It’s time to get those calendars organized and start blocking off the many days you need to stay put in Wine Country, because an amazing lineup of food and wine festivals are getting ready to kick off in Sonoma County and Napa Valley. Think award-winning vino and bites that, in some cases, are paired with famous musicians from around the globe.
Read below for details on upcoming food and wine events in Sonoma and Napa counties, and scroll through the gallery above to see scenes from previous years’ events.
Wine Road’s Barrel Tasting Weekend, March 1-2
Wine Road Sonoma County’s barrel tasting weekend welcomes this year’s attendees to experience library wines, step into the cellar and explore barrel wines or simply enjoy current vintages and stock up on some wines at the event. Participating wineries are located throughout northern Sonoma County, including in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Guerneville, Forestville, Sebastopol, Cloverdale and Geyserville. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 1-2. Tickets are $80 for the weekend, $60 for Sunday only and $10 for the designated driver. Find more information at wineroad.com.
Passport to Dry Creek Valley, April 25-27
Now in its 34th year, Passport to Dry Creek Valley welcomes visitors to over 25 wineries throughout one of Sonoma County’s most famous wine regions, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 26 and 27. Along with stellar wine and food pairings during the weekend, there will be a “Twilight Welcome Party” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg. Tickets are $35 per day for non-drinkers, $95 per day for weekend Passport guests, $175 for a two-day Passport (Saturday and Sunday) and $150 for the Friday Twilight Welcome Party. Purchase tickets at drycreekvalley.org.
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, May 15-18
Local farmers, winemakers and chefs will showcase the renowned food and wine made in Sonoma County during the fourth annual Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, May 15-18. Over a dozen talented chefs from Sonoma County and around the world, including chefs Antonia Lofaso and Stephanie Izard, will craft seasonal bites for the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting on May 17.
Part of the proceeds from the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience go to local nonprofits, including Farm to Pantry and the Healdsburg chapter of Future Farmers of America. Tickets start from $200 for select events; the platinum VIP weekend package is $4,500. Events take place around the county. Find more information and purchase tickets at healdsburgwineandfood.com.
BottleRock Napa Valley, May 23-25
Wine Country’s biggest music festival returns on Memorial Day Weekend, taking place at the Napa Valley Expo. This year’s headliners include Green Day, Justin Timberlake and Noah Kahan. Some notable Bay Area musicians in the lineup include E-40, Remi Wolf, 4 Non Blondes and The Silverado Pickups.
BottleRock Napa Valley will also serve some of the best cuisine in Wine Country, including from Michelin-starred PRESS Restaurant, Morimoto Napa, Stateline Road Smokehouse, Gerard’s Paella and HopMonk Tavern. A number of Napa Valley wineries will be pouring at the event, as well as Petaluma’s Lagunitas Brewing Company.
General admission is $233 for a one-day pass and $456 for a three-day pass. VIP and Skydeck tickets are currently sold out. Purchase tickets at bottlerocknapavalley.com/tickets.
Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa, bottlerocknapavalley.com
North Coast Wine & Food Festival, June 14
Nearly 100 gold-winning wines from the North Coast Wine Challenge will be served alongside dishes from 25 much-loved Wine Country chefs from 1-4 p.m. on June 14 at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. This event is organized by The Press Democrat, sister publication of Sonoma Magazine. Designated driver tickets are $60, general admission is $130 and VIP tickets are $260. Purchase tickets online (includes a 15% convenience fee) or in person at the LBC ticket office (no extra fees).
The North Coast Wine & Food Festival supports local nonprofit Sonoma Family Meal, a network of chefs, farmers and food producers fighting food insecurity during disasters. Heather Irwin, dining editor at Sonoma Magazine, founded the nonprofit.
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-521-5231, northcoastwineandfood.com
Taste of Sonoma, June 21
More than 100 wineries will be pouring at this walk-around wine tasting event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 21, at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa. There will be wine seminars, food trucks, themed wine lounges and a beer garden. Early bird ticket pricing ($190 for general admission and $240 for VIP admission, plus fees and sales tax) is available through April 30. A Valentine’s Day sale of $20 off (with promo code 25TOS-VALENTINE) is available through Feb. 17. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, tasteofsonoma.com
Taste of Napa, July 12
Festival Napa Valley’s annual Taste of Napa, its signature celebration of the valley’s food and wine, will be held from noon to 3 p.m., July 12, at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa. The event will include offerings from Napa Valley wineries, breweries, restaurants and chefs, plus live music and activities. Early Bird tickets are $125 per guest and are on sale now. A limited number of Reserve Tasting Salon tickets are available for $295. The Reserve Tasting Salon includes early access at 11 a.m. as well as exclusive wine tastings in a private setting. Purchase tickets online.
Taste of Napa is part of Festival Napa Valley’s Summer Season, which takes place at venues throughout Napa Valley, July 5-20. A full lineup of events will be announced in March.
The Meritage Resort & Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, festivalnapavalley.org
Gravenstein Apple Fair, Aug. 9-10
The 52nd annual Gravenstein Apple Fair, Sebastopol’s beloved, long-running festival celebrating all things Gravenstein, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 9-10, Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol. In addition to the famed apple in all its forms (cider, sauce, pie and more), there will be a number of north bay food vendors offering farm-fresh meals, snacks and sweet treats. There will also be live music, children’s activities and contests, such as apple pie baking, apple juggling and caramel apple eating challenges. Stay tuned for more info on tickets.
Ragle Ranch Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, 707-495-5544, gravensteinapplefair.com
Blue Note Jazz Festival’s Black Radio Experience, Aug. 29-31
Last year, Napa’s Blue Note Jazz Festival introduced The Black Radio Experience, in lieu of the annual jazz festival. The three-day festival in 2024, held at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, featured artist-in-residence and Grammy award winner Robert Glasper along with headliners John Legend, Jill Scott and Andre 3000. Live music was accompanied by a variety of food and drink options, plus after parties.
The Black Radio Experience will return for Labor Day weekend at the The Meritage Resort & Spa. Robert Glasper will return for the festival, and the full lineup will be announced in April. Find updates and ticket information at bluenotejazz.com/black-radio-experience.
The Meritage Resort & Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, meritageresort.com, bluenotejazz.com
Sonoma County Harvest Fair Grand Tasting, Oct. 11
A local favorite since 1975, this event introduces attendees to new favorite wines to add to their collection. The event includes professional food and wine competitions, as well as an amateur wine competition. Find more information and tickets, when they become available in May, at harvestfair.org.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4203, harvestfair.org
Dana Rebmann, Ana Fingerson and Maci Martell contributed to this article.