Wine Tributaries
by Tim Hayes & John Koetzner

     If the notion that knowledge is power is true, then for those of you who live in the Healdsburg community and vicinity, there is a daily opportunity to become wine rulers, lords of the vine so to speak. Quietly tucked away in a wing of our public library is the Sonoma County Wine Library, a storehouse of information and knowledge covering every aspect of enology and viticulture from Eqyptian times to El Niño times.

    It is a thrill to do research on subjects for our column while surrounded by such volumes about vinifera. There are oral histories, original manuscripts, newspaper  and magazine articles, books on microfilm, books of antiquity, current texts, CD ROM's and listings of books you can borrow from other wine libraries around the country. Literally, everything you want to know is available for the enrichment for those who thirst for knowledge.There is even a web page for those wine aficionados on the internet .

     The Sonoma County Wine Library is the culmination of years and years of work and dedication from local community organizations, wineries and concerned enophiles wishing to preserve the deep and rich history of one of Sonoma County's most important agricultural resources.

     Having witnessed the success of the Napa Valley auction, the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club felt it was time for Sonoma County to its own auction, and they dedicated all the proceeds from the auction to go towards the building fund for a Sonoma County Wine Library. In summer 1981, approximately 100 bidders gathered in Cloverdale at the old Italian Swiss Colony Villa to participate in the first annual Sonoma County Wine Auction. Forrest Tancer from Iron Horse Vineyards was the auctioneer, Tim was one of the spotters for bids, Joe Vercelli was the master of ceremonies, and Kiwanis Club volunteers provided a great chicken barbecue at the end of the day.

     Total proceeds only came to about $6,000.00, and after expenses were subtracted, the balance was given to the wine library building fund. The Kiwanis hosted two more auctions until the scope of the auction went nationwide. Running the auction was turned over to the Sonoma County Wineries Association which currently runs it. Local wine enthusiasts joined the Sonoma County Wine Library Association (which is now called the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County), paid dues, and gave of themselves for fund raisers such as Polo Wine & All That Jazz. Wine industry leaders like Henry Trione & Joe Vercelli, wine writers like Millie Howie, and countless volunteers all worked together towards this common goal, a wine library.

     Now, nearly ten years of the Sonoma County Wine Library have been a reality, and a visit will put you in touch with Bo Simons, the Wine Librarian. His vast knowledge of the collection and other resources can help most anyone find information they desire to know about grapes, wineries, wine personalities, vineyards, and more. 

     During a recent visit, Simons was fielding a call from a college student in San Bruno who wanted to research Alexander Valley history and grape growing. Simons offered a couple ideas, explained some materials that were available through inter-library loan, and suggested a visit to explore the wine library's collection. "I've fielded calls from Germany and France. We get calls from everywhere," he said.

     Except for a brief hiatus between 1994 through 1997 when  Zita Eastman was wine librarian, Simons has been there since it opened in 1988. He directs people to files that cover topics from absinthe to Zinfandel, and he currently reads ten wine journals regularly out of the eighty that come through, scouting information that will often become part of the Wine Information Files. Simons added,"There are a couple folks like Millie Howie who get all kinds of stuff and she gives me her copies."

     Sometime in August there will be a tenth anniversary celebration for the wine library. Simons said, "We're not certain where it will be yet. It might be at the Villa, or it might be somewhere else like Sonoma."

     Your Sonoma County Wine Library is the "meritage" of thousands of volunteers' efforts over the years. Visit it and use it to empower yourselves to become masters of the wine universe.

© 1999 by Tim Hayes & John Koetzner. All Rights Reserved. Wine Tributaries is hosted by Wines on the Internet.