Leading the way in Wine Country

"There will be creamy polenta and polenta cakes, with a Truffle Pesto and Boar Ragu and Grilled Farm Vegetables and Ratatouille," Bernstein said. "A huge amount of vegetables for that weekend will come out of the farm."

As entrees, Toulze will roast up some Wood Fired Chicken over Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Pork Tenderloins over Wilted Greens.

As the stars come out, guests will graze through signature "Fig" bites such as Lemon and Fig Crisps, Brownies and Banana Nutella pizzas.

"I love what we do, and that we're here in Sonoma," Bernstein said. "I think we're really lucky that we get to do all this."

— Diane Peterson

PHIL COTURRI, Enterprise Vineyards

Phil Coturri has defiant hair, a pony tail in back and a thick beard with a trace of gray in it.

The 60-year old organic grape grower is a stocky, rugged man, so it's surprising to see him tear up.

Coturri was talking about "watershed politics" at the time, the philosophy that man is responsible for his watershed, for the twists and turns of rainfall, how it is used and where it winds up.

"I look out on the San Francisco Bay from most of my properties and everything I do will affect a lot of people," Coturri said. "I took responsibility upon myself that I wanted to farm benevolently."

The owner of Sonoma's Enterprise Vineyards will be the grower honoree at the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, beginning Friday.

The grower, in a Grateful Dead t-shirt, khaki shorts and Red Wing brown boots that he's worn for two decades, said he's a bit surprised by the honor.

"I've always sort of been on the outside, being an organic farmer for the last 40 years," he said.

But organic is no longer left of center, and Coturri said his business is busier than ever with 25 clients who own a total of 700 acres.

Sam, Coturri's 30-year-old son, said his father has "coyote magic" in selling organic farming to people, alluding to native American legend.

Phil Coturri said he didn't want to fall prey to producers of Roundup weed killer, so he searched for ways to combat weeds in the vineyard, often resorting to traditional methods of farming like using a hoe.

He sid he grew up on frozen food in the 1950s, but happily jumped ship, joining the foodies, the makers of artisan cheeses and the growers of heirloom tomatoes.

"It was a natural evolution to grow grapes organically," he said. "Winemakers are glorified chefs who cook once a year."

The organic groer said they have a better shot at making good wine with pure ingredients.

As Coturri puts it, "If an organic tomato is going to taste better than a hot-house tomato, an organic grape is going to taste better than a conventionally-grown grape."

— Peg Melnik

GALLO FAMILY, E & J Gallo Winery

Ernest and Julio Gallo began buying grapes in Sonoma County in the 1930s because they had a "gut feeling" it had the makings of a world-class wine region.

That's how Matt Gallo sums up the wine giant's intrigue with Sonoma.

The Gallo family will be the vintner honoree at this year's Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, which begins on Friday.

"In the early days of the winery, my grandfather Julio and my great uncle Ernest saw the enormous potential of Sonoma County," said Gallo, who now works at E & J Gallo Winery, the Healdsburg arm of the parent company. "Eighty years later, it is quite an honor for our family to be recognized."

Ernest and Julio Gallo began purchasing grapes from the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County in 1934. The family's second generation, led by Joe and Bob Gallo, put down stakes in Sonoma County, purchasing several properties throughout the Russian River Valley, the Dry Creek Valley and the Alexander Valley.

The third generation has even deeper roots in the region, producing wines entirely from Sonoma County grapes. This began in the early 1990s with the inaugural vintage of Gallo Estate Wines, marking the family's entr? into the premium wine business.

Matt Gallo is vice president of Coastal Operations while his sister Gina Gallo is the third-generation winemaker, and she produces the Gallo Signature Series.

Gina Gallo said, "Growing up I used to walk through the vineyards with my grandfather Julio and he really instilled in me a lifelong passion for Sonoma County. Our founders established our family's ties to this region, and all of us who have followed in their footsteps remain deeply connected to Sonoma."

Keeping that connection for future generations is a priority, Matt Gallo said.

"Our family is deeply committed to sustainable farming, so a big focus in the vineyard is making sure we preserve the land ... " he said. "Driving through our vineyards with my kids, I get a poignant reminder of how important it is to respect and care for the land — not only for today but for all the generations to come."

—Peg Melnik