Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Sonoma Resort Unveils New Wine Bar & Coffee House in Newly Enhanced Lobby

A well-known Sonoma Resort in the heart of wine country has taken luxury to the next level. The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa is excited to announce the opening of Bean & Bottle – the new wine and coffee bar located inside the newly renovated lobby. Bean & Bottle fills a completely unexplored niche in the greater Sonoma dining scene and in the hotel, with grab and go picnic items, wine shopping and cafĂ© style dining. Discover a truly unique experience created from the inspiration of Wine Country and see what awaits you just 45 miles outside of San Francisco. 

With the opening of Bean & Bottle, The Lodge at Sonoma completed significant renovations that include upgrades in the Raindance Spa and pool area, as well as a complete renovation of the lobby to create a living room experience that captures the natural beauty of the Sonoma Wine Country. The interior takes advantage of the lobby’s current features which are the high ceilings, glass doors and windows, beautiful stone fireplace, and slate floors. The three key areas of the room are the slick bar with the deli-case and Berkeley slicer; the retail glass and exhibition wine wall; and the beautiful stone fireplace. The colors and textures are modern and natural and the bar was extended to seat up to 18 guests.

Bean & Bottle Coffeehouse and Wine Bar + Two New Sommeliers
Bean & Bottle is a modern gathering area where guests can sit and enjoy a selection of featured items daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. High quality coffee and espresso drinks by Illy Coffee will be served, along with breakfast items such as house-made pastries, including scones and a variety of croissants and bagels, fresh fruit, and local yogurt with house-made granola. For lunch, guests of this wine country hotel can indulge in an array of delicious charcuterie and local cheeses, rustic bread, aged salami from Zoe’s of Petaluma, and hot pressed Panini sandwiches. The dessert selections will include artisan chocolates, cookies, brownies, and seasonal tarts. Guests will have the option to prepare an insulated picnic basket for two with their choice of grab and go items from the marketplace.

Bean & Bottle will offer a selection of local wines, beers and spirits. Sommelier Christopher Sawyer will oversee the purchase of wines for both Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar and Bean & Bottle. Guests will have the option of wines by the glass or choose from a collection of retail wines for sale in the marketplace. All spirits are local and organic including TRU organic vodka and gin, Charbay vodka, rum and tequila, a selection of whiskey, including Hooker’s House bourbon, a Sonoma-style American bourbon that is straight bourbon whiskey finished in pinot noir barrels, and other selections of vodka, rum, gin, whiskey and brandy. Fever-Tree soda water, bitter lemon, tonic water, ginger ale, and lemonade will also be served.

Two new trained and knowledgeable sommeliers will be joining the Bean & Bottle team - Richard Farnocchia and Daniel Noreen. Farnocchia was born and raised in San Francisco and now lives in the heart of downtown Sonoma. He has been a home winemaker for over 22 years and is thrilled to bring his expertise to Bean & Bottle. Noreen grew up in Walnut Creek, CA and has spent the last 30 years in retail wine and beverage sales, first at the Cannery Wine Cellars in San Francisco, before leaving to open the Sonoma Wine Exchange in downtown Sonoma’s Plaza. Well respected in the industry Dan has helped judge at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, West Coast Wine Competition, and Alameda Country Fair. They will be on-site to provide guests with wine recommendations, assist in scheduling winery tours or visits and selecting personalized cases of wine. They will also offer wine education, tastings and pairings.

For more information please visit http://www.marriott.com/SFOLS