Sonoma Sister Cities Association has a meeting house, the Sister Cities Center, located just blocks from Sonoma’s historic plaza. This Charming Victorian Cottage built in 1881 was moved from Broadway to its present site on First Street West in 1989. Through extensive fund raising, donations of services and material, and countless hours of volunteer work, the house was beautifully restored to serve as our Center. The Center was designated a City Historic Landmark and is the SSCA’s administrative office and cultural center. It provides a repository for our cultural gifts, displays, and awards; it houses our library, and provides rooms for Committee and Board meetings. Language classes, educational videos, art exhibits and special receptions for visiting international delegations, students and guests are some of the varied activities held at the Center.

Outside there is a picnic area which serves as site of the annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks viewing from the neighboring park. Also on the property are fifty-five Zinfandel vines and an olive tree planted in tribute to our Sister City in Greve. These vines produced their first vintage of twelve cases of Sonoma Sister City Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel, This wine is used for fund raising venues and in the entertainment of Sister City Delegations. In 1996 sixteen Sangiovese and four Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted to add a Super-Tucson to our cellars in a few years, after maturity.

Of the one thousand plus US Sister Cities, only two have their own Center. Our Center represents a great community undertaking and we are proud of this accomplishment by our Association. Everyone is invited to visit our Sonoma Sister Cities Center and we welcome active membership and participation in our dynamic Association.