Sonoma County is no slouch when it comes to putting on world-class events. But the one that’s on everyone’s annual to-do: Wine Country Weekend.
The three-day event starts with winemaker dinners and barbecues throughout the county and a gala dinner at Francis Ford Coppola Winery on Friday, August 29 from 6:30 to 10p.m. Locals know that the poolside stage and million-dollar vineyard views make this Geyserville destination worth the drive, but with Chef John Toulze of the girl & the fig in the kitchen and more than 25 wineries pouring, this kick-off sets the tone for a weekend of indulgence.
Saturday’s Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch is gastro-overload with 65 restaurants and more than 150 wineries sampling gourmet bites with Sonoma’s best wines. Let’s just say you have to work very, very hard to get to even half of the goodies on hand. Other Saturday events include wine and food pairings with Kendall Jackson, wine tours with Sonoma’s Sommelier Stars, a self-guided tour of the MacMurray estate, a Steel Chef competition (BiteClub will be judging!) and plenty of bubbly in the Bubble Lounge.
If you’re still able to stand upright by Sunday, the Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction raises some serious cheddar (last year it was $700,000) for literacy, mentoring, health and housing, arts and nutritional programs right here in Sonoma County. Auction items include an 82-bottle collection of iconic Sonoma County wines, a luxury tour of Hong Kong with winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset, a once-in-a-lifetime vertical tasting of exclusive Sonoma County pinot noirs and a private fly-fishing excursion at the ultra-exclusive Teller Wildlife Refuge in Montana.
Details and tickets online at sonomawinecountryweekend.com.