Ready, Set, Wine: Upscale Fun Set for Wine Country Weekend

September is when the wineries kick it into high gear, not only with grape harvest (and the inevitable “crush”) but with seasonal fairs and festivities.

The month starts with (Sept. 2 – 4) , and ends with the (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2), two of the biggest wine-related events in Northern California.

First up is the Sonoma County Wine Weekend, running from Friday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 4. This 19^th annual event combines the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction, described as “a high-end, world-class charitable fundraiser,” with a tailgate party, gourmet luncheons and dinners, and a series of winery barbecues across Sonoma County. 

Study the full list of weekend events here (there are still plenty of tickets to snap up for the winemaker feasts); follow along with our highlights below.

Friday, Sept. 2

• The weekend kicks off with dozens of locally catered lunches, hosted in picturesque spots throughout the county. The high-life experience doesn't come cheap ($85), but and Kenwood's Hamel Family Wines still have spots available.
• Repeat it all for dinner, which kicks off at Wineries throughout the county starting at 6pm. ($160 per person.)

Saturday, Sept. 3 

• Taste of Sonoma, the popular all-day wine “fair” at Healdsburg's MacMurray Ranch, may have sold out, but you can still snag a spot at a dinner party, or the special 'Honorary Chair Dinner Party,' held at Benzinger. ($160-$175 per person.)

Sunday, Sept. 4

• 19th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction kicks off at 1pm at Sonoma's Cline Cellars. Tickets are $500 per person, but can still buy a "Locals Only" ticket online. This year there’s a “vintage homecoming” theme with cheerleaders, athletes, marching band members and homecoming queens (more than one?), and a tailgate party with vintage and classic winery trucks. An online auction of additional lots, including many of Sonoma County’s finest large format wine bottles, is open for bidding through Sept. 9, at http://www.winecountryweekend.biddingforgood.com.

• Not into wine bidding? Stop into one of the winery BBQ's. A relative value at $85 per person, the low key events will pair grilled meets with Sonoma County reds.

Proceeds from Sonoma Wine Country Weekend benefit local communities and charities serving students, children, farm workers and people in need. To date, more than $10 million has been raised jointly by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation and Sonoma County Vintners.

More details on the Sonoma County Wine Country Weekend are available on their website at www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.