Sonoma starters keep Mondavi green

While much is made of the supposed rivalry between Napa and Sonoma, the truth is that the region is tied much closer together than appears to outsiders. To wit, we share grapes (plenty of Napa vintners buy Sonoma County grapes for their wines), we share a passion for good food and locally-produced products and we will both soon have trains. (Napa’s will allow you to eat a gourmet meal on it and go to St. Helena, Sonoma’s will take you to the ferry terminal and on to San Francisco. Let’s call it a wash.)

One more thing we are sharing: seeds.

Case in point: A jaunt last week to the new organic garden at Robert Mondavi Winery in Rutherford. We media people got a tour of the new garden as part of a preview of a three-pronged cooking class program the winery plans to launch later this summer. During our overview, Chef Jeff Mosher revealed that an overwhelming number of the starters and seeds came from Sonoma County.

Many—such as those for tomatoes and a number of different veggies—came from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company’s Petaluma store (located in the old bank building on Petaluma Boulevard). Others, including seeds for the Mexican tarragon, came from Harmony Farm Supply in Sebastopol.

To make sure the garden represented at least one Napa grower, Mosher planted a number of pepper starters from the esteemed Forni-Brown Organic Gardens in Calistoga.

“We wanted to make sure we started this with all of the best stuff,” he said while hunching over some edible flowers.

Down the road, all of this “stuff” will be incorporated into a cooking class program that Mondavi plans to offer on Saturday nights in August. Through this program, guests will harvest fresh produce, use the goodies to help prepare dishes in the winery kitchen, experience a reserve tasting and enjoy a meal on a patio overlooking the vineyards.

In Sonoma County, plenty of wineries offer classes and experiences that incorporate locally grown products paired with locally made wines.

The Kendall Jackson Wine Center has a wine and food pairing with produce sourced from their on-site culinary garden (which visitors can stroll through) so tasters can see how food and wine complement each other.

Meanwhile Lynmar Winery outside Sebastopol offers a picnic basket featuring fresh organic products grown on the estate, paired with their wines.