Annual Events Will No Longer Require Reservations at Participating Wineries
September 19th – Healdsburg, CA—Wine Road, an association of wineries and lodgings in Northern Sonoma County, announces their upcoming 2022 – 2023 event season featuring their three signature annual events: Wine & Food Affair, Winter WINEland and Barrel Tasting. In a return to the events’ pre-pandemic format, all three events will not require reservations, but instead allow guests to visit any participating wineries stretching across Sonoma County’s Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys throughout the event weekend.
Wine & Food Affair: November 5 – 6, 2022, 11am – 4pm
Wine Road’s event season kicks off with the 24th Annual Wine & Food Affair, featuring two full days of tantalizing food and wine pairings along the Wine Road. Each participating winery offers a taste of gourmet cuisine paired with the wine of their choice. Popular pairings in past years include Bacon Fudge Brownies with Syrah Port; New England Clam Chowder with Chardonnay; Mac & Cheese with Pulled Ham paired with Pinot Noir; and Braised Meatball Sliders and Zinfandel. Each food and wine pairing will be listed on the website’s participating wineries page in late August. In addition to the weekend event, many wineries will offer an evening reception on Friday, November 4. Tickets sales began on September 1, 2022, and are $125 for the weekend, $95 for Sunday only and $25 for designated drivers.
Winter WINEland: January 14 – 15, 2023, 11am – 4pm
After the busy holiday season, Winter WINEland provides an effortless way to restock your wine cellar. This event is the perfect winter escape in which visitors can enjoy a less crowded wine country, taste new wines, or join a wine club – make it a weekend of discovery. New this year, each participating winery will have a Winter WINEland photo backdrop so you can create your own photo album of memories from the weekend. Because it is a 3-day weekend, additional tasting experiences will be planned and posted online when tickets become available. Advance tickets will begin on November 10, 2022, and are $95 for the weekend, $75 for Sunday only, and $10 for designated drivers. Each wine tasting ticket comes with a Wine Road branded glass and a 6-bottle wine bag.
Barrel Tasting Weekend, March 3-4-5, 2023, 11am – 4pm.
Wine Road will host its annual Barrel Tasting, offering three days of barrel sampling and the opportunity to purchase “futures” at participating wineries. Buying “futures” is a chance to buy, often at a discount, a wine that is still aging in the barrel now, then come back to the winery (or have the wine shipped) when the wine is bottled, typically within 12-18 months. Many wines are so limited, buying futures is the only chance to purchase them. In addition, Barrel Tasting is widely heralded as an educational weekend where wine lovers of all levels learn about the work put in to making wines after harvest, but before the wine is bottled, often hearing directly from the winemakers during the event, as Barrel Tasting is a favorite event amongst Wine Road winemakers. Additionally, several wineries will host Friday evening receptions to kick off the weekend. Advance tickets to Barrel Tasting will go on sale January 15, 2023, and are $85 for early bird weekend tickets (Jan 15-31) or $95 for the weekend if purchased after January 31. Sunday only tickets are $75 and designated driver tickets are $10.
The format for all three events will be as follows: When purchasing tickets, a check-in winery will be selected. On the first day of the event, ticket holders must pick up their glass, wristband, and program at their check-in winery. After check-in, visitors may visit any participating winery for the remainder of the weekend, no reservations required. No tickets will be sold at the door for these events.
ABOUT WINE ROAD NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY
The Wine Road is a travel resource for those looking to visit the region, which is famous for its renowned wine producers and cuisine, scenic beauty, and wine country lifestyle. The association hosts three celebrated wine events throughout the year, “Winter WINEland” in January; “Barrel Tasting” in March; and “Wine and Food Affair” in November. Made up of 130 wineries and 30 lodgings throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys in Sonoma County, something is always going on along the Wine Road. To plan your next trip, please visit: www.wineroad.com. For additional information, or to request a free map, call 800.723.6336 or via e-mail at info@wineroad.com, or visit the Wine Road on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
