New ‘tasting parlor’ opens in Cornerstone Sonoma

The Highwayman offshoot of Highway 12 the brainchild of Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani.|

The new Highwayman wine bar tasting parlor had a soft opening over the summer, and owners and longtime friends Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani are now ramping up ambitious plans for their new space in Cornerstone. It is one of the first new tasting rooms to open since the October 2017 fires.

Highwayman Wines is the small production reserve label for Highway 12 Vineyards and Winery. While the brand has been around since 2006, it was sometimes lost in the shuffle of the small Highway 12 tasting room on the Plaza, inside the Corner Store.

After 10 years on the Plaza, we were ready to “spread our wings a little,” said Giusto.

He and Sebastiani began looking for space in September of last year but that the fires set their plans back significantly.

“When a space opened up at Cornerstone (where Keating Winery had been), we jumped at the chance,” said Giusto.

“We think of wine as a way to entertain people and we liked the way that Cornerstone is an experience,” he added. “This spot gives us more ways to connect with people than our small space on the Plaza allows.”

Highwayman can host events and use the outdoor kitchen as well as the long barn at Cornerstone.

“With our space, we get access to the estate feeling of Cornerstone, and we love the fact that we’re right at the gateway to both Sonoma and Napa,” said Giusto.

Highwayman’s new general manager is Sonoma resident Curt John (whose wife manages the Pangloss tasting room on the Plaza).

Highwayman will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.

The Tasting Parlor, located at 23564 Arnold Drive, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.