Petaluma Perspective by Houston Porter - June 2018
We Petalumans know how to enjoy a drink or two, which is no surprise, what with our town’s unofficial nickname of “gateway to the wine country.” However, true to our nature, which has us always embracing new ideas, and flavors, while retaining a healthy connection and respect for our agrarian roots, Petaluma’s drink culture offers much more diversity than simply great wine. Visit any of our restaurants, saloons, or cocktail bars, of which Petaluma has many standouts, and ask for something local and they will give you an education beyond our well-known Lagunitas.
The “Petaluma Drinks” event, June 2 & 3, gives visitors a chance to learn about the care these producers put into turning out superior products, which certainly adds to why Petaluma is such a great destination.
Your self-guided tour begins when you check in at the Petaluma Visitors Center, located at 210 Lakeville Street. As luck would have it, this is located next to the downtown SMART train station, making the train a smart choice for getting to and from Petaluma for this intoxicating event. And as long as you are coming to down, why not stay for the weekend.Petaluma Drinks has arranged discounts at local hotels, which are listed on the website.
Once guests have picked up their wristbands, they have the full weekend to check out all of Petaluma’s great wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries, with tasting rooms open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because the tasting rooms are spread out from the downtown, I encourage you to either bring a designated driver, or hire transportation.
DESIGNATED DRIVERS get their own special wristband, which entitles them to free non-alcoholic drinks at each tasting room, as well as a commemorative bottle. However, the biggest benefit is the peace of mind in knowing that they are making sure their friends and loved get to enjoy the event, while also making it home safely. Another option is hiring a car. Uber and Lyft are good options, but cell internet service can sometimes be spotty at some of the more remote tasting rooms, so a better option is hiring a local taxi or limo service.Petaluma Drinks has arranged for discounts at several of both.
Petaluma Drinks participants include well-known names, likeBarber Cellars,Griffo Distillery, Keller Estate,Stillwater Spirits,McEvoy Ranch, Adobe Road Wines,Azari Vineyards,Sonoma Portworks, Dempsey’s,HenHouse,101 North, and of course, Lagunitas. However, the list does not stop there. With over two dozen producers coming together for this event, you will discover a whole plethora of hidden gems throughout Petaluma.
Downtown, revelers will find Barber Cellars and Adobe Road Winery pouring their wines, and Dempsey’s pouring its beer, along withVine & Barrel hostingStubbs and Leghorn wineries, andWillibees servingFogline Vineyards. Just a short walk to the south end of downtown, in theFoundry Wharf district,Sonoma Portworks and Stillwater Spirits sit next door to each other, and will also be hosting Bitter Girl Bitters.
Out in the “Makers District”, anchored by Lagunitas Brewery Company, you will find taprooms for both HenHouse and 101 North Brewing Company. Within a block of each other,Sonoma Coast Spirits and Griffo Distillery will offer samples of their wares, both of which offer excellent choices. Griffo is also hostingMonarch Bitters.
I mention all this, because of my recent epiphany in regards to the cocktails, and in particular, the high quality local ingredients available in Sonoma County. I wrote an article about Sonoma Coast Spirits’ bottled cocktails a while back because they really impressed me. Then, over the holidays, I was introduced to their vodka, which is not a spirit I have ever enjoyed. However, I found theirs was highly drinkable, even straight, and room temperature at that. I have yet to try their espresso vodka, which Mariposa just mixed into one of their ice cream flavors, or their jalapeño vodka, which I imagine goes great in a bloody Mary, but am looking forward to trying both.
More recently, while attending another fine dinner at Stemple Creek Ranch, I was handed a cocktail before I could say, “no thanks, I brought port.” Made with Griffo gin, it was so good that I went back for a second, and have since searched out cocktail made with their spirits.
Many of the Petaluma Drinks producers are not normally open to the general public, so this event gives you the unique opportunity to taste something special, while getting to know the incredible people behind Petaluma’s craft drink industry.Visitpetalumadrinks.com for all the details.
