shops Welcomes Sosie Wines
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SONOMA, Calif., May 4th, 2021 – Sosie Wines, the award winning boutique Sonoma based winery, is pleased to announce the grand opening of its first ever tasting room off the historic downtown Sonoma Plaza. Specializing in organically and sustainably farmed wines inspired by old-world winemaking, guests can choose from outdoor or inside seating for a local luxury tasting. Operating hours are Thursday through Monday from 11:00am – 6:00pm, with plans to expand hours in the summer months. Sosie Wine’s tasting room is located on Vine Alley, a walking alley off the Sonoma Plaza square at 25 East Napa Street, Suite C, Sonoma, CA, 95476. Reservations may be made through tasting@sosiewines.com or at https://www.sosiewines.com/contact, and walk-ins are welcome. Guests are asked to comply with local Covid protocols.

The new tasting room is a cheerful welcome after  a challenging year for Sosie, which lost its entire 2020 vintage to the fires that devastated the region. Rising from the ashes and looking toward brighter days ahead, the new tasting room is a testament to the resilience of owners Regina Bustamante and Scott MacFiggen and their dedication to Sosie.  

Sosie’s commitment to maintaining transparency and honesty can be seen on the back of every bottle of Sosie which informs the consumer on how the wine was made and what went into it.   Bustamante and MacFiggen are guided by a low-to-no intervention principle, meaning their wines are made as natural as possible, just as the grapes were grown. Sosie’s emphasis on place starts with its careful sourcing of grapes from sought after vineyards and is reflected in the prime location of its tasting room in the heart of the bustling Sonoma Plaza. It is a year of renewal for many in 2021, and Sosie Wines is excited to welcome guests and toast to new beginnings.  

About Sosie Wines

Founded by Scott MacFiggen and Regina Bustamante in 2015, Sosie Wines is an award winning boutique winery based in Sonoma, CA. Sosie Wines is a low to no intervention winery, meaning that they strive for natural acidity as well as measured ripeness and a focus on letting the fruit speak for itself. In order to achieve this they source from vineyards with pronounced cooling influences. The informative back label of most of their wines reads “No Amendments,” reflecting Sosie’s promise that the wine was made as it was grown. This equates to native fermentations, and the avoidance of additions such as  acid, enzymes, tannin or anything else besides a little sulfur. They are also thoughtful about the cooperages they partner with, ensuring that the new French oak barrels complement the wine and will not overpower them. Sosie (pronounced soh-ZEE), means  â€œlook alike” in French. This doppelganger reference aptly describes the winery’s affinity for French varieties and old world wine making. 

https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/05/04/sosie-wines-announces-new-sonoma-plaza-tasting-room





Category - General
Posted - 10/20/2020 06:59pm A Stroll Down Vine Alley

A cozy warren of shops, offices, and wine tasting rooms, Vine Alley presents an inviting detour on the south side of the historic Sonoma Plaza. Also called Sonoma Court Shops, the alleyway evokes a European feel with its fountain, pastel pink stucco walls, and tiled walkway.

Look for the tasting room signs and the little Bacchus statue at 27 E. Napa St., then pass under the greenery-fringed archways and begin exploring. You can make it a round trip by following the narrow passageways that lead back to the street.

If you've enjoyed wandering this way before, check back in, as there is much that is new lately in this seemingly sleepy little courtyard.

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Passaggio Tasting Room
Good news for white wine drinkers at our first stop: Passaggio offers not only Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but Pinot Grigio, Roussanne, Riesling, and Chenin Blanc, too. Ask about Trousseau Gris, a rare grape grown in the Russian River Valley. 

Fulcrum Wines
One of the more recent additions, stylish Fulcrum plays to the Pinot Noir set. At the bar or at café tables, explore plushly fruited Pinot from top Sonoma County vineyards like Gap's Crown.

Galatea Effect
This limited-production winery crafts 'Uber Cuvées' from ultra-premium California vineyards, with a focus on Syrah, Pinot Noir, and assorted Rhone varietals.

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Chappellet Grower Collection
For five decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting world-class wines from fruit cultivated on the steep, rocky slopes of Napa Valley's renowned Pritchard Hill. They recently acquired the Sonoma-Loeb brand, which includes a Vine Alley tasting room near the fountain. Taste cool climate Sonoma County wines, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Westwood Estate Wines
This is a tasting room with a sense of place, indeed: the wines are sourced from their own Annadel Gap vineyard, situated at the north end of Sonoma Valley. Instead of a walk-up bar, expect an informative, guided tasting with table or sofa seating. Syrah, Pinot Noir, and rare Counoise.

Adastra Wines
New to Sonoma but a longtime gem in Carneros, this small family winery grows certified organic grapes. Try Carneros Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah while perusing the art gallery. 

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Other possibilities
Vine Alley is just one of many options. To get an overview of the wine tasting possibilities in and around the town of Sonoma, visit our Guide to Wine Tasting in Sonoma.




Category - General
Posted - 04/22/2015 03:46pm Vintage Point Expands Portfolio With Three New Brands
April 22, 2015
Shanken News Daily

Sonoma-based Vintage Point has added three new wine brands, as well as a new Layer Cake extension, to its portfolio. Joining the marketer’s stable is Higher Ground Monterey County Pinot Noir, an on-premise-only offering priced at around $10-$12 a glass; Concrete 2012 Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel, a partially concrete tank-fermented blend of 85% Zinfandel, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon retailing at $20 a bottle; and JAQK Cellars’ High Roller brand, which makes its debut with a 2013 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($20) and 2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($20).

Concurrently, Vintage Point is introducing a new Layer Cake extension, a 2014 California Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the Alexander Valley, Lake County and Lodi regions and priced at $11.99. The Sauvignon Blanc joins Layer Cake’s existing Shiraz, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Garnacha entries. Vintage Point has annual volume of more than 700,000 cases across its portfolio.

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Category - General
Posted - 12/09/2014 10:57pm Sole Desire steps into Napa

ALISHA WYMAN business@napanews.com

Shoes on First has undergone a little shoe "shining" and is open under a new name.

Napa's First Street shoe store is now Sole Desire, part of a Bay Area regional chain, which will allow it to offer a larger selection, owner Phil Aved said.

“It gives us greater reach, greater advertising … all the advantages of a chain store with the charm of a local business,” he said.

Aved has owned the original store for the past 14 years.

He has been friends with the Santa Rosa-based Astobiza family, which owns Sole Desire, for 40 years and works as a paid consultant for the family's corporation.

Bringing his store under the Sole Desire name was a logistical next step, he said. It gives him greater buying power and distribution opportunities for the brands the store carries.

Aved remains the owner of the store, while Sole Desire acts as the management operator, he said.

It is now one of 15 branches around the Bay Area, including stores in Los Gatos, Sonoma, San Rafael and Davis.

Link to the Full Article Here




Category - General
Posted - 11/14/2014 04:44pm Three Dog Bakery Honors Returning Military with Veteran's Day Promotion
3dog_1.pngKANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation honors its servicemen and women on Veteran's Day, November 11th, Three Dog Bakery and man's best friend are doing their part by providing military veterans with service dogs. Three Dog Bakery will donate to FISH – Food Industry Serving Heroes – an amount equal to 15 percent of the total sales of its products, whether through its bakeries, its retail outlets or online, made on Veteran's Day. The company will also contribute a year's supply of its dog food and treats to the recipients of its service dog initiative.

The nonprofit FISH engages the food industry in serving military veterans who have sacrificed greatly to guarantee U.S. freedom. With the donations from the Three Dog Bakery Veteran's Day promotion, FISH will purchase service dogs to distribute to veterans in need.

Returning military personnel and veterans face a myriad of challenges that can be aided with the use of a service dog, from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to immobility. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the U.S. has 1.6 million veterans from Iraq andAfghanistan conflicts, 21 percent of who suffer a service-connected disability.

Read the full text of the article here