INTERESTED IN WINEMAKING?
JOIN SONOMA HOME WINEMAKERS!
• Meet people with similar interests, attend meetings and special events, taste great wine and socialize.
• Help others make wine and learn from experienced grape growers and winemakers.
• Borrow, buy, or rent equipment. Get leads on grapes for sale and free.
• Access how-to presentations and mentors to learn winemaking best practices.
Next Meeting
Thursday April 10
Jay and Nick Jensen of Novavine
Room 110 at the Sonoma Community Center.
Time: 6:30 Socializing, 7:00 Start
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Sonoma Home Winemakers speaker series welcomes grapevine experts, Jay and Nick Jensen of Novavine. Father and son team, Jay and Nick Jensen of Novavine bring decades of grapevine, vineyard and nursery experience to this talk. The focus will be on proper selection of vines, why it's important and steps to insure success from the moment they're in the ground. Since 1996, Novavine is a Santa Rosa based grapevine and olive tree nursery business selling into 49 States, Canada and Mexico with over 6 million vines sold annually.
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This event is open to the public.
Just stop by if you are interested in the state of the wine business and/or home winemaking. 21+ only please as we will be tasting our member's wines during the event.
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Pay Your 2025 Membership Dues before April 1st and save $10!
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Dues have not been raised in several years, but our expenses have gradually increased.
Beginning April 1st, dues will be $50 for new members and existing members alike.
If you would like to join the Sonoma Home Winemakers or if you are an existing member who has yet to pay, please pay by March 31st to enjoy the old rate of $40.
Any dues paid from April 1st will be $50.
Please make your check payable to the Sonoma Home Winemakers and mail it to
Sonoma Home Winemakers
P.O. Box 590, Sonoma, CA 95476
Thank you Katie Nydell!
On March 13, Katie Nydell, a principal at VinLuxe Consulting spoke on Making Wine Adjustments at the Barrel to Improve What Goes Into The Bottle. Katie Nydell is a dedicated wine producer with a wealth of experience gained from prestigious winemaking teams including Lambert Bridge, Skipstone and Knight Bridge. Her presentation included fining techniques and tips and problem solving presented in a multipage printed format. "Before and After" samples for our guests to taste underscored how, many times, a simple fix can greatly enhance and even save a wine.
SHW News
SHW Alum Joseph Daniel awarded Double Gold Medals and Best of Class in the Professional Wine Competitions.
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Congratulations to Joseph Daniel, Sonoma Home Winemaker member since 2018 and commercial winemaker since 2021 and owner of TinY Vineyards. He has again been rewarded for his efforts with a Double-Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for his 2021 Eclipse Malbec. He was also awarded a Double-Gold and Best of Class at the Sonoma Harvest Fair for their 2022 Tinto Rústico. Well done, Joe! ​
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Sonoma Home Winemakers are On the Air
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In December, SHW board members Rebecca Kreeger and Peter Stanford were guests on KSVY's wine show "Wine Around with Hennessy", ​Leslie Hennessy, a veteran of the wine industry, winegrower, winemaker and owner of the Gourmet Wines, offers the KSVY listeners his expertise in the vast world of wine. His program delves into the professional wine worlds of Oenology, Viticulture, and Ampelography as well as all facets of the wine industry from wine genetics to marketing.
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Supporting our Community
Sonoma Home Winemakers donated 20 professional pruning shears to the SVHS Viticulture Program
We support Sonoma High School Viticulture program by donating much needed tools to this popular program. Included in the picture are SHW members Bob Brindley, Doug Ghiselin, and Rebecca Kreeger. Also pictured are Pat Stornetta, industry advisor to the program; a faculty member Lori Bisordi with daughter and students Audrey Clarke, and Mari Suazo The photo was taken by Les Boschke
Supporting Mount Veeder Fire Safety Council at the Home Winemaker Classic.
Board Members Paul Pastorino and Rebecca Kreeger poured a selection of Sonoma Home Wines at the Home Winemaker Classic Napa. This event supports the Mount Veeder Fire Safety Council.
About Us
The Sonoma Home Winemakers (SHW) is a group of home winemakers whose charter is to promote the fine art of growing grapes and making great wine and to share information among its members. We are centered in Sonoma California and we make wine from grapes gown primarily in Sonoma County. We meet once a month to share ideas and information, evaluate and taste each others wines, and host a speaker from the wine community. If you would like to learn more about us come to a members meeting as a guest. If you'd like to join our organization the dues are only $40 a year. And if you’re a member of the wine community with knowledge to share with our group, please let us know. We are always happy to meet new people.
We grow our grapes in our private vineyards, backyards, acquire grapes from local sources, or just help out fellow members with their winemaking. Our varietals range from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel and Pinot Noir to the distinctive Tanat, Sangiovese, Syrah, Primativo, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, and Mourvedre. Additionally, SHW manages and farms the Tex Juen vineyard located on Leveroni Road in Sonoma. This vineyard was established on land leased from the City of Sonoma for the education of SHW members and is fully maintained by the organization. Members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in experiencing hands-on viticulture and are rewarded with a share of the wine that is made from that vineyard.
Sonoma Home Winemakers is an active member of the Sonoma community. We have been a co-sponsor, along with the Sonoma Plaza Kiwanis and Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, of past Sonoma Valley Uncorked events which benefited the efforts of those two organizations in serving the needs of valley youth and other programs. This and other community engagements offer SHW members the opportunity to share their wines with the broader community and to share their knowledge and skills of home winemaking.
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Officers
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President: Bob Brindley
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Vice-President: Paul Pastorino
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Treasurer: Brian Middleton
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Secretary: Rebecca Kreeger
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Membership Chair: Faye Mellos
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Website: Gregory Levinson
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Members at Large: Doug Ghiselin and Peter Stanford.
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Welcome to the SHW!
Hello from the Sonoma Home Winemakers! I’m glad you are interested in learning about home winemaking and vineyard management. Information on our website can help you. Better yet, please join us at one of our monthly meetings.
The goal of our group is to help hobby winemakers learn to make wine and hopefully new friends along the way. Each month we offer you a speaker to teach us about the different aspects of making wine from pruning a vineyard, to harvesting grapes, to making wine that you can be proud to share with friends and family. Plus we have several social events throughout the year to help you make new friends with the same interests and to enjoy the bounty of our labors.
I have been a wine enthusiast and collector most of my life and more recently a home winemaker. It may run in the family since I have early memories of helping my grandfather tend to his vineyard in Upstate New York.
The Sonoma Home Winemakers are a valuable and helpful resource. We also have fun! There’s only so much you can learn in books and online. Being able to access the minds of professional vineyard managers and winemakers as well as other experienced hobby winemakers has been invaluable. Understanding how to grow better grapes and learning how the pros make their wine has armed me with the knowledge to make better wine in my own right. And best of all, we share some fantastic home wine at each of our gatherings!
If you’re interested in home winemaking or you’re already on your way, I encourage you to come to our next monthly meeting - no winemaking or vineyard xperience is necessary. Everyone is welcome! I hope to see you soon.
Cheers!
Bob Brindley, President
Sonoma Home Winemakers