The week’s news from the valley’s vineyards and farms — the associations, the growers, and the water that keeps it all going.
Around the valley's vineyards
- Mauritson Family and Foley Family Wines & Spirits Recognized for Outstanding Industry Leadership (Jul 16), Sonoma County Winegrowers — At their annual BBQ on July 16, 2026, Sonoma County Winegrowers honored the Mauritson family with the Viticulture Award of Excellence and Foley Family Wines & Spirits with the Sustainable Winery Award.
- The Hearts of Bodega (Jul 15), Sonoma County Winegrowers — Casino Bar and Grill in Bodega, run since 1949, is remembered following the September 3, 2024 death of longtime proprietor Evelyn Casini, now managed by Brandi Mack.
- Soho House Coming to Sonoma Valley (Jul 8), Sonoma County Winegrowers — Soho House, the members' club founded in London in 1995, plans to open Soho Ranch House Sonoma, a 50-cottage retreat in Kenwood, in 2027.
- Vintage Festival- Tickets on Sale Now! (Jul 6), Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers — Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, running September 24-27, 2026.
- Sonoma County’s Wine Industry Set to Unify (Jul 1), Sonoma County Winegrowers — Sonoma County Winegrowers and Sonoma County Vintners will merge their winery memberships into a single "Sonoma County Wine" program launching in 2027, following a supportive survey of nearly 100 vintners.
- Hitting the Road (Jul 1), Sonoma County Winegrowers — Eisenhower's 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act and Route 66's centennial inspire suggested Sonoma County road trips along Highways 116 and 12, with stops from Wild Flour Bread to Single Thread.
- Pour + Explore Sonoma Valley July 24 (Jun 30), Sonoma County Vintners — Sonoma County Vintners hosts a walk-around tasting on July 24 at Ram's Gate Winery, featuring more than 25 wineries, sommelier Christopher Sawyer and live music, for $75 per person.
- The Rich History of Tzabaco Rancho Vineyards (Jun 24), Sonoma County Winegrowers — Tzabaco Rancho Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley traces its history from a 17,000-acre Mexican land grant to 14-year-old José de German Antonio Piña in 1843 through six generations of grapegrowing.
Water & drought
Sonoma County is free of drought this week — 100% of the county is out of drought and abnormal-dryness categories, per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week ending 2026-07-06).
Lake Sonoma, the valley’s largest reservoir, held about 252,133 acre-feet of water as of 2026-7-16 .
From the wider wine world
- 🎧📺Farella Vineyard Tom Farella Shrinkle (Jul 17), Wine Industry Advisor
- 🎧320: How Grapevine Rootstocks Affect Drought Tolerance, Yield, and Canopy Growth (Jul 17), Wine Industry Advisor
- Kosmic Kitty® Heads to the World Cup in New Animated Brand Video (Jul 17), Wine Industry Advisor
- I tried Elkhart Lake’s Wine-O-Matic, and it made wine tasting way less awkward (Jul 17), Wine Industry Advisor
- 📺Why the Romans Never Drank Their Wine Straight (Jul 17), Wine Industry Advisor
Sources: the valley’s wine associations, the U.S. Drought Monitor, and California water data. Headlines link to the original source; we summarize, we don’t reprint.