Sonoma harvest is wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean that the fun stops in Sonoma County. This November many wineries will be opening their doors for fun festivities. From wine tastings and wine maker sessions to art parades and special holiday events, we’ve found four of the can’t miss Wine Country experiences to put on your calendar for November.
Wine and Food AffairSaturday, November 5th, 2016 – November 6th, 2016
11:00am to 4:00pm
Join Sonoma Wine Road for a weekend of wine and food pairing in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys. All of the wineries participating will have a favorite winery recipe available online, which they will prepare both days for you to sample, along with the perfect wine. See who this year’s winery participants are!
Founded 39 years ago, Wine Road is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys of Northern Sonoma County. From its modest beginning as an organization of nine wineries, it has grown into a spirited constellation of 197 wineries and 54 lodgings. It’s not actually a “road” in the sense of a single, continuous stretch of paved highway, but more of a treasure map to the many jewels nestled among the hills and valleys of a region where fresh air, fine wine and exquisite cuisine await those who traverse it. This makes navigating the Wine Road a uniquely personal experience and visitors will find their own enthusiasm for great wine reflected in the appreciation of these passionate producers.
Sonoma Valley Holiday Open House
Friday, November 25th, 2016 – November 26th, 2016
11:00am to 4:00pm
Toast the Holiday Season in Sonoma Valley at their 2016 Holiday Open House. Join 19 wineries throughout the heart of Sonoma Valley for this holiday celebration. Enjoy wine tastings, meet winemakers, mingle in their caves & cellars, stock up on your favorite wines for the holidays, pick up holiday gifts for your friends & family and relish in wine country holiday cheer. The idyllic stretch of valley and hills between the villages of Kenwood and Glen Ellen is known as the Heart of the Sonoma Valley. Beyond the hustle, bustle, and commercialism, the Heart of Sonoma Valley remains as it was a century ago: a pastoral destination wine lover’s look to for quality and comfort.
Here wine country still means rows of vines, farmers, flat-bed trucks and midday meals, the Heart of Sonoma Valley is quietly home to some of California’s best known, as well as most secluded, vineyards and winemakers.
19 Participating Wineries: B Wise Vineyards Cellar, Chateau St. Jean Winery, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Kenwood Vineyards, La Rochelle Wines, Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Loxton Cellars, Manzanita Creek Winery, Madrone Vineyards Estate, Mayo Family Winery, Muscardini Cellars, Orpheus Wines, Spann Vineyards, St. Anne’s Crossing Winery, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Ty Caton Vineyards, VJB Vineyards & Cellars. This event takes place at each winery, and as you travel from winery to winery you will enjoy award-winning wines, wine discounts, gift packages, holiday entertainment, and holiday cheer.
Winterblast
November 19th, 2016
5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.
The SOFA Arts District in Santa Rosa comes alive each November with Winterblast, best known for the electric sofa parade. Participants create whimsically decorated sofas and push them down the street, accompanied by the Hubbub Club marching band, costumed performers, giant puppets, and many surprises. Streets will be blocked off for the parade, plus three stages with live music. FREE and family-friendly! Parades run twice, at 6pm and 8pm.
During Winterblast, over 30 artists and art galleries in the neighborhood open their doors to the public. Spinster Sisters Restaurant, Criminal Baking Company, Atlas Coffee along with an assortment of food trucks will offer food and beverages. Beer and wine will be offered for sale to benefit local non-profits.
Lighting of the SnowmanCornerstone Sonoma
December 3rd, 2016
4:00p.m – 8:00p.m
Now in its 12th year, the Annual Lighting of the Snowmen at Cornerstone Sonoma, has become a Sonoma Valley holiday tradition! Mark your calendars now, you don’t want to miss the 2016 festivities! This year, the Lighting of the Snowmen kicks off with a festival and actual lighting on December 3rd, the display will remain up through the end of December for all to enjoy!
The event began in 2004 after David Allen, owner of Artefact Design & Salvage at Cornerstone, discovered hundreds of decorative snowmen at a factory in Boston. The factory, which manufactured the snowmen exclusively, was closing, and Allen decided to purchase the stock to use at the gardens. Each year since then, the snowmen have been arranged into a creative and stunning scene that is different each year. The festival will feature music, kid’s crafts, wine + beer tasting, delicious food, festive decoration, music performances, pictures with Santa, classic holiday films in the Olive Grove Cinema, traditional German beer garden complete with men in lederhosen, gingerbread men to decorate, hot chocolate, face-painting by Popo the Clown and more.
Enjoy Cornerstone anytime of the year with a multitude of tasting rooms, dining and shopping, this is a one stop to enjoy some of the best of Sonoma.
Beau Wine Tours is a perfect option for enjoying these winter events. Don’t worry about a designated driver or finding an option to fit you and your friends. Book a vehicle with us and we’ll transport you around wine country in comfort, style and class. Unable to make the specific events but want to experience wine country on your time? Check out all of our Sonoma County wine tour options.
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