Step into the magic of Winter Wineland, where the Wine Road transforms into a true wonderland. Imagine cozying up with friends and family, your favorite wines in hand, as you breathe in the crisp winter air and take in the vineyard views—nature’s perfect art, with neatly pruned vines resting peacefully under the season’s charm.
Celebrate the start of a new year surrounded by warm hospitality, stunning landscapes, and the joyful clinking of glasses. Every stop along the Wine Road invites you to sip, savor, and bask in the moment. It’s not just wine tasting; it’s an unforgettable experience—rich with connection, beauty, and that irresistible winter glow.
Make memories. Share laughter. Discover your next favorite vintage. Winter Wineland is waiting to welcome you with open arms and endless cheers.
Spending a weekend sipping superb wines while savoring the perfect food pairing sounds like heaven. Add in breathtaking scenery and the relaxing ambiance of Sonoma County’s Wine Country, and now you have paradise perfected! This magical wine and food weekend becomes reality on November 1st and 2nd as the Wine Road hosts the 27th annual Wine & Food Affair.
A Sneak Peek at the Food Pairings
With 50 wineries to select from, there are too many food pairings to list, so here are just a few highlights.
If you love Italian-based comfort food, check out: Mushroom and Winter Squash Risotto at Pedroncelli Winery Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce at Pech Merle Winery Tatiana’s Famous Lasagna at Colagrossi Wines
If you’d rather pair Mexican, French or Cajun with delicious wines, here are some options: Roger’s Colorado Pork Green Chili at J. Cage Cellars Creamy Mushroom Chicken Facon Grand Mère at GC Lurton Vineyards Alison’s Jambalaya at Matrix Winery
And for dessert, these two options sound positively decadent: Rosemary Dark Chocolate Bon Bons at EHRET Winery Dark Chocolate Berry Port Ice Cream at Raymond Burr Vineyards
Wine & Food on Friday Night
Why not start the weekend off on Friday night, which also happens to be Halloween.
Baldassari Wines, located in Windsor just a short walk from the town green, will have local musician Nick Foxer playing from 6-8 p.m. The cost is the price of a glass of wine you can sip while you enjoy Nick’s show.
West Wines is offering a winemaker/owner hosted sunset Cabernet Sauvignon tasting with four older vintages—2004 through 2007—paired with appetizers. Advanced reservations are requested. To book your spot, visit the West Wine website.
VIP Experiences
Twenty lucky folks will be able to nab the very limited VIP tickets this year, which include an intimate VIP happy hour gathering at Foppiano Vineyards on Friday Night and a VIP breakfast at Russian River Vineyards’ beautiful Redwood Grove. VIP ticket holders will check in Saturday morning for the weekend tasting, then enjoy a delicious breakfast paired with Russian River Vineyards’ sparkling wine, as well as their other wines.
Meet the Wine Road team as you enjoy an easy paced breakfast before you launch into your day of wine and food pairings.
Effortless Planning
If you’d like to elevate your weekend experience, check out the four all-in-one packages that include your Wine & Food Affair tickets, lodging and more.
The Hilton Garden Inn package includes a two-night stay in a King-bed room, two weekend tickets and a welcome bag at check-in.
The Gables Wine Country Inn package includes a two-night stay in a King-bed room, two weekend tickets, a welcome bag at check-in, and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The Hotel La Rose package includes a two-night stay in a King-bed room, two weekend tickets, a welcome bag at check-in, and breakfast for two at Grossman’s Noshery, located in the hotel.
If you want the full VIP treatment for the weekend, consider the Premier VIP weekend package with a two-night stay in a King room at the Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza. This package includes two VIP tickets (include the Friday night Happy Hour and Saturday breakfast), a voucher for Pure Luxury Transportation, a dinner voucher for the acclaimed restaurant, The Matheson, plus more.
If you’re a Wine Road Insider, don’t forget to get your 20% off event tickets. Don’t know about the Wine Road Insider program, but want to find out more? All the details and a link to sign up are available online.
Opinions Please
The Wine & Food Affair event program will have a QR code that will take you to a post-event survey where you’ll be able to vote on your favorites from five categories — best recipe, most mouthwatering food pairing, standout staff member, best setting or vibe, and the ultimate winery experience.
By voting after the event, you’ll get to share your opinion on your favorites, and you’ll also be entered to win two (2) tickets to 2026 Wine & Food Affair or the January 2026 Winter WINEland. There will be five winners — way better odds that playing the lottery, so be sure to cast your vote.
Savor the Wine & Food Experience
Whether you opt to enjoy the deluxe VIP package or to only purchase a weekend ticket, be sure to savor the flavors, drink in the glorious landscape, connect with winery owners, winemakers and various members of the winery staff, and create lasting memories of an exceptional Wine Country weekend.
Savor the Flavors: A Weekend of Wine & Food Pairing Along the Wine Road
Embark on a culinary adventure as over 50 wineries along the Wine Road invite you to indulge in a weekend of perfectly paired wine and food. Each participating winery will showcase a bite of one of their favorite recipes, thoughtfully paired with a wine that brings out its best flavors.
Discover a mix of beloved classics returning by popular demand and exciting new creations debuting this year. Love what you taste? All recipes will be available online, so you can recreate your favorite pairings at home and relive the experience.
Get out and explore along the Wine Road, check out some new wineries, visit your long-time favorites and stock up on some of your favorite wines for Spring.
Each winery will pour three wines for each ticket holder.
Order your ticket online, then show it on your phone at each winery you visit for the day.
This is a casual walk-in tasting, not a food-pairing. Plan to visit 3-4 wineries for the day.
Wine Road Elects Six New Board Members, Including New President
Infusion of leadership marks one of the largest board transitions in recent years
Healdsburg, CA, May 30, 2025 — Wine Road, the premier association of wineries and lodgings in Northern Sonoma County, is pleased to announce the election of six new members to its Board of Directors—one of the largest board transitions in the organization’s recent history. Typically electing just two new members per term, this year’s changes reflect a unique and exciting chapter for Wine Road, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to its mission of promoting Northern Sonoma County as a world-class wine destination.
The newly elected board members are:
Julie Pedroncelli St. John, President, Pedroncelli Winery As a third-generation member of one of Sonoma County’s iconic Italian winemaking families, Julie brings decades of experience and deep roots in Dry Creek Valley. Pedroncellis have farmed the region since 1927, known for crafting quality wines with character and integrity.
Mari Pagan, Hospitality Director, Dry Creek Vineyard Mari represents one of Sonoma County’s iconic, family-owned wineries. She brings a strong background in guest experience and is committed to enhancing the connection between wineries and visitors across the region.
Lana Mounts, Co-Owner, Mounts Family Winery A fourth-generation grower and vintner, Lana brings a deep connection to the land and a passion for producing estate-grown wines that reflect the character of Dry Creek Valley.
Alexis Kandanes, Tasting Room Manager, Gary Farrell Winery A Sonoma County native with over 20 years in hospitality, Alexis brings valuable expertise in guest experience and community engagement. At Gary Farrell Winery, known for its elegant, vineyard-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, she showcases the charm of Russian River Valley through warm, elevated hospitality.
Janae Franicevic, Owner, Sunce Winery Janae leads Sunce Winery in the Russian River Valley, known for small-lot, limited-production wines. A longtime supporter of Wine Road events, she’s eager to share her success and help other members make the most of event participation.
Tom Buckley, General Manager, Hotel La Rose Tom oversees operations at this historic Santa Rosa landmark and brings valuable hospitality insight and perspective to the Board.
In addition to the new Board members, Wine Road also held its annual executive board election last week. Julie Pedroncelli St. John (President), Mari Pagan (Vice President), Helen Sharrocks (Secretary), Katie Ambrosi (Treasurer), and Aaron Krug (Lodging Representative) were elected to serve in key leadership roles for the upcoming term.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new Board members, who bring unique skills and experiences to the table,” said Beth Costa, Executive Director of Wine Road. “Their fresh ideas and strong industry knowledge will help guide our work as we continue to evolve. At the same time, we sincerely thank our outgoing Board members for their dedicated service and lasting impact on our organization.”
The Wine Road Board is made up of eight winery representatives and three lodging representatives, each serving a three-year term beginning in April. Continuing on the Board are:
Helen Sharrocks, Balletto Vineyards
Katie Ambrosi, Wilson Artisan Wines
Aaron Krug, Best Western Dry Creek Inn & The Lodge at Healdsburg
Harry Wetzel, Alexander Valley Vineyards
Dan Christensen, The Geyserville Inn
This new group of leaders reflects the diversity and strength of the Wine Road community. Their collective experience will help guide Wine Road’s efforts to grow visitation, support member wineries and lodgings, and adapt to an ever-changing tourism landscape.
ABOUT WINE ROAD NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY The Wine Road is a travel resource for those looking to visit the region, which is famous for its renowned wine producers and cuisine, scenic beauty, and wine country lifestyle. The association hosts three celebrated wine events throughout the year, “Winter WINEland” in January; “Barrel Tasting” in March; and “Wine and Food Affair” in November. Made up of 130 wineries and 30 lodgings throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys in Sonoma County, something is always going on along the Wine Road. To plan your next trip, please visit: www.wineroad.com. For additional information, or to request a free map, call 800.723.6336 or via e-mail at info@wineroad.com, or visit the Wine Road on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
The 2025 Barrel Weekend is all about tasting wines from the past, present and future. This annual weekend event has been reimagined for its 47th anniversary, letting the wineries along the Wine Road focus on more than just tasting wines from the barrel. And, giving tasters new opportunities for exploring and learning about wine.
More Tasting Options
With wineries pouring wines from past (library wines), present (current release wines) and future (barrel samples), attendees have more choices and can choose what they most enjoy or what they seeking to restock their wine cellars.
As you look through the online Barrel Weekend program, you’ll discover wineries pouring wines from one, two or all three of the category options. This information lets you, the ticket holder, design the tasting path that suits your palate preferences. If you love tasting only barrel samples and possibly buying wine futures, you can still do that. But, if you prefer to taste wines that are currently available to buy, or wines that have been in the bottle several years, you’ll find these options available to you as well.
Winemaker and owner Craig Colagrossi pours his wine for a guest.
Tasting the Past
Older vintage wines, often referred to as library wines, are not often poured in tasting rooms or during events. However, during Barrel Weekend, several wineries will be pouring library wines. Look for the word PAST on the program to see who is pouring older vintages.
At Longboard Vineyards, the PAST wine is a mystery that they’ll ask you to guess the varietal they’re pouring. Sounds intriguing.
You can try an Optima Winery 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. An excellent vintage, and it’s rare to find a 2017 Cab that is still available.
TADDEI Wines is also pouring a rare find — a 2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley.
These above wineries will also be pouring additional wines from the other categories, so be sure to check out the program for the full list of wines being poured.
F. Teldeschi Winery will have five library wines available for tasting, including Terranova (a blend of Carignane, Valdiguie, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah) and a Zinfandel Port.
Tasting the Present
If your focus is on PRESENT (current release) wines, most participating wineries will be pouring at least one of their current release wines.
Capo Creek Winery & Wine Cave is the perfect stop for Rhône varietal wine lovers. They’ll be pouring five current release wines, with four of the five being Rhône varietals or blends.
Leo Steen Wines @ The Drink, located in Healdsburg, will pour their newly released Sparkling Chenin Blanc and their Jurassic Chenin Blanc, plus a Pinot Noir. If you haven’t tried the Leo Steen Chenin Blancs, it’s while worth seeking them out.
Stephen & Walker, another Healdsburg winery, will be pouring five current release wines, including their port-like dessert wine, Portentous.
due Ruscelli and Raymond Burr Vineyards will both be pouring three PRESENT wines. due Ruscelli, who specializes in Primitivo and other Italian varietals, will also have a library Primitivo and their FUTURE Barbera. Along with their current release wines, Raymond Burr Vineyards will be tasting barrel samples of Chardonnay and a port-like dessert wine.
Capo Creek Winery co-owner Bob Covert pouring wine for visiting guests.Tasting the Future
Have no fear, there will be plenty of wineries pouring wine FUTURES. There are too many to list, but here are a few wineries (according to the program) that will only be pouring barrel samples for guests during the Barrel Weekend.
Carol Shelton Wines – Barbera, old vine Carignane, two Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite from the Rockpile AVA
Overshine Wine Co. – Maple Vineyard Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and a Bordeaux blend
Porter Creek Vineyards – a very popular spot to try three Pinot Noir barrel samples, plus a Chardonnay and old vine Carignane
Rockpile Vineyards – two Zinfandels (Jack’s Block and Petroglyph Reserve) and their renowned Buffalo Hallow Petite Sirah
Soda Rock Winery – these guys have a charming rustic setting and their wines are always worth checking out. This year’s barrel samples include Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sunce Winery & Vineyard – their FUTURES offerings include Viognier, Dobricic (yes, they make a Dobricic), and several more.
VML – three Pinot Noirs (Earth, Moon, Stars). Just the names make me want to go try them.
If you just want to focus on tasting wine futures, the above list gives you interesting and delicious options, but there are so many more wineries to choose from as well. Be sure to review the Barrel Weekend program for details on what each winery is pouring.
Fun and Educational, Too
One of the benefits of tasting wine during Barrel Weekend is learning how wines evolve over time, from how they taste in the barrel to mellowing with age once they’re bottled. Now let’s explore your options to experience a wine’s evolution and where you might learn more about your own palate preferences.
Comparing Present and Future
Several wineries are pouring barrel samples and then offering the same bottled wine from a previous vintage. This gives you the opportunity to discover how wine evolves after it’s bottled. The qualities of a wine change from vintage to vintage, but the same variety, grown in the same vineyard, will most likely taste similar from year to year once it’s in the bottle.
There are many wineries who will share this tasting opportunity during Barrel Weekend. Here are just a few examples:
David Coffaro Winery – Dave has barrel tasting down to an art form. Coffaro will be offering five side-by-side comparisons, allowing tasters to sip 2024 barrel samples and then 2022 bottled wine of the same varietal or blend.
DeLoach Vineyards – Enjoy three barrel samples you can compare with three bottled wines—same varietal and same vineyard.
Moshin Vineyards – Compare their 2021 Chardonnay with a barrel sample of their 2024 Chardonnay, still in the barrel. There are very few white barrel samples being offered, so this will be a treat. You’ll also be able to compare their 2020 Pinot Noir, Calliope Vineyard with the 2024 barrel sample of the same wine.
Mounts Family Winery – Savor the Mounts estate-grown Grenache and old vine Zinfandel as you taste the 2023 barrel samples and compare them to the 2022 bottled wines.
Tasting the Past, Present and Future
Time to explore the ultimate tasting experience — tasting the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE of the same wine. This isn’t always possible unless a winery holds back a few cases when a wine is about to sell out. Lucky for Barrel Tasting ticketholders that several wineries had done just that.
Foppiano Wine Co., known for their Petite Sirah, offer a 2014 Petite Sirah (library wine), 2021 Petite Sirah (current release) and 2023 Petite Sirah barrel sample.
At Spicy Vines, they will focus on their Block 7 – Old World Cabernet Sauvignon, Pine Mountain, Cloverdale Peak by pouring a 2016 (library wine), a 2021 (current release) and a barrel sample from 2023.
Starlite Vineyards is all about Viognier during Barrel Weekend, with three library wines (2019, 2021 and 2022), the 2023 current release and the 2024 barrel sample wine.
Viszlay Vineyards has Pinot Noir for their PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE offering. They’ll be pouring a 2019 (library wine), 2021 (current release) and 2024 (barrel sample).
Three Days of Tasting
Only a portion of the wineries and their offerings are listed above, and yet, I already wonder how I’ll be able to visit all the wineries on my “must visit” list? Luckily, several of the participating Barrel Weekend wineries are offering ticket holders complimentary tasting on Friday, February 28th.
Here is a list of some of the wineries open to ticket holders on Friday. Be sure to plan a three-day weekend to get the most out of Barrel Weekend.
Curious about what makes Sonoma County special? Winter WINEland offers you the perfect experience! Discover our beautiful winter landscapes, stunning vineyards, and acclaimed wineries.
There's only one week left to secure your advanced tickets for Winter WINEland.
Healdsburg, CA, May 30, 2025 — Wine Road, the premier association of wineries and lodgings in Northern Sonoma County, is pleased to announce the election of six new members to its Board of Directors—one of the largest board transitions in the organization’s recent history. Typically electing just two new members per term, this year’s changes reflect a unique and exciting chapter for Wine Road, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to its mission of promoting Northern Sonoma County as a world-class wine destination.
Winemaker and owner Craig Colagrossi pours his wine for a guest.
