We are excited to announce a new monthly column inspired by the diversity of Sonoma County wine, food and lifestyle, written by certified sommelier and our wine education consultant Rachel Thralls. The new lifestyle series is titled “Sip & Learn with Somm Rachel” and will be all about Sonoma County wine sips, food and wine pairings, and living a healthy lifestyle. The series will include topics such as unique monthly recipes complete with wine pairings, holiday recipes, wine faults and how to sniff them out, ideal serving temperatures for wines, how to enjoy wine and so much more!
Rachel Thralls is a Court of Masters Certified Sommelier who focuses on entertaining and educating key members of the trade, as well as consumers, on the wonders of wine, food and farming. She loves the diversity of micro-climates and soils here in Sonoma County which lead to the variety of grapes grown and wine styles. Rachel loves using local and in-season foods from around the county to create unique recipes that pair perfectly with the array of wines made here. Her recipes focus on real, whole foods that are healthy and definitely not lacking in taste! Some of her favorites include local heirloom tomatoes and cheeses paired with Sauvignon Blanc, a Salad Niçoise paired with a local rosé of Pinot Noir and locally caught crab with Chardonnay.
She is excited to use her personal training and nutritionist background to also share how she leads a healthy lifestyle. In her free time, Rachel loves spending time with her two children and husband, creating unique food and wine pairings, exercising and creating challenging workouts, as well as hiking and gardening in beautiful Sonoma County.