Activities: March 2008 Archives

The eleventh annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival (sonomafilmfest.org) kicks off April 9th on the plaza in downtown award - and thousands of festival attendees will gather to eat, drink and take in a full roster of independent and mainstream films against the backdrop of wine country.

by Courtney Cochran

For most wine fans, a first trip to Napa kindles the kind of giddy excitement most kids feel on a first visit to Disneyland. And while the pursuits in this storied wine region are of a decidedly adult nature, they've been known to inspire the kind of sheer enjoyment that's nothing short of ageless. Read on for the lowdown on the top spots and activities we think any first timer should experience on a maiden voyage to Napa.

We've even included a fairy tale castle for good measure.

Note: The 2008 Mustard Festival concludes this Saturday, March 29, 2008, with the Photo Finish & Grand Finale, 7 to 10:30pm at Mumm Napa in Rutherford.  $90 in advance, $125 at the door. For more information, go to www.mustardfestival.org.

How do I love thee, Napa Valley? Let me count the (many) ways. If you think Napa Valley is a love-fest during harvest, you're right on one count. But my favorite time of year is actually spring - when the hills are emerald green and the wild mustard is in full bloom.

Mustard is a natural complement to grapevines, a nitrogen-boosting cover crop that replenishes the soil while vines are dormant. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival celebrates all that is glorious about Wine Country in a typically quiet time of year. There are many festival events to choose from every January, February and March, and in keeping with our region's first-class reputation most of them involve food, wine and art.