10 new developments in Napa and Sonoma Wine Country: June

Dec 05, 2023

Spring brought a flurry of exciting activity to Wine Country.

You may have already read about Meadowood chef Christopher Kostow's highly anticipated reboot of a Napa Italian restaurant; the "yellow Lamborghini" of charcuterie pairings; the Petaluma brick-and-mortar from Bay Area bagel star Ethel's; and the luxury refresh of a historic Russian River retreat.

But those are just a handful of notable additions to Napa and Sonoma counties. A natural wine bar in Oakland expanded to Sebastopol, Detroit-style pizza quickly won over Napa locals and one tasting room took "dog-friendly" to a new level.

A pair of new splurge-worthy dining experiences launched in Napa Valley: a 12-course food and wine pairing aboard a vintage train and an interactive, 3D animation journey featuring waffles and caviar.

Read on for 10 recent developments in Wine Country. Find the last installment here.

Noted natural wine bar expands

Oakland's popular wine bar the Punchdown has opened a second location, carrying about 600 natural wines, at the Barlow in Sebastopol. This is the second natural wine spot to open in Sebastopol this year, bringing Sonoma Wine Country's total count to three, while Napa Valley has zero. Choose from several flights — such as Orange Adventure, featuring skin contact wines, and Super Natty Mix, for those who like them extra funky — or order by the glass or bottle. The list, which changes a few times a week, showcases producers from Sonoma, France, Italy, Portugal and beyond. Munch on aperitif hour-inspired snacks while you sip, like spiced carrot dip ($10), chicken liver mousse ($16) or one of roughly 30 kinds of tinned fish.

6770 McKinley St., Ste. 130, Sebastopol. punchdownwine.com

Mole enchiladas from Quiote in Petaluma.

Mexican restaurant an instant hit in Petaluma

A new, family-run Mexican restaurant in Petaluma has generated quite the buzz, despite its lack of a website, for its tacos — including barbacoa, pollo asado and mushroom — on blue corn tortillas, sopes, tostadas and Rancho Gordo beans. Called Quiote, the restaurant serves a complimentary appetizer of fresh watermelon with tajin in place of tortilla chips, and while its concise menu is more elevated than the standard taqueria fare, the prices are still quite reasonable. The most expensive item is the trio of mole enchiladas for $15.25.

121 Kentucky St., Petaluma. yelp.com

Detroit-style pan pizza lands in downtown Napa

Farmers’ market star Napa Baking Co. opened a pizza restaurant in downtown Napa — and locals are raving about it. Croccante serves up Detroit-style 8-by-10-inch pan pizzas, like roasted potato and pancetta with white sauce or its namesake pie made with crumbled meatballs, pepperoni and bell pepper. Croccante also has starters like wings and garlic knots, and serves wine and beer. Owner Hakan Kostek worked at his uncle's bakery as a teenager in Turkey and then cut his teeth at Napa's Model Bakery before starting his own company.

976 Pearl St., Napa. croccantepizza.com

The owners of the Dutch Door opened Deuces Market in downtown Napa.

A can't-miss quick stop in Napa

The owners of the Dutch Door, Napa's popular fried chicken sandwich takeout window, have opened a chic and airy marketplace downtown. Deuces Market offers artisanal snacks, picnic provisions, salads and sandwiches, plus coffee, cold-pressed juices, wine and beer. It's a quiet spot to start your Wine Country day or to rest and refuel on cozy velvet couches.

1300 First St., Suite 222, Napa. deucesmarket.com

The best wine tasting for dogs

Last year, a fine-dining option for dogs opened in San Francisco, and now there's wine tasting for canines. Yountville's Silver Trident Winery launched Puppy Pairings ($20), a flight for dogs that is coursed out to synchronize with their owners’ $50 wine experience. To be clear, the dogs are getting treats — such as banana cake and a bone-shaped granola cookie — not wine. Pups also get an additional cookie and a collapsible travel water bowl to take home.

6495 Washington St., Yountville. Silvertridentwinery.com

Wax nostalgic at an adult-friendly arcade

Indulge your inner child at Rewind, which opened at Sebastopol's Barlow complex with retro and new-age arcade games, including Super Smash Bros. and 13 pinball machines. Grab a pint from the self-pour beer wall, featuring 20 taps, and Asian snacks from a vending machine. Visitors can also order food from Barlow restaurants.

6780 Depot St., Suite 140, Sebastopol. therewindarcade.com

Fine dining in 3D

The Culinary Institute of America's Napa hub, located next to the Oxbow Public Market, launched an interactive 3D dining experience that's available on Fridays and Saturdays. The evening takes diners through a four-course dinner ($135, $185 with wine pairing) while 3D animation — called "Chefs Nya and Ned Save the World" and featuring global travels, flying tableware and fire-breathing dragons — flashes across the walls and plates in front of them. Dishes include waffles and caviar, miso-glazed sablefish and Wagyu short rib.

500 First St., Napa. ciaatcopia.com

Taste wine inside a 1940s firehouse

A historic, refurbished firehouse in Sonoma reopened for tastings after an extended COVID-related closure. Located a few blocks from the Sonoma Plaza, the Gehricke tasting room offers a walk-in friendly tasting ($25) of wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and rosé on weekends. The firehouse has a multigenerational connection to Sonoma's legendary Sebastiani wine family; it's owned by August Sebastiani, whose father volunteered there and whose grandfather helped build it. The chill and simple tasting space lies behind roll-up red doors. On Friday and Saturday afternoons, there's a rotating food truck.

32 Patten St., Sonoma. gehrickewines.com

Napa's epic new train ride

The Napa Valley Wine Train has launched a fancy new ride. The three-hour Tasting on the Rails experience (from $395), features a seven-course food and wine pairing and scenic vineyard views from the seat of a refurbished 1915 train car. The wines showcase six of Napa Valley's most famous wine subregions — like Rutherford, Oakville and St. Helena — and they’re coursed out so that the train passes through them while you sip in real time. Each wine is served with a dish, such as beef tenderloin, herb and garlic prawns, and a cheese plate.

1275 McKinstry St., Napa. winetrain.com

Kivelstadt Cellars' winegarten is now open for lunch and dinner.

Pull over at this under-the-radar roadside restaurant

Kivelstadt Cellars, Sonoma's uber-chill winegarten, gave its produce-focused restaurant — one of the best in Sonoma County — a chic refresh. Called Bloom Carneros, this lunch spot recently added dinner service — just in time for summer weather. Tucked away off Highway 121 and set on a half-acre garden sanctuary, the restaurant's seasonal, vegetable-forward plates include carrot arancini, sweet potato tacos dorados and fried chicken bites. Pair your meal with some fun European wines, like a Listan Negra from the Canary Islands, and dine around a firepit or at the ranch-inspired bar.

22910 Broadway, Sonoma. Bloomcarneros.com

Reach Jess Lander: [email protected]; Twitter: @jesslander