Wine does....why not music?
Sip… swish… hmmm… spit. The connoisseur pauses, gazing thoughtfully at the legs of the wine glass as if they hold the secrets of the universe. A meditative moment follows. “Oui, oui,” he might declare with a flourish, “This Sancerre has a remarkable expression of the flinty, limestone soils of the Loire Valley.”
Terroir. That’s the word used to describe how the soil, air, sun, and the entire environment of a hillside or valley affect the taste of wine in the glass. But is the same true of music? Is it connected to a place in the same way?
Consider Asbury Park, where Bruce Springsteen’s gritty rock echoes the resilience of the Jersey Shore. Think of Venice Beach, where the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ funky, rebellious spirit mirrors the sun-soaked, eclectic vibe of Southern California.
That is one of the questions that Wayfarer explored in the Yolo County Vineyards, Farms & Cultural Gems tour. The tour, which starts in Davis, meanders through the beautiful farmland to a lavender farm in the Capay Valley, and finishes in Winters by way of a few awesome wineries, is meant to be a sort of “festival in a box” introducing visitors to the tastes, sights, and local music of Yolo County. We wanted to go beyond the historical anecdotes and scenic vistas—we wanted to capture the sound of the place.
So, we decided to talk to the locals—not just any locals, but the ones who are intimately connected to the music of the area. We reached out to the owners of venues where live music is as much a staple as the wine….or honey they produce, and we asked them: Who are the local bands that define Yolo County?
The Berryessa Gap Winery, which offers a diverse selection of wines including a rich and elegant Petite Sirah, and an estate cuvée, often has live music on Friday nights at their location in Winters. They suggested a few great acts, but we decided that Didar Singh Khalasa’s song Yolo County Jail was the right song for a lonely but gorgeous stretch of Route 89 on our way to Winters. The song tells the story of a wayward gentleman who, in settling a score with a scoundrel, ends up spending some hard time courtesy of the county justice system. Didar reminds this Wayfarer of a cross between Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan—and he’s worth a good listen. Of Yolo County Jail, Didar writes, “Entail, exhale, impale! What’s not to love? I have always enjoyed tragedy because I think it makes us more empathetic. When you think of it, it’s pretty strange that we like to watch Romeo and Juliet. I guess it’s cathartic.”
On the other side of the county – in Woodland is The Hive Tasting Room and Kitchen, which is surely one of the most unique music venues in the area. The Hive is definitely worth a visit—they boast more than 35 varietal honeys that, speaking of terroir, all have different tastes governed by the specific flowers that the bees foraged from—think Yellow Star Thistle or Mexican Mango. But they also have some great food and music almost every Friday and Saturday. Courtesy of The Hive and introduced on the tour by Shoshana Zeldner, are three amazing musical acts. On the tour — just after departing from The Capay Lavender Farm, Shoshana introduces Jessica Malone’s song, Sweet Sunshine, which was reportedly written after she spent the day out on the river and truly captures the way warm sunlight feels on the skin, perhaps as you drip-dry after a swim. She reminds me a little of Sheryl Crow.
Then there’s A Tribe Quartet also introduced by The Hive’s Shoshana. A Tribe Quartet creates some extraordinary modern jazz fusion that we’re honored to be able to share on the tour. Their song Melancholy feels like the sweet sorrow of a summer’s end, perfectly capturing the slow beauty of Yolo’s rolling landscapes. Definitely check them out!
And finally, if there’s a Red Hot Chili Peppers equivalent in Yolo County, it’s Big Sticky Mess. Their energetic, funk-driven song, Road Bike, pulses with the heat of the sun-soaked days heading around the UC Davis campus.
The result of this musical exploration? A tour that doesn’t just tell you about Yolo County—it lets you feel it. The feedback has been amazing. Listeners have found themselves smiling as the songs play, connecting to the land through its music in a way that words alone could never achieve.
In the end, music is the invisible thread that ties a place together. It’s the terroir of sound, as unique to a region as its soil, its climate, and its history. And in Yolo County, that thread is vibrant, soulful, and full of life—just like the place itself.
About the tour: Yolo County Vineyards, Farms & Cultural Gems tour was written by Late Night with Conan O’Brien writer Alison Flierl and NCIS’s Ric Arthur. It takes about a half-day to do properly – bring your appetite and curiosity!
by xotatech.com