Girlfriends Getaway This Weekend With Uzette of Radio Alice

SONOMA (ALICE @ 97.3/The Sonoma Index-Tribune) - As a producer and personality on Alice Radio's "Sarah and Vinnie" morning show Uzette Salazar knows what it takes to put on a good party. She'll be sharing her talents with Sonoma during the Girlfriends Getaway this weekend, taking place all over the Valley.

"Sonoma has so much with the wine and restaurants, but also with the art galleries and shopping. It's got everything you need for a weekend," she told the Index-Tribune. She was quick to identify the most important ingredient for a weekend with the ladies.

"Booze, booze, booze," she said. "I think number one is the people you're with. It's no fun if you don't like the people you're with."

For her, Wine Country is all about white wines. "I'm a white girl – I've never said that before," said the host who's fond of saying "Don't mess with this Mexican," on her popular radio show.

Salazar will be bringing longtime friend Heather, who she met through her show. "I really love our listeners, they're a great time. She is so excited, she just keeps texting me," Salazar said.

The event is a promotion created by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau which aims to give women from all over the Bay Area an excuse to get away from their male counterparts for a uniquely Wine Country experience.

"People in town want to have a good time, and dance, and have a cocktail, and put on a fancy dress and not have to drive 45 minutes to do it," said Melanie King, owner of Dreamers and Heroes event planning, who is organizing the weekend of events with the various business sponsors. "The heart of the idea is to bring commerce in a normally slow month to the mom and pop stores."

The weekend of events was modeled after Out in the Vineyard's hugely popular Gay Wine Weekend, which takes place June 15 to 17, which invites the LGBT to experience a single event or an entire weekend of promotions. During Girlfriends Getaway, attendees can purchase the weekend pass of events for $150, or simply access the events they're most interested in.

It all begins with a kick off cocktail party at the Eldorado Hotel from 8 to 11 p.m. on Friday. There will be cocktails, appetizers, wines from Roesseler Cellars and music during the evening. Tickets to just this party are $35.

Saturday offers different packages for different interests. "I wanted to highlight some of Sonoma's great wellness opportunities. No one really knows about them because it's usually all about the wine," King said.

The "A Little Bit of Both" Saturday package begins at 11 a.m. with a yoga class at BR Cohn Winery followed by a private tasting and a healthy lunch in the vineyards. For the after, guests will tour the lush gardens and organic vineyards at Coturri Winery, nestled into Sonoma Mountain. The cost is $100, not included with the weekend pass.

For those who want to skip the healthy stuff and go straight for the wine Saturday, "Get Your Grape On Wine Tasting Tour" is the package of choice. It begins at 11 a.m. with a tour and tasting at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, followed by a buffet lunch in their private bungalow. Then get ready to giggle with a visit to Two Amigos Wines on the Plaza. The day wraps up at the newly opened Peter Cellars, with bocce ball and more wine tastings. The cost is $100, not included with the weekend pass.

The nightclub environment of San Francisco comes to Sonoma Saturday evening with "Booty Shakin' Saturday with Uzette." From 7 to 11 p.m., the popular Alice Radio personality will be showing off her moves at the Collective on Broadway with wine, snacks and DJ Lil Elle. The cost is $75.

"There's not that many well-known female DJs in the Bay Area. I really wanted to bring someone hot in from the city," King said. Salazar said for her, booty-shaking music means songs with a beat from Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson and LMFAO.

"I haven't actually been dancing in forever, so I can't wait," she said.

Everything wraps up on Sunday morning with a 10:30 a.m. buffet brunch with Uzette at Estate. The meal costs $45 with a cash prosecco bar and surprises.

To purchase the weekend pass or individual events, or to see some of the business promotions that are also available throughout the weekend, including lodging discounts, visit www.sonomavalley.com/girlfriends.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)