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.
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.
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.
If your focus is on PRESENT (current release) wines, most participating wineries will be pouring at least one of their current release wines.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Amphora Winery
Carol Shelton Wines
CAST Wines
Char Vale Vineyards and Winery
David Coffaro Winery
De La Montanya Winery
Longboard Vineyards
Moshin Vineyards
Mounts Family Winery
Orsi Family Vineyards
Raymond Burr Vineyards
Soda Rock
Stressed Vines Cellars
Sunce Winery & Vineyard
Viszlay Vineyards
West Wines
Wilson Winery
Visit the Barrel Tasting info page to get a full listing of the wineries open to ticket holders.
If you’re planning to attend Barrel Weekend (and I hope you are), be sure you get your ticket in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Here are the online links to help you on your way:
Ticket link – Prices: Weekend $80, Sunday Only $60, Designated Driver $10
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.
Event Type: Consumer
Event Date: 12/07/2024
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Get Your TICKETS HERE Starting November 20th
Make this a day to stock up on the wines you will need for those holiday dinners and gifts.
At the same time, check some goodies off your shopping list, by shopping with the local producers/vendors featured at each winery.
Feel good knowing that $10 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
If you are looking for an affordable way to get out and taste some wine, this is THE ticket!
No tasting fees and no prior reservation required.
30 Wineries / 3 Valleys / 1 Day / $40
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.
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 fabric of our lives. And, if you’ve got too much wine in your cellar, closet, or wine rack, this is the perfect time to share it. It feels great to turn friends or family members on to a new wine or introduce them to a new winery. Make October your month to share a special wine with someone you know will appreciate it, too.
Come Over October encourages us to put down our devices, hang out together and have real conversations. Sipping on a beverage is a natural part of gathering, so it makes sense to include wine in the mix. Even if your friends or family aren’t wine drinkers, the Come Over October movement is the perfect reminder to make spending time together a priority.Gather with friends at Merry Edwards WineryNo Excuses
Before you start thinking of all the reasons you can’t have anyone over, like your home is too small or you don’t have time to clean before asking someone over, let’s explore other options. Here’s a quote from the Come Over October website, “…invite friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family to “come over” to share some wine — at home, in a restaurant, or wherever get-togethers happen. Friendship is best when it is celebrated together.”
What about gathering friends for a picnic in a local park or other outdoor area? October is a beautiful time of year no matter where you live. Make it a potluck with everyone bringing a favorite appetizer and bottle of wine.
Gathering at a restaurant or bar works, too. Or, go wine tasting and take along a picnic lunch. There are a lot of wineries that have a picnic area and a bocce court, too. Sipping wine with friends as you look out over a vineyard will get your shoulders to relax and laughter to flow.
Bring friends along wine tasting and enjoy a picnic. Thank you Alexander Valley Vineyards for sharing your deck with us.
More Options
Having a wine tasting at your home or office is also a fun way to gather folks together. If some of your friends aren’t wine drinkers, have an additional tasting of non-flavored sparkling water. We recently went to a wine tasting in someone’s home, and there was also a sparkling water tasting for the people who don’t drink wine. It was surprising and fun to taste the vast differences in sparkling waters, plus in between tastes we were talking and laughing, too.
If your bestie lives too far away to see them in person, schedule a call or Facetime, and enjoy each other’s company while each of you sip your favorite wine. My friends and family are scattered far and wide, so wine and phone calls happen often during my weekends.
Streaming a movie, playing a video game or reading a book are relaxing and enjoyable, but these activities don’t fulfill our need for social interaction and stimulating conversation. If you miss being with your friends and family, plan something for Come Over October. If you really get into it, maybe plan more than one gathering, and who says we need to stop when October is over?Toast to an al fresco lunch with some DaVero wines.
I’ve given you a few ideas, but there are many more, just be creative. Don’t let a dusty or small home keep you from being with the people you enjoy most. Find ways to spend time together. Life goes by way too fast and it’s never predictable. Grab quality time together now.
You might discover that Come Over October helps you find what’s missing in your life — making time for those you love and enjoy the most!
Happy Sipping!
Come Over October DaVero Winery Alexander Valley Vineyards Merry Edwards Winery Wine Road Wine Road Sonoma County
Wine Road Sonoma County Acta Winery & Vineyards 2021 Deeds Bordeaux
With so many wineries, lodgings, and wines along the Wine Road, the WineStopper Program highlights a different winery, lodging, and wine every week. It’s a great way to learn a little bit more about what’s happening along the Wine Road.
Recently, Spicy Vines in Healdsburg was the featured winery:
Event Type: Consumer, Tasting
Event Date: 09/14/2024
Location: Sonoma County, CA
BY WINE ROAD NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY
Sonoma County, CA
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 the fall. Each winery will pour two or three wines for each ticket holder.
Harvest Wine Trail WineRoad Sonoma County Consumer Event Wine Tasting
Event Type: Consumer, Tasting
Event Date: 05/11/2024
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.
Event Type: Consumer, Tasting
Event Date: 05/11/2024
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.
The mission of the Wine Road is to increase awareness of Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys through education and marketing while promoting Sonoma County as the year-round wine country destination.
Wine Road is a member driven, winery association.
Founded in 1976 with 9 wineries along the Russian River in Sonoma County.
As of 2017 the Wine Road now consists of 197 wineries members and 54 associate lodging members.
The Wine Road is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 10 winery and 3 lodging representatives. An Executive Director manages the day-to-day operations.
Our goal is simple – Bring people to northern Sonoma County to embrace the beauty, sample the wines and meet the cast of characters that work the farms, prepare the meals, make the wines and share their warm hospitality.
Once you visit…we know you’ll be back!
Wine Road
Heaven Condensed
Title | Name | Phone | Extension | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director | Beth Costa | beth@wineroad.com | 433-4335 | |
Events Manager | Debbie Osborn | debbie@wineroad.com | 433-4335 | |
Office Manager | Laura Stafford | laura@wineroad.com | 433-4335 |
Locations | Address | State | Country | Zip Code |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wine Road | P.O. Box 46, Healdsburg | CA | United States of America | 95448 |