Archives: Episodes

https://thesantarosafarmersmarket.com/

GUEST: Kate Frey

the Fetzer/Valley Oaks 5 Acre Culinary Garden---Hopland

Dennis with the Farmers Market Update

https://thesantarosafarmersmarket.com/

In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Bill Nachbauer, Owner of Alegria Vineyards.

Bill grew up in Vallejo, but his Sonoma County roots are deeper than our Zinfandel vines’. In 1868, great-great-grandparents on his mother’s side settled in Windsor, less than three miles south of Alegría Vineyards. At about the same time, great-great-grandparents on his father’s side settled near Petaluma. In the 1890s, one of Bill’s grandfathers was working in vineyards in the Napa Valley.

After college and law school at UC Berkeley, Bill went to Washington, DC, where he met Betsy, then in graduate school at George Washington University. Bill worked as a lawyer in DC for six years before returning to San Francisco where he practiced law for another ten years. Betsy worked in public policy in DC and Virginia. In San Francisco, she was, for many years, the Public Policy manager at Bank of America.

Bill enrolled in viticulture classes at Santa Rosa Junior College while he was looking for a vineyard, and discovered what became Alegría Vineyards during a class field trip in 1989. He is very “hands on” and did much of the work to reinvigorate the old vineyard, design, and plant the new blocks. He works in the vineyards every day. In 1994, Betsy and Bill decided to make wine from their Alegría Vineyards and they established ACORN Winery, which they operated for almost 30 years.

Our focus now is only to grow great grapes for other wineries. Our experience as winemakers helps us understand what winemakers are looking for.

Bill is a past president of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association and served on the boards of the Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group and the Russian River Valley Winegrowers as well.

Today, we continue to find alegría as we enjoy living in the middle of our vineyards, enjoying the Russian River Valley climate and continuing a long tradition by sustainably growing premium quality grapes.

Acorn Winery

ACORN winery started when Bill and Betsy Nachbaur bought Alegría Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Bill traded in his law books for books on viticulture, pruning shears, and a tractor. In the early years, he was in the vineyards every day, with Betsy helping on weekends. Within a few years she joined Bill full time.

Bill and Betsy started off selling all their grapes to other wineries who produced highly prized Alegría Vineyard-designated wines. Then in 1994, they began making their own wine, establishing ACORN Winery with its first release in 1996, the 1994 Sangiovese. It is fitting that one of the first wines to be released under the "new" ACORN is an Alegría Vineyard Sangiovese.

In 2024 the Nachbaurs joyfully sold the ACORN brand to Melissa Moholt-Siebert, the founder and owner of Ancient Oak Cellars. The long-time friendship and shared values between the two winery-owning families provided a natural and exciting opportunity for both.

Historically, every ACORN wine was made from grapes grown at Alegría. With Melissa's ownership, other family-farmed, field-blend vineyards are being added. Each wine is still a field blend, following the ancient tradition represented in the mixed planting of the original 135-year old Alegría vineyard. Every wine is made by co-fermenting multiple varieties. The wines are blended from the day they are picked. This is what sets ACORN wines apart.

After 35 years, Bill and Betsy still find alegría living in the middle of their vineyards, enjoying the cool Russian River Valley climate. They will continue to farm the vineyard that was their first love, selling grapes to Melissa for ACORN, as well as a number of other award-winning wineries.

And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!

Host Clark Wolf talks with Jodi & Lauren McNaughton, First & Second Place winners of the Gravenstein Apple Fair Pie Contest, about the contest itself, the judging criteria, their personal backgrounds and their approach to baking.

Jodi's First Place Apple-Cranberry Pie with a personal twist for the show!

In this episode, Dr. K & Chris Geiger from Center Point DAAC talk about overdose mortality rates, local ER numbers, a rise in alcohol use, youth vaping/cannabis use and how the county is responding to it all. In addition, they talk with Kai Denis, Outpatient Manager at Center Point DAAC, about his backstory, his career arc and the outpatient treatment process!

Center Point DAAC of Santa Rosa has been serving Sonoma County since 1969, offering free or low‑cost addiction treatment for Medi‑Cal members. Their Dr. Sushma D. Taylor Recovery Center provides medically supervised detox and long‑term residential care, plus outpatient and specialized programs for teens, families, and individuals facing court involvement—all backed by mental‑health counseling and medication‑assisted treatment. For support with substance use recovery, visit cpdaac.org or call (707) 544‑3295.

THINGS THAT GO WRONG...DELAYS

Guests include:

Peter Reinhart

Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart - A journey of self-discovery through pizza.

Guy Fieri

https://www.guyfieri.com/#

Jeff Madura...Chef at John Ash & Company for 20 years

John Finger who worked with John on his last book

Founder...CEO...Hog Island Oysters

Hog Island Oyster Co. | Oyster Bars, Seafood Restaurants, and Oyster Delivery

Plus memories

GUEST:

Art Kopecky

Bonsai Show

August 23 and 24...Rohnert Park

REBS website – Bonsai club founded in 1981, in Santa Rosa, CA. Dedicated to learning and promoting the living art of bonsai. Visit our website to discover more about the club.

Garden Questions answer Saturday 9-11 at 707-636-1350

Email 24-7 to get answered at steve@ksro.com

Dennis with the Farmers Market Update...All the Market information below

SANTA ROSA ORIGINAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET - THE SANTA ROSA ORIGINAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET

GUEST (Second Half Hour)

Mark Themig

Director: Healdsburg Community Services

Community Services / Parks & Recreation | Healdsburg, CA - Official Website

Also, as usual your gardening questions every Saturday from 9-11 at 707-636-1350

Email 24-7 to get your questions answered each Saturday at steve@ksro.com

Welcome to Recovery Radio with Dr. K! In this episode, Dr. K & Chris Geiger of Center Point DAAC, talk about Pregnant & Parenting Women trends in Sonoma County & Chris' past work in the field. The two also discuss Center Point DAAC's available services, what to expect from them and the grants that allow the work to be done!

Center Point DAAC of Santa Rosa has been serving Sonoma County since 1969, offering free or low‑cost addiction treatment for Medi‑Cal members. Their Dr. Sushma D. Taylor Recovery Center provides medically supervised detox and long‑term residential care, plus outpatient and specialized programs for teens, families, and individuals facing court involvement—all backed by mental‑health counseling and medication‑assisted treatment. For support with substance use recovery, visit cpdaac.org or call (707) 544‑3295.