Vine Alley news
Envolve, the winery tasting room previously run by 'The Bachelor' Ben Flajnik (and Kate and Mike Benziger and then the Stewart family) has moved out of Vine Alley on the Plaza, while Chappellet Winery (of St. Helena) has signed a lease and will be moving into that space sometime in the next 30 to 45 days, according to Ryan Snow, the realtor for the Sonoma Court Shops.
The Two Amigas and GlenLyon Winery tasting room is selling the remaining five years on their lease for $165,000 (plus rent). Because the 10-year lease was signed in 2011, the rent is very low, about half of the current price per square foot in Vine Alley, according to Snow.
Two Amigos was started by Squire Fridell and friend Bob Briner.
Dents and dings
G&C Auto Body's new Sonoma location is now open at 19285 Sonoma Highway, near Maxwell Village. This is the family-owned chain's 11th location, making it the largest group of auto body facilities north of the Golden Gate. The company purchased McLea's 4,500 sq. ft. tire and auto building for $1.7 million.
Other winery news
Lake Sonoma Winery will officially celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. on March 24 at 134 Church St., between Sign of the Bear and Fairmont Gallery. Kivelstadt Winery will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate its new space at 13750 Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen at 6 p.m. on April 7.
Wanted: Winery permit
Glen Ellen's Beltane Ranch is seeking permission from the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC) to operate a winery (with tasting room, events and tours).
The property currently includes a working ranch, a bed & breakfast and event space but the wine is produced off-site. The SVCAC will review their proposal at 6:30 p.m. on March 23.
According to Beltane Ranch, the new proposal involves just the re-purposing of an existing barn on the property.
Trademark fights
Vintage Wine Estates has filed a trademark infringement suit against Dan Cohn, formerly of B.R. Cohn Winery that alleges that Dan Cohn violated the B.R. Cohn trademark when he launched his Cohn Wines brand by Daniel Cohn Wine Company earlier in 2015. The first hearing in the case will be held in June.
New store in Kenwood:
The Rare Hare is a new shop at 13975 Sonoma Highway, across from Sonoma Valley Regional Park.
The store is owned by Kenwood resident Maureen Petrillo and she is the buyer of the antiques, artwork and collectibles in the store.
The store is open Wednesday through Sunday.
A fast flight to Vegas
Allegiant Air will start service from Vegas to and from Charles M. Schulz Airport in May. To/from Phoenix as well.
Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.
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