Harvest, Homecoming & Highway 12 Winery with Paul Giusto

Welcome back to The Sonoma Spiel from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau! We kick things off fresh from a festive homecoming pep rally (electric-guitar National Anthem, tractors, the works—Go Dragons!) and welcomes returning guest Paul Giusto of Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery. 

We talk all things Sonoma Valley harvest—why 2025 is running a little late, what “crush” actually means, how rosé saignée works, and what happens when everything ripens at once (spoiler: 🚜🍇 organized chaos). Paul also brings a just-fermenting Pinot Noir rosé sample from Carneros and walks us through lees, jackets, presses, and why slow-and-steady seasons make beautiful wine.

Plus: Sonoma Valley tasting tips, non/low-alcohol wine options, fun non-limo tour ideas (bikes, trolleys, sidecars!), where the Plaza Visitor Center moved, and a PSA on what locals do (and don’t) call San Francisco. Hint: It's not two rhyming words.

What you’ll learn:

What “late” harvest means and how wineries decide when to pick

Crush 101: destemming, crushers vs. bladder presses

How rosé is made via saignée vs. whole-cluster pressing

Sonoma’s weather & why “slow and steady” = flavor depth

Non- and low-alcohol wine realities (and good alternatives)

The new address for the Sonoma Plaza Visitor Center (24 East Spain St)

Creative wine touring ideas that aren’t limos

Why locals say “the City” (and not “San Fran”)

Super Bowl in the Bay Area: yes, you can (and should) day-trip to Sonoma Valley

 

Shout-outs & mentions:

Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery — Tasting barn on the Sonoma Plaza; friendly, approachable tastings + wine club exclusives. Details: www.highway12winery.com

Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, Sonoma Adventures (e-bikes), West Wine Tours (VW buses), Rides By Me (motorcycle sidecars), Destination Drivers (they drive your car)

 🍷 Save up to 25% on Sonoma wine tastings with the Sonoma Tasting Pass! Choose three great wineries in Sonoma Valley:

👉 https://bit.ly/SonomaTastingPass

 

Like what you heard?

👍 Like, 🔔 Subscribe, and send your Sonoma questions —Tim might answer them on a future We Get Questions segment!

 

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