The 3rd annual Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience was a weekend-long celebration that featured the best of Sonoma County and world-renowned food and wines. This year's festival showcased the region's makers – farmers, growers, winemakers and chefs – alongside globally recognized wines, highlighting the vibrant culinary diversity, deep connection to agriculture, and sustainable farming practices of Sonoma County. HWFE is deeply involved in the Sonoma County community, making substantial donations from this year’s ticket sales and sponsorships to local organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of farmers and their families, including the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos. These funds will help support the Leadership Academy and workforce development for vineyard employees and their families, fostering future leaders in both the industry and the community. As well as being co-founders of HWFE, Sonoma County Winegro

Like wine itself, a career in the wine industry is made through harmony and complexity, and both are created by design. Committed to this ideology is Sonoma State's Wine Business Institute (WBI), an education and research center in the School of Business and Economics with the only undergraduate and master's programs of their kind in the country.  Ray Johnson joined SSU as Director of the WBI in 2010 and will be retiring in May 2024. He was promoted to Executive Director in 2016 after overseeing the construction and opening of the Wine Spectator Learning Center on campus. Under his leadership, the WBI Board of Directors raised over $8 million to create the center. Considered an international leader in wine business education, Johnson said with the North Coast of California producing some of the best wine in the world, the WBI is poised to create student success. "We're in the major leagues here. Consequently, if you get your footsteps into this area, then you'

Did you know that Wine Road is now doing seminars? We have found that visitors appreciate the opportunity to attend smaller, more intimate tasting experiences, featuring two to four different wineries. In these smaller setting, guests get to know the people behind the wines. They learn a little winery history and have the opportunity to sample wines from different wineries, side-by-side.  When planning, we also leave plenty of time for "audience participation" with Q & A. These seminars are open to the general public, but are offered at a 50% discount to our Wine Road Insider members. Details on Insider Membership HERE To keep that small, personalized vibe, each seminar/tasting is limited to 20-30 people, depending on the location. We have scheduled them early in the day, so you can start with the seminar, then head out for an afternoon of wine tasting. Our 2023 Seminar Series Schedule Sparkling Discoveries ~ May 13, 2023  9:30-11:00am Location: Amista Vineyar

A new wine industry and consumer website, sparklingdiscoveries.com, was recently launched by our client and industry friend, Vicky Farrow of Amista Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg, California. Sparkling Discoveries was launched as a community-based resource to support the sparkling wine industry by helping to build community for sparkling wine makers, enthusiasts, and thought leaders. The website provides a platform to discover interesting Q&A style conversations with industry professionals, as well as resources and information to decode sparkling wine terminology, and methods of enjoyment. Rack & Riddle is honored to be among the first to be featured in conversations about sparkling wine, sparkling winemaking, and the science behind it. SPARKLING DISCOVERIES CONVERSATIONS WITH RACK & RIDDLE: BRUCE LUNDQUIST, CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Bruce was featured in a 3-part series on his experience in launching a successful sparkling wine services business

Afternoon Brief, February 7th

Oregon Uproar Over Underage Liquor Drops: One-third of liquor deliveries in the state don't comply with rules on delivering booze to underage or intoxicated customers...