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 Mat

This past summer, three wine industry colleagues came up with the idea of Come Over October to encourage people to get together once again to celebrate life’s special moments and friendships over a glass of wine. Why Now? Although we were all excited to be able to gather again after the pandemic shutdown, life demands derailed many of us from continuing to reach out to those we enjoy and carving out time to spend with them. Come Over October’s mission is straightforward and simple: “… to encourage people to invite family and friends, new and old, to come together during the month of October to share some wine and friendship. We believe that through the simple act of sharing wine, we share other things that matter — generosity, caring, and a belief that being together is an essential part of human happiness.” Getting together with friends for a glass of wine after work, on a Saturday afternoon with appetizers, or over a meal has been the social

Afternoon Brief: Smoke Taint Revolution - Carbon Fabric to Become Vineyard-Wide Netting

As wildfires become more frequent and intense due to climate change, the need for smoke taint prevention has never been more critical. One of the most exciting developments in this space is the research into activated carbon fabric - an innovation that could potentially protect vineyards from smoke damage...

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 two or 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. https://www.wineroad.com/events/springwinetrail/

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 two or 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. https://www.wineroad.com/events/springwinetrail/

Afternoon Brief, February 23rd

How a Napa Farming Nonprofit Became a Political Power Broker—And Got Caught Up in a Federal Investigation: A mysterious federal investigation unfolding in Napa Valley has ensnared one of the wine industry’s most powerful entities...

Join us for the 46th Barrel Tasting Weekend!  TICKET SALES END FEBRUARY 26 Tickets, Participating Wineries, more information here:  https://www.wineroad.com/events/barrel-tasting-weekends/

Afternoon Brief, February 16th

Hoopes Winery Civil Trial in Napa County Wraps After 11 Days, Ruling Could Take Months: Whether Napa Valley vintner Lindsay Hoopes has been using company structures as a shield against liability was the focus Wednesday of the 11th and final day of trial in a county lawsuit over alleged winery permit violations...