Spring 2015 Events in Sonoma County

It's springtime! A perfect time in the wine country with warming temperatures, vines starting the new year's growth, wildflowers, and lots of exciting events to tempt you.

Here the the major wine events and some non-wine ones.

Wine-related events

March

6-8 and 13-15 Wine Road Barrel Tasting 
Okay, it's not officially spring yet, but the weather is already spring-like.
This is an annual winery open house on the Friday through Sunday the first two weekends of March. Over 100 wineries in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys participate. 

14 VinOlivo Grand Tasting
An evening of wine and food in the town of Sonoma.

21-22 Savor Sonoma 
This open house is similar to the Wine Road Barrel Tasting event on the previous two weekends, but in a different part of Sonoma County. About two dozen wineries in Sonoma Valley will be offering barrel tasting, new releases, wine sales, food and wine pairings, etc.

20-21 Pigs and Pinot
Celerity chefs and sommeliers at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. Pork and Pinot Noir go together like pizza and beer!

April
 
5  Easter Sunday
Many wineries will be closed.

11 Taste of Olivet (their Facebook page)
Winery open house along Olivet Road in the Russian River Valley.

18 Pick of the Vine
An evening of food and wine tasting plus music. A local fundraiser.

18-19 April in Carneros
An open house for approximately fifteen wineries in the southern region of Napa and Sonoma counties--an area known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.

25-26 Passport to Dry Creek Valley
About 50 wineries open their doors with food, wine, music, and vineyard tours--usually hosted by the winemakers. A bit pricey, but it's a great event.

May

15-17 Taste of Alexander Valley
An optional dinner and barn dance on Friday, winery open houses on Sat-Sun. A food and wine event at about 30 wineries. Alexander Valley is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, but you'll find a wide variety of wines.

June

19-21 Gay Wine Weekend
"Out in the Vineyard" -- a LGBT event in Sonoma Valley.

Non-wine events

March

9-15 Sonoma County Restaurant Week
Participating restaurants throughout the county offer fixed-price lunch and dinner menu specials.

20-22 Artisan Cheese Festival
Chef demos, pairings, and meet the cheese makers in Petaluma.

22-28 Sonoma International Film Festival
"A celebration of cinema, food, and wine." Popcorn, too, I assume.

28 Battle of the Brews
Food and beer tasting. A local fund-raiser.

April

11-12 Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival
Seafood, wine & beer, music, and boat races.

18-19 Apple Blossom Festival
A parade, music, food, beer, wine, and, of course, apple cider. All in Sebastopol where the apple crop used to be bigger than the grape crop.

May

9  Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off
The 18th annual chili cook-off, salsa and beer tasting.

15-16 Cruisin' the Boulevard
Petaluma's salute to American Graffiti (much of the movie was filmed here).

16 Rose Parade
The 121st Rose Parade and Festival in Santa Rosa.

23 Home Brewers' Competition
Check out the amateurs in Petaluma

30-31 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival
Some old, expensive, historic race cars on the track. Tired of wine? Check out the "nose" on that old Jaguar going by.

29-31 Bottle Rock
The third year for this music festival in Napa.

June

5-7 Country Summer
Billed as the area's largest country music festival.

6  Beerfest
The biggest micro-beer tasting in Sonoma County.

19 Broadway Under the Stars
This night kicks off the season for the Transendence Theatre Company's performances in the Jack London State Park. This is the best way to spend a summer evening in Sonoma County.