HAPPY NEW YEAR

2026

Us celebrating the New Year is getting through the Holiday Season and the 1st weekend until we close for our Annual break. YAY!

A week in flip flops is a great way to start the new year. Sunshine, seafood and sleep!

And back to the grind which I know is much better for us than many!

We always are open for the 1st long weekend of the year when many Bay area and beyond people visit Sonoma. Crab season currently starts after the 1st of the year. Everyone anticipates the announcement. This year crazy storms delayed the forecasted start for a few additional days.

We do our 1st event the weekend after Martin Luther King weekend.

The annual Crab Dinner, a Nothern Cal tradition.

We've done this event for at least 12 years and this being our 14th January in Graton, it could be our 14th?? We've got this dialed in and our wine family knows it. Reservations fill up quickly and the wait list does also.

Four courses of Crab!

Three wines for crab pairing picked from experience. Muscat is absolutely amazing with cold crab or in this case crab salad with Meyer lemon.

Crab cakes served with a roasted red sauce. My pick was Rose' to pair but I remember that the group chose all three wines evenly. Muscat, Rose' and Sonoma Coast Pinot. Pinot won by maybe one point and muscat one less but that's always subjective. I think I saw hands go up for more than one vote. :)

With food and wine pairings, you have to consider the sauce. Sauce and preparation style change everything for what wine will go best with. Add more lemon and the wine will change. Add hot sauce and bingo, the wine will change.

Mat's long standing favorite prep for crab is roasted and flavor packed. The crab tossed in an olive oil base loaded with garlic, chili flakes, fennel and thyme. And, Oh So Good! With Nightengale baguette

to soak up the crab bits and sauce.

Always a big hit!

You can do this at home, recipe on the web site under recipe tab.

We start with fresh live crab, steep it so it will not be over cooked and dry when roasted.

Pinot perfection for this dish.

We picked our most delicate Pinot from Sonoma Coast 2023 vintage. This wine is going out in our Spring Wine Club, this group got a sneak peak and were not dissapointed!

And to complete a dinner loaded with flavor and richness, just a little sweet treat. Full bellies, big smiles and ready for sleep.

We have had glorious weather to close January and begin FUN February. Coastal hike with crystal clear skies and 70 degree with no chill in the air. Makes winter easy.

And February is a jam packed month of FUN....

Mushroom Foray

Super Bowl

Valentines Day