The wine country is always celebrating something. Check with the Sonoma County Tourism Program when planning your visit, and you’ll be astounded at the variety of fun, free events offered throughout the year. Some of the events
hosted in Sonoma include the Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival, the Vines and Wines and the Lake Sonoma Luau, among a multitude of weekly events happening year round! Visit www.sonomacounty.com for more information on exciting and interesting events happening around your time
of travel.
Great food is available in all price ranges in Sonoma. Start your day with breakfast or lunch at a popular, inexpensive café, such as the Creekside Café, located next door to the Sonoma Creek Inn. Open daily, Creekside Café offers favorites such as egg dishes, sandwiches, salads and a casual atmosphere with seating indoors and out.
For dinner, seek out smaller, non-chain restaurants, where the chef you saw at the Farmers’ Market is now preparing your meal. A classic example: charming Deuce, an easy walk from the historic plaza. Deuce’s bistro-style menu features locally-grown produce, fresh seafood and meat; the executive chef is an avid gardener who cooks with the current season in mind.
VinOlivo ~ February 16, 2008
Passport to Sonoma Valley ~ May 17 & 18, 2008
Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction ~ Labor Day Weekend 2008
Shake off those winter blues and come to Sonoma Valley, December through February, where you can enliven your senses and get into the spirit of the Season of the Olive.
Take an olive curing workshop, enjoy a wine country massage, or eat a delicious dish prepared by Wine Country chefs with local olive oils. Choose from over 30 olive-related activities and events such as cooking demonstrations, Martini Madness, live comedy shows, and art exhibitions. Take advantage of seasonal savings at lodging, spas, wineries, and restaurants- there is somethign for everyone!
Visit www.sonomavalley.com/OliveFestival/
Friday, November 23 - Sunday, January 06
Let the season begin! Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance presents a Wine Country calendar that spotlights winery holiday events, after-hours celebrations, special shopping assistants, holiday winemaker dinners, and even a Winery Gingerbread Contest! Visit the Event Calendar at SonomaValleyWine.com for all the details. 707-935-0803 or www.sonomavalleywine.com
Saturday, December 01 - Monday, December 31
Participating Wineries
Visit Sonoma Valley wineries filled with holiday cheer as they participate in the second annual Gingerbread Winery Contest! Professionals and amateurs are producing gingerbread likenesses of their winery that will be on display in the tasting room. This is a great holiday outing for the whole family to visit the wineries, sample some of Sonoma Valley's finest wines, pick up some great gifts and vote on your favorite Gingerbread Winery! Participating wineries: Castle Vineyards & Winery, Homewood Winery, Landmark Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Little Vineyards Family Winery, Nicholson Ranch, Ravenswood Winery, Schug Carneros Estate, Viansa Winery. Details at sonomavalleywine.com.
122 W Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-996-1966, CastleVineyards.com
Produced by the winery staff, the gingerbread winery is a replica of the charming home that houses their hospitality center near the historic Sonoma Plaza.
23120 Burndale Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-996-6353, HomewoodWinery.com
Susan Stone of Yucatan Sunset Products & Catering is leading the charge and creating a gingerbread replica of the Redder the Better Lounge at Homewood Winery. Come view and vote for our gingerbread Winery and receive 25% off your holiday mixed case!
101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, CA 95452, 707-833-0053, LandmarkWine.com
Landmark Vineyards is defending their title with an entry created by Becoming Independent of Santa Rosa and will feature the beautiful Spanish Mission architecture for which Landmark is known.
Open Friday - Sunday or by appointment through the holidays!
15188 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, 707-996-2750, LittleVineyards.com
Little Vineyards Family Winery is proud to announce that Pastry Chef and co-owner of the Harvest Moon Cafe, Jen Demarest will create a Rockin Gingerbread house. Jen and Nick opened Sonoma’s Harvest Moon Cafe in January 2006, and enjoy raising their daughter, Annabelle, who is quite the little helper!
23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-938-3031, LarsonFamilyWinery.com
After voting on the Gingerbread Winery, families can visit the resident Llama and other farm animals. Catch Santa Claus December 15 & 16 and 22 & 23 at the winery for a photo!
4200 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-938-8822, NicholsonRanch.com
Nicholson Ranch is celebrating the holidays in grand style this year! As the initiator (some would say instigator) of the Gingerbread Winery Contest, Nicholson Ranch is again creating a confectionary wonder in the shape of the winery for the young and young at heart to enjoy. Whereas last year’s gingerbread winery was an architecturally accurate rendition of the entire winery and surrounding hillside, this year’s version will focus on the intricacies of the Tasting Room, both inside and out!
18701 Gehricke Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-933-2332, Ravenswood-wine.com
The Gingerbread Winery is created by the winery staff. At Ravenswood, there's no pinkie raising, brie eating, wine spitting wimpiness. Oh no. At the home of No Wimpy Wines, you'll get to taste mind blowing zinfandel, witty conversation with our behind-the-bar staff and of course we have a gift shop for holiday stocking stuffers.
602 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-939-9363, SchugWinery.com
Winery Chef, Kristine Schug is producing their Gingerbread Winery which will mimic the building’s German post and beam architecture. Catch their special magnum tastings each weekend in December!
25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4700, Viansa.com
Our gingerbread winery is a model of our winery, which is a replica of an ancient Tuscan Monastery. You can’t resist the authentic Italian architecture and olive groves made of the most delicious dolcetti that would awaken any palate. The design team consists of our talented Viansa Staff. Happy holidays and buon appetito!
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