Happy hour usually means heading to a neighborhood bar or brewery, but increasingly, North Coast wineries are getting in on the act. At happy hour events across Sonoma County and Napa Valley, wineries encourage visitors to sip and socialize without the formality or expense of standard tastings. No reservations required.

With the industry navigating a prolonged downturn, happy hour events are more than a trend; they’re a smart survival strategy. According to Wine Business Monthly’s 2026 Tasting Room Survey Report, winery visitation in Napa County dropped 18% last year and Sonoma County tasting room traffic dipped 8%. Digging deeper, the survey found that visitors are looking for a more relaxed, affordable experience when visiting wineries — a fun space to hang out rather than a place to learn the nuances of sniffing and swirling.

At Dutton-Goldfield Winery in Sebastopol, happy hour events reflect a deliberate shift toward more social experiences. On the third Thursday of each month, the winery invites walk-in visitors to enjoy discounted wines by the glass and bottle service. Small bites are free. To create a more casual atmosphere, the winery recently revamped its tasting room in favor of a brighter farmhouse feel and added a large-screen television for communal viewing.

“Consumers are looking for occasions that are easy to say ‘yes’ to, with lower commitment, more flexibility and a stronger social component,” said Dutton-Goldfield co-owner Karissa Kruse. “We’ve found that when you lower the barrier, you actually deepen the connection. People engage more when the experience feels natural.”

Kruse also points to a growing desire for wine to fit seamlessly into people’s everyday lives rather than being reserved for special occasions and structured tastings.

“That’s especially true for younger consumers and locals,” she said. “We see this as where the industry is heading to be more approachable, more social and more integrated into how people actually live. It’s about building relationships over time, not just one visit.”

The strategy appears to be working. Dutton-Goldfield’s general manager Ed Thralls credits the tasting room team’s ability to set a tone that’s welcoming and authentic rather than transactional.

“What started as a seasonal series quickly proved its value,” he said. “We’ve seen such strong and consistent turnout that it’s now become a regular part of our programming.”

That’s not to say that seated wine tastings are on their way out.

“This complements the traditional tasting experience. It doesn’t replace it,” Thralls said. “There will always be a place for more structured, in-depth tastings, but not every occasion calls for that.”

In Napa Valley, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery hosts weekly “Social Hour” gatherings. Curated tastings at the Rutherford tasting room normally run $46-$145 or more. But during social hour events, wines by the glass start at just $10.

“We want this to be an opportunity for our neighbors and friends to gather and share their wine stories, to learn more from people who have a passion for wine and the people who make it,” said chief executive Emma Swain. “Enjoying wine with friends in a relaxed, beautiful setting is one of life’s luxuries. Does it get any better?”

Where to find winery happy hours in Sonoma County and Napa Valley

Wine and Vibe at Bella Union Winery

The St. Helena winery invites guests to gather at its outdoor Wren Bar. Sip wines by the glass or bottle and nibble on elevated bar bites. The patio bar is open 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, spring through fall. 1695 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-956-5120, farniente.com/visit-bella-union

Happy Hour at Benovia Winery

Walk-ins are welcome from 4:30-7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month, when the Russian River Valley winery offers small-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay by the glass, plus complimentary snacks. 3339 Hartman Road, Santa Rosa, 707-921-1040, benoviawinery.com

Street Food Happy Hour at Clif Family Winery

On Wednesdays, the St. Helena producer’s Bruschetteria Food Truck features a rotating street-food menu inspired by global flavors and made with ingredients grown on the family’s organic farm. Drop by for discounted happy hour pricing on wines by the glass between 4-7 p.m., along with live music. 709 Main St., St. Helena, 707-968-0625, cliffamily.com

Third Thursdays Happy Hour at Dutton-Goldfield Winery

The Sebastopol winery welcomes walk-in guests from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, with happy hour pricing on wines by the glass and bottle service. Small bites are free. 3100 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-827-3600, duttongoldfield.com

Third Thursdays at Markham Vineyards

The St. Helena winery opens its historic Stone Cellar from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month for wines by the glass, live music and local food trucks. The events are family- and dog-friendly. 2812 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-963-5292, markhamvineyards.com

Food Truck Saturdays at Roche Winery & Vineyards

Roche welcomes a rotating lineup of food trucks to the Sonoma winery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday. Vendors cook up wine-friendly casual eats, from tacos to pizzas to grilled sandwiches. 22097A Bonness Road, Sonoma, 707-935-7115, rochewinery.com

Thursday Happy Hour at Russian River Vineyards

Through October, head to the Forestville winery on Thursday evenings, from 5-7:30 p.m., for special pricing on wines by the glass, plus local craft beer and housemade appetizers. Wines start at $8 per glass. 5700 Highway 116 N., Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com

Social Hour at St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery

The Rutherford winery offers selected wines by the glass for $10 and bottle offerings starting at $40. Social Hour runs 2-4 p.m., Wednesday to Friday, through the end of May — or longer. Reservations are recommended for larger groups. 8440 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, 707-302-3488, stsupery.com

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Book clubs are typically low-key affairs — conversations over snacks, perhaps a bottle of wine, in someone’s living room. In Sonoma and Napa counties, however, a growing number of restaurants, wineries and lounges are reimagining the format, turning literary gatherings into immersive, food- and wine-centered experiences.

At Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen, that reinvention comes with an unusual twist: guests are encouraged to bring their own food. The restaurant’s quarterly cookbook club doubles as both a discussion group and a potluck.

“I’m into food, obviously, and I love building community,” said owner Lauren Kershner, who launched the Songbird Parlour Cookbook Club in early March. “So, to pull those two together was just a natural thing for me.”

Each quarter, participants prepare a dish from a selected cookbook and share it with the group. They bring their own plates and utensils, while the restaurant offers a curated list of wines for $10 a glass.

About 25 people attended the inaugural gathering, cooking from “Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking” by Bonnie Frumkin Morales. Many discovered the event through the Sonoma County Foodies Facebook page.

While cooking for self-described “foodies” might sound intimidating, Kershner emphasized that the atmosphere is intentionally relaxed.

“Let’s just get together and have no real agenda,” she said. “You don’t have to overthink it or commit a lot of resources to it. People can just show up and be themselves.”

At Dutcher Crossing Winery in Geyserville, wine is the lead character in the Sips & Stories Book Club.

The quarterly gathering pairs a featured book with themed wines and light bites for purchase. At its February kickoff, about a dozen attendees discussed “The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It,” sipping as they traded impressions. The club is open to both wine club members and the public.

“We’re all about fostering community and creating meaningful connections,” said Lauren Fairlee, the winery’s wine club manager and the club’s founder. “[This] felt like a natural extension of that spirit.”

Ultimately, she added, “It’s about conversation, shared experiences and building relationships in a relaxed, welcoming environment.”

In Napa, Leilani Baugh, known as Chef Leilani, has taken a similar approach at Vin En Noir, her hybrid wine lounge and bookstore, where offerings spotlight people of color and women winemakers.

Her Books and Bottles club meets on the second Saturday of each month.

Baugh, an avid reader who often unwinds with a book and a glass of wine, said the idea came easily as book clubs surged in popularity.

“We already had a wine lounge,” she said. “Creating a book club there felt like the perfect idea.”

Though she gravitates toward thrillers and romantasy — a blend of romance and fantasy — Baugh lets members shape the reading list.

“I like talking with everyone to learn their reading tastes and preferences, so the book selections reflect the group as a whole,” she said. “That means we tend to explore a mix of genres — romance, romantasy, thrillers and other page-turners that spark great conversation.”

The evenings are deliberately informal, with wine and small bites available as guests discuss characters and themes. For Baugh, the aim is less about promoting products than about creating a sense of belonging.

“What started as people gathering to talk about books over a glass of wine quickly grew into something bigger,” she said. “It’s really about creating a place where people can slow down, enjoy a good book, sip a great glass of wine, and connect with others who love being a little bookish.”

Wine Country Book Clubs

Azur Book Club: Monthly meetups at the Napa winery feature wines by the glass and bottle. Azur Winery, 1014 Clinton St., Napa. 707-812-4203, azurwines.com

Books and Bottles: The club meets every second Saturday to discuss the latest book and sip wines by people of color and women winemakers. Vin En Noir, 1001 Caymus St., Napa. 707-637-4088, vinennoir.com

Silent Book Club: Not in the mood to mingle? Each month, members of the Santa Rosa chapter meet at a local bar or restaurant to silently read in each other’s company. silentbook.club

Sips & Stories Book Club: Quarterly gatherings include book-themed wines and snacks for purchase. Dutcher Crossing Winery, 8533 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville. 707-431-2700, dutchercrossingwinery.com

Songbird Parlour Cookbook Club: Members meet quarterly at the restaurant to share dishes from a designated cookbook. Email info@songbirdparlour.com to sign up. Songbird Parlour, 14301 Arnold Drive, Suite 3, Glen Ellen. 707-343-1308, songbirdparlour.com

Sonoma Valley Regional Library Cookbook Club: Each month, members browse a selection of themed cookbooks, then prepare and share their dishes. Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 707-996-5217, sonomalibrary.org/events

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There’s no denying that times are tough for the wine industry right now, with sales declining and some longtime tasting rooms shutting their doors. Last month, St. Helena’s Newton Vineyard and Calistoga’s Twomey closed, followed by family-owned Thumbprint Cellars in Healdsburg (the winery plans to move operations to its rural Geyserville headquarters).

On the positive side, wine remains a major draw for Sonoma and Napa county organizations working to do good and support charitable causes. So far, many local wineries continue to sponsor and take part in fundraising events that ultimately cost them money. Typically, they donate both the wines being poured and those up for auction, all in support of nonprofit organizations.

For wineries, sponsoring fundraising events elevates their brands, expands their reach to a wider audience and provides tax deductions.

For nonprofits, winery sponsorship can boost event participation and markedly increase profits while reducing costs.

Earlier this month, a 9-liter bottle (called a Salmanazar) of 2021 Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon fetched a jaw-dropping $225,000 at the 2025 Champions Wine Auction and Dinner at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas. (Not bad for a bottle that retails for $49 in its 750 ml format!) The event benefited the Houston Rodeo Education Fund, which provides scholarships, grants and educational programs for Texas youth.

The St. Helena winery can now boast the winning bid came from a real estate development group that included recording artist Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

In addition to fundraising events supporting charitable causes, there are also a number of events throughout the year that directly support wine regions, wine growers and winemakers, including the upcoming Stags Leap District’s Vineyard to Vintner Weekend and the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley’s Passport to Dry Creek Valley festival (April 25-27).

Here are a couple of upcoming events where your ticket will support good causes or local wineries while offering entertainment, fine food and, of course, plenty of wine.

Fourth Annual V Foundation for Cancer Research Sonoma Epicurean, March 27-30

The four-day festival in Healdsburg features hands-on experiences with award-winning chefs, local artisans and world-class vintners. It’s so popular that the three-day all-inclusive passes have already sold out ($2,750), but tickets are still available for a few à la carte activities, including the hallmark Gala & Auction at the Montage Healdsburg luxury resort.

The evening offers a lavish, seven-course dinner from Montage executive chef Jason Pringle, showcasing dishes such as guinea hen with snap peas, Thumbelina carrots and sauce Blanquette alongside 2021 Lynmar Estate Sonoma Chardonnay, and Wagyu beef with fondant potato, fava and truffles paired with 2021 Knights Bridge Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dozens of notable wineries have supplied 20 auction lots for the event, including Windsor’s Bricoleur Vineyards and Cirq, Healdsburg’s Aperture Cellars and Valette Wines, and Sonoma’s Three Sticks Wines. The lots include exclusive activities. The highest bidder on the Aperture lot, for example, will enjoy a vacation at Montage Los Cabos for a private dinner hosted by winery owner and winemaker Jesse Katz.

One of the most popular lots each year is the “Instant Cellar,” a collection of rare, high-end Sonoma County wines, including some that are only available to wine club members. This year, the haul includes 48 different bottles.

Last year, the gala raised $3.4 million for V Foundation for Cancer Research, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the cause. Since its founding in 1993, the nonprofit has funded nearly $400 million in cancer research grants nationwide.

Gala & Auction tickets are $1,500 and are available at sonomaepicurean.v.org.

Stags Leap District’s Vineyard to Vintner Weekend, April 25-27

The Stags Leap American Viticultural Area (AVA) is tiny — just three miles long and one mile wide, with less than two dozen wineries.

Famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, the appellation includes boutique operations like Malk Family Vineyards, which produces only 800 cases each year, as well as well-known wineries like Baldacci Family Vineyards, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. The two Stags are different operations, distinguished by the placement of the apostrophe; (the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Paris Tasting, also known as the “Judgement of Paris”).

To support its wine producers, the appellation has its own nonprofit — The Stags Leap District Winegrowers, an association of vintners and growers who work together to help protect the Napa Valley region, enhance its reputation and boost sales of its wines.

For the past two decades, the organization has hosted an annual fundraising weekend, anchored by the Savor Sunday event ($325), a tour of multiple wineries with special treats at each stop, like the popular poolside pizza party at the hilltop Lindstrom Wines.

For less driving around, the Saturday Taste of the Neighborhood event ($325) is a walking tour, tasting and luncheon in the Regusci Winery gardens that includes dozens of wines, live music and food from new top-notch Napa Valley restaurants Charlie’s, Stateline Road Smokehouse and Violetto.

Tickets are available at stagsleapdistrict.com/V2V.

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There’s long been an inside joke among winery folks that their favorite beverage is beer.

Every year during harvest, when I stop by local hot spots like El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma or the Restaurant at North Block in Yountville, I can count on finding groups of winemakers hanging out at the bars, holding craft brew mugs in their grape-stained hands.

They love wine but they’ve had enough, they’ll admit. And so, perhaps, have younger drinkers, according to recent statistics.

It’s no secret that the wine industry is facing challenging times, as Gen Z and millennial consumers are exploring alternatives to wine, like cocktails, hard seltzers and beer — or nonalcoholic drinks. Many traditional wine tasting destinations are feeling the pain, with visits declining.

To meet new demands, the industry is pivoting. Winery behemoth Constellation Brands Inc., for example, just reported that beer now represents nearly 82% of its sales, according to the company’s annual earnings report. Last week, Constellation even entered negotiations to sell its entire wine portfolio to two other top producers.

So it won’t surprise me to see more wine tasting rooms entering into partnerships, offering beer and other drinks in their expensive-to-operate spaces. Here are some of my current local favorites pouring wine and beer.

Mad Fritz Brewing Co. and Jessup Wine Cellars

The Mad Fritz taproom opened last spring in Yountville, sharing a charming stone and clapboard cottage with Jessup Wine Cellars on Washington Street. The tiny-batch, high-end beers have been a cult favorite around Napa Valley for more than a decade, poured at The French Laundry and Solage Calistoga among other upscale joints and so coveted that there is a waiting list for the members club.

Husband-and-wife owners Nile Zacherle and Whitney Fisher (both longtime winemakers, by the way) use craft-malted single-variety barley and French oak barrels to age the double or triple fermented beers for up to 12 months.

Flavors change seasonally and the beers usually have delightful names referencing Grimms’ Fairy Tales, such as The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, a funky, dry saison with a hint of pineapple. My favorite is the mildly bitter and spicy Peach Project, made with organic peaches from Cervantes Family Vineyard in St. Helena and Triumph hops from the Alexander Valley Hops farm in Sonoma County.

The beer bar is tiny — it used to be the Yountville town jail long ago — but hip with its record player and vinyl collection. A sign encourages you to “Yo! Be your own DJ!” and select records (but please heed a newly taped-up sign that says, “Now! Don’t steal them!”).

Step into the adjacent lounge and you’ll find the Jessup Wine Cellars wine bar, a comfy spot to sip standouts like the 2019 Juel blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Petite Verdot.

“We definitely get couples where one wants wine and the other wants beer,” Zacherle said. “I think, as a collective property, we offer a lot of variety.”

Technically, that couple would not sit together, given licensing differences between a beer and a wine business. But with the shared footprint and open wall between the two rooms, the happy pair can toast each other mere feet apart.

6720 Washington St., Yountville, 707-968-5058, madfritz.com

6740 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-5620, jessupcellars.com

Coyote Sonoma and Wilson Artisan Wines

Ken and Diane Wilson own 11 wine businesses across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, including Coyote Sonoma in Healdsburg. The Coyote space used to be the Sonoma Cider taproom, so it made sense for the Wilsons to fill it with local craft beers, alongside their own wine selections.

Beer lovers will find 18 craft brews on tap, from local producers like Parliament Brewing, HenHouse Brewing, Cooperage Brewing and Russian River Brewing.

Wine lovers have two options. There’s a full tasting room with wine and optional food pairings, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. There’s also a wine list in the taproom, which is open 4 p.m. until the bar closes Wednesday through Saturday.

Coyote Sonoma hosts live music almost every Friday and Saturday night and has launched a Coyote Sonoma Locals Club that offers complimentary or discounted tickets to most live music events. For $25 per month, club members get one bottle of wine that can be enjoyed on site during a show with free corkage.

“It’s really affordable and particularly attractive at a time where people seem to be more conscious of expenses,” said Wilson marketing specialist Katie Ambrosi. “Even if someone isn’t much of a wine lover, they enjoy the club because it brings such great access to music at a venue with a healthy beer selection.”

44-F Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-395-8846, wilsonartisanwines.com

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery

St. Clair Brown opened on the edge of downtown Napa in 2013 as a Wine Country wonderland featuring an industrial-chic facility making handcrafted small-lot wines and microbrew beers surrounded by lavish culinary gardens with a café in an English-style greenhouse.

Owners Elaine St. Clair (winemaker and brewmaster) and Laina Brown (winery executive) pulled out all the stops and paid attention to details, like the retro typewritten labels that are tied to the bottles with twine.

I remember the first time I visited back then and how delighted I was when the Napa Valley Wine Train chugged by on the tracks mere feet from that greenhouse. The conductor honked the locomotive’s horn in a long, soulful hello and all of us café guests shared friendly waves with the train riders.

The experience is just as magical now as we can taste flights of wine, beer or even housemade nonalcoholic garden cocktails, with optional food pairings.

You’ll definitely want to try the food, which is presented in jewel box nibbles that highlight produce from the garden, which was planted by organic culinary gardener Peter Jacobsen (he is the owner of Jacobsen Orchards in Yountville and grows specialty fruits, herbs, vegetables and edible flowers for several Michelin-starred restaurants, including The French Laundry).

I still dream of my last visit, when I savored pork rillettes tucked into a glass jar with fig-apricot-lemon compote, and a pretty salad of farro and Rancho Gordo quinoa dotted with pickled radishes, Pinot Grigio-soaked golden raisins, sweet pea sprouts and blossoms.

Check the website calendar, too, for pop-ups in the cellar that turns into a sophisticated speakeasy. To get in, look for the neon peace sign, knock twice and share the password (that changes weekly). Then slip inside for DJ-spun music, wine and beer by candlelight and dancing amid the fuchsia-strobe-lit stainless steel tanks.

816 Vallejo St., Napa, 707-255-5591, stclairbrown.com

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I may not want to “Eat Dirt,” but I’m sure as heck going to try it, if only to blast proof-of-life photos all over my social media. And I think that free advertising is exactly what the team at Priest Ranch is counting on with their new, teasingly subtitled “Taste The Terroir” pairing at their Yountville tasting room.

More on that actual experience later, but this is just one example of how local wineries are increasingly trying to bring in younger generations. Older adults may be surprised, but some local food pairings have been evolving past elegant, expected nibbles like dainty bites of roast duck with Pinot Noir.

Recently, I’ve been seeing more out-there offerings, ranging from sour cream and chive potato chips, to seasonal Halloween candy, to cotton candy fluff (truly, served with a Dry Creek Valley winery’s sparkling Moscato).

Some of them work surprisingly well.

The other week, I was at the Anderson Valley International White Wine Festival in Boonville, and snacked on wasabi peas while I sipped a 2023 Matanzas Creek California Chenin Blanc. The tongue-tingling fiery, crunchy snack made me salivate, bringing out the wine’s intriguing prickly pear, green banana and salty acidity. I later bought a package of wasabi peas for my home sipping regimen.

It’s also true that others matchings don’t succeed.

I still tremble over the trauma of the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos one Calistoga winery pushed on me alongside its syrupy sweet Muscat dessert concoction a few years ago (that tasting room has since closed).

As always with wine, your palate is personal, so stop in at these tasting rooms to see if these pairings work for you. And then if you want to go home and eat jelly beans while sipping Grenache, just remember, it’s whatever makes you happy.

Potato chips and pizzettas at Silver Trident

Long known for its Potato Chip Extravaganza that brings five wines paired with five flavors of potato chips ($75), the Yountville winery has two things to announce.

One, the tasting room has moved, relocating from its posh stone building that also housed an eye-candy Ralph Lauren store to a smaller, much less flashy salon tucked behind Wells Fargo Bank on Washington Street.

Two, we can now dig into a Pizza Pairing. Which is not a novel idea, but is fun any way you slice it. These noshes are actually pizzettas, specifically tall slabs of crusty, airy focaccia with a variety of toppings, like sweet butternut squash, feta, basil and hot honey paired with Apollo’s Folly Rosé of Pinot Noir.

It’s pricey at $80, so you can make your own decision about paying that for savory topped bread made by a caterer and warmed up in a toaster oven behind the tasting room’s front desk.

But if you’re curious about trying the elegant wines, the pizzettas elevate the tasting.

A Symphony No. 9 Sauvignon Blanc is good with the goat cheese, golden beets, pickled red onion and shiso slice, while the Benevolent Dictator Pinot Noir is excellent with duck confit, spiced plum balsamic and peppercress.

Playing with Fire Red Blend matches smoothly with meaty maitake mushrooms and curls of spicy capicola (dry-cured pork salume), and Twenty Seven Fathoms fits perfectly with red wine-braised beef, caramelized fennel, thyme and alderwood smoked sea salt.

For an extra $20, you can sit on the patio and treat your dog, too. The new Puppy Pairings is an add-on luxury bringing a take-home Silver Trident-branded water bowl and four handmade doggy treats. It’s a cute menu — a wine bottle shaped peanut butter rye cookie, a blueberry “Grrr-Nola” bone, a wine glass shaped peanut butter rice cookie, and a Nuggets the Squirrel peanut butter and oats treat.

6484 Washington St., Yountville, 707-945-0311, silvertridentwinery.com

Chocolate ‘dirt’ at Priest Ranch

The soil in the new “Eat Dirt” pairing turns out to be chocolate “soils,” as in high-end cacao-based delicacies from chocolatier Chris Kollar of Yountville’s Kollar Chocolates. Or as the winery’s website endearingly calls them, “clumps.”

Four bonbons pair with four wines ($65), in flavors including a Loam & Lemon of Meyer lemon white chocolate with bee pollen, raw sugar and Oreo crumbs for nibbling with Block 71 Sauvignon Blanc. I’m not a fan of dulling a great wine with what’s usually aggressive chocolate, but this pairing is a winner, nicely floral and gently sweet.

The Clay & Cocoa pairing is another success, delivering pomegranate-pink peppercorn spiked dark chocolate ganache, cocoa nibs and chocolate crumbs paired with Block 136 Cabernet Sauvignon.

I have to admit that, to me, it’s a reach to say the chocolate — even the shaved chocolate ribbon of crumbles snaking down the middle of the wood serving board — can reflect the soil characters in which grapes are grown. But then, perhaps I just haven’t eaten enough dirt.

6490 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-8200, priestranchwines.com

PB&J bruschetta and polenta tots at Clif Family

For a do-it-yourself pairing, the St. Helena winery offers its own Clif Family Bruschetteria food truck. A wine educator is on hand to guide you through the menu if need be, but mix and match as you like.

Try the vegan, gluten-free polenta tots made with heirloom red flint corn and chili powder, paired with the Clif Chardonnay, or the Firecracker Salad with kale, Napa cabbage, Meyer lemon-miso dressing, pickled carrots and sweet and spicy curry seeds alongside the Clif Viognier.

If the specialty PB&J bruschetta is on offer, get that, too. Housemade blackberry jam, melds with peanut butter, wildflower honey mousse, crunchy roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds on grilled Model Bakery sourdough. I like it with the light and relatively dry Grenache Rosé, which balances the sweet jelly and creamy peanut butter.

709 Main St., St. Helena, 707-968-0625, cliffamily.com

The post Puppy Pairings, Potato Chips and PB&J: Here’s How Napa Wineries Are Attracting a Younger Audience appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

You don’t have to study wine to enjoy drinking it. But learning more about its origins and nuances can certainly enhance the experience.

Julie Rothberg, the founder of Odyssey Wine Academy in Healdsburg, points out that wine classes such as those offered through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) can help people discover regions and wines they otherwise wouldn’t encounter.

“It’s really just giving people a global perspective on wines,” said Rothberg, who is also the president of Medlock Ames winery in Healdsburg. “Especially here in Northern California, we very much have a ‘house palate’ because we’re drinking what’s close. But there’s this whole world of wine that’s just so amazing and fantastic.”

Rothberg and other expert instructors teach WSET courses at Odyssey’s original spot in Bacchus Landing, as well as at a new location at Avinage wine shop in downtown Petaluma.

She said she likes the WSET program because it teaches a systematic approach to tasting.

“It’s a way to break down wine into its structure and components and aromas and flavors, which allows you to really understand what it is you’re drinking,” she said. “It tells you something about where it came from and it helps you enjoy and evaluate a wine so that instead of just saying, ‘I like a big bold red,’ or, ‘I like fruity wines,’ you’re able to really articulate that you like high-acid wines or softer tannins or something with a really rich mouthfeel.”

Although some of Rothberg’s students are wine professionals, she said many are people who are just passionate about wine. “About half the students don’t work in wine,” she explained. “They just love it and want to learn more.”

Here’s where to find wine tasting classes — from half-day workshops to multilevel courses — in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

Sonoma County wine classes

Idlewild Wines Sunday School

Every Sunday, the tasting room in downtown Healdsburg hosts a deep dive into the world of Italian wines — including those made in Italy and wines made from Italian grape varieties grown in California. Idlewild founder and winemaker Sam Bilbro leads the Sunday afternoon events ($50), with each focusing on a different region or producer. This spring, look for a comparative tasting of wines from Friuli and the Südtirol with selections from Comunitá, Idlewild’s sister winery.

132 Plaza St., Healdsburg. idlewildwines.com

Odyssey Wine Academy

Located at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg and Avinage wine shop in Petaluma, Odyssey Wine Academy offers three levels of WSET certification courses ($385-$1,600), as well as smaller, private classes on request. The single-day Level 1 course, aimed at wine novices, introduces students to the components of Old- and New World wines. Level 2, consisting of two full-day classes, is better suited to people who work in the wine industry or already have some wine knowledge and would like to make a career change. The intensive Level 3 course, a precursor to the WSET Diploma certification, involves four months of advanced classes.

Bacchus Landing: 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg. Avinage: 15 Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma. odysseywineacademy.com

Napa Valley wine Classes

Compline

A locals’ favorite for its excellent burger with duck fat fries and its intriguing wine selection, this restaurant and wine shop in downtown Napa also offers seated wine seminars ($100) throughout the year. Recent themes for the two-hour evening sessions have included a tasting with Axel Heinz of Château Lascombes in Bordeaux and a Tokaj Masterclass with Hungarian wine importer Eric Danch.

1300 First St., Suite 312, Napa. complinewine.com

The Culinary Institute of America at Copia

For those who want to know the full story behind one of California’s most famous appellations, the CIA’s local outpost offers The History of Napa Valley in 8 Glasses ($85). Over 90 minutes, participants learn about the region’s soils and microclimates while tasting wines from some of the region’s pioneers.

500 First St., Napa. ciafoodies.com

Napa Valley Wine Academy

Along with WSET Level 1 to Level 4 courses ($399-$1,197), the academy offers weekly blind tasting workshops ($45). The hourlong study sessions are led by Master of Wine candidates and suitable for anyone who wants to become a better taster, delve into wine structure, grape varieties and more. Monthly master class sessions ($129) feature interactive tastings led by top wine specialists, covering such topics as Coombsville Cabernet Franc. The two-day Champagne Specialist course ($799) explores the history, production methods and tasting techniques of French sparkling wines. For those who can’t make it to in-person classes, there are lots of online options.

2501 Oak St., Napa. napavalleywineacademy.com

The post Where To Take Wine Tasting Classes in Wine Country appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

The wait is finally over. Summer is here and with it, a good reminder of why Wine Country is a top getaway spot.

Warm, sunny days make it oh, so easy to spend more time outside. From lingering on winery patios, to watching movies under the stars, there’s a plethora of fun reasons to add Napa Valley to this summer’s must-do list. If it’s been a bit since you visited the county, here are a few of our favorite new spots to sip, eat, and call it a night.

Summer Sips

Back and Better Than Ever

After more than six years of planning and construction, the new Signorello Estate winery is open for daily tastings. Destroyed by the 2017 Atlas Fire, the new state-of-the-art winery is virtually fireproof, built into a hillside and is constructed of steel, concrete and glass. Solar-powered, it now operates entirely off-the-grid. Open daily by appointment. 4500 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-255-5990, signorelloestate.com

Just Down the Block

Small production winery Silver Trident is settling in to its new digs on Washington Street in Yountville. The new location is just a short walk from the original, next to the Yountville Visitors Center and across the street from another recent newcomer, Thomas Keller’s RO Restaurant and Lounge.

Guests can choose from a traditional, sit-down wine tasting experience, or crunch their way through a flight of five wines paired with potato chips in Silver Trident’s Potato Chip Extravaganza tasting. The tasting room also carries a wide range of Ralph Lauren products, olive oil, coffee, tabletop goods, artwork and more. Open Thursday through Monday; reservations required. 6484 Washington St., Yountville, 707-945-0311, silvertridentwinery.com

Casual, Walk-In Wine Tasting

Wine label Adaptation now has a dedicated space to call its own at Odette Estate Winery in Napa. Part of the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries, the new tasting space is geared toward folks searching for a casual wine tasting experience.

The Adaptation Experience features four wines, including two vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Odette Reserve Chardonnay. Each wine is paired with a different flavored potato chip.

Cost is $60; bottle service is also available. 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-690-1213, odetteestate.com

New Look

The historic stone barrel room at St. Helena’s Ehlers Estate is fresh off a redesign. Dating back to 1886, the updated tasting room interiors showcase the building’s rich Napa Valley history. 3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena, 707-963-5972, ehlersestate.com

Fresh Eats & Drinks

Grand Opening

If you needed another excuse to head to Calistoga, Robert’s Tropical Table is it. The outdoor space, located next to the Mount View Hotel on Lincoln Avenue, features tropical-inspired specialty cocktails and bites, including jerk chicken and a jerk pork belly slider. Raised in Jamaica, owner Robert Jones, has been a mixologist in Napa Valley for more than seven years with stints behind the bar at nearby Solage, and most recently Brasswood Bar & Kitchen in St. Helena. 1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, robertstropicaltable.com

Mother Nature’s Flavor

You’ll happily eat your veggies at the Grange Harvest Dinner Series at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Napa. Celebrating local ingredients and the farmers that grow them, dinners are held at the property’s onsite chef’s garden, The Grange. July’s theme is tomatoes. Yum! 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, 707-699-6200, aubergeresorts.com

Endless Summer of Pies

Pizza pies, that is. Now through November, The Grove restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia is hosting a pizza pop-up.

Diners will be able to try a variety of pizzas from around the world, including Napoletana, Siciliana, Okonomiyaki, New York, Chicago (deep-dish), California Neapolitan and more. Featured pizza styles will change every two weeks and guest chefs will drop by through mid-October to make pizza on The Grove’s outdoor terrace. Chef Leah Scurto, owner of PizzaLeah in Windsor, will be on hand Aug. 2 – 3. 500 First St., Napa, 707-967-2500, ciaatcopia.com

Celebrating 25 Years

2024 marks a quarter of a century for Gott’s Roadside and the eatery is celebrating with monthly seasonal specials. July choices include a wild coho salmon sandwich, wild coho salmon Nicoise salad paired with grilled street corn, and watermelon wedges with feta and mint. There’s also a rotating selection of milkshakes, with blueberry on the menu for this month.

Since its founding, Gott’s has grown from one restaurant to eight locations throughout the Bay Area. Along with the original location in St. Helena, there’s a second Napa Valley location in Oxbow Public Market. 933 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-3486; 644 First St., Napa, 707-224-6900, gotts.com

Hotel Happenings

Calling All Art Lovers

Local artists have a new venue to showcase their talent. Hosted by Napa’s River Terrace Inn, the monthly Art Along the River series will feature a diverse selection of work, including ceramics, jewelry, oil paintings and other handmade items. It’s free to attend; artists will have their work available for sale, and food and drink will be available for purchase.

The Art Along the River series will be held along the River Terrace Inn’s riverwalk from 1 to 7 p.m. on select Saturdays, July 13, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9. 1600 Soscol Ave., Napa, 707-927-2217, riverterraceinn.com

Moonlight Movies

The lush lawn at Carneros Resort and Spa is doing double-duty as an outdoor movie theater during the month of July. Onsite restaurant Farm will be offering seasonal small plates inspired by each featured movie. Moonlight Movies on the July calendar include Ratatouille (July 5), The Devil Wears Prada (July 12) and Wine Country (July 26). All movies start at sunset, between 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. Admission is complimentary; outside food, drinks and chairs are not allowed. 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 866-860-2328, carnerosresort.com

The post What’s New in Napa Valley This Summer: Where to Eat, Drink and Stay appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Napa is one of the most popular destinations for wine tasting in the world. But with hundreds of wineries to choose from, deciding where to start sipping can be difficult.

Downtown Napa offers a great introduction to the area with a variety of tastings rooms that allow visitors to sample a selection of wines from the same winemaker or even different wineries. Many of the tasting rooms here are family-owned and operated, which gives visitors an opportunity to meet the people behind the wines. And, as an added bonus, downtown Napa also is home to several breweries and distilleries. The best part: Whether you prefer wine, beer or spirits, all tasting rooms are within walking distance, so you can park your car and get your steps in.

From old-school to modern and sleek, from the classics to new favorites, click through the above gallery for some of the best spots for tasting wine, beer and spirits in downtown Napa. 

Jess Lander contributed to this article. 

The post The Best Tasting Rooms in Downtown Napa appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

As Sonoma County continues to ease pandemic restrictions and Wine Country reopens, local wineries are thrilled to finally be able to offer a wider variety of in-person tasting experiences to their guests. And wine lovers have reason to be excited, too. In addition to finally being able to enjoy their favorite wines from someplace other than their homes, they have a variety of new food and wine pairings to look forward to. Click through the above gallery to see what some of our favorite wineries are serving up right now.

The post 4 New Wine Tasting Experiences to Check Out in Sonoma and Napa appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Napa Valley is home to more than 400 wineries, and every one of them has a way of turning heads. From sweeping vineyard views and lush gardens to stunning tasting spaces and towering castles, picking the most beautiful wineries in Napa Valley is next to impossible. For a taste of some of the standouts, click through the gallery above. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.

The post The Most Beautiful Wineries in Napa Valley appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.