The Sonoma Spiel

Chris Schreiner of Platt Vineyard joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation that starts with peaches in Sonoma Valley and winds its way through Las Vegas, theater kids, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, wine clones, toasted barrels, Sonoma Plaza tasting rooms, and the cool-climate vineyards of the West Sonoma Coast. Platt Vineyard’s new tasting salon is located just off the Sonoma Plaza on First Street West...

Summer nights at the Green Music Center are built for picnics on the lawn, big-name concerts, family movies, fireworks, and that unmistakable feeling of hearing live music under the stars. Andy Shepherd and Erin Donohue from the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University join the Sonoma Spiel podcast to preview Summer at the Green 2026, a season that brings together the July 4th Fireworks Spect...

Beth Costa brought bubbles, stories and 26 years of Wine Road wisdom to the Sonoma Spiel. After more than two decades leading Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County , Beth Costa has retired — just as Wine Road celebrates its 50th anniversary. Beth joins Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to talk about how Wine Road grew from a hand-drawn map and a handful of wineries into one of Sonoma County...

Summer in Sonoma already comes with a lot going for it. Add Broadway songs, live musicians, oak trees, a picnic, a glass of wine, and a stage under the evening sky, and you’re in Transcendence territory. Tony Gonzalez and Lace Scott stop by to talk about what’s ahead for Transcendence Theatre Company as it opens a new chapter in downtown Sonoma. This year’s season brings a fresh location, a new se...

The Sonoma Community Center is one of those places that keeps surprising people. It’s an old school building that became Woodsboro High in Scream, a place where horror fans still come looking for the staircase, and also a working arts and cultural center filled with ceramics, printmaking, cooking classes, dance, comedy, fiber arts, community events, and more creative energy than seems possible und...

Head up Adobe Canyon Road and Sonoma starts to change. The valley floor drops away, the air cools off, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park opens into one of the wildest, most beautiful parts of Sonoma Valley. John Roney joins Tim to talk about what makes the park so special: nearly 5,000 acres of protected land, about 30 miles of trails, campsites, glamping tents, redwoods, waterfalls, wildlife, and th...

Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation about hospitality, local character, and what makes one of Sonoma’s best-known boutique hotels feel both elevated and genuinely welcoming. Justin talks about MacArthur Place’s roots as a historic ranch and vineyard, its evolution into a luxury property just off the plaza, and the philosophy behind making it f...

Jeannie Perales returns to The Sonoma Spiel to talk about one of Sonoma Valley’s most fascinating places to wander: Sonoma Botanical Garden. Tim and Jeannie get into the garden’s old quarry history, its pools, waterfalls, winding trails, and why it feels a lot more like a woodland adventure than a formal stroll past flower beds. They also talk about the garden’s evolution from Quarryhill to Sonoma...

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Kim Jones of The Future Collective and Aaron Brown of Arable about storytelling, land, farming, housing, and the future of Sonoma Valley. Kim shares how The Future Collective grew out of a desire to bring younger community members into deeper conversations about the big issues shaping local life, from housing affordability and food insecurity to...

This week on the Sonoma Spiel, Tim sits down with Amanda Doherty and Jason Palter from Sonoma Golf Studio to talk about Sonoma’s indoor golf scene and why it’s changing the way people practice, play, and connect. They get into TrackMan simulator technology, lessons with PGA pros, memberships, beginner-friendly practice, and how the studio creates a low-pressure space to improve your game without t...

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours about one of the most memorable ways to explore Sonoma Valley: riding through wine country in a vintage Volkswagen bus. Ronnie shares what makes West Wine Tours special, from its fleet of colorful classic VW buses to its focus on family-owned wineries, boutique tasting experiences, and a more laid-back, off-the-be...

Spring has arrived in Sonoma Valley, and in this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim sits down with Kenneth “Kenny” DeAlba of Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen for a wide-ranging conversation about food, hospitality, cocktails, community, and what makes Sonoma Valley such a special place to gather. Kenny shares the story behind Songbird Parlour, the cozy and beautifully designed restaurant located in hi...

What do beer cruises, Sonoma theater, travel planning, and UFOs have in common? Chelsea Smith. In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim chats with Chelsea Smith about her journey through travel, beer, performance, and life in Sonoma Valley. From Germany and Lagunitas to the Sonoma visitor center and local stage productions, Chelsea shares insider tips, great stories, and plenty of personality. Fin...

Gretchen Schoenstein returns to The Sonoma Spiel for a third appearance—host of the Finish Line Moments podcast and a key part of the team behind the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon + Rosé 5K. Tim and Gretchen talk about what makes this race weekend feel like a true Sonoma Valley celebration (not a “fly-in, fly-out” event), including the popular Show Your Bib program that encourages runn...

Think you know Sonoma Valley? Sonoma podcast host Tim Zahner will be the first to tell you… he’s “expert-adjacent.” 😄 On this episode of The Sonoma Spiel podcast, Tim hangs out with two pros from The Lodge at Sonoma who 'actually' know how the magic happens: Lori Noble — Hospitality Coordinator & Concierge (she can build your perfect Sonoma day in about 90 seconds)   Evan Perslow — Marketing...

Host Tim Zahner welcomes Jeremy Noland of Vine & Vista Tours, an e-bike rental experience based in Kenwood that’s helping visitors explore Sonoma Valley in a fun, self-guided, eco-friendly way—often with dogs along for the ride (including sidecar setups for larger pups). Jeremy shares how the idea started, what makes their premium e-bikes different, how routes are curated with safety in mind,...

It’s late winter in Sonoma Valley—mustard in bloom, trees blossoming, and citrus everywhere—and Tim Zahner welcomes Jessie Marioni of Rosa Grande Tattoo to The Sonoma Spiel. Jessie shares how she became a tattoo artist, what’s changed in tattoo culture over the years, and why tattooing is as much about meaning, memory, and community as it is about art. They also talk trends, styles, and some of th...

Host Tim Zahner (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau) welcomes Sonoma local Heather Kearsley Wolf of Kersley for a wide-ranging conversation that blends design, entrepreneurship, history, and travel tips. Heather recounts the origin story of Kersley—how she went from construction and interior design to launching luxury linens and textiles produced with expert makers in Italy (and later the UK), navigati...

Host Tim Zahner welcomes California State Parks’ Peter Ostroskie for a deep dive into Sonoma Valley’s state parks—especially Sonoma State Historic Park in downtown Sonoma. They explore what visitors can see across the park’s historic sites (including Mission San Francisco Solano, the barracks, Blue Wing Inn, and more), what’s free vs. ticketed, and how the park interprets Sonoma’s layered early hi...

Tim Zahner (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau) welcomes Britney Lee, founder of Cluster Funk Studios , for a wide-ranging winter conversation about art, music, and community. Britney shares how her signature paint parties are evolving into the “Art Lounge”—a casual, social creative event built around original designs and creative freedom rather than step-by-step instruction. They also dive into Britne...

Tim Zahner welcomes Lindsay and Greg Hamilton of Hamilton Family Wines in Kenwood for a conversation about Sonoma Valley’s winter beauty, Kenwood’s small-town revival, and the Hamiltons’ path from garage winemaking in Berkeley to launching a winery after losing their home in the 2017 fires. They dig into what makes Kenwood special, the village’s new energy (including eye-catching roadside sculptur...

Happy New Year from the Sonoma Spiel! Tim kicks off “circle back week” with a wellness-focused episode featuring very special guest Jes Williams of Sonoma Yoga—and yes, this time we actually mean it. Jes shares how Sonoma Yoga (formerly Yoga Community) has been a Sonoma staple for over two decades, how the studio found its home at the Lodge at Sonoma, and what’s new for 2026—including popular hybr...

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...

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 mark...

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 fr...