Santa Rosa, in the heart of the wine country of Northern California, is located 55 miles north of San Francisco. It is the county seat and the largest city in Sonoma County. The county has a population of about 500,000. Although a large majority of the population is Caucasian and middle-class, the fastest growing segment of the Sonoma County population is Latino. There are significant minorities of Mexican, African, Southeast Asian and Native American heritage.

The major industries in the area are agriculture, lumber, recreation, dairy, finance, electronics, and government. There are several community theater groups, many excellent restaurants, and a performing arts center.

The Santa Rosa region has a mild climate, with warm summer days, cool evenings and early morning fog, making its many fertile valleys and hillsides ideal for growing premium wine grapes.

The area abounds in nearby recreational opportunities with several lakes and the Russian River, ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming. Santa Rosa also boasts a 5,000-acre urban park with lakes, streams, horseback riding, hiking, and biking trails. Redwood forests dot the region with the tallest trees on the planet. The Sonoma coastline, only 30 miles from Santa Rosa, is dramatic with rugged cliffs and shoreline and many accessible beaches for camping, kite flying, surfing, or sailing. Less than two hundred miles to the east is the Sierra Nevada mountain range.