Recently in Healdsburg Category

Tasting Fee Budget for the Day: $15 Per Couple. 
To keep these kinds of offers, buy a couple of bottles that you enjoy! (*Please let the staff know that you were referred by WineCountry.com)

On your way to Healdsburg, stop off at:

Korbel Champagne Cellars, 13250 River Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446, (707) 824.7000

• Complimentary tastings - 20% off wine purchases!
• 10AM- Allow One Hour or relax a while longer
• No Reservation Required
• Directions to Next Stop: SE on River Rd for 2.3 mi., L on Westside and stay on Westside (R at Fork) for 12.2 mi., R on Kinley Dr, 1st R on Magnolia

Alderbrook Winery, 2306 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 433.5987

HEALDSBURG, Calif. -- Healdsburg's "Epicurean Winter" heads into its third and final month with events dedicated entirely to pork and pinot noir, consecutive barrel tasting weekends and even a chance to dine, drink and donate to benefit the region's renowned Healdsburg Jazz Festival. The affordable, off-season lodging packages, regional dinner specials and wine pairings that have been a part of "Epicurean Winter" from its January 1 launch continue through March 31 as Healdsburg showcases its culinary bounty.

March Highlights:

EVENTS

March 2-4 and March 9-11: Barrel Tasting Weekends
Healdsburg lies in at the intersection of three celebrated appellations - Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and the Russian River Valley - making it the ideal location for wine lovers to sample some of the best wine in the state. Now in its 34th year, this event gives ticket holders the chance to experience private winery tours, taste new wines from the barrel, and sample tasting-room-only and limited production wines. Special offers available at many participation wineries; some tastings by appointment only. Tickets start at $25; visit www.wineroad.com/events or call 888-251-0560 for details.

March 23-24: Pigs & Pinot 2012 - All tickets to this annual event are already sold out!

Now - March 31: Sonoma Neighbor Menu & Live Jazz
Diners will enjoy live jazz accompanying their three-course tasting menu on Mondays and Tuesdays at Hotel Healdsburg's Dry Creek Kitchen.  $36 per guest, $51 with paired wines; $2 from each menu will be donated to the Healdsburg Education Foundation.  For details, visit us online or call 707-431-1500.

Now - March 31: A Taste of Pigs & Pinot
Dry Creek Kitchen will be featuring a special pork and pinot noir pairings all month; starting March 24, diners will have a chance to order an actual dish from the popular Pigs & Pinot Gala Dinner paired with the official Pinot Cup winner. For details, visit online or call 707-433-1500.

Now - March 31: Epicurean Winter Wine Tour
Healdsburg Area Winery Tours specializes in private wine tasting tours customized to guests' personal wine preferences and destination interests. Mention "Epicurean Winter" when making reservations and receive a 10% discount on certain tours. For details, visit www.healdsburgareawinerytours.com or call 707-433-6090.

This winter is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with Healdsburg, a charming, picturesque town in Sonoma County which boasts some of California's best wineries and restaurants all ensconced in lush, rolling hills and surrounded by spectacular vineyard views.

Now through the end of March, Healdsburg is celebrating their culinary bounty with the three-month-long "Epicurean Winter," a collection of food, wine, family-friendly and outdoor events designed to highlight the most delicious aspects of this oasis, located just 70 miles north of San Francisco.

What travelers may not realize is how many wallet-friendly options Healdsburg's "Epicurean Winter" has to offer. Even those watching their budget can enjoy the world-class food, wine and entertainment without breaking the bank. Here are some exciting ways that even the frugal visitor can experience the best of this culinary mecca.

By Deirdre Bourdet

Healdsburg is the shopping capital of California wine country.  An astonishing number of sophisticated and worldly shops call tiny Healdsburg home, selling all manner of home goods, accessories, clothing, furniture, paper goods, jewelry, and action figures, in addition to the food and wine products one might expect.  Thanks to some excellent city planning, visitors can experience some of Healdsburg's best shopping simply by strolling the main square and surrounding blocks.  Here are some of my favorite places to peruse the wares:

NOVEMBER

November 6 -- Sonoma County Wine Pioneer Series at Dry Creek Kitchen
Wine Education: Each segment in the Series consists of an interactive seminar and wine tasting where you will taste & listen to winemakers speak. Preston Vineyards - Matt Norelli, Seghesio Family Vineyards - Ted Seghesio, Unti Winery - Mick Unti. Held at the Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA
Fee: $65 Time: Call for information and reservations Phone Number: (707) 431.0330

November 6 - 7 -- A Wine & Food Affair
Wine & Food Education: A Wine & Food Affair is the premier event for Wine Road! Join us for a weekend of wine and food pairing in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys, Northern Sonoma County. You will receive our new Tasting Along the Wine Road Cookbook Volume 11 as part of your limited time, advance online purchase ticket price. All of the wineries participating will have a favorite winery recipe in the cookbook, which they will prepare both days for you to sample, along with the perfect wine.
Fee: $60 Weekend/$40 Sunday only/$20 Designated Driver Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Phone Number: (800) 723.6336

November 7 -- Hand Fan Museum Grand Opening at h2hotel
Celebration: Hand Fan Museum Grand Opening, in their new location at h2hotel, 219 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg (right next to the Chamber/Visitors Center). Join the Grand Opening of the Hand Fan Museum in their new space from 5 - 7 pm.
Fee: FreeTime: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Phone Number: (707) 431.2202

November 13 -- Holiday Craft Faire at Rodney Strong Vineyards
Celebration, Benefit: Join us for this festive kickoff to holiday shopping featuring the handmade goods of local crafters and artists and help out the local Redwood Empire Food Bank! Bring in a food or cash donation (per person) for the benefit of the Redwood Empire Food Bank, we will treat you to a taste of our newly released Malbec. 11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA
Fee: Free with food donation for REFB Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Phone Number: (707) 431.1533

By Deirdre Bourdet

For my money, Healdsburg is the most urbane wine country city in the U.S.  The historic town plaza boasts a slew of upscale boutiques, tasting rooms, markets, and restaurants of the highest caliber, all within comfortable walking range and all eager to fill your days with hedonistic pleasures.  But it's the hotel complex anchoring the western edge of the plaza that boosts the swank factor above rest of the wine capitals.

It's hog heaven again in Healdsburg for another year on March 19, 20, 2010 with the annual Charlie Palmer's Pigs & Pinot weekend. Held at award-winning Hotel Healdsburg, this event  "brings together the country's most prolific pork and wine professionals, including four Master Sommeliers, toasting and tasting their way to determine the winner of the coveted Pinot Cup"

It's so popular that the weekend lodging packages sold out in a mere few hours!  The next opportunity to buy a la carte event tickets is January 21st at 12 noon (PST). Mark your calendars, set your phone alarms and alerts if you want a ticket to one of the hottest events in Sonoma Wine Country.

Read on for a peak at the events lined up for this year: