Viticulture briefs

Boyd served as editor of the Wine Spectator and Wine & Spirits magazine and was the staff wine writer for the San Francisco Chronicle for 12 years. As a freelancer, his articles on wine and spirits appeared in regional, national and international consumer and trade publications, and he wrote a column for Wine Review Online.

“Throughout, it has been an interesting, educational and fulfilling experience,” Boyd said in an email.

“One memory that I will treasure for many years to come is of the hundreds of exceptional wine people I have had the pleasure of knowing, all of whom helped me to become a better wine taster and translator of wine knowledge for my readers,” he said.

Boyd plans to continue his association with the Best of the Bay & Zin Challenge and U.S. National wine competitions.

Recycling day set for vineyards

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner and Industrial Carting are co-sponsoring a free Vineyard and Winery Materials Recycling Day on Nov. 28.

The event will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Industrial Carting, 3911 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. Last year, approximately 81 tons of used vineyard materials were diverted from the landfill to the recycling stream.

They will accept drip hoses, drip tube and tape, steel posts, PVC and metal irrigation pipe, grow tubes, trellis wire, and rolled and tied bird netting, for free. Pressure-treated posts and stakes, wood pallets and clean wood waste will also be accepted for a fee.

A materials description form is required. Download the form at sonomawinegrape.org. For more information contact Karen at 522-5862 or karen@sonomawinegrape.org.

Film outlines Russian River wine story

“From Obscurity to Excellence: The Story of Grapes & Wine in The Russian River Valley,” a documentary film produced in Sonoma County, will be publicly aired for the first time on Dec. 1.

The film will be screened at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa at 7 and 9 p.m., in the East Auditorium. Advance sale tickets are $12. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The film, which documents the Russian River Valley wine region’s rise, is told by growers and winemakers whose ties to the region go back more than a century.

“Some people will recognize the story tellers, but this film will contain surprises for everyone,” said Joe Nugent, who spent more than five years researching and producing the documentary.

Advanced sale tickets can be purchased online at russian-river-valley.com. Any remaining tickets will be sold for $15 at the door. The box office at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is not selling tickets for this event.

For more information call Nugent at 495-6379.

(Compiled by Staff Writer Cathy Bussewitz. Submit items to cathy.bussewitz@pressdemocrat.com.)