Sarah Stierch

I'm a journalist, opinionist, photographer and polymath based in Sonoma, California. I am currently seeking freelance opportunities in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake Counties in Northern California.

I write about wildfires, food, beverage, climate change, travel, history and the local culture of regions in Northern California. I also photograph a lot of these subjects.

I am the former Food & Wine Editor of the Sonoma Valley Sun and beverage and travel writer for Sonoma Magazine. I have contributed to North Bay Woman,the Press-Democrat, the North Bay Bohemian, Huffington Post, Wine Enthusiast, the Sonoma Index-Tribune, and NorthBay Biz.

My wildfire work was called "groundbreaking" by KQED Forum's Michael Krasny in 2017. In my wildfire coverage, I have appeared on KQED Forum, WNYC's The Takeway, the Weather Channel, KPFA, KSVY, KSRO and in the Washington Post, St. Helena Star, SF Gate, San Francisco Chronicle and ABC Weekend Nightly News.

My photography has been published by The Washington Post, Utne Reader, Motorburn, Nature World News, the Christian Post, Buzzfeed, KNPR, KQED, Thrillist, Frommers, Lonely Planet, the Financial Observer, Country Queer, ROAR, WAMU, the National Park Service, California State Parks, the NBA, Joie de Vivre Hotels, PETA, Hilton and more.

You can contact me at sarahstierch at gmail.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Fire crews quickly respond to small fire in Willits

MENDOCINO Co., 9/6/22 – Fire crews are on the scene of a fire at Valley Oaks Mobile Home Park in Willits. The “Oak Fire” was reported as a recreational vehicle fire at 1:24 p.m. According to scanner traffic, crews arrived to find a travel trailer on fire and two structures and a vehicle threatened. Crews also expressed concern of a minor vegetation threat. MCSO issued a Nixle alert asking for situational awareness for people in the area; please avoid the area if possible: Situational Awareness
Sonoma Magazine •

Where to Get the Best Margaritas in Sonoma County

La Rosa Tequileria & Grille, Santa Rosa: Dining editor Heather Irwin has declared La Rosa's La Diabla her favorite margarita. It comprises lime, strawberry (or mango) with muddled jalapeño peppers served on the rocks. If heat isn't your thing, try one of their 12 other margaritas, or keep it simple with a sip of tequila from the expansive bar, which features over 180 artisan tequilas. 500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3663, larosasantarosa.com (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat) Lo & Behold,
Sonoma Magazine •

Two Sonoma County Breweries Named Among 100 Best Brewers in the World by RateBeer

As thousands of beer-lovers from around the world descend on Sonoma County for the annual release of Pliny the Younger, there’s yet another reason to brag about our booming beer scene. Local breweries Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa and Windsor) and Lagunitas (Petaluma) were just named among the top 100 breweries in the world by beer review website RateBeer, coming in at number two and 100 respectively.
Sonoma Magazine •

Sonoma County Spots Where You Might Find Pliny the Younger, Outside of Russian River Brewery

Pliny the Younger, the famed beer from Russian River Brewery, returns to Sonoma County this Friday, February 1, 2019. Now in its 15th year, the super-hoppy triple India pale ale continues to draw a crowd: thousands of beer enthusiasts are expected to descend on Sonoma County from all over the world to taste the beer during its limited annual release. [10 things you need to know about Pliny the Younger] This year, lines of Pliny pilgrims will form both at Russian River’s downtown Santa Rosa bre
Sonoma Magazine BiteClub •

Sonoma County Restaurants Offer Free Meals to Furloughed Government Workers

As the government shutdown moves closer to the one-month mark, an estimated 4,000 federal employees in Sonoma County are dealing with the consequences. Rent is late, bills remain unpaid, and food and necessities are becoming scarce for many families, who continue to wait for the government to reopen so that they can get paid and return to work. To support furloughed federal workers and their families, a few Sonoma County restaurants and coffee shops are rallying to provide hot food, cool drink
Sonoma Magazine •

Dry January Hit List: Best Sonoma County Bars for Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Living in Sonoma County is not without its benefits: a beautiful natural landscape,  amazing food and locally made drinks are only a few of the perks. For the over-21 set, there’s everything from fine wine to hoppy beers to vodka, gin and whiskey. But living the good life everyday can sometimes make you feel, well, a little bloated… For those of us who may have indulged a wee too much during the holiday season, the month of January offers an opportunity to reset by abstaining from alcohol toget
Sonoma Magazine •

10 Sonoma Wineries With Free Tastings

A visit to Sonoma wine country doesn’t have to break the bank. You can fill your belly at hundreds of affordably priced restaurants that serve up gourmet food just as tasty at the four star next door. Spend the night camping under the stars and take advantage of one of the many free activities in the region. And last but not least: enjoy a free wine tasting. From quaint small town tasting rooms to glamorous, celebrity owned wineries, Sonoma County offers wine sipping opportunities that will ple
Sonoma Magazine •

25 Sonoma and Napa Wineries Open on Thanksgiving

Whether you’re a Wine Country visitor on a Thanksgiving getaway or a local looking to get away from your relatives, there are plenty of wineries open and offering a relaxing refuge on Turkey Day. A Thanksgiving visit to Sonoma and Napa wineries is also a good excuse to start your Black Friday shopping early, and bring home bottled gifts (to yourself, or someone equally deserving of a special treat). Click through the above gallery to discover 20 Sonoma and Napa wineries open on Thanksgiving Day
Sonoma Magazine •

Sonoma County Breweries Join Camp Fire Relief Efforts

Since its start on November 8, the Camp Fire in Butte County has killed 77 people and destroyed over 11,000 homes, the majority in the town of Paradise. In nearby Chico, the team at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company closed their brewery for health and safety reasons shortly after the fire started. Within days, they learned that many employees, friends and family members had been severely affected by the fire. They decided to do what they could to support their community. As a first measure, Sierra
Sonoma Magazine •

Sonoma Winery Makes Wine Spectator's Top 10 List, Others Among Top 100

As has been the tradition for the past twenty years, Wine Spectator has unveiled its Top 100 list just in time for the holidays. The list is a carefully curated selection of wines from around the world, picked by magazine editors from the thousands of wines they have tasted and reviewed throughout the year. Oenophiles keep the list in their back pocket (and now smartphones) as a guide to must-try bottles. This year, a handful of homegrown Sonoma County wines and producers made the top 100 cut,
Sonoma Magazine •

Healdsburg's Bergamot Alley Returns As Bespoke Wine Club

When Bergamot Alley closed in March, local oenophiles were crushed. In its 6.5-year-old existence, the Healdsburg wine bar had turned into an afterwork hangout for people in the industry as well as those seeking rare wines from Europe. The non-American wine list may have seemed a bold move in this particular part of the world but, while many of us love to drink local, we also like to taste new and interesting wines from around the globe—and there’s was not better place for that than Bergamot. S
Sonoma Magazine •

Best Napa Wineries for First Time Visitors

Napa Valley. The name conjures visions of luxury – from Michelin-starred restaurants to five star resorts, and of course, some of the finest wine in the world. For many wine lovers, Napa is the introduction to California wine country and, with over 400 wineries to choose from, it can be overwhelming to plan a visit. To aid explorers of Napa Valley, we’ve put together a list of the best wineries to visit during a first trip. Click through the above gallery for details.
Sonoma Magazine •

12 Non-Alcoholic Sonoma Drinks That Don't Need Booze to Taste Great

Sonoma County may be known as a mecca for lovers of wine, spirits and beer, but there’s plenty more local craft beverages to enjoy – minus the hangover. According to those in the know, non-alcoholic drinks are having a moment right now. In Sonoma County, more and more restaurants and bars are staying on trend with mocktails and no-booze beer. In addition to these alternatives, there are also the classics: like herbal tea and plain ol’ milk; drinks that stand out in their own right, without tryin
KQED •

Sonoma's Popular Fremont Diner is Officially Closed

“While we’re closing the diner doors today, the oven is still hot. We have plans to sit down with new ideas and reopen the space with a fresh food concept that will allow us to bring people together, live life to the fullest and do both over a really good meal. Please stay tuned and thank you for joining us at the table,” the Instagram post continued, with a final “Thank you sonoma.” So what does that mean, exactly? It seems the couple now have two irons in the fire, with revamping the existing
Santa Rosa Press Democrat •

Here are the best wines for summertime sipping

Rise of rosé: Here are the best wines for summertime sipping The hottest thing around when it comes to summer sippers, rosé sales rose 53 percent in 2017 – outpacing all other table wine sales. This year, sales are anticipated to be even higher. No doubt, many of us are now getting ready to rosé all day and make our contribution to the continued increase in pink drink sales. But with so many rosé choices, and so little time, where does one begin? We tasted more than 65 rosés and picked out the
The North Bay Business Journal •

Sonoma resort and steakhouse set for big remodel

Big changes are coming to MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma – and it all involves an Iron Chef. The resort, located just a few blocks from the historic Sonoma Plaza, features 64 rooms, a spa, and a western-themed steakhouse, Saddles, which has been serving up prime ribs and martinis to hungry and thirsty locals and wine country visitors for over a decade. However, it seems that even in Sonoma all good things come to an end and while MacArthur Place is here to stay, the property is abou
Sonoma Magazine •

5 Sonoma & Napa Wineries for Merlot Maniacs

Merlot is back, baby. The delicious, easy drinking varietal of red wine, rich with silky, savory goodness, suffered a blow when the movie Sideways declared pinot noir king in California and merlot the not-so-cute stepchild of the wine world. Sales plummeted due to the “Sideways effect,” but things are on the up and up around here. Merlot sales are on the rise and, I admit, after years of being a pinotphile, I’ve become a merlot maniac. Whether you’re looking to branch out, find yourself bored o
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