Forget the flowers and the carefully crafted card and give Mom what she really wants.
Free tastings for moms: Many Sonoma County wineries are providing free tastings for moms this Mother's Day, including Imagery Estate (pictured) and Benziger Winery in Glen Ellen, Papapietro Perry in Healdsburg and Red Car Wine in Sebastopol. Check your favorite winery’s Instagram account throughout the week to see what they are offering. More free wine tastings here.
Rosé, macarons and spring flowers, Ferrari-Carano Winery, Healdsburg: The lush gardens at Ferrari-Carano Winery make a great backdrop for Mother's Day toasts. On Sunday, the winery will be pouring complimentary glasses of their dry Sangiovese rosé, paired with macarons from Cousteaux bakery. Both moms and kids will enjoy springtime here. 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 800-831-0381, ferrari-carano.com.
Rosé and brunch, Viansa Winery, Sonoma: Enjoy brunch overlooking vineyards and wetlands at Sonoma's Viansa Winery. The brunch ($65) will include dishes prepared by Girl & the Fig restaurant, including quiche, pastries and a whole table of sweets, and will be paired with Viansa’s newly released 2018 Rosé. Bouquets of spring flowers and more Viansa wine will be available for purchase. 25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 800-995-4740, viansa.com
Dry Creek Valley wines and brunch, Comstock Winery, Healdsburg: This Healdsburg winery will be serving up brunch ($75), including Dungeness crab cakes, Mt. Tam cheese puffs with apricot chutney, eggs Benedict, and brioche French Toast, paired with wine, of course. An opportunity to have a real feast, without having to clean up the dishes. 1290 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-723-3011, comstockwines.com
Sparkling option 1, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville: Start your visit with a guided tour of the garden and finish with a glass of bubbles - the winery offers free champagne tastings for moms on Mother's Day. The Korbel deli serves freshly-made salads and sandwiches. 3250 River Rd, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com.
Sparkling option 2, Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol: On Sundays, including Mother's Day, the Oyster Girls shuck oysters at Iron Horse's tasting room from noon until oysters run out. Make a reservation to treat Mom to some bubbles and oysters - the winery will be giving away potted flowers to wine tasting moms. 9786 Ross Station Rd, Sebastopol, 707-887-1507, ironhorsevineyards.com.
Sparkling option 3, Breathless Wine, Healdsburg: Breathless Wine is hosting a Brunch and Bubbles event this Mother's Day ($24.99 per person, $12.00 brunch without bubbles). There will be some additional "fun things" for the moms, too. Club members receive ticket discount. 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg, 707-395-7300, breathlesswines.com.
Sparkling option 4, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma: While the winery's popular Mother's Day event, featuring bubbles, brunch and live music, is already sold out, Moms and their families are invited to sample sparkling wines on the patio, overlooking the Carneros region of Sonoma Valley. Make a note to book ahead next year. 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma, 707-933-1917, gloriaferrer.com.
Wine and oysters, Dutton-Goldfield, Sebastopol: This Russian River Valley winery is pairing oysters with white wine this Mother's Day. The tasting experience ($30) includes a flight of four newly-released white wines paired with four oysters. Additional oysters available for purchase while supplies last. 3100 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, 707-823-3887, duttongoldfield.com
New experience, Roche Family Winery, Sonoma: This soon-to-open Sonoma winery is hosting their first Mother's Day Brunch in the Vineyard event, with two seatings. The brunch will include local delicacies like Bellwether Farms yogurt, homemade granola parfaits with local blueberries, mimosas and dry rosé. 22097 Bonness Road Sonoma, rochewinery.com.
Paint and sip, Muscardini Cellars, Kenwood: Muscardini Cellars is celebrating moms throughout the weekend by hosting a "Paint and Sip" event. The entire family can enjoy picnic on the lawn and painting their own artful creations on a Muscardini Cellars wine glass (kids will receive a stemless logo glass to paint). 9380 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-933-9305, muscardinicellars.com.
For moms with younger kids: The Windsor Certified Farmers Market will be hosting a Mother's Day Tea Tasting & Tea Cookie Chef Demo as well as activities for kids, including making flower arrangements for Mom with the Windsor Garden Club. Don't worry, there will be mimosas and Bloody Marys, too! In Healdsburg, moms and kids can enjoy over 650 varieties of roses at the Russian River Rose Company during their annual Mother’s Day Open Garden. At the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County and the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, moms get free admission on Mother's Day.
For very active kids: Scandia Family Fun Center in Rohnert Park invite families to play a round of mini-golf - moms golf free when accompanied by a paying adult. And for those kids who are wild about Mom, and wild animals, Safari West is hosting their annual Mother’s Day event featuring a champagne brunch and a ride on the brand new Trek Bus (make reservations ahead). (Photo by John Burgess)
Gift ideas: Pamper mom with a Glowing Skin Treatment Series at The Beauty Spot in Santa Rosa , including three Express Facials. Buy her a luxury wine and food experience at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma. If you are looking for more sophisticated fun on Mother’s Day, enjoy making your own fancy fascinators paired with English tea at The Hattery of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa.
This Sunday, celebrate Mom by treating her to what she needs the most: an afternoon of wine tasting. In Sonoma County, there are plenty of options for Mom and co., we even found a few wineries suitable for families with young kids. Many winery visits require reservations, so plan ahead! Click through the gallery for details – we’ve included a few non-wine options, too.
