Summer in Sonoma – Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

September 19, 2022

Written by Ken Wornick

Backed by over 25 years of wine vintages, Ken is the author of these blog posts, and the founder and winemaker for his 11-acre Sonocaia Estate Winery which includes the Sagrantino vineyard, plus honey bees, chickens, vegetable gardens, olives, fruit orchards, composting, creek restoration, and many other farm and ranch projects.
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Go back to the blog

After religiously posting every month for several years, it’s been nearly five months since I last posted.

Below are some brief stories about farming, the Sonoma Int’l Film Festival Summerfest, and a local Rodeo.

In the next few Sundays, we’ll look at Sagrantino through the lens of our trip to Umbria Italy. Then we’ll have a look at a professional blind Sagrantino tasting. And after that, a look at the 2022 harvest. Enjoy…

Farming in summer

Vneyard before - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

By late summer, our Sagrantino vineyard can be a bit of a sprawl as the long days and warm weather inspire a growth spurt in canopy and shoot length. Not only unsightly, it also tends to shade the fruit from sun and trap air movement. So a clean up is in order.

Vineyard after - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

After shoots are trimmed and positioned into the canopy wires, and lower leaves are removed around the fruit zone on the north facing side of each row, the vines are now well positioned to ripen fruit late into the fall.

Sonoma International Film Festival – Summerfest

One of the truly fun annual events in Sonoma is the Sonoma International Film Festival. Our next festival kicks off on March, 22-26 in 2023. Meanwhile, the Festival held a weekend-long “Summerfest” in early August with films during the day and films and dinners and parties at night. Here is a quick look:

Screen Summer - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Summerfest started with a grand launch at the Sebastiani Theater.

Lawn - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

An outdoor film screening, food trucks, and fabulous wine – on the lawn at Chateau St Jean Winery

Screen Cuisine - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Sit down dinner and a movie – “screen and cuisine” – at the Hanna Boys Center. The movie, a biopic of noted chef and restauranteur Charlie Trotter, was moving, controversial, and entertaining.

Chefs - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Before dinner service, the crowd celebrated the five chefs and their wonderful and creative menus

Menu - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

The complete menu from the nights event, along with wine pairings, and key sponsors

Screen SIFF - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Buy your tickets now for next spring’s Film Festival, March 22-26, a totally “walkable” festival on the square in Sonoma town – https://sonomafilmfest.org

Rodeo at Wing and Barrel

Seems like there is nothing more all-american than a rodeo, especially when it starts with someone jumping out of any airplane with a giant American flag, and sticking the landing right in the middle of the paddock!

Flag - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

The event was held at Wing and Barrel, set on a 1,000 acre hay ranch few minutes south of Sonoma. W&B is a membership facility designed with a hunter’s sensibilities and a connoisseur’s palate “catering to discerning sportsmen, women and their families.”

Horses - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

The Rodeo got started with a roundup of the horses into the large corral. All of the cowboys and cowgirls were gathering their gear, stretching out, and getting ready to compete.

Rodeo - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

The action lasted all afternoon. Incredible talent that can only be developed when you spend your childhood, or a lot of time, or both, around horses. Photo credit: local Sonoma artist and photographer Jock McDonald https://www.jockmcdonald.com

Cowboys - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Our group of rodeo clowns, during a stop at the Wing and Barrel bar, heading out to the rodeo. Our generous hosts, Jon and Christine Curry, 3rd and 4th from left.

DYS rose - Summer in Sonoma - Farming, Summerfest, and Rodeo

Enjoying some Dysfunctional Family Winery rosé, and beer, and tequila

In the next few Sundays, we’ll look at Sagrantino through the lens of our trip to Umbria Italy. Then we’ll have a look at a professional blind Sagrantino tasting. And after that, a look at the 2022 harvest.

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