‘Signature Sonoma Valley’ to pour this April

The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance plans to launch a new fundraising event called “Signature Sonoma Valley,” to happen throughout Sonoma Valley on April 7 and 8.

According to Maureen Cottingham, executive director of the SVVGA.

“The objective of the two-day wine-focused event is to reinforce Sonoma Valley’s position as a world class wine region and showcase the innovative winegrowing and winemaking practices that are leading this region today.”

One of the most exciting new events will be a vineyard “immersion” experience where guests walk through the famed Durell Vineyard and then join four iconic winemakers to sip and discuss the wines they have made from that vineyard.

The experience culminates with lunch at Beltane Ranch with five more winemakers and their wines.

And finally there will be a Grand Dinner with vintner/grower-hosted tables and “one from the cellar” bottles of their wines.

This event is not related to the Harvest Wine Auction of previous years.

Meanwhile, the Sonoma County Vintners have announced the appointment of Petaluma resident Kelin Backman as managing director of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. That event includes Taste of Sonoma, which is usually held in the northern part of the county, and Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, location yet to be announced.

In the past Backman has helped organize the successful Rivertown Revival event for Friends of the Petaluma River, as well as events for the GranFondo Festival, and fundraisers for Congressman Jared Huffman.