Gay Wine Weekend 2011 | Where to Stay?

Gay Wine Weekend has teamed up with some great properties in Sonoma and the surrounding areas as Official Host Hotels. MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa is just minutes from Sonoma's historic Plaza and is offering special rates for June 17-19. MacArthur Place will also host the VIP Reception on Friday night from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for All-Access VIP ticket holders. For booking info or to make your reservation, call 800) 722-1866 and mention Gay Wine Weekend. You can also check out the property and other details at www.macarthurplace.com

Also playing host to Gay Wine Weekend is a Santa Rosa historic landmark, Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa. Just 30 minutes north of downtown Sonoma, Flamingo Resort offers the classic charm of the resort hotels of the 1950s and all the contemporary amenities, including a world class health club and spa. It is the perfect location for exploring Northern California’s premier Wine Country in Sonoma and Napa. For more information, visit www.flamingoresort.com or call (707) 545-8530
In addition to the host hotels, there are two partner hotels that are offering special packages for Gay Wine Weekend!

The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa is nestled in Sonoma Valley and just minutes from everything that Sonoma has to offer. It is also conveniently located for easy access to Napa and is less than an hour north of San Francisco. The Lodge is offering the "Living Out Proud" package which includes: Cottage room, Breakfast for 2 daily, Sparkling wine upon arrival and 2 daily spa passes. To book this package visit www.thelodgeatsonoma.com and once you have entered your reservation dates, click on the "Room Packages" tab at the top. You can also call (707) 935-6600 and ask for the "Living Out Proud" package.
If you plan on gathering a group of friends and prefer to stay in a villa for Gay Wine Weekend, BeautifulPlaces specializes in vacation rentals throughout the wine country ranging from cozy vineyard cottages to hilltop estates. Recognized as one of the world’s best villa specialists by Passport, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Robb Report, BeautifulPlaces will provide complimentary tickets to the Twilight T Dance with rentals of 3 or more nights. To book your stay, call (800) 495-9961 or visit the BeautifulPlaces website.

Out in the Vineyard | Gay Wine Weekend 2011

Out in the Vineyard, the very first Gay Wine Weekend will take place June 17-19, 2011 in Sonoma, California. Mark Vogler and Gary Saperstien organized the first Gay Napa Wine Train and realized that Wine Country was really missing an opportunity to host a Gay Wine Weekend, or possibly eventually a week-long event, much like Aspen Ski Week.

California Wine Country offers an incredibly unique lifestyle. Less than an hour outside of San Francisco, Sonoma is an escape from the urban life. A slower pace, breath-taking landscapes and amazing wine, Sonoma makes for the perfect host city to Gay Wine Weekend. Last year at an LGBT event, the mayor of Sonoma came to announce a proclamation that was unanimously passed by the Sonoma City Council that declared the city of Sonoma as an LGBT tourist destination. Sonoma has opened up to welcome the LGBT community and provide an Wine Country experience that is second to none.

Gay Wine Weekend will consist of events throughout the weekend, starting with a VIP Reception on Friday night, June 17th. This event is available for attendees that purchase the VIP All-Access tickets. Following the reception is An Evening of Gay Comedy at the Sonoma Community Center featuring Judy Tenuta. Individual tickets are available to this event, which benefits the Community Center. Additional acts including Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, Janine Brito, Scott Silverman and Dave Karraker have been recently announced, making for a full night of laughs.

Before the events resume Saturday night, attendees are free to roam Sonoma, visiting wineries and taking in the beautiful sites of Sonoma and the surrounding areas. Saturday night, the Twilight T-Dance at the beautiful Atwood Ranch benefits Face-to-Face, Sonoma County AIDS Network. At the T-Dance, the host wineries will be pouring their wines from 7:00 - 10:00 pm. Those host wineries include, Poem Cellars, Benziger Family Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Audelssa Estate, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Enkidu, Eric Ross Wines, Imagery Estate Winery, Loxton Cellars, Sojourn Cellars, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards and Westwood Winery. In the coming weeks, WinePHX will be tasting and posting reviews of the wines you will be able to taste/drink that night.

Gay Wine Weekend wraps up Sunday with the Brunch and Auction which is also open to those holding VIP All-Access tickets. This brunch and auction will also benefit Face-to-Face, providing much needed funds for the Sonoma County AIDS Network.

If you are interested in attending the very first Gay Wine Weekend, more details and tickets can be found at www.outinthevineyard.com and follow them on twitter @OutInVineyard.

Ceja Vineyards | Vinum, Cantus, Amor

Vinum, Cantus, Amor (Wine, Song, Love) are not only the words that guide Ceja Vineyards, but you can practically taste them in every bottle of Ceja wine.

After decades of growing grapes in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the Ceja family founded Ceja Vineyards in 1999. Their first vintage was released in 2001 consisting of 750 cases. Over the next decade, that number would grow to 10,000 cases per year. With 113 producing acres of vineyards overseen by Armando Ceja in the Carneros, Silverado Trail and four other regions in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the focus on matching vine to terrior is evident in the quality of fruit produced. This quality is not only recognized in the premium wines produced by Ceja, but by the prominent list of clients who purchase or have purchased grapes from the Ceja's. That list includes Mumm, Signorello, Domaine Chandon and any others.

President Amelia Moran Ceja is the first Mexican-American woman to be president of a wine production company and has been recognized by numerous organizations for her contribution to the wine industry and also for leading Ceja Vineyards to become an Award-Winning Vintner. As Amelia says, she wears many hats, including: she is the contact person, a wine salesperson, a public relations person, the executive chef, a compliance specialist, a bookkeeper, a wine delivery person, a wine shipping person, a grape picker, and whoever else she needs to be. She also leads the company's social media presence. Ceja is leading the industry with their involvement in and use of social media, including blogging, facebook and twitter.

Helping Amelia maintain and grow that online presence are her son Ariel and daughter Dalia. Ariel joined the family business as General Manager and has instrumental in the growth through the opening of the tasting room in downtown Napa. Dalia was brought on as Director of Sales & Marketing and has been a driving force in the growth of Ceja through establishing relationships with retailers and restaurants.

Not only are the Ceja's producing quality wine, but also amazing food at Bistro Sabor in downtown Napa, just a block from their tasting room. When you're in Napa, you must stop by Bistro Sabor and if you're lucky enough to be there on a Saturday night, join in the salsa dancing from 10:00pm to 1:30am.

As for the wine, check back throughout this week as I do tastings of three of Ceja Vineyards quality wines. First I will be tasting the 2008 Napa Carneros Chardonnay, followed by their 2007 Carneros Pinot Nior, and ending with the 2007 Vino de Casa Red Blend.

(Full disclosure - Ceja Vineyards very generously provided me with samples of the Chardonnay and Pinot Nior, but I picked up the Vino de Casa at my local wine store.)