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| Business Beat:
11/15/2009
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Business Beat
New winery proposed across from Oakmont The owners of a 33-acre parcel across from Oakmont have filed for a use permit to build a 60,000 case winery and wine caves. The winery would be called Bordigioni Family Winery, located at 6687 Sonoma Highway. The property is currently home to the ruins of the historic Annadel Winery, a flower farm, and existing vineyards. Under a separate use permit, the property is currently allowed up to 10 weddings a year. According to the use permit application which was filed in October, the winery project would be developed in two phases. The first phase would include converting an existing barn into a 5,000 case production facility with separate building for lab, tasting and storage areas. Phase two would include a new two-level 25,700 square foot winery in the location of existing greenhouse buildings, as well as subterranean caves. Maximum production would be 60,000 cases. There would be public tours and tasting, and up to 20 special events per year, 10 of which would have a maximum of 200 people, and the other 10 a maximum of 100 people. The entrance would be aligned with Oakmont Drive where it hits Sonoma Highway. In his application, owner Dean Bordigioni wrote that, “It is our intention to create a quiet, exclusive winery facility that produces world class wines from Sonoma County and continues the agricultural use of the property with the existing flower farm and vineyards.” Bordigioni wrote that the architectural style will blend into the natural surroundings and existing structures in the area. The application for Bordigioni Family Winery will eventually be heard by the county’s Board of Zoning Adjustments in a public hearing. Bordigioni is also interested in buying the 15-acre property immediately to the east of his, formerly owned by Mobius-Painter Winery. Mobius-Painter had gained approval from Sonoma County for a 125,000 case winery, but the investors in the project soon became involved in lengthy litigation, and eventually contentious bankruptcy proceedings which are just now winding down. Bordigioni said that he is trying to buy the property, but that he is still currently in negotiations. Eat sticky toffee pudding, raise $$$ for observatory Everybody loves the signature sticky toffee pudding at Doce Lunas Restaurant in Kenwood. Well, for the month of December, when you order a sticky toffee pudding, $1 will be donated to the Ferguson Observatory’s Project 40 (in Sugarloaf State Park). What’s Project 40? When completed, it will be the biggest telescope in Sonoma County, equipped with a 40-inch mirror, which is currently sitting in a Santa Rosa garage going through the final phases of construction, an extensive polishing process. While the mirror is the key to the telescope, there is a superstructure that needs to be built, as well as the development of a computer guidance and motor system that will operate the telescope. The development of the new telescope is being paid for with donations and through the hard work of volunteers of the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association. Fundraising for Project 40 is ongoing, with the total cost expected to be around $20,000. The 40-inch telescope expands the universe for users, and will allow people to see far-reaching galaxies as never before. The new telescope will replace the 24-inch one now in place, which people have to climb a ladder to use. With the Project 40 telescope, viewers will stay on solid ground when viewing the night skies. “Things are slowly coming together,” said observatory association member Mark Hillestad, who has been involved in Project 40 for many years. The goal, said Hillestad, is to have the new telescope installed and operational by the end of 2010, or the beginning of 2011. If you would like to help out in making Project 40 a reality, you can make a donation directly to the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association, P.O. Box 898, Glen Ellen, CA 95442. Or, you can always come into Doce Lunas Restaurant in the Kenwood Shopping Center during December, enjoy sticky toffee pudding, and help out the project at the same time. 833-4000. New tasting room manager at Kunde Kunde Family Estate has hired Richard Perman to be their new Tasting Room Manager. He was most recently Retail Sales Manager at Chateau St. Jean. Prior to that, he owned and operated In Good Spirits, a retail wine and liquor store in Southern Florida. “We’re very excited to have Dick join our hospitality team,” said Jody Stewart, Consumer Direct Manager for Kunde Family Estate. “The family welcomes his business acumen and expertise in staff training, customer service and special events to our tasting room experience.” Perman holds a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from Wayne State University and currently resides with his wife in Glen Ellen. Kunde Family Estate’s Tasting Room, constructed as a replica of the original Kinneybrook Ranch cattle barn, and the nearby Aging Caves are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more about Kunde Family Estate, visit www.kunde.com, or call (707) 833-5501. Kunde Family Estate is located at 9825 Sonoma Highway. Cruise with Marcy next summer Marcy Smothers is inviting you on a 14-day cruise, Aug. 10-24, 2010, from Copenhagen to Lisbon. Along with Marcy, legendary French chef Jacques Pépin, will be on board Oceania Cruises’ luxury ship Insignia, and will lecture and host cooking demonstrations. Jacques Pépin is the host of award-winning cooking shows on public television and the author of 19 cookbooks. He has also served as the personal chef to three French heads of state including Charles de Gaulle. Peggy Furth of Chalk Hill Winery will also be on board, matching Chalk Hill wines with Chef Pépin’s culinary delights. You will also have an opportunity to go on an optional excursion with Chef Pépin. After taking off from Copenhagen, ports of call include Oslo, Amsterdam, Brussels, Brest, Bordeaux, Bilbao, and Oporto, ending up in Lisbon. All the best cabins are going fast, so sign up now. Go to www.marcysmotherscruise.com for details. Enjoy “Post-Thanksgiving” meals at Saffron Saffron Restaurant in Glen Ellen will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, as the owners and staff enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday with their families. Saffron invites you to join them the following days for their “Duck Tasting Menu,” which will feature “Duck Three Ways” from Friday, Nov. 27 through Saturday, Dec. 5. (Saffron’s regular menu will also be available for those who would rather duck-out.) Saffron Restaurant is located at 13648 Arnold Dr. in Glen Ellen. Reservations are recommended. Call 938-4844. Saffron is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-9 p.m., and you can check them out at www.saffronrestaurant.com. ABRACADABRA can make this a memorable holiday ABRACADABRA, creative editorial, design and publishing services, celebrates its first year with a special offer – “The Book of You.” Make this a memorable holiday with personalized DVDs/CDs, posters, printed books and digital albums of family photos, slides, mementos and more. Anne Coffelt, enthusiast of history and genealogy, brings expert research, design and production talents to transform your fragile, scattered photographs, slides, letters, and documents into digital form with CD/DVD and acid-free, color, limited edition soft or hardbound books. Or consider giving gift certificates for others in the family. As the wedding and memorial coordinator for Kenwood Community Church, Anne also assists families with illustrated remembrance programs. “So many people long to unpack dusty boxes and albums and ‘do something’ with all their priceless memorabilia – theater tickets, postcards and fading mementoes,” says Anne, “That’s why I called my business, ABRACADABRA. Bringing the past to life, digitally, to share with family and friends is magic!” For a free consultation, estimate and client references, contact Anne at 339-2712 or coffelt@well.com. Live music at Landmark Don’t miss these upcoming live music events at Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood. On Nov. 21, jazz musician Laurent Fourgo; Nov. 28, folk artist Adam Traum; Dec. 5, Rue Manouche; Dec. 12, Adam Traum; and Dec. 19, Christmas carolers. Enjoy great music while sipping Landmark’s Overlook Chardonnay or Steel Plow Syrah. Landmark’s gift shop will give you plenty of ideas for the holidays. Landmark Vineyards is located at 101 Adobe Canyon Rd. in Kenwood. For more information, call 833-0053, or go to www.landmarkwine.com. Heart of Sonoma Valley Holiday Open House Tickets are still on sale for the Heart of Sonoma Valley Association (HOSVA)’s 26th Annual Holiday Open House, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. This a perfect holiday event, where you can enjoy two days of wine tastings, holiday nibbles, gift packages, discounts and much more. Twenty-four wineries in Kenwood and Glen Ellen are opening their doors for this festive affair. Advance tickets are $30 for both days ($35 at the door), which includes a wine tasting glass and access to all participating wineries’ event tastings and activities. A Designated Driver ticket is also available for $10. Tickets, detailed event information and a map may be obtained online at www.HeartOfSonomaValley.com or by calling (866) 794-9463. Holiday goings-on at B.R. Cohn There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays at B.R. Cohn Winery. Nov. 27-29, sip, savor and shop at the winery’s tasting room. Explore the full line of olive oils and specialty vinegars, as well as chardonnay caramel sauce, chocolate raspberry cabernet fudge, and chocolate cabernet sauce. There are cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and spices for your favorite cook, along with BBQ toys for the master griller. For all those Doobie Brothers fans, you can’t go wrong with the Collector’s Series of Doobie Red. This 15-bottle set sells for $480. A portion of the proceeds from this wine are donated to various veteran and charitable organizations. From Nov. 15-29, you will receive a free gift when you spend at least $150 in the B.R. Cohn online store, www.brcohn.com. Dec. 1-6, receive a complimentary wine tasting when you bring in a new toy for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. B.R. Cohn is located at 15000 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen. |
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