Visiting Sonoma County in the Winter

Why would you want to take a wine tasting trip to Sonoma County, and nearby Napa, in the wintertime? 

 

A January day in Dry Creek Valley

 

December, January, and February are considered the winter months.  

Pluses of visiting in the winter

• No crowds
• Lower prices 

Cons

• Possible weather issues

 

Windsor Town Green tree lighting ceremony

 

Weather

Let's get right to the top issue. The winter of 2026-27 is predicted to be an El Nino year which usually means a wetter winter than average season. Note "predicted" and "usually" in that sentence mean this isn't guaranteed. We have had drier than normal El Nino years, too. Sometimes the storms just miss us. The rainy season runs about mid-Nov to mid-Apr.

But can you expect rain? Yes. In a normal January you can expect rain on ten days of the month. Might there be flooding? Yes. Even in average years there is a storm that will flood the usual areas. Typically there are a few low-lying areas in the Russian River Valley where roads will flood. These are back roads that visitors won't normally use. I'd guess about once a decade there's a storm bad enough to cause significant problems in getting around. I've also experienced sunny and dry Januarys where temps might get into the 80s.

Average high temps are mid-50s to mid-60s in Dec, Jan, and Feb. Clear nights can drop below freezing. There can be light snow falls in the nearby mountains. Some of the wineries are in these mountains. Snow and ice are rare, but you'll usually see it once or twice a year at those higher elevations.

Bad weather causing limited visibility will slow down arrival flights into San Francisco. Oakland Airport is not as bad as SFO. Sacramento is better yet.

If someone asks me about going to Napa Valley, my response is, "My favorite time to go is a rainy Tuesday in January."

Packing

Pack for evenings and early mornings in the 30s; afternoons could be 70 and sunny or 50 and raining. Having layers is the key. Also shoes that will go through a puddle. Checking a weather app just before packing is your best bet. 

Visitation

The number of visitors is much lighter in the winter compared to the May to October time frame. It picks up during the Christmas week and three-day holidays. 

Wineries

A few wineries may close down for the early part of January. Some may cut their winter hours by closing for two of three weekdays during the slower months. 

When you visit you may find you're the only customers there. You should get great service. If they have their production at the same location you might ask about a impromptu cellar tour. Some Sonoma County wineries have had no tasting fee days this year to encourage visitors. These kind of benefits may increase this winter. Many of the county's wineries belong to the Wine Road Assoc. Go to wineroad.com, then look under wineries to find out about any freebies or discounts.

Wineries are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Some close early or all day for Christmas Eve. A number of them are closed on New Years Day.

Outdoor wine tasting, complete with heaters,
St. Francis Winery in Sonoma Valley

Events

Some wineries have holiday events between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes a tasting room open house with vendors selling gifts; sometimes a holiday dinner. You may see Black Friday sales in the tasting room. 

Several towns have holiday parades and tree lighting ceremonies. 

Humpback Whale migration usually ends in early December, but Gray Whales pass by from January into the spring. Best place to see them is Bodega Head.

Winter Wineland is over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, for 2027 that's Jan 16-17. Information and tickets at the Wine Road website.

Barrel Tasting is the first weekend of March. Info at the Wine Road website. 

Restaurants

A few restaurants will take some time off after the New Years, but there are always plenty more great ones open for business. You might find some with slow season specials to draw people in.

Lodging

There have been pretty good prices at many places all year so I expect there will be good deals over the winter.

The View

Expect lush, green hills, and dormant vines. It's a great time to hike one of the many parks in the county. 

Winter is pruning time