Gift Guide Part 2: My favorite small, local Sonoma county, and black owned beverages
Here’s a list of coffee, tea, wine, and spirits that make great gifts! And make 2020 a little more manageable! Many are local Sonoma county treats!
Beverage Gift Ideas 1-10
- Brown Estate I recently purchased my first two bottles of wine from this Napa Valley black owned winery. Really excited to support this winery, and can’t wait to pop open timely named Chaos Theory, and Duppy Conqueror. They have a really cool family owned winery story. They started their vineyards and winery from the ground up. Love it!
2. McBride Sisters This is another Black owned winery, with an intriguing story of two sisters who grew up world apart, only to reunite and find they had many similarities, out of which grew their company. Also, they’re bay area based! I’ve tried their “She Can” wine in a can and really enjoyed it. Perfect for a picnic or the beach!
3. Barber Lee Spirits in an awesome “grain to glass” distillery in historic downtown Petaluma. During non-pandemic times, the tasting room is distillery meets rustic vintage chic lounge. And it’s really fun to talk to Lorraine, Mike and Aaron, the distillers (and Barber Cellars winemakers) about their spirits, and obvious love for what they do. You can’t help but sign up for their clubs. Such great businesses to support. They always promote other small businesses, wanting all local Sonoma county makers to prosper, and help eachother.
4. Corner 103 This a black owned winery in Sonoma that I’m excited to try! When things open back up more, I want to go to their award winning tasting room, and taste their award winning wines! But, in the meantime, curbside pick up, or shipping are good options.
5. Uncle Nearest Premium, award winning, and black owned whiskey. Another of Oprah’s Favorite’s. (I guess she read this post). Can’t wait to try this. Definitely read the history page. really fascinating!
6. Red Bay Coffee I have no doubt this coffee roaster and shop has always had a dedicated following, but it has definitely come into the light more in recent months. Besides great coffee, they have an incredible mission: “Red Bay Coffee is at the forefront of what we believe is the fourth wave of coffee—a firm commitment to ensure coffee production is not only high quality and sustainable, but a vehicle for diversity, inclusion, social and economic restoration, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability…inclusive of those who have traditionally been left out of the specialty coffee industry, especially people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women and people with disabilities.” So awesome! You can’t help but want to support a business like this. Based in Oakland, Ca. (And they’re on Oprah’s Favorite Things list!)
7. Barber Cellars See above, I love this local Sonoma county winery. Lorraine and Mike are dedicated to sustainable practices and delicious local wine. They are family run business located in the historic Hotel Petaluma, and while indoor tasting rooms are closed, they have been able to set up a tasting (and purchasing) area in the hotel’s courtyard. They also serve delicious local cheeses, house made sandwiches and other goodies.
8. Retrograde Coffee Roasters If you read my Food Gift Guide, then you know how fond I am of these guys. Danielle and Ian are all about working with and supporting other local companies, and organizations. They have amazing coffee (If you ever drink decaf, I highly recommend their Organic Decaf. They have so many great items from coffee, to hot cocoa to the food they serve, that a gift basket or gift certificate from them would be great for any coffee or tea lover in life. If you go to their shop, be sure to try one of their seasonal drinks. Always the best ingredients and flavors.
9. Henhouse Brewery I’m no beer connoisseur, (or really a connoisseur of any type, I just love discovering well crafted beverages from people who do know what they’re talking about about) But, i know what I like, and I really Henhouse Brewery. The saison and oyster stout are two of my favs. Also, their staff is friendly and unpretentious, wanting to teach you about their beer, rather than just make sure you are aware of how little you understand about beer. They now ship anywhere in California, if you unable to pick up at the Petaluma or Santa Rosa tasting rooms.
10. Hanson of Sonoma Distillery A family run operation that makes organic vodka from grapes. How can you go wrong? They have great flavors like cucumber, their seasonal boysenberry and mandarin, to name a few. They also make whiskey, and some great gift boxes on their site. You can find their brand at many retailers, including online.
Beverage Gift Ideas 11-19
11. Tea and Trumpets is my favorite tea company. Yet another farmer’s find. The owner, Mark, is very down to earth guy who is very helpful, and happy to help you find just the right tea or tea blend. His tea is super high quality organic tea. My favorite is this one, and this one for iced tea. Check out the story of where the name came from. You can find his teas a various retailers, farmer’s markets and online. How about some tea, and good book, and some bake goods, for the perfect comforting gift?
12. INI Sips Coffee I discovered this black veteran owned company several months ago and now have it on auto-ship because the MOTO organic coffee is one my husband I both like! They also have flavored coffees, if that’s your thing, and small taster packs that would be great in stockings! They are really involved in their community and dedicated to giving back, so a good deal all around.
13. Griffo Distillery This local Sonoma county family makes, gin, whiskey and vodka (and hand sanitizer!). I don’t tend to be drawn to whiskey, but their Stony Point Whiskey is delicious, and once their tasting room is able to open again, definitely go visit. It’s basically in the distillery, and their hand crafted cocktails are so unique and a little too good!
14. Black Leaf Vodka is a premium, organic black owned vodka. It is so smooth. I feel very chic drinking it. Read about their process to understand why. Check out their cocktail recipe section, and give someone all the ingredients…this one looks especially intriguing!
15. Ethic Ciders are my my list to pick up next I’m at Penngrove Market (or buy online or other retailers). I love their orchard to bottle approach, and their names, and ingredients, they sound perfect. They also have some holiday gift packs available.
16. Bodkin Wines I have their “world’s first Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc” in my cart now! I’ve been seeking out black owned, Sonoma County local wines to support, and I’m so glad I found this one. The founders Chris and Andrew say this about their wine, and it resonates, “We want to make wine that can be enjoyed in the here and now; Wine for the connoisseurs and for the novices. We love what we do and we want to share it with as many people as possible.” Cheers!
17. Hella Tea If you grew up in the Bay Area, you’ll especially appreciate the names of these teas, like “Steep Curry”, “Tea Short”, and “Chamo-LA Harris” . This would be a fun gift for anyone in or from the bay area. This black owned business is the brain child of Oakland native Chantrelle, who wanted to give quality tea a unique bay area twist. That she did!
18. Straus Family Creamery Pro tip, give Straus Eggnog to yourself for a gift. And if you think you don’t like eggnog, their is a good likelihood you haven’t tried Straus Egggnog. It’s rich, flavorful, perfectly spiced, and not too think. Warm it up with some brandy, and you have lovely holiday treat. Straus is really innovative company, forging the way in sustainable farming and dairy practices. PS They make butter and ice cream, too!
19. Golde My latest obsession ( I mean, if I want to be a blogger, I really should have some #latestobsessions, right”). This black owned company makes wellness products ranging from face masks (not the pandemic kind) to superfood drinks. I am working my way, quickly, through a sampler pack of their Turmeric Latte mixes, and they are delicious. My favorite is the Cocoa Turmeric. It has that hot cocoa comfort without the sugar. Pair it with a cool mug, and some almond milk for a little gift basket.
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