Well, apparently we’re not going to have a winter this winter, so you might as well enjoy all this sunshine by hopping in the car and taking a road trip to Sonoma Wine Country. Ask any local—the winter months are the best time visit the Wine Country, cruising the traffic-free roads from winery to winery and having plenty of time to chat with the winemakers.
But wait; it gets even better. During the months of February and March, four of my favorite Sonoma Wine Country festivals and events are taking place, which gives you four great excuses to hop in the car for a fun weekend road trip. Take a look below, then open the calendar on your smartphone and start planning your Sonoma Wine Country getaway.
THE 8th ANNUAL ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL
If you love cheese you’re definitely going to want to put this event on your calendar: the 8th-annual Artisan Cheese Festival, held Friday through Sunday, March 21-23, in the charming and hip (yes, hip) town of Petaluma.
More than 8,000 attendees gather at the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma parking lot to meet more than a dozen international award-winning cheesemakers and learn how to how to taste, buy, serve, and enjoy some of the best artisan cheeses in the country.
You’ll also get to sample locally made jams, jellies, breads, and beer from as many as 75 artisan producers and discover the many charms of this pastoral town that is only 32 miles north of San Francisco. The educational seminars, cooking classes, wine pairings, and tastings are led by cheesemakers, chefs, and fromagiers (I didn’t even know that was a word) from across the country, and virtually every session involves tastings and/or pairings of artisan cheeses.
Only a limited number of tickets to the festival are available, so I highly recommend buying them far in advance (like, today) at artisancheesefestival.com. Ticket prices range from $35 for the Inaugural Meet the Cheesemakers and Their Cheeses on Friday, to $135 for cheese lover’s culinary expedition winding through the beautiful rolling hills of Petaluma, western Marin County, and Pt. Reyes.
THE 36th ANNUAL WINE ROAD BARREL TASTING
At the top of my list of favorite annual events that I always attend in Northern California is the Wine Road Barrel Tasting Weekend in Sonoma County.
Whoever came up with this idea is a genius: Each year in early March more than 100 wineries in Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys—including Rodney Strong, Korbel, Quivira, Simi, and dozens more—open the doors to their wine cellars and allow the public to sample their wares straight from the barrel.
In addition, participants have a rare opportunity to purchase wine “futures”, where you can buy the wine your tasting from the barrel today before it’s bottled next year.
Now, normally only professional wine buyers are allowed to buy wine futures, but as a participant in the Wine Road Barrel Tasting, YOU get to decide which wine you think will age the best in the barrel, then arrange to have your wine shipped to you when it’s ready (or better yet, come back to the winery next year and pick it up yourself). Many of the participating wineries offer only a limited production, so this is your best chance to lock up some of your favorite wines. The wineries even encourage you to pack a picnic—all the right stuff for a romantic weekend adventure.
The Barrel Tasting event will be held over two weekends, February 28-March 2 and March 7-9, from 11am to 4pm each day. Tickets sell fast, so don’t wait. For more information and to purchase tickets log onto www.wineroad.com.
THE 5th ANNUAL SONOMA COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK
If you like great food at bargain prices, you’re going to love Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Starting on Monday, March 10th and running through Sunday, March 16th, more than 100 of Sonoma County’s restaurants are participating in a seven-day celebration of the county’s finest foods.
Each restaurant will be offering a 2-course prix-fixe lunch option priced at $10, $15 or $20, as well as 3-course dinner menus at a fixed price of $19, $29, or $39 (or all three depending on the restaurant), which allows you the opportunity to sample some of Sonoma’s finest farm-fresh cuisine at a very steep discount.
Some of my favorite Sonoma County restaurants are participating, such as Zazu, John Ash & Co., HopMonk Tavern, and Della Santina’s, and there are about 80 more that I’ve always wanted to check out.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about new restaurants, and yet you’ll spend as little as $19 on a 3-course meal (tax, tip, and wine aren’t included of course). So grab a notebook and a pen, log onto www.sonomacountyrestaurantweek.org, and start planning your culinary getaway to Sonoma County. No tickets or passes required, but reservations are strongly recommended.
2014 SAVOR SONOMA VALLEY: A PREMIUM WINE & CULINARY EXPERIENCE
On Saturday & Sunday, March 15-16, join 26 wineries throughout Sonoma Valley for a memorable wine and food experience called Savor Sonoma Valley. Each winery will be showcasing their 2013 vintage wines straight from the barrels, sampling new releases, and offering award-winning wines paired perfectly with culinary creations prepared by local chefs and restaurants.
Meet winemakers, mingle with wine lovers behind-the-scenes, peruse art from local artists, and listen to live music. This is a rare opportunity to experience the best that Sonoma Valley has to offer. Log on to www.heartofsonomavalley.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
The events listed above are just a fraction of the fun, romantic, and family-friendly things to do in Sonoma County. For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit SonomaCounty.com or call 800/576-6662.
And for a limited time, Sonoma County Tourism is offering Sonoma Sneakaway — an entire website full of special deals to Sonoma Wine Country, such as free wine tasting passes, a second night’s lodging for free, 15 percent off vacation rentals, and much more. Check it out at SonomaSneakaway.com.
– By Matthew Richard Poole