Owner and sommelier Farrah Cauley has announced that she is closing her Upper Kirby location of Sonoma Wine Bar at 2720 Richmond Avenue on Saturday, March 1. Her two newer locations in the Stomping Grounds center at 1227 West 34th Street and 9920 Gaston in Katy will remain open. 

To mark the end of the Upper Kirby location, Cauley is hosting a farewell party on March 1, the final day of business, from 3 to 6 p.m. Attendees will be able to score 50%-off deals on the remaining inventory of wines by the bottle. In addition, some of the equipment and fixtures will be for sale. 

Sonoma Wine Bar in Upper Kirby was the first location that Cauley opened when she was only 28 years old, borrowing money from her mother to make the initial wine orders. The business name reflects her love for that wine region in California. “In Sonoma, you’ll often find small wineries tucked away on dirt roads, where the owner is not only tending the vineyard but also crafting the wine and welcoming guests in the tasting room,” she wrote on the Sonoma Wine Bar website. Cauley would later open a second location in the Heights, which would last a decade before she shuttered it right after the throes of the pandemic in April 2022.

“The lasting impacts of COVID-19 and ongoing inflation have made it increasingly difficult to sustain this location, leading to this tough decision,” said Cauley in a statement. “While this marks the end of an era for our Upper Kirby space, Sonoma Wine Bar will continue on at our Garden Oaks and Katy locations, where we look forward to welcoming you for more great wines and gatherings. We are deeply grateful to our incredible team members, both past and present, our loyal guests, supportive friends and family, and the Upper Kirby community who have been part of our journey.”

Cauley also is making it clear that the landlords of the Upper Kirby location, father-and-son team Steve and Brian Saxenian, have been nothing but supportive, citing “their partnership and unwavering support.” “If anyone is looking to open a new space, we highly encourage reaching out to Brian, and we’d be happy to connect you,” Cauley said. (Cauley can be reached for more information via email.) 

For Sonoma Wine Bar fans, there will still be plenty of events at the Garden Oaks and Katy locations to tantalize tastebuds, including Thursday Flight Nights, Sunday Cheese Tastings and Live Music Nights. Cauley, a known pet advocate, is also continuing that commitment as the official wine bar of the Chefs For Paws fundraiser. This year, Le Meridien hotel in downtown Houston is hosting in just a few days — on Sunday, February 23 — and proceeds benefit the Rescued Pets Movement. Visit the Sonoma Wine Bar events page for other special happenings.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.