Visiting Sonoma County in the Winter

Is an off-season visit right for you? Here are pros and cons of a winter visit. The same applies for Napa, our next door neighbor.

 

February in Dry Creek Valley

Winter in Sonoma County

Winter here is defined as temperatures in the 30s to the 50s, although as I'm writing this, we're looking at a high of 70. Winter is also the rainy time. That rain can be from one of those atmospheric rivers that just dumps it in buckets and floods roads and fields. Just a couple of weeks ago, there were people kayaking along Highway 101 in Marin County, just south of us. So heavy rains could potentially interfere with your wine tasting. The rainiest months are Dec-Feb. There is less rain in Nov, Mar, and Apr. 

The Cons

Sometimes there's a cold rain.

Some tasting rooms and restaurants may close, usually for a week in January. Some cut the number of days they are open in the off season, closing on Tue-Thu, for instance. 
 

The Pros 

Fewer people visiting means less traffic and uncrowded tasting rooms. 

It's easier to get into restaurants and hotels. Hotel prices are usually lower. 

It's a slow time for wineries, not just in the number of visitors, but in work being done in production.This means you have a better chance of chatting with a winemaker at the smaller places. 

Some wineries may have free tastings or offer free tours while things are slow. There could be other special treatment because the employees have time to spend with you.

The Wine Road organization of wineries in northern Sonoma County (Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys) has a couple dozen wineries offer free tastings on Thursday and Fridays. The list. 
 

Winter Special Events

Over in Napa Valley's Calistoga there is a Winter in the Wineries Passport. You pay one price and get tastings in several wineries.

The Pliny the Younger release is early February for pubs, then late March at the two Russian River Breweries. This is a coveted and very limited beer.

Winter Wineland is a weekend event in mid-January. 

Restaurant week in February offers special meals and deals. 

(The links above are good for 2026). 

Wintertime vine pruning in Alexander Valley
image from hafnervineyard.com