Wine Country Insights

It's Official

Maurice Tegelaar — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:53:34 +0000

National Geographic Traveler Magazine this month names Sonoma and Sonoma County one of the "Best of the World" 20 great places to experience in 2012!
Saying Sonoma is American as applie pie, the magazine highlights the many areas of Sonoma County which covers about 1,576 square miles and has astounding diversity which makes it one of America's travel treasures.

Highlights of the article include tubing down the Russian River and walking amid ancient giant Redwoods, some of which are over 1,400 years old. For history buffs there is the old Russian stockade at Fort Ross and the Spanish adobe mission (San Francisco Solano) in the quaint town of Sonoma.

For Foodies, a meal at the Michelin-starred Cyrus in Healdsburg is a "must do" experience. But, one of Sonoma's great pleasures is its wine, with its 300-plus wineries, like Ravensood's deep Zinfandels to Gloria Ferrer's sophisticated sparklers.

So, come visit Sonoma. A great place to visit, an even better place to live!

28th Annual Sonoma Valley Holiday Open House

Maurice Tegelaar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:52:06 +0000

Toast the Holiday Season in the Wine Country! Heart of Sonoma Valley Association invites you to their 28th Annual Holiday Open House Friday and Saturday, November 25 & 26 (2011)! Join twenty-two wineries throughout the heart of Sonoma Valley for this annual celebration and enjoy wine tastings, meet winemakers, mingle in our caves & cellars, stock up on your favorite wines for the holidays, pick up holiday gifts for your friends & family and relish in wine country holiday cheer!

This event takes place at each winery, and as you travel from winery to winery you will enjoy award-winning wines, wine discounts, gift packages, holiday entertainment and holiday cheer.

The cost is only $40 per person in advance for both days, which includes a souvenir wine glass and access to all participating wineries. Designated Driver tickets are $10 each. Tickets can be purchased at www.HeartofSonomaValley.com

Participating Wineries:
Audelssa Estate Winery, Benziger Family Winery, Chateau St. Jean Winery, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Enkidu Wines, Eric Ross Winery, Family Wineries, Imagery Estate Winery, Kaz Winery, Kunde Family Estate, Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Little Vineyards, Loxton Cellars, Mayo Family Winery, Moondance Cellars, Muscardini Cellars, Paradise Ranch Winery, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Ty Caton Vineyards, VJB Vineyards & Cellars, Valley of the Moon Winery, Wellington Vineyards

Pacific Union Real Estate Report for 3rd Quarter 2011

Maurice Tegelaar — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:24:33 +0000

Open publication - Free publishing

First Annual Napa Valley Film Festival

Maurice Tegelaar — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:02:59 +0000

The Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) has announced a roster of high-profile films to be screened at the inaugural film festival, Nov. 9-13. Showcasing the best of new independent cinema along with the Napa Valley’s finest food, wine and hospitality, NVFF is making its debut with a five-day festival spanning the Valley’s four towns: Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.

The festival kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 9, with a sneak preview of Clint Eastwood’s much-anticipated biopic, “J. Edgar,” The festival’s official opening Thursday, Nov. 10, features “The Descendents.” Another notable film headlining the NVFF is “Butter”

The documentaries featured are both inspirational and diverse. Closing out the festival will be a heartbreakingly beautiful look at first love: “Like Crazy." For more information on the film festival visit www.NapaValleyFilmFest.org.

Sonoma Valley "CRUSH" Experience Harvest, Hands On!

Maurice Tegelaar — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:55:05 +0000

September 17 and 18, 2011

Have you ever romanticized about getting involved in a wine harvest and crush? Find out what it's like this September in the Heart of Sonoma Valley. The "CRUSH Weekend Wine Tasting Pass" gives you access to harves activities and winetastings at select tasting rooms. The "Winery Harvest Events" must be booked directly with wineries as they are price separately. The event is daily from 11 am to 4 pm and the cost is $35 per person ($40 at the door). For more information call 866-794-9463 or visit the website at www.heartofsonomavalley.com.

Infineon Raceway High Speed Blood Drive

Maurice Tegelaar — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:01:51 +0000

September 9, 2011

Each donor will be treated to a "hot lap" with a professional driver around the Infineon Raceway road course before donating a pint of blood. Walk-ups welcome. It will be located at the Infineon Raceway at Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma. Cost is free, just donate! Friday, September 9, 2011, 1 to 6 pm.

Fore more information call 800-870-7223 or visit www.infineonraceway.com

Sebastiani Theatre Foundation Vintage Film Series in Sonoma

Maurice Tegelaar — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:13:51 +0000

The Sebastiani Theatre Foundation presents their VINTAGE FILM SERIES with classic movies showing one Monday each month, through December, 2011. Patrons are invited to "dress in the era" for each film. Wine by the glass will be offered for sale. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for Monday evening movies with show time at 7:00 p.m. One o’clock Wednesday matinees will also be shown each.

Movie classics upcoming in the VINTAGE FILM SERIES are:

Monday, August 15, 7:00 p.m. & Wednesday, August 17, 1:00 p.m. - David O. Selznick’s “Gone With The Wind” (1939)

Monday, September 26, 7:00 p.m. & Wednesday, September 28, 1:00 p.m. - “On the Waterfront” (1954)

Monday, October 24, 7:00 p.m. & Wednesday, October 26, 1:00 p.m. - L. Frank Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” (1939)

Monday, November 21, 7:00 p.m. & Wednesday November 23, 1:00 p.m.- “Dr. Zhivago” (1965)

Monday, December 19, 7:00 p.m. & Wednesday, December 21, 1:00 p.m. - “A Christmas Carol”

Tickets are $8 and are available in advance or at the door. No senior discounts.

Sonoma's Red and White Ball

Maurice Tegelaar — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:54:59 +0000

Sonoma’s Red and White Ball (as in Red and White Wine) will be hosted by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation on Saturday, August 20, 2011 on the Historic Plaza. The event will benefit the Sonoma school programs, including the Sonoma School Garden Project. Entertainment will include the Dave Martin’s House Party Band which will be perfect while you enjoy an abundance of Sonoma Valley Wines.

This year guests can choose a VIP table seat at the long central table stretching across the whole Plaza for $150 with a cocktail reception and farm-to-table feast that will be prepared by Chef Scott Howard. Other options include a picnic table for $75 or the Dance Only DIY (Do It Yourself Zone) for $25 where you can bring your own picnic or dine at a local restaurant.

For more information on this event call 707-935-0566 or visit www.svgreatschools.org for tickets.

California Requires Install of Carbon Monoxide Detectors by July 1, 2011

Maurice Tegelaar — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 12:32:40 +0000

Beginning July 1, 2011, a new law requiring homes to have Carbon Monoxide (CO) has gone into effect. Below are some highlights regarding these new rules:

HOMEOWNER ALERT: A new California law requires all “dwelling units intended for human occupancy” that have fossil fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or an attached garage to be retrofitted with a carbon monoxide (CO) detection device. A “Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” means a single-family dwelling, factory-built home, duplex, lodging house, dormitory, hotel, motel, condominium, stock cooperative, time-share project, or dwelling unit in a multiple-unit dwelling unit building or buildings.

EFFECTIVE DATES FOR COMPLIANCE:

A. Single-Family Dwellings (SFR’s, Condos, etc. whether owner occupied or rental on or before July 1, 2011

B. For all other dwellings, owners will be required to install the devises on or before January 1, 2013.

TYPES OF DEVICES REQUIRED: The devices may be battery-powered, or a plug-in device with a battery back-up; and must be tested and certified pursuant to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and UL. The cost of devices range from as low as $20 to as much as $200. Some are combined with smoke detectors

Unlike smoke detectors, CO devices must be replaced at least every 7 years. For this reason, when selling a residential property, disclosure of the existence of the devices and its operability may not be sufficient, if the device is more than 7 years old. Some devices are equipped with an alert that the device is 60+ months old, signaling the necessity of replacing it.

INSTALLATION OF THE CO DEVICES: Regarding installation of the CO devices, the statute states:

“With respect to the number and placement of carbon monoxide devices, an owner shall install the devices in a manner consistent with building standards applicable to new construction for the relevant type of occupancy or with the manufacturer’s instructions, if it is technically feasible to do so.”

A. Manufacturer’s Instructions: A major manufacturer of these CO devices, Kidde Company, makes the following recommendations.

Every home with at least one fuel-burning appliance/heater, attached garage or fireplace should have a CO alarm.
If the home has only one CO alarm, it should be installed in the main bedroom or in the hallway outside of the sleeping area.
An alarm should be installed on every level of the home and in sleeping areas.
Place the alarm at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.
Make sure nothing is covering or obstructing the unit.
Do not place the unit in dead air spaces or next to a window or door.

A Good Time to Buy Real Estate!

Maurice Tegelaar — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:50:10 +0000

A recent Wall Street Journal/Weekend Investor article stated why it is a good time to buy real estate. Mortgage rates, which fell to 4.55% for the week ending June 2, according to Freddie Mac, are near 50-year lows. Homes have become more affordable than they have been in years: According to Moody's Analytics, the ratio of home prices to income is now 20.9% lower than the 15-year average through 2010, and 12.5% lower than the 1989-2004 average. So, now is a great time to buy that Wine Country home you have been dreaming about!