STEVE LEDSON UNVEILS EXCITING ONE OF A KIND WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE AT LEDSON HOTEL'S NEW ZINA LOUNGE

Fifth-generation Sonoma County Winemaker and farmer Steve Ledson has announced the opening of the new Zina Lounge at the Ledson Hotel; a unique, upbeat and newly renovated tasting lounge bringing the new world feel into the old historic charm of Sonoma. The lounge is home to the winery’s artisan line of Zina Hyde Cunningham, Ledson and Mountain Terraces wines. Ledson has enlisted internationally renowned Chef Yoshiharu Sogi – a world class wine expert and chef extraordinaire – Chef Yoshi creates intricate pairings - using locally grown farm to table products - designed to excite the palate, while elevating the nuances of each wine. The menus showcase the very finest ingredients by local purveyors in small plates. The exclusive Zina Lounge Wine & Food Experience is presented with daily seatings at 1:00pm; 5:30pm and 8:00pm. Seated chef pairings and Zina Hyde Cunningham wine tastings are offered by appointment only. In addition to these scheduled seating times, The Lounge offers fully customized menus and private event offerings guaranteed to fulfill every Guests dreams.

For information and required reservations please visit www.ledson.com or call (707) 996-9779 or www.zinawinery.com.

“After coming up with the concept, we undertook an international search for a chef with the mastery, vision and passion to create the perfect pairing menu for our wines” said Steve Ledson. “In Yoshi, we think we’ve found that Chef, and much, much more. His classic Japanese training, French culinary education and experience, combined with his love of wine and zeal for experimenting has resulted in extraordinarily creative pairings that bring out the best in both the wine and food. We are thrilled to have him as our executive chef at Zina Lounge and are excited for the wine and food experiences we will create together.”

This exciting, high-concept wine and food experience – housed in the elegant Ledson Hotel on the historic plaza - further establishes Sonoma as a world class destination for fine wine and the culinary arts.

The Zina Lounge Wine & Food Experience is distinguished by its emphasis on elevating the wine experience through pairings designed to illuminate the subtle nuances of Ledson’s artisan bottling’s. An example of this is Chef Sogi’s pairing of the 2013 Zina Hyde Cunningham Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc with a duo of Miyagi oysters; one prosciutto-wrapped with lime Sauvignon Blanc Ponzu and tomato brunoise to heighten the wine’s bright fruit and fresh character; the second, with apple honey Mignonette, which underscores the wine’s palate cleansing acidity. (Sample Menu attached)

About Chef Yoshiharu Sogi: Chef Yoshiharu Sogi is a Master Sommelier who trained at Japan’s prestigious Tsuji Culinary School, with advanced studies at École Technique Hôtelière TSUJI, Liergues-en-Beujolais, France. He began his career at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Quatre Saisons in Lyon, and has been chef at Restaurant Hiramatsu, Tokyo, Silverado Resort, Napa and Mauna Kae Beach Hotel, Prince Resort, Hawaii. In addition to his extraordinary talents in the kitchen, Chef Yoshi has served as board member and Wine Advisor to the Japan Sommeliers Association since 2001, and as Wine Specialist for the Society of Wine Educators of America, since 2002.

About Ledson Hotel: The crown jewel of Sonoma’s historic downtown plaza, Ledson Hotel invites guests to step back in time to a grander era. Meticulously designed and built by owner Steve Ledson, the hotel is surrounded by world class shopping, spas, restaurants and rich California history. The hotel is a number one TripAdvisor destination in Sonoma, and a Conde Nast Traveler Top Hotel in the World. In 2015 the Ledson Hotel opened the Zina Lounge, a wine and food tasting emporium that showcases the Ledson family’s line of artisan wines. Recent upgrades include an upbeat and jazzy new interior look and feel, blending the new into the old. Exterior changes include new wrought iron and information boards designed to introduce and welcome guests.

The Ledson Hotel (www.ledsonhotel.com) located at 480 1st St East on Sonoma’s historic plaza. For more information about the Ledson Hotel call (707) 996-9779. For more information about Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery call (707) 895-9462 or visit www.zinawinery.com.