Latest news with #Sonoma
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Meet The Winemaker Changing The Face Of Sonoma Wine
Jesse Katz walking in his Farrow Ranch vineyard For decades, Napa Valley has been synonymous with pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, but the spotlight is beginning to shift westward—toward Sonoma. Sonoma is rightly celebrated for its exquisite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines but now its Bordeaux varietals are earning a seat at the table—and wine lovers should take note. A growing number of producers are earning critical acclaim, including rare 100-point scores that were once almost exclusively the domain of Napa's elite, and one of the key figures driving this evolution is winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars. Kyle Connaughton, chef and owner of Sonoma's three-Michelin-starred SingleThread restaurant, credits Katz with helping to raise the region's profile: 'In such a short time, Jesse has raised the bar so incredibly high in our region. His wines stand at the top of their class compared to great Old World counterparts, while simultaneously being innovative, provocative, and approachable. He is ushering in a new era of what's possible in California winemaking, and as a chef, I'm always incredibly excited and inspired to cook for his wines.' Katz is not alone. Wineries like Vérité, which has received perfect scores for red blends that blur the line between Sonoma and Bordeaux, as well as Skipstone, Stonestreet, and Peter Michael have contributed to Sonoma's increasing stature in the wine world. The numbers don't lie; according to Wine-Searcher, the number of Sonoma County wines receiving 95 points or higher from top critics has more than doubled over the past decade. Tasting room at Aperture Cellars in Sonoma Katz, whose résumé includes tenure at the revered Napa estate Screaming Eagle, brings obsessive precision and artistry to his winemaking and viticulture and the results reflect his focus. Indeed, Katz is the first and only winemaker to ever earn a 100 point score for wine made in Sonoma's Alexander Valley—from six different critics no less. And, he's earned more perfect scores than any Sonoma winemaker to date. While critics' scores aren't the sole measure of quality, they are an important barometer of excellence. And in this case, they signal a notable shift: Sonoma is no longer just Napa's country cousin. It is emerging as a destination for world-class wines and deserving of equal—if not greater—attention from collectors and connoisseurs alike. After so much success in Napa, it's worth asking why Katz ventured into Sonoma. For him, the decision was a no-brainer: greater opportunity and diversity. 'There is so much potential in Sonoma,' explains Katz, 'finding the next great site is still very much a possibility. The best sites in Napa have already been discovered. And for someone like me who wasn't born into this industry or into wealth the barrier to entry in Napa was almost unachievable. It was hard enough even in Sonoma.' Rolling hills of Aperture's Farrow Ranch in Sonoma's Alexander Valley This sprawling county (Sonoma is 1,575 square miles compared to Napa's 789 square miles) runs from the Pacific to the Mayacamas Mountains and is home to every kind of microclimate imaginable. It has more soil diversity than the entire nation of France and is composed of a constellation of quirky small towns populated by a mix of hippies and farmers. Only a few decades ago, Sonoma's now buzzy Healdsburg Square was a Hell's Angels biker hotspot (some of whom used the square's fountain to bathe). Today, the bikers are gone, replaced by Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, and boutique shops. In keeping with this evolution, the winemaking has become more focused; consider that Alexander Valley is about to debut its first-ever sub ava, Pocket Peak, which will represent some of the region's most exquisite vineyard offerings. Not surprisingly, Katz's most prized vineyard, Farrow Ranch, sits right in the heart of it. 'It's a magical, unicorn of a site,' explains Katz, 'One of the best I've worked with in my career.' It was at Farrow Ranch that Katz discovered an intriguing block of old vine Malbec, (the source of his now-famous Devil Proof bottling, which received the first-ever 100-point score for a Malbec in US history). That success inspired Katz even more. 'For the last decade of my life, I've been focused on soils and identifying unique pockets where I can unlock their potential. One of Aperture's great successes has been our ability to find sites others have overlooked and redesign, replant and farm them in a completely new way.' Farrow Ranch is a bowl-shaped paradise where Katz cultivates Bordeaux varietals on a range of different soil types, at different elevations and oriented in all directions. This amazing tapestry of vineyard variety gives Katz and his team remarkable flexibility at the blending table, enabling them to craft deeply complex wines. 'It's a site that hasn't even hit its stride yet,' he says. 'We've planted 17 new acres and have another phase planned for 2026.' Sonoma's rise isn't about one winemaker making 100-point wines; it's more of a team effort with everyone sharing in each other's expertise across all aspects of winemaking and hospitality. On any given day one might spot a local chef wandering Aperture's vineyards on a foraging mission. Not long ago, Katz shared some of his decommissioned wine with local chef Dustin Valette (owner of The Matheson) who then used it to craft a wine-infused mustard. And, Christopher Jackson, proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, is working with Katz on a special winemaking project called Prophet and Poet; the 2021 releases just made their debut. Katz owns Aperture in partnership with his father, acclaimed photographer Andy Katz—and the winery name couldn't be more fitting. In photography, 'aperture' refers to the control of light and focus, and that's exactly what Katz is bringing to Sonoma: a sharp focus and a spotlight on the region's viticultural brilliance. If you want in on the ground floor, you'd better make your way to Sonoma soon. Aperture Collage: Katz's newest and most groundbreaking wine, these two bottlings feature the best of the best hand-selected fruit from across a portfolio of 200 acres. 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon ($425) and a 2022 Sauvignon Blanc ($125). Aperture Site Series is a collection of single-vineyard wines, each sourced from one meticulously chosen vineyard site in Sonoma County 2022 Aperture Oliver Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture SJ Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture Proterra | $175
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Preliminary 3.4 magnitude quake struck near The Geysers
(KRON) – An earthquake has struck Northern California on Saturday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The 3.4 magnitude quake transpired at 10:40 a.m. near The Geysers, which is 45 square miles along the Sonoma and Lake County border. The Geysers is also the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world. Two arrested after brazen Safeway medicine theft According to USGS, the earthquake was half a mile southeast of The Geysers and 3.4 miles northeast of Cobb. This is a developing story. Stay tuned with KRON4 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Vogue
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
How to Throw an Elevated Wine Country Bachelorette
Sit out in the gardens and enjoy a round of bocce ball with your party on your stop at Landmark Vineyards. We love this stop to sip on Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of the Russian River Valley. Aperture Cellars Photo: Courtesy of Aperture Cellars The architecture of the modern tasting room decorated with Alex Katz photography is just one reason to visit Aperture Cellars. Matched with their delicious Bordeaux-style wines, it's a winning combo. Other Fun Wine Country Bachelorette Activities Want to put some more activities on your agenda than a traditional tasting? Check out some amazing activity options ahead. Passport to Dry Creek Valley Want to skip the hassle of arranging tons of tasting room visits for your bachelorette and also get some bang for your buck? Plan your bachelorette during Passport to Dry Creek Valley. This two-day spring celebration in the Dry Creek Valley wine region in Northern Sonoma gives you access to over 25 wineries that are open to ticket holders for events with food pairings, live music, and unique behind-the-scenes property tours. Napa Valley Wine Train You may be surprised that a train wine tour is actually one of the best tastings in the region. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a favorite thanks to it offering scenic views, great pairings, and stops at some favorite wineries in the region. It also will make for some great photo moments with your group. Francis Ford Coppola Vineyard Pool While a tasting at the winery owned by famed director Francis Ford Coppola is always a great time, you should consider booking a timeslot at the property's pool on your visit. You can enjoy a resort-like experience while sipping on cans of Sofia sparkling rosé and cooling off from the wine-country heat. Bottlerock Does the bride-to-be love a good concert? Consider coordinating your bachelorette around the Bottlerock music festival. Hosted annually in May, the Napa-based festival has more of a wine-country feel than Coachella vibes, with a diverse mix of music as well as a focus on great food and wine pop-ups. With one-day and three-day tickets available, you can make it a part of your trip or the main event. Transportation in Wine Country Anyone who has ever served as a maid of honor will tell you that logistics are one of the most important parts of planning a bachelorette. Understanding how to get to wine country and then move around it with a group is unfortunately not as easy as booking an Uber or Lyft whenever you want. First off, driving from either the San Francisco Airport or Oakland Airport to the area can take a minimum of two hours with traffic, so either renting cars, scheduling a shuttle, taking Vine public transit, or booking a private chauffeur like Blacklane is the only way you can make it north towards Napa. There is also an airport in Sonoma, with flights available from major cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, and Portland. Once you're settled at your accommodations, it's important to coordinate your designated drivers for wine tasting and excursions. While you might have a friend or two that will abstain from drinking for the weekend that can chauffeur the group around, it's best to arrange professional drivers for the group that can traverse windy roads with a clear head. While ride shares can be found, they aren't always reliable when trying to make a reservation in time with a big group. Consider booking a driver for the day or even a bus if you have more than a carload of bridesmaids. Sonoma Sterling Limousines is a great transportation option that not only has luxury SUVs and sprinter vans, but also limos and party buses if you want to really take your trip up a notch.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
NASCAR owner was near deal to fund car in Cup Series race before garage backlash
Jim France, NASCAR's co-owner and CEO, was near a deal to fund a car in an upcoming race in the league's top-tier Cup Series before backlash in the garage over the perception of another high-profile conflict of interest in motorsports ownership led him to scrap the plans, The Athletic has learned. France was set to financially support an entry to be operated by Spire Motorsports, a team that has been competing in various NASCAR series since 2019, for the Cup road-course race in July at Sonoma Raceway in California. Jack Aitken, a 29-year-old road-course specialist who drives for a France-owned team, Action Express Racing, in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) sports car series, was tabbed to be the driver. Advertisement But the deal, which was close to completion, fell apart shortly after The Athletic began asking questions about the arrangement last week. Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson confirmed the plans but insisted the car would not have been fielded by France's team directly; it was intended to be a Spire entry staffed by Spire personnel, he said. Dickerson emphasized France did not get a 'good guy deal' and was going to pay the same price anyone else would for having Spire run an extra car, which can stretch resources and cause distractions to the full-time entries. 'I didn't really even think it was that big of a deal,' Dickerson said. 'I didn't even think it was that deep.' Still, the idea of France's financial participation in a Cup race privately rankled some in the NASCAR garage before the deal was finalized, according to conversations with several high-ranking officials around the sport, and ultimately led France to table the idea. Many in the garage were uncomfortable with the idea of competing against someone who also owned the series, given the potential conflict of interest. Some team executives and personnel worried that this might be a first step toward France forming his own team in NASCAR, similar to how Roger Penske owns both the IndyCar series and its most successful team. In ownership meetings in recent years, team and league sources say, France has expressed interest in that idea. France and NASCAR both declined to comment for this story. NASCAR ownership has not competed in Cup Series racing during the sport's Modern Era, since 1972, but it's also not the first time the league has rattled manufacturers and teams with a move onto a track. In 2023, NASCAR partnered with Chevrolet and top Cup team Hendrick Motorsports for a special entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France. The announcement of that deal came with little advance notice to rival manufacturers Ford and Toyota or any of their teams. For the Sonoma race, France again tried to partner with Chevrolet and Hendrick — but an extra car would have put Hendrick over the four-car limit for a single race. So Spire, which has a professional alliance with Hendrick, entered the picture. The organization, also a Chevrolet partner, has three full-time cars and room for a one-off spot. Advertisement But France teaming with Chevrolet, Spire and Hendrick by affiliation (the car would have used a Hendrick engine) did not sit well with other organizations — which was made clear to France. It's not clear why France wanted to enter a car in a Cup race, though people within the industry who know the 80-year-old often refer to him as a 'racer' with a deep passion for motorsports. NASCAR's 'open' system — which allows anyone with the means to create a team, show up and compete — gave him an opening to put a Cup entry on the track. France is also familiar with the complications that arise from either owning or being directly associated with a team competing in a series he owns. Since 2014, his Action Express team has won six championships in the top class of the IMSA series, which the France family also owns. Whatever France's intentions, the move would have sparked questions from an already skeptical fan base that scrutinizes every NASCAR decision and in-race call to detect perceived favoritism. The revelation comes as the other major American racing series, IndyCar, struggles with the aftermath of a conflict-of-interest situation on the eve of the Indianapolis 500 last week in which Team Penske was caught with illegal modifications to its cars for the second time in a year. IndyCar issued penalties to the team, and Roger Penske later fired his three top IndyCar officials in an attempt to restore trust and credibility from both fans and those in the IndyCar paddock. This conflict has not been an issue for NASCAR, but France was poised to enter those waters by putting his IMSA team's driver in a Cup race at the same time he's also embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit with two Cup Series teams — 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports. The disagreement centers around NASCAR's system of charters, which are franchise-like licenses that guarantee entry into every race and additional revenue. The other Cup Series teams all signed the agreement, with some claiming they felt pressured after France threatened to revoke their charters if they did not meet a signing deadline. Spire has its roots in a sports agency business that represented drivers, race teams and sponsors — sometimes at odds with each other. Dickerson has been open about navigating that challenge with NASCAR, believing he can 'take NASCAR on through negotiations Monday through Thursday and still go race with them, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.' Advertisement 'To me and to 13 other non-litigant charter teams, the war is over,' Dickerson said. 'I'm partners with NASCAR every day of the week. I'm not in a fight with NASCAR. I already signed my charter.' Race teams have long said NASCAR does not share enough revenue from the billions in broadcast revenue generated by TV deals, but NASCAR increased the percentage in the new charter agreement and believes it is being more than fair. NASCAR and the France family even carved out a provision that allows them to own and operate chartered race teams, if they choose. Some of those The Athletic spoke to in the NASCAR garage who learned of France's plans wondered if his Sonoma move was intended to send a message in the lawsuit, proving it did not cost as much as teams claimed. But Dickerson said the type of arrangement in this case — paying for another team to field a driver rather than running the car under France's own team banner — wouldn't prove that point at all. 'Clearly, through the negotiations for the charter, it feels like NASCAR did not believe the teams (about their financial situations),' Dickerson said. 'So if the only way for him and for them to believe the teams (is to run a NASCAR-owned race team), then I am all for that. 'But that was not this deal. This deal was just, 'Here's my sponsor, here's my driver. We think he'll be good at Sonoma. Can we run Sonoma?' Cool. Yes. Awesome.' While the France-backed Spire entry isn't happening at Sonoma, it still could come together for another Cup race later in the season. After Sonoma, two other road-course races remain on the Cup schedule — Aug. 10 at Watkins Glen and Oct. 5 at the Charlotte Roval. Neither of these races conflict with Aitken's IMSA schedule. (Top photo of Jim France at last year's NASCAR Awards ceremony: Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California real estate mogul accused of running $28M Ponzi scheme that had hundreds of victims
A California real estate mogul has been arrested and is facing multiple federal charges for allegedly running a 15-year Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors out of nearly $30 million. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, 63-year-old Kenneth W. Mason of Sonoma was arrested Thursday. A federal grand jury charged Mattson with seven counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of obstruction of justice. Mattson was the president of LeFever Mattson based in Citrus Heights, in Sacramento County. The company controlled several limited partnerships that owned and managed commercial and residential properties. Mattson obtained millions of dollars in investments from hundreds of people many of whom were nearing retirement or were retired. According to prosecutors, Mattson claimed the money was going into "legitimate and safe" partnerships that owned real estate, but in reality, were "off-books investors" that never became owners in the partnerships. "Instead of delivering the investment returns he promised, Mr. Mattson is charged with cheating these investors out of their hard-earned money and, in many cases, out of their life savings," Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins said in a statement. "Mr. Mattson will now be held to account on charges of perpetrating a scheme that he kept afloat only by using new investors' money to pay obligations to earlier investors—a classic Ponzi scheme." According to the indictment, between 2009 and 2024 Mattson solicited investors for the scheme. Mattson told investors he was placing their money into a partnership that owned an apartment complex in Riverside County. Prosecutors said Mattson did not tell the LeFever Mattson company about the investors and they were not listed as partners in the company's books and records. Some of the "off-books" investors received distribution payments, but prosecutors said Mattson used loans, comingled other assets and money from new investors to the alleged scheme to make the payments. The indictment also alleges Mattson had solicited investments in a second company that owned another apartment complex. After selling the complex and receiving $8 million in net proceeds, prosecutors said he concealed the sale from victims and was recruiting new investors in the complex after its sale. After the Securities and Exchange Commission began investigating Mattson in 2024, prosecutors allege he also deleted thousands of files that were relevant to the investigation. According to prosecutors, Mattson obtained at least $28 million for investments in the two companies alone. Mattson appeared in court Friday. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years to each count of wire fraud and obstruction of justice, and 10 years on the money laundering count. Authorities urged anyone who believes they were "off-books" investors of Mattson to visit "The investigation in this case is ongoing. We encourage anyone who believes they may be a victim to come forward," said Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. "The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to uncovering the truth and seeking justice for those affected."
