Latest news with #Sojourn
San Francisco Chronicle
08-08-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
California winery embroiled in fraud scandal has a new owner
A winery that was embroiled in a high-profile Sonoma County fraud scandal has been acquired by a prominent California wine industry executive. Sojourn Cellars was once part of the portfolio of embattled real estate developer Kenneth Mattson, who was arrested in May on charges including wire fraud and money laundering. The Sonoma winery, which had a reputation for high-quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, became a victim of Mattson's fallout. In May, a bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of over 150 assets affiliated with Mattson and his partners. Now, Pat Roney, the former CEO of Vintage Wine Estates, has purchased Sojourn with a small investment group. The deal includes Sojourn's brand and inventory, but no winery or vineyards. Roney did not disclose a purchase price. There are two main reasons why Roney wanted to buy the 10,000-case Sojourn. First, 'I don't do well at retirement,' he said. Second, 'it's a great winery,' and almost 90% of its sales are direct to consumer, 'which is where the trend is going for smaller wineries.' Roney co-founded Vintage Wine Estates after he and the late wine mogul Leslie Rudd purchased Windsor Vineyards in 2007, adding it to Napa Valley's Girard Vineyards, which they had jointly acquired in 2000. In the following years, Roney grew Vintage into one of California's most powerful wine conglomerates, buying 28 additional wineries including B.R. Cohn, Kunde, Cameron Hughes and Layer Cake. Roney stepped down as CEO in 2023, transitioning to board president. Vintage filed for bankruptcy last summer, instantly becoming the most visible sign that California's wine industry was facing a major crisis, and preceding a barrage of other winery closures or sales. When Vintage's assets became available in a bankruptcy auction, Roney and Vintage investor John Sebastiani put in a bid for three of the company's most popular Sonoma wineries, Kunde, B.R. Cohn and Viansa. But they lost the bid to automotive billionaire Jay Adair, who paid $85 million for those properties, as well as Napa Valley's Clos Pegase and Girard. Roney didn't walk away empty handed, however. He managed to buy Windsor Vineyards, the winery that had launched Vintage Wine Estates in the first place, in October from Full Glass Marketing, which had bought it from Vintage out of bankruptcy. In the months since, Roney said he's made changes to Windsor Vineyards including updating the website and 'improving the quality of the wines.' The big draw for Sojourn, he said, is its well trafficked tasting room by the downtown Sonoma plaza. Given the precariousness of the wholesale market for wine right now — behemoth distributor Republic National Distributing Co. is pulling out of California entirely — it's more important than ever for wineries to build up their direct-to-consumer businesses, Roney said. As part of the acquisition, Roney has laid 'a couple of people' off, he said, but most of the staff remains in place, including longtime winemaker Erich Bradley. A renovation of the tasting room is in the works (it will remain open during renovations), and Roney has plans for a packaging makeover. 'They went through a controversial label change,' he said. 'We're going to bring it back closer to what it was before.'
India Today
30-05-2025
- India Today
Hospitality Flying solo
The power of one has definitely magnified its heft beyond sloganeering to become the unofficial tagline for solo travellers. Apart from glorifying the spirit of rugged individualism, those in the travel trade are recognising this as a reigning trend. In fact, some hotels have even started offering special packages. 'We've seen a heartening rise in solo travellers, particularly women, seeking meaningful, restorative experiences over the conventional. It's a trend that inspires us deeply and reinforces our commitment to creating personalised journeys,' says Louis Sailer, Senior Executive Vice President of The Imperial New Delhi. The Imperial has recently launched a thoughtfully crafted programme called Solo Sojourn for those who seek a spontaneous escape. This stay experience is designed for free spirits and is age and gender agnostic. 'Whether you're in need of a quick reprieve or a moment to reconnect with yourself, our sanctuary offers elegance, history, inspiration, and comfort, all aimed at igniting your sense of adventure or repose,' adds Sailer. The Imperial offers an expansive collection of Indo-European art.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Sojourn Lodging Opens First Tiny House Resort in the Smoky Mountains
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sojourn Lodging, a new boutique tiny house hotel concept in the Smoky Mountains, is officially open and now welcoming guests. Located just outside Pigeon Forge and near the Wears Valley entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sojourn Lodging offers a thoughtfully designed, experience-driven getaway that blends modern comfort with the beauty of the outdoors. Sojourn's focus is on less is more, a place where guests can prioritize connection, exploration, and adventure. Each private tiny house unit includes a walk-in shower, full bathroom, kitchenette, and queen-size loft bedroom, offering guests a cozy, comfier alternative to traditional camping, but a more unique experience than hotels. Whether you're planning a romantic weekend or a solo retreat, Sojourn Lodging is built for those who want to unwind without giving up the comforts of home. ' The concept behind Sojourn Lodging is to build tiny house resorts that reflect the local community. We intentionally designed our Smoky Mountain resort to resemble tiny cabins, a key component of an authentic Smoky Mountain experience. Providing the essentials in a cozy tiny home environment, Sojourn's focus is on less is more, a place where guests can prioritize connection, exploration, and adventure. We are very excited to launch our Sojourn Lodging concept in the Smoky Mountains, and are looking forward to expanding into other communities around the Southeast United States, including Chattanooga, Shenandoah, among others.' Saurav Ghosal, Business Strategist The resort includes a variety of on-site amenities designed to foster connection and relaxation: Pickleball court Community fire pits perfect for evenings under the stars Walking trails surrounded by scenic views A welcoming indoor gathering space at the Welcome Center A mountain observation deck overlooking Mount LeConte Each space was built with intention, offering guests a boutique atmosphere that balances privacy and community, nature and comfort. To celebrate the grand opening, Sojourn Lodging is now accepting reservations for spring and summer stays. Guests can learn more and book directly at About Sojourn Lodging Sojourn Lodging is a Tennessee-based hospitality company dedicated to creating boutique lodging experiences that combine thoughtful design, modern comfort, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. With the launch of Sojourn Lodging, the company introduces its first tiny house hotel, built to bring a fresh perspective to Smoky Mountain stays.
New York Times
14-04-2025
- New York Times
Paddling the Wild River in New York's Backyard
All I could hear was the gentle splash of paddles and oars dipping in and out of the water. The river itself was quiet, with only the occasional gurgle when it trickled over rocks or lapped at my kayak. Waterfowl glided near us, a water snake slithered by. Bald eagles — so many! — soared and swooped in the trees. It was hard to believe this was the Delaware River, just a couple of hours from my home in Brooklyn. Even though I live relatively close to it, I did not know much about the Delaware besides George Washington famously crossing it in 1776. Then last June, I participated in the Delaware River Sojourn. The annual weeklong paddling expedition covers about 80 miles of the river's main stem, with a different section done each year. Participants can do as many days as they want (I did three, from the put-in at Lackawaxen, Pa., to Worthington State Forest, N.J.) The 2025 trip, which marks the event's 30th anniversary, starts on June 14 at Balls Eddy, Pa., and ends in Phillipsburg, N.J. on the 20th. (Registration has opened.) The Sojourn can swell to more than a hundred paddlers a day, from experienced kayakers to first timers. About 16 members of the National Canoe Safety Patrol (volunteers trained in first-aid and swift water rescue) make sure that everybody follows protocols and steer paddlers through the occasional Class I or II rapid. Facing the Camping Challenge I paddled alongside a young boy in a tandem kayak with his mother, and groups of rambunctious teenagers lobbing a foam football at each other. I chatted with Sojourn steering-committee member Lois Burmeister, 76, and her 12-year-old grandson, and with Ed McLaughlin, a gregarious 76-year-old retired school administrator, who became hooked on multiday trips after doing the Schuylkill River Sojourn. 'On the third day I thought I was going to die,' said Mr. McLaughlin, who got serious about kayaking in retirement. 'But there's something about being on the water and paddling, I just can't explain it.' The joy of being in the friendliest of armadas certainly was infectious. 'A lot of people don't have anybody to paddle with so this is an opportunity for them to do it — and to do it safely,' said Jacqui Wagner, who oversees safety on the water for the Sojourn. 'And it's a good place to learn.' I had paddled before and was looking forward to traveling 10 to 13 miles a day on the Delaware. What freaked me out was the camping: While the Sojourn's website lists accommodations within 30 minutes of the launches, the community formed by camping is a big part of the trip. And I had never done it. So as not to embarrass myself on my first night, I practiced putting up my brand-new $60 Coleman tent in my small living room, then folding it back into its bag. When I got to the first site, on the grounds of the Zane Grey Museum in Lackawaxen, Penn., I was ready. The Sojourn includes two to three meals a day, served cafeteria-style at communal tables. Perhaps because it is run by a nonprofit, the registration fee is a fairly affordable $100, and includes your camping spot, transportation between the campsites and the launches, and boat rental along with paddle and personal flotation device. 'We could do this on our own,' said Victoria Hennessy, 59, a first-timer on the Sojourn. 'But then we'd have to do all the food. Besides registration and gas, I haven't spent one penny.' To avoid packing and unpacking every night, participants stay a few days at each site — the 2025 edition will split its time between two Pennsylvania campgrounds, in Equinunk and Mount Bethel. The organization also has a longstanding relationship with Northeast Wilderness Experience, which handles the boat rental, while Sojourners are ferried to the river and back to camp in buses. It's All About the River But in the end, it all revolves around the free-flowing Delaware, the longest undammed river east of the Mississippi, which runs through a corridor bordered by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. When we were not on it, we talked about it, with lunchtime and sometimes dinner talks linked to history of the river and its surrounding communities. Joint efforts have helped clean up the Delaware over the decades. The dead fish I spotted floating belly up, for example, were actually a good sign: They were American shad, a species that travels from the ocean back to the river where they were born so they can spawn. For decades into the 20th century, the watershed by Philadelphia was so polluted that the fish could not make the journey upstream. But thanks to state and federal efforts, the water quality has been greatly improved, to the benefit of all, including the shad. 'If they are there, and even if you see them dead, that means they were able to come back, do their job, reproduce, and it's part of the natural cycle,' said Kate Schmidt, a communications specialist for the Delaware River Basin Commission, which was created in 1961 to better coordinate planning, development and regulatory issues among the four states and the federal government. A longtime supporter of the Sojourn, the D.R.B.C. is especially excited because the Delaware was voted Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2025 — with a festival to celebrate the award on June 18. On Sojourn Time I had plenty of time to relax and bask in the Delaware's glory on my last day, when snafus delayed our morning departure by a couple of hours. Everybody patiently waited, chatting in the sun. When we finally started, headwinds had picked up, turning the expected easy 10-mile paddle to lunch into an unexpected workout. But we all got there and jumped on the waiting food, ravenous. 'There's an expression we all use, 'Sojourn time,' to describe how we all just get into the groove and go with the flow, so to speak,' said Lorraine Martinez, 71, a steering-committee member who has been doing the trip for about two decades, though she now lives in Tennessee. 'Nothing ever happens exactly on schedule — there are so many variables to contend with — so everyone just kicks back and lives in the moment.'
CBS News
01-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
The Sojourn Project provides immersive journey into civil rights history
When visitors enter the home of Jewish American peace activist Jeff Steinberg, they step into a living tribute to civil rights history. His house is adorned with art and memorabilia from the civil rights movement. The artwork is more than just décor — it's a testament to his passion for social justice. "I'm a history teacher by trade, and how can one not be inspired by people in the civil rights movement? People who put themselves on the line for something bigger than themselves?" Steinberg asked. Through this inspiration, Steinberg founded the Sojourn Project, an immersive journey through the South that aims to educate participants about the civil rights movement and its often overlooked heroes. The program seeks to humanize and honor African American history and resilience. "The people in the civil rights movement, I call them, in my opinion, the real founding mothers and fathers of our country. They believed in real freedom, and yet, they're not in our history books," Steinberg said. "So we have collectively been ripped off of knowing stories of people who stood up to make America stand up for its true ideals." Sojourn's mission has expanded over time. The social justice education and outreach program now includes law enforcement officers in an effort to foster greater empathy for Black Americans. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who has participated in the program, calls it a valuable training tool for law enforcement. "Sojourn has been a transformative experience for me," Jenkins said. "As a Black American, just being able to dive even deeper into the history of the civil rights movement, and meet people who were leaders in the civil rights movement. But also, to be able to take my staff from the DA's office on the trip, so that they can understand the impacts that law enforcement had on the Black community in particular during the Jim Crow era. So that we can figure out how we can best serve diverse communities better, given sometimes the distrust they have in the system." Jenkins and Steinberg both hope the city will allocate funding for such programs in the future. Until then, Steinberg's nonprofit organization is pushing forward with plans for its next trip, set for April, which will again include local law enforcement officers. "There's no hierarchy in oppression," Steinberg emphasized. "So what Jewish people have gone through is not more important than what African Americans have gone through, not more important than what Latino Americans have gone through, not more important than what Middle Eastern Americans have gone through or what Arab Americans have gone through. Or what Asian Americans have gone through. So there's no hierarchy here. Our job is to illuminate the stories of people whose voices need to be heard. And who believed in true freedom." Steinberg's message echoes through generations: a call for equality, unity, and the recognition of the struggles of all marginalized communities.
