The Sonoma Spiel

Summer nights at the Green Music Center are built for picnics on the lawn, big-name concerts, family movies, fireworks, and that unmistakable feeling of hearing live music under the stars. Andy Shepherd and Erin Donohue from the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University join the Sonoma Spiel podcast to preview Summer at the Green 2026, a season that brings together the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler with Spin Doctors, Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge, Andy Grammer, NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, Jake Owen, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, TajMo with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Boz Scaggs, chamber music, and family-friendly Movies at the Green. They also get into what makes the Green Music Center such a special Sonoma County venue: Weill Hall’s back wall opens to the lawn, giving guests the choice of sitting inside, reserving tables outside, or spreading out picnic-style on the grass. Bring the family, bring dinner, enjoy concessions and food trucks, and settle in for summer performances in Rohnert Park, just over the hill from Sonoma Valley. Then Andy and Erin are deputized for “We Get Questions,” answering real visitor questions about Mexican restaurants in the Springs, where to try Pinot Noir, gluten-free lunch options, wine shops, and where to find a pressed penny machine souvenir.  Green Music Center Summer at the Green: https://gmc.sonoma.edu/summer-at-the-green-2026/ Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Listen to more Sonoma Spiel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Have a question about Sonoma Valley? Email [email protected] or text 707-996-1090. Find more things to do, places to stay, wineries, restaurants, events, and special offers at: https://www.sonomavalley.com

Beth Costa brought bubbles, stories and 26 years of Wine Road wisdom to the Sonoma Spiel. After more than two decades leading Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County, Beth Costa has retired — just as Wine Road celebrates its 50th anniversary. Beth joins Tim from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to talk about how Wine Road grew from a hand-drawn map and a handful of wineries into one of Sonoma County’s best-known wine tourism organizations. On the road we discover Barrel Tasting, Winter WINEland, Wine & Food Affair, wine futures, winery collaboration, the early days of websites and fax machines, the rise of wine podcasts, and why sparkling wine belongs in your fridge every day — not just for celebrations. Beth also talks about Wine Road’s podcast, her career path from retail to Kendall-Jackson to Wine Road, the changing wine tasting experience, how wineries can stay approachable, and what retirement might look like: gardening, champagne, felt birthday crowns and absolutely no unnecessary meetings. Wine Road represents wineries and experiences across Northern Sonoma County, including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. Beth’s successor, Katie Ambrosi, stepped into the Executive Director role as Wine Road prepared for its 50th anniversary year. Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

Summer in Sonoma already comes with a lot going for it. Add Broadway songs, live musicians, oak trees, a picnic, a glass of wine, and a stage under the evening sky, and you’re in Transcendence territory. Tony Gonzalez and Lace Scott stop by to talk about what’s ahead for Transcendence Theatre Company as it opens a new chapter in downtown Sonoma. This year’s season brings a fresh location, a new setup, and a major creative shift toward full musicals, beginning with Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, followed by Radio Recall and Mamma Mia! later in the summer. They also talk about the artists coming in from Broadway and beyond, the excitement around this year’s cast, and why the company feels like it’s taking a big step forward without losing what people already love about Broadway Under the Stars. The conversation also wanders through hotel packages, picnics, partner restaurants, special seating options, Fourth of July with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and the kind of joyful summer arts scene that makes Sonoma Valley feel bigger than its size. It’s theater, music, hospitality, and a little bit of magic all bundled together into one very Sonoma experience. Learn more and get tickets at www.bestnightever.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

The Sonoma Community Center is one of those places that keeps surprising people. It’s an old school building that became Woodsboro High in Scream, a place where horror fans still come looking for the staircase, and also a working arts and cultural center filled with ceramics, printmaking, cooking classes, dance, comedy, fiber arts, community events, and more creative energy than seems possible under one roof. Cat Smith joins Tim Zahner to talk about what makes the Center so special, from its history and architecture to the way it continues to evolve as a gathering place for Sonoma. They get into the annual Scream screening, Sonoma Valley Pride events, the Pride & Community gallery show, and the upcoming Priscilla Queen of the Center dinner and drag performance in the Secret Garden. Along the way, Cat shares her own Sonoma story, from growing up here to moving to San Diego, studying theater, and eventually coming back to see the town in a completely new way. There’s also talk of ravioli classes, screen printing, costumes, stage fright, cowboy boots, secret bakeries, and why the Sonoma Community Center is one of those places where there is always something happening, even if you had no idea you needed it in your life until someone mentioned it. Learn more at sonomacommunitycenter.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Head up Adobe Canyon Road and Sonoma starts to change. The valley floor drops away, the air cools off, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park opens into one of the wildest, most beautiful parts of Sonoma Valley. John Roney joins Tim to talk about what makes the park so special: nearly 5,000 acres of protected land, about 30 miles of trails, campsites, glamping tents, redwoods, waterfalls, wildlife, and the kind of views that make you forget you’re still only about half an hour from the Sonoma Plaza. Along the way, John gets into the park’s partnership with the Sonoma Ecology Center, the volunteer energy that helps keep so much of it going, and the many ways people can experience Sugarloaf — whether that means a steep climb up Bald Mountain, a gentler walk through the redwoods, a first camping trip, a forest bathing session, or a night at the observatory under some very dark skies. There’s also plenty of talk about the wildlife up there, including black bears, mountain lions, badgers, minks, rattlesnakes, and the very real science of tracking animals through trail cams and scat surveys. Add in the Planet Walk, park living rooms, full moon hikes, the Sugar Shuttle, and the Fourth of July Bald Mountain fireworks hike, and you’ve got a mountain-sized conversation about one of Sonoma Valley’s great outdoor treasures. Learn more about Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at www.sugarloafpark.org. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa joins The Sonoma Spiel for a conversation about hospitality, local character, and what makes one of Sonoma’s best-known boutique hotels feel both elevated and genuinely welcoming. Justin talks about MacArthur Place’s roots as a historic ranch and vineyard, its evolution into a luxury property just off the plaza, and the philosophy behind making it feel like a place for both visitors and locals. Tim and Justin also get into the Porch coffee shop, Leila restaurant, the spa, weddings, poolside events, Music Mondays, Burgers & Bordeaux, and the newer Som Saturdays classes that bring a little wine and cocktail education into the mix. It’s a good look at how MacArthur Place has built a distinct Sonoma identity by combining comfort, style, and a strong sense of place. Along the way, Justin shares his own path through the hospitality world, from bussing tables at 15 to working with Four Seasons and Fairmont before landing in Sonoma Valley, where he and his wife decided they wanted to stay for good. It’s a warm, wide-ranging episode about service, community, and why genuine hospitality matters. Learn more about MacArthur Place at macarthurplace.com. The Sonoma Spiel is brought to you by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, sharing the people, places, and stories that make Sonoma Valley such a special place to visit. 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley: 👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass Got questions about Sonoma Valley? You can email us at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsI8O_3xp7hIDPKRO9nBuvNF Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b