Chocolates, Figs, a Tea House, Art & Wine: A Look at What's New in Sonoma County, California

There's a good deal of newness from which to choose when planning a visit to California's Sonoma Valley.

Here's a quick summary of some of the newest trappings to help make a visit fun:

Chocolate Tasting Room Debuts in Sonoma Valley

Chocolate lovers will have a new favorite stop in Sonoma Wine Country at a brand new chocolate tasting bar in Glen Ellen. Wine Country Chocolates opens its first retail shop in mid-July at the Jack London Village shopping center.

Visitors will have a view into the kitchen of Wine Country Chocolates as the chocolatiers create their hand-made creamy truffles flavored with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cappuccino Tiramisu or the dozens of other flavors they make. Enjoy locally picked berries drizzled with chocolate and learn the delicious subtle differences of a variety of chocolates in the tasting area.

Wine Country Chocolates is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information call (707) 996- 1010, or visit www.winecountrychocolates.com.

the girl & the fig Offers New Guest Cottages and Retail Store

Visitors may now be treated to a complete "fig experience" offered by Sondra Bernstein, proprietor of Sonoma's the girl & the fig restaurant.

Bernstein has opened four newly renovated guest cottages called Les Petites Maisons and a new retail store called the fig pantry. Both businesses are located on the corner of Napa and 8th Streets just outside the town of Sonoma. The location offers guests the convenience of being within five minutes of the historic downtown Sonoma plaza and five minutes from award-winning Sonoma Country wineries.

Les Petites Maisons (French for the little houses) are individually decorated, each with its own style. The cottages are complete with fully equipped kitchens, queen sized beds with premium linens, complimentary breakfast from the fig pantry as well as bikes and barbecues on request.

Prices range from $125 to $320 per night depending on the cottage, the season and the day of the week. A two-night minimum stay is required and weekly and monthly rates are also available.
The fig pantry will bring the "fig" soul to a building that has quietly graced the countryside of Sonoma since 1914.

Bernstein has added her passionate touches to the country store by offering take away slow-cooked food, picnic lunches, a coffee bar with pastries & gelato, artisan cheese & charcuterie, and some of the basics (milk, eggs, butter & bacon). Customers will also find a handpicked assortment of specialty foods, unique gifts, and "Rhone-Alone" wines produced by small boutique wineries all over the world.

For more information, visit www.thegirlandthefig.com.

Infusions- Sonoma County's First International Teahouse

Infusions Teahouse opens the beginning of July offering 100 organic loose leaf specialty teas. The knowledgeable staff educates and guides customers to the perfect tea for any occasion. The new teahouse is located in the Whole Foods shopping center in downtown Sebastopol.

For more information, visitwww.infusionsteashop.com.

Sonoma's Big 3 Diner Serves 3 Square Meals Daily

The Big 3 Diner at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. As Sonoma County's longest operating restaurant, the Big 3 has a history of serving great food in a warm casual atmosphere.

Choose from hearty country breakfasts, which include the ever-popular lemon ricotta pancakes, fresh salads and sandwiches and home- style comfort foods. The diner also makes picnics to- go, fresh brewed coffee and house made desserts. Details at (707) 938-9000.

Art and Wine at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Enjoy complimentary wine tastings and works of art in the lobby of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Artwork from the Masterwork's Fine Art Institute of San Francisco will be displayed every Friday and Saturday evening from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Masterworks Institute, located in the heart of San Francisco, is a major public depository for the visual arts and specializes in works on paper. It is a valuable resource for individuals and organizations that are interested in the advancement of the arts. Their mission is to engage the public in the exploration of art through the appreciation, participation and education of fine art through the artists' lives and the social history of their times.

The Masterwork's Collection includes original lithographs from Miro, Chagall, and Picasso. For additional information on these fine art exhibits, call Masterworks Institute at (415) 362- 3906.