The Snail of Approval, given to farms that are making a significant contribution to improving the food system, will be presented to the Bricoleur Vineyards team during their annual Harvest Party on October 8th
WINDSOR, California (September 26, 2023) – Mark Hanson, Co-Founder & CEO of Bricoleur Vineyards, is thrilled to announce that the estate’s sustainably farmed culinary gardens have been awarded Slow Food International’s USA “Snail of Approval,” by the Slow Food in Sonoma County chapter, for growing produce that meets Slow Food USA’s standards for good, clean, and fair food.
Slow Food in Sonoma County awards the Snail of Approval to select restaurants, farms, ranches, and producers who are making a significant contribution to improving the food system. Celebrating model farmers, Snail of Approval is an international program run in partnership with Slow Food USA, and the team at Bricoleur Vineyards was evaluated in six areas: sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, staff support, and business values. The award will be presented during Bricoleur Vineyards annual Harvest Party on October 8th, and tickets can be purchased here.
“We are proud members of the Sonoma County farming community and to be recognized internationally by the Slow Food organization is truly an honor. My family and I are happiest when we gather around the table, and our sustainably farmed produce is always at the heart of these gatherings alongside our wines,” said Bricoleur Vineyards Co-Founder & CEO Mark Hanson. “I’m so pleased for Mikey de Paolo and the incredible team that manages our sustainably farmed culinary gardens. Mikey works hand-in-hand with our internationally acclaimed chefs to sustainably grow the produce they pair with our wines daily in multi-course tastings, picnics, family style dinners, and seasonal celebrations.”
Bricoleur Vineyards opened in the Sonoma County town of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg, three years ago and in a short time has earned recognition for their truly unique wine and food pairings. They were featured on The TODAY Show, and have been honored by USA Today as one of the 10Best New Wineries in the country. Earlier this year they launched a new three-course pairing called Soaring, and last summer introduced a six-course Rooted wine & food pairing, along with a robust array of special events, and a dinner series called “The Seasons,” that showcases the estate’s bountiful, sustainably farmed culinary garden.
Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. Bricoleur Vineyards is close to the Santa Rosa airport, which accommodates both commercial and private planes, and it’s only an hour away from both San Francisco and Sacramento airports. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards. One-of-a-kind lodging is also available in Bricoleur Vineyards’ spacious Vineyard Residence.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards is a popular destination with visitors to Wine Country, who feel welcome in its wide embrace of activities and experiences. There’s something for everyone at Bricoleur Vineyards – from lodging & bocce to picnics & yoga – and whether guests are new to Wine Country or aficionados, there’s always something dazzling to discover at Bricoleur Vineyards because the seasonal wine and food pairings from the sustainably-farmed estate are constantly evolving, leaving guests feeling relaxed and renewed.
Bricoleur Vineyards launched its first vintage in 2017 and opened its tasting room in 2020. It is tucked away in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley – just south of Healdsburg. Founded by the Hanson family, Bricoleur Vineyards can be found at the end of a winding road in the charming, bucolic town of Windsor, only an hour north of San Francisco – and very close to the Santa Rosa airport. The distinctive name, “Bricoleur,” is French for one who starts building something with no clear plan, adding bits here and there, cobbling together a whole while flying by the seat of their pants.
Bricoleur Vineyards is known for their truly unique wine and food pairings, created by their lauded, all- star chefs: Culinary Advisor, James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer; In-House Executive Chef Thomas Bellec, who’s been distinguished as a Master Chef of France by Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and spent 23 years with Four Seasons; and Chef de Cuisine Todd Knoll, who was previously with Jordan Winery and The Ritz-Carlton.
The winemaking team is equally talented: Bob Cabral was Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Winemaker of the Year in 2011; Cary Gott is a fourth generation winemaker who founded his first winery more than 50 years ago; and Tom Pierson is a rising winemaker who’s studying at UC Davis’ prestigious oenology program. Together, the chefs and winemakers collaborate closely to create the six-course Rooted tasting and the three-course Soaring tasting at the winery. Both tastings perfectly pair Bricoleur Vineyards’ elegant, award-winning wines with inventive small plates, and change throughout the year to express the seasonality of the estate’s sustainably farmed culinary garden.
The Hanson family’s roots run deep in Sonoma County. Mark Hanson was born in Santa Rosa, and Beth Wall Hanson’s great grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, was the original oenologist for Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. Rossi revolutionized California winemaking in the 19th century and under his direction, the Italian Swiss Colony became one of America’s leading wineries. Co-Founder Sarah Hanson Citron is the estate’s energetic, creative, hands-on COO and leads many aspects of Bricoleur Vineyards’ business and the winery’s inventive offerings. Philanthropy is important to the Hanson family, and serving their community goes hand-in-hand with their warm hospitality.
