Passport To Weekend Of Dry Creek Valley Wineries To Return, Blending Tradition, Food, And Music

HEALDSBURG, CA — Visitors wind through vineyard-lined roads, glass in hand, as one of Sonoma County’s most anticipated wine weekends unfolds just north of San Francisco.

The Passport to Dry Creek Valley returns to Healdsburg in April, drawing crowds across a 16-by-2-mile stretch of countryside where more than 50 wineries open their doors for tastings, food pairings, and behind-the-scenes access to winemaking.

Organizers pack the three-day event with experiences that go beyond the glass. Guests meet founders and winemakers, sample more than 30 grape varieties, and explore offerings from celebrity chefs and local food vendors, all set against a backdrop of live music and DJ performances.

The event reflects the region’s deep agricultural roots. Multi-generational farmers and vintners host visitors, sharing both long-standing traditions and newer innovations that continue to shape Dry Creek Valley into a globally recognized wine destination.

The annual Passport event attracts visitors and the Sonoma County residents alike, will be channelling support back into the community. A portion of proceeds funds the Dry Creek Valley Scholarship, linking the weekend’s celebrations to long-term investment in local education and agriculture.

This year Bacchus Landing will be hosting a Twilight Welcome Party on April 24 with "chef at large" Kevin O'Connor — known for creating immersive dining experiences — will be providing live-fire cooking for guests.

Participants begin their experience at a designated starting winery, where they receive materials including tasting glasses and maps before setting out to explore the valley’s network of wine makers.

Non-drinker tickets allow guests to participate in food and entertainment without wine tasting, while guidelines encourage responsible transportation and limit large buses that many smaller wineries cannot accommodate.

As spring sunlight fills the vineyards, the event offers more than a weekend escape—it reinforces the connection between wine, land, and community that defines the region, even as it invites a new generation of visitors to discover it.

Details and Tickets: The Passport to Dry Creek Valley April 24-26