19 Aug 2015
Sonoma Wine County might be famous for wine and beer, but only six percent of the county's land is planted to grapes. Cheese makers, cattle ranchers, chicken farmers and row crops can all be found in Sonoma County, meaning an abundance of local food. Add in the fresh seafood from the more than 50 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, and you could spend a whole year attending food and wine festivals in Sonoma County. Care to give it a try? Read on for a full year's worth of food festivals in Sonoma County.
More information and the latest events can be found at www.sonomacounty.com.
Winter WINEland
January
Multiple winery locations
Healdsburg
This annual event is a great opportunity to meet winemakers and taste limited production wines, new releases, or library wines. Some wineries offer food pairings and others have tours. Ticket price includes a weekend of wine tasting at all of the 140 participating wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys.
800-723-6336
Cloverdale Citrus Fair
February
Enjoy 3-D exhibits made of citrus fruit and other food products. A wine tasting and gourmet food show entices adults, while families can enjoy arts, crafts, and a carnival.
707-894-3992
www.cloverdalecitrusfair.org
VinOlivo – Annual Olive Festival
February
The VinOlivo is a gala celebration and feast for the senses. Sip Sonoma Valley's best wines as you get to know the personalities behind them. Ignite your taste buds with culinary delights from Sonoma's finest restaurants and caterers. Sample local artisan olives and olive oils at the Olive Bar.
707-935-0803
www.sonomavalleywine.com
Artisan Cheese Festival
March
Sheraton Sonoma County Petaluma
745 Baywood Drive
Petaluma
Celebrity chefs, world class cheese, wine, beer, cider and more all in one fun filled weekend! Take a farm tour, sign up for cheese making workshops, learn how to cook with cheese, how to make cheese and more. Attend the Grand Cheese Tasting and Best in Cheese Competition or go to the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace where you can taste and buy cheeses from more than 20 artisan cheese makers.
707-523-3728
Sonoma County Restaurant Week
More than 100 wine country restaurants offer a three-course prix-fixe menu priced at $19, $29, or $39. Customers don't need coupons, and part of the appeal is that they can try restaurants they've been curious about without as much risk to their wallet. Many restaurants offer special pairing menus with local wines.
www.sonomacountyrestaurantweek.org
Savor Sonoma Valley
March
Sonoma
Meet winemakers and sample new releases paired with food. Enjoy local art and live music at more than 20 wineries.
866-794-9463
Battle of the Brews
March
Grace Pavilion
Sonoma County Fairgrounds
1350 Bennett Valley RoadSanta Rosa
Over 50 drafts and food vendors will fight for your vote at the Main Event. The Craft Cup features judged, premier micro-brews and the 'Wich Hunt highlights delicious sandwiches from local chefs. All with great live music on stage.
Passport to Dry Creek Valley®
April
Dry Creek Valley
Healdsburg
Passport guests are welcomed into 50+ wineries throughout Dry Creek Valley, each offering a unique pairing of premium wine, gourmet food, tours, and entertainment. The possibilities are as varied as the wineries themselves and promise a fun, unforgettable weekend.
707-433-3031
Taste Alexander Valley
May
Alexander Valley Wineries
Healdsburg
Now in it's 18th year, Taste Alexander Valley, is a three-day food and wine adventure showcasing the wine country lifestyle of Sonoma County's Alexander Valley. More than 25 wineries present special wine tasting experiences, along with breathtaking mountains views and local culinary talents.
707-431-2894
Oysterpalooza!
May
Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen + Saloon
14415 Highway One
Valley Ford
It's the annual celebration of the bivalve! Bands will perform on two stages playing Americana, Bluegrass, Rock, and Brass in the Sonoma County countryside during this all day event. Tomales Bay Oysters hot off the grill, PoBoys, Gumbo, BBQ Brisket and more. All ages are welcome.
707-876-1983
Matanzas Creek Winery's Days of Wine and Lavender
June
Matanzas Creek Winery
6097 Bennett Valley Road
Santa Rosa
Sip, smell and savor the beauty of Matanzas Creek's exceptional wine portfolio and vibrant gardens of purple lavender. Guests will enjoy live music, exciting seminars with industry experts, delicious food and wine pairings, Lavender Barn tours, and showcased pieces of art from local artists.
800-590-6464
Wine Country Big Q
July
Sonoma Mountain Village
1400 Valley House Drive
Rohnert Park
Sample great 'authentic' barbecued meats, world class wines, award-winning brews while enjoying great rock and blues music. Tickets include sampling from over 50 pit masters and vendors, drink and food tickets, and a logo wine glass.
707-837-1928
West of West Wine Festival
July
The Barlow
6771 Laguna Park Way
Sebastopol
The West of West (WOW) Wine Festival is an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wine, food, and culture of the West Sonoma Coast and to get an insider taste of some of the most acclaimed cool-climate Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Syrahs produced today. The Festival includes a Whole Hog Celebration, seminars, luncheon, a Grand Tasting, and a lavish dinner.
888-878-9645
Gravenstein Apple Fair
August
Ragle Ranch Park
500 Ragle Road
Sebastopol
Enjoy a weekend of old-fashioned fun under the shade of majestic oaks at the 42nd Gravenstein Apple Fair. There's something for everyone with live music on two stages, arts and crafts vendors, excellent local food, wine, cider, and beer. There will be contests and activities, a children's corner, a chef's tent, an artisan cheese tent, a do-it-yourself tent, a life on the farm arena and, of course, Sebastopol's famous heirloom Gravenstein apples.
707-837-8896
Farm to Fermentation Festival
August
Finley Community Center
2060 West College Avenue
Santa Rosa
Join the nation's biggest pickle party at the Farm to Fermentation Festival! More than 60 purveyors present their fermented foods and beverages. Choose from a variety of classes and taste delights like creative fermented root beer floats.
Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
September
Various Sonoma Locations
783 Broadway
Sonoma
Indulge in the Sonoma County lifestyle of world class wine and fresh, local cuisine, all while raising funds that make a better future for children. Savor Sonoma's most fabulous flavors at Taste of Sonoma and raise a glass (and a paddle) with Sonoma County's wine and food superstars as you bid on world-class wines and experiences at the Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction.The weekend also offers small-scale lunch and dinner gatherings at an array of unique winery properties.
855-939-7666
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival
September
Sonoma Plaza
W Napa Street & Broadway
Sonoma
Since 1897 the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival has been celebrating the Sonoma Valley's bounty, community, and local culture with food, wine, art, and family activities. Local bands and special headliners will entertain all weekend. Browse the art on display and sip wine, join in the Family Grape Stomp, and take the kids to the children's area.
707-996-2109
valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com
Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival
September
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
5007 Fulton Road
Fulton
Now in its 19th year, this event features more than 150 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, a chef competition featuring Bravo's Top Chef contenders, and tomato-inspired dishes from nearly 50 prominent wine country and Bay Area restaurant chefs and food purveyors. Guests will also enjoy wine tasting, live music and educational wine and garden seminars.
800-769-3649
Pinot on the River
October
This weekend of tastings, seminars, vineyard tours and sumptuous food focuses on limited-production Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County and other top regions along the West Coast.
Healdsburg
707-922-6362
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
October
Taste and buy more than 500 award-winning wines made from Sonoma County grapes. Competitive exhibits, displays, live music, grape stomp, carnival, contests, and family activities.
Santa Rosa
707-545-4200
A Wine & Food Affair
November
A special weekend allows visitors to sample wine and food in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys.
Various Locations
(800) 723-6336
Dungeness Crab Season
December
Taste fresh crab from Sonoma County's fleet of crabbing boats, leaving daily from the fishing town of Bodega Bay, you can find their catch at local restaurants as well as the farmers markets throughout Sonoma County.
Various locations
www.sonomacounty.com
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Sonoma County, located 30 miles north of San Francisco, provides a genuine, independent, and adventurous wine country experience, featuring more than 425 wineries, 100-plus organic farms, and 55 miles of stunning Pacific coast.
For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 800-576-6662.
Birgitt Vaughan
Sonoma County Tourism
707-522-5826
bvaughan@sonomacounty.com
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