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Life is just a bowl of cherries. On a nice day in the Sonoma countryside, what could be better than a cold, refreshing glass of cherry juice?

For decades, the Cherry Trees (on Highway 121 north of Sears Point and at the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 121) have enticed locals and visitors alike with their signature cherry juice. Founded in the late 1960s by Napoli and Rena Leinert, the business continues to thrive under the ownership of Elizabeth and Dennis Proulx. The juice sells for $14.75 a gallon, $8.75 for a half gallon and $4.75 for a quart. The Proulxs estimate that they will sell 150 gallons of cherry juice per week at the height of the summer tourist season.

Napoli, 64, fondly recalls generations of repeat customers coming into the store, some saying they have enjoyed the cherry juice since childhood. His response? "Don't tell me that. Makes me feel old!"

The origins of the Cherry Tree can be traced to Wisconsin, where Napoli's German ancestors had a family recipe for the juice. In the Kenosha area, Leinert's brother continues to sell cherry juice, cider and pies, made by their 94-year-old mother.

In the late 1960s, Napoli and Rena traded the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, where Napoli was in the wine business, for the peace and solitude of Sonoma.

They bought the 600-square-foot shack that would become the Cherry Tree in 1967. It had been a roadside stand that sold dressed chickens, eggs and butter since the late 1920s or early '30s.

A year later, the Leinerts purchased a second property at highways 121 and 12 that, according to Napoli, "used to be a whorehouse, way back when." The spacious Cherry Tree No. 2 now includes 1,200 square feet of retail space, a 2, 000-square-foot warehouse and picnic areas.

The Cherry Tree's juice has been slurped up enthusiastically from the start.

Sweet, black bing cherries are the main ingredient, and the juice is 97 percent cherry with the remainder being a mixture of pear and pineapple. Their cider is 50 percent cherry juice and 50 percent apple cider.

"It was the era of natural foods in San Francisco," said Rena, explaining the popularity of their product. The Leinerts expanded their distribution by selling cherry juice throughout the Bay Area from their truck, then found shelf space at health food and specialty stores, eventually expanding to mainstream outlets such as Safeway.

Many celebrities have come through the place. "Placido Domingo was a thrill, " said Rena. Brooke Shields stopped by when she was a kid, and former San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto was a customer. The couple even made lunch for Paul Newman.

Eventually, the business grew larger than the Leinerts could manage. "It was a very satisfying business to handle," said Rena, "(but) we were just there all the time." So, in 1997, they sold the cherry juice and cider recipes and copyrights to their longtime distributor, Napa Valley Distributors and, in 1999, they sold the two Cherry Tree outlets to the Proulxs.

These days, the Leinerts are semi-retired in Ukiah, traveling, playing tennis and dabbling in the wine industry. They grow grapes, which John Parducci makes into wine under the McNab Ridge label. After all these years, the Leinerts can finally relax.

Since they took over, the Proulxs have commuted daily from the Peninsula to manage the Cherry Trees. Born and raised in San Francisco, Elizabeth, 54, worked for 17 years in the printing business. Dennis, 59, was born in the San Fernando Valley but attended Galileo High School in San Francisco. He was a transportation manager for 25 years at various freight companies.

In their search for a business they could retire into, the Proulxs were attracted to the Sonoma area. The Cherry Tree locations, especially No. 2, were ideal because the highway is well-traveled. As for the cherry products themselves, "Everyone was raving about it," said Elizabeth.

The Proulxs' customers include chefs who serve cherry juice at breakfast and use it in sauces. Donna Lewis, owner of the Victorian Garden Inn near Sonoma Plaza, gives it the thumbs-up. "We have been dealing with the Cherry Tree for as long as we've been open, 19 years."

Lewis serves the juices and the cherry applesauce. Their "guests are always thrilled to try and to enjoy these products."

At the Cherry Trees, in addition to the juice and cider, the Proulxs operate a deli and sell beer and wine. They also sell pies, syrup for pancakes or ice cream, liqueurs and cherry-themed dinnerware and gifts. "Anything cherry-related I can get my hands on, I bring in," said Elizabeth.

She recommends freezing the juice on a stick or using it as a marinade. In cooler months, she adds mulling spices to the cherry cider for a flavorful hot drink. Rena Leinert liked to tell customers to blend cherry cider and vanilla ice cream, with an optional splash of liqueur. She also suggests substituting cherry juice or cider for the liquid in cake recipes.

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Getting there Cherry Tree No. 1 is at 26651 Arnold Drive, off Highway 121 north of Sears Point. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Cherry Tree No. 2 is at 1901 Fremont Drive at the intersection of highways 121 and 12. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (sometimes later) daily. (707) 938-3480

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