What are your favorite events in Sonoma or Napa?

Some years ago my husband and I went on a couple of the Russian River Wine Road driving-around events, the Wine and Food Affair and the Winter Wine Road, and enjoyed the chance to see several wineries, but we've gotten out of the habit, we haven't bought tickets for anything lately.

What are your favorite events in Sonoma or Napa counties that are open to the public?
I guess we could get to San Francisco too but we live in Santa Rosa and we should take more advantage of that.

Olive Festival. February/March, I think.

Summer Jazz in Sonoma. Great lineup of artists, and some nice events.

Tuesday evenings in Sonoma Plaza, Farmer's Market.

Unfortunately, the popular Stuart Yaniger Naked Hot Tub Party has been postponed indefinitely, since we moved and made sure Stuart couldn't find our forwarding address anywhere.

Unfortunately, the popular Stuart Yaniger Naked Hot Tub Party has been postponed indefinitely, since we moved and made sure Stuart couldn't find our forwarding address anywhere.

My God! I was there. I've always looked upon it as the social highlight of my career in wine. Never again, say it aint so Hoke.

Was I there? I have trouble remembering.

Was I there? I have trouble remembering.

It's the second - or is that third? - thing to go.

Hey, don't post about anything I couldn't go to, you're making me feel bad---
even though it sounds as though I luckily escaped being struck blind or turned into a pillar of salt.

Hey, don't post about anything I couldn't go to, you're making me feel bad---
even though it sounds as though I luckily escaped being struck blind or turned into a pillar of salt.

You exaggerate, Leanne.

Sure, there was a rash of hysterical blindness, but they eventually got their sight back.

I'm hoping in October 2009 to attend Pinot on the River (Russian River Valley wineries) but haven't been previously. Can you shed some light on it, Hoke? The Napa Wine Auction bit is far too expensive for my blood. I seem to have a knack for accidentally hitting wine and food festivals--it happened when I planned a trip to Mendocino County, when I had a professional conference in New Orleans (jazz and wine dinner week) and the first time I visited Cape Cod and Nantucket (found out the Nantucket Wine Festival was on while I was staying on Cape Cod so I commuted to it by ferry boat.) (For two years after that I planned for the Nantucket Wine Festival and stayed an an inn on Nantucket.)

Haven't done that one, JC.

You know how it is: you often don't take advantage of what's going on regularly in your own back yard?

However, everyone I've spoken to that has attended says it's a lot of fun, and a well done event. Good time of year for it too.

Thanks, Hoke for your reply.

I know this is an old thread, but thought I would add my two cents since I'm new to the group. *grins* My favorite event of the year is Barrel Tasting weekend in Russian River. It became a family-tradition for my parents and I to go each year when we lived in California. Even now that I've moved to Indiana, we'll be flying out this March to attend since it's such a good time! We've discovered so many gems over the years that we continue to return again and again.

For details about this event, you can go to http://www.wineroad.com/annualevents/3

In Vino Veritas!
Karen