| September through December, 2001
The on-line magazine sonomapicnic.com is an outgrowth of and continuing update to the recently published Sonoma Picnic, a California Wine Country Travel Companion. Scroll on for highlights excerpted and updated from this handy little book!
 |
Rainbow over the Church of the Tambourines on Piper St. in Healdsburg "The promise of a sunny day!" |
Scenic North Bay Edition
Fall can be a wistful time of year. For me the first morning of frost on the garden is loaded with portent and memories. It's a time to take stock of summer's bounty and make plans for winter and spring. It's a great time to be in the Wine Country as we pass from the excitement of harvest to the more contemplative season of winemaking.Expect crisp mornings and evenings, a slight chance of showers, and a sublime Mediterranean illumination on the vineyards and golden hills.
| A Special Tip from the Editor
Tune in to join Jacques Pépin and his daughter Claudine for their newest public television series, "Jacques Pépin Celebrates" (check local listings for dates and times).
Last October I had the good luck to not only enjoy a lovely Slow Food presentation by the master but also to sit in on the taping of one episode from his "Celebration" series. Having learned a good deal of my chosen craft from Jacques' books, it was a treat to actually see the man work. I highly recommend you try to catch as many of the twenty half-hour and six hour-long episodes that you can!
"Jacques Pépin Celebrates" may be seen on public television over the fall and winter of 2001. Check the details at www.kqed.org/press or get Jacques' KQED schedule.
(For those outside the Bay Area, look up Jacques here on PBS.)
|
Shore Report
The windswept autumn gold of the coastal rangelands is reason enough to head over to the coast before the big winter storms start to roll in. Reason enough, but the bonus is generally great weather and a wonderful color to the water with good visibility for diving and poking around the tidepools. (Note: Even though our lovely Pacific may seem calm and placid, never turn your back to her when you're out on the rocks!)
Check out our friends at the Tides Wharf Fish Shop or call them for current information on locally landed fish.
The Tides Wharf
835 Hwy 1
Bodega Bay
707-875-3554
For up-to-date information on fall ocean fishing or bird- and whale-watching trips, you might give our friends at Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center a call at 707-875-3344.
Call the good folks at our local surf shack for up-to-date shore conditions.
 |
"On the Run" Zin harvest at Lencioni Vineyards |
|
Merlot: Block #7
At the meeting place
I count 15 rows in
Then turn toward sunset
Backlit by moonglow
Into an endless line
Of thickened vines
Heavy with dark fruit.
They exhale their summer scent on me.
Uneven earth tempers my footfall
But the drum in my center resounds
In the tapestry of leaves
There is movement.
At the hint of you in the distance
My dress wilts from my shoulder
And stars race from the gathering dark
To seer my unclad skin.
I spread my white blanket on brown earth.
You eclipse the white of me
with your earth brown body.
Your hands, that cradle sweet, ripe fruit
in the noon day bring on
the quickening of my nectar.
I kiss your many wounds
For the grape knife is so sharp,
Exacting. You enter my soul wound
We are each, for the other, a healing salve.
As I sigh out my pleasure
The grapes above me absorb
The sensorial wave
Stars are dropping into the vineyard
All around us, drained of their light.
We have done the work
That no winemaker ever can
Finding our ways home
In the hour before dawn
We leave the fruit
To carry on the magic. |
Poem for Fall by Penelope La Montagne
("Morning Haiku," 5:58 a.m. on KRCB 91.1 FM) |
 |
| Head-trained Zinfandel |
Fall Events by Month:
Please call the phone numbers listed for details
Art Events are listed on our Sonoma County Arts Update
For late (between-issue) inclusions see our  page!
September
From late August to early October, experience the full-tilt excitement of the harvest. Norteño, Mariachi or Tejano music blasts from the boom boxes according to each crew's tastes. The pickers race with lugs of fruit held overhead to the bins where the foreman records the tally. Everyone's on the run. It's the focal point of our year.
Silver salmon season begins for offshore fishing and on the Russian River.
Harbor Seal Watch
At the mouth of the Russian River
Jenner, 707-875-3422
Russian River Jazz Festival
Gurneville, 707-869-9000
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival
Downtown Sonoma, 707-996-2109
Blessing of the grapes in Sonoma Plaza.
Women's Weekend #2
Gurneville, 707-869-9000
 |
| A golden vineyard in Napa Valley |
October
Gorgeous colors adorn the hills, roses bloom everywhere and the first frost hits.
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Santa Rosa, 707-545-4203
ARTrails of Sonoma County
16th annual Open Studio Tour of 130 Sonoma County artists' studios. October 13 & 14 and October 20 & 21. Tours free; color catalog on sale all around the county.
Sonoma County Arts Council: 707-579-ARTS (2787) More details at www.artrails.org
 |
| Harvest 2001 in Dry Creek Valley |
November
Rain and sleep for the vines, olive harvest begins, and everyone joins in thanksgiving for the fruits of the season.
Steelhead season begins for the Russian River.
Fourth International Worlds of Flavor Conference and Festival
Worlds of Flavor: Spices, Aromatics and the American Table
November 8-10 in Napa Valley
Open to the trade. Contact Cate Conniff, 707-967-2303 c_connif@culinary.edu
Olive Harvest Orchard Tour
Sunday, November 11, 2-5 p.m.
McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma
Guided walk through one of the olive orchards, tour of frantoio milling room, organic kitchen garden and fruit orchard, discussion of seed-saving and gardening techiques with the ranch's head gardener, and preview tasting of 2001 Olio Nuovo. (Space limited reservations required)
North Bay Veterans Day Parade
Downtown Petaluma, 707-762-0591
The real deal a day for those who answered the call.
 |
| Morning fog on the Russian River in Alexander Valley |
December
Olive harvest continues. The vines sleep while the field crews prune away the summer's canes.
Healdsburg Antique Dealers Open House
707-433-6935
Historic Tree Walk
Downtown Healdsburg, 707-431-3301
Christmas at the Sonoma Mission
707-938-1519
Gray whale migration reaches its southbound peak in mid-month
 |
| Ready for winter at Lencioni Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley |
For more fall images, see last fall's calendar and last winter's Fall Color Gallery.
| For inclusion in the Calendar, please submit events prior to 3/1 (for April, May and June), 6/1 (for July, Aug. and Sept), 9/1 (for Oct., Nov. and Dec.), and 12/1 (for Jan., Feb. and March) to the editor. If you have image files to email, please send them separately to the webmaster. Thanks! |
| 
