1. Sonoma Valley Olive Festival
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 996-1090, (866) 996-1090
Description: In case you didn’t know, we grow lots of olives in Wine Country. So holding a shindig to salute the mighty olive seemed like a natural thing to do. The first annual Sonoma Valley Olive Festival took place during winter 2001-02, with oil tastings, special dinners, demonstrations of olives being turned into oil, a visual arts contest with olives as the theme, and more. The Feast of the Olive Dinner is the most expensive event, at $175 per person; the wrap-up event is VinOlivo, a gala with food, wine, and olives, of course. Other festivities vary in price. The whole affair begins in early December and ends in late February.
2. Winter Wineland
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 433-4335, (800) 723-6336
Description: During the sometimes gloomy days of winter, the Russian River wine-growing region comes alive for Winter Wineland. On a weekend in mid-January, rain or shine, wine lovers can stop in at more than 100 wineries for special tastings of wine and food. The latter might include tri-tip steak, beef stew, or andouille sausage. The 2008 event was the 16th annual. It’s $50 per person for the weekend, $40 for Sunday only, and $20 for designated drivers (who at least get to sample the food). With a wristband and a logo glass, you move at your own pace from one location to another. This is strictly a 21-and-over event; no infants and no children, please, and leave the dogs at home, too.
3. Old-Time Fiddle Contest
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 894-2067
Description: Dozens of contestants, novice to pro, gather at the fairgrounds on Citrus Fair Drive for an old-fashioned fiddling contest that’s been taking place for more than 30 years. But some of the best action is not on the stage; it’s in a side room where curious visitors can look in on some wild, free-form jamming. This event is sponsored by the Cloverdale Historical Society on the last weekend of January. General admission is $12.50 for one day, $20.00 for both days. For $8.00 more you can kick up your heels at the Saturday-night dance.
4. Mustard Magic
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 938-1133
Description: When the mustard begins carpeting the vineyards with its eye-popping yellow blossoms, it’s time to party! This grand fete officially launches the annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival on a Saturday in late January or early February. The focus is on the arts, including an exhibition and silent auction of entries in the Mustard Festival Fine Art Contest. Other pleasantries include hors d’oeuvres and desserts created by prominent local chefs, ultrapremium wine tastings, and music (live opera, for instance). Admission to Mustard Magic is $150 in advance, $175 at the door.
5. Chocolate Cabernet Fantasy
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 942-3345, (800) 726-6136
Description: Looking for a little decadence? Nero might have been attracted to this three-hour get-together off Dunaweal Lane, about 2 miles south of Calistoga. Feed your face with luscious desserts (mostly chocolate) and Sterling’s renowned Cabs, and surrender to the mix of flavors. There is dance music too. The fantasy is held on a Friday or Saturday night around Valentine’s Day. Tickets are $20, with all proceeds going to charity.
6. Wild Steelhead Festival
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 484-6438
Description: The annual return of wild steelhead, a threatened species, is celebrated on a weekend in early February in Healdsburg. It begins with a gala dinner at Hotel Healdsburg on Friday night ($100 per person), moving into Saturday with all manner of fun: fish cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, demonstrations of fly-fishing, education booths, and a free trout pond for the kids to enjoy. Most of the action takes place in Healdsburg Plaza. The 2008 event was the first year for this festival, but based on its success, I believe it’s a keeper.
7. Citrus Fair
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 894-3992
Description: Here’s how to brighten up winter. On the weekend nearest Presidents’ Day, the citizens of Cloverdale come together in a jolly event organized by the Citrus Fair Association. It starts off with a downtown parade, then moves out to the fairgrounds, with square dancing, country-western dancing, line dancing, and regular dancing. There is a carnival for young people and beer tasting and wine tasting for grownups. Live entertainment can range from clowns to local blues or rock bands. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and kids ages 6 to 13, and $3 for kids 5 and under. Carnival wristbands are $25.
8. Romantica And Le Grand Dîner
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 938-1133
Description: These two events, a couple weekends apart in February, continue the mustard worship during the Mustard Festival. Romantica is a five-course meal and party at Meadowood loosely tied to Valentine’s Day, with tickets fetching $200 per person. Le Grand Dîner goes even further, with a seven-course meal prepared at Étoile, the restaurant at Domaine Chandon, and wine galore. Seating is limited; tickets are $350 per person.
9. The Marketplace
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 938-1133
Description: This is the Mustard Festival’s signature event, and the most popular (and affordable). Enjoy cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, wine and mustard tastings, gourmet food products, microbrews, fine art, local crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides, eclectic musical offerings on three stages, historical displays, and barrel-making demonstrations. It’s a two-day event (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days) on a weekend in mid-March. Admission is $35 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children under five. Net proceeds benefit a wide range of nonprofit groups.
10. A Taste Of Yountville
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 944-0904
Description: Yountville likes to boast that it has more gourmet restaurants and premium wineries than any other town of comparable size. So on the third weekend in March, the hamlet sets up a solid-mile gauntlet of food, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, wine, and beer to prove it. Local merchants get into the act with fashion shows, tours, furniture restoration displays, and even tips on table setting. Most demonstrations for this Mustard Festival event are free, and tasting tickets are reasonable. Even if you are beyond temptation, it might be worth your time to stroll the 6 blocks through downtown just to hear the live music and watch the entertainment.
11. The Photo Finish
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 938-1133
Description: With this grand finale, the Mustard Festival usually leaves ’em longing for more as it heads into hibernation for a year. Mumm’s hallways and visitor center are filled with lovers of photography, food, wine, and music (doesn’t leave many of us out, does it?) on the last Saturday in March or the first in April. The food is by Napa Valley chefs, the wine is primarily from Silverado Trail labels, and the camera work is by the contestants in the annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival Photography Contest. Awards are presented in the tasting room at about 9:00 p.m. Tickets to the Photo Finish cost $90 per person in advance, $125 at the door.
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
13. Artisan Cheese Festival
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 283-2890
Description: Wine and cheese were meant for each other. So what better place to hold a cheese festival than in Wine Country? Besides wine, olives, and mustards, this region is brimming with fabulous award-winning cheeses crafted by small producers. This festival also includes cheesemakers from throughout California. The weekend begins on Friday night with a reception and tasting, followed on Saturday by educational tastings and seminars that cover such topics as easy beginning cheesemaking and basic wine-and-cheese pairings. Prices vary, but plan on $40 for the all-day events on Saturday.
14. April In Carneros
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 909-4352
Description: The Carneros area, in the bay-cooled hills between Sonoma and Napa, is one of Wine Country’s most interesting appellations. You can judge for yourself over one weekend in mid-April, when 20 or more wineries open their doors and stage special events. About a quarter of the participating producers are normally open by appointment only, and others don’t even have proper wineries there—guests are welcomed instead to production facilities. New vintages are released, accompanied by barrel tastings, food pairings, arts and crafts, and music. Tickets are $40 per person, valid for both days. Pay at your first stop, then take the logo glass along for admission into the next.
15. Kitchens In The Vineyards Tour
City: Wine Country, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (707) 258-5559
Description: The emphasis is on food during this all-day affair in late April or early May that gives you a peek into one-of-a-kind kitchens, dining rooms, and gardens from Napa to St. Helena. Five homes are typically featured, and shuttle buses might take you to a couple of them. The event, now in its 11th year, benefits Music in the Vineyards’ Chamber Music Festival, held in August. A limited number of tickets at $65 are made available.