FESTOONING A 40TH ANNIVERSARY... in all the ways it rightly should be festooned requires some thinking, some planning, and a few great events that make participants feel as something special is afoot. That's just what the Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County is doing throughout 2016, with a host of happenings. Many of those happenings involve the number 40 in some way, like The Art of Oak, which features 40 used barrels that have been transformed into something zingy, zazzy, and very art-lovely (transformed, of course, by 40 artists). There's also the Get in the Picture contest, which is on through the first of July. Look for selfie frames at 40 locations -- all Wine Road members -- and then snap away (and add to social media, too, for possible "prizes, tickets, and swag"). And as for the Ruby Affair Charity Auction, which will mark the big year in grand, giveback style? That's on Saturday, May 14, so find your fanciest frippery for a wine-themed night. Or just stay tuned for June 18, which is when the...
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOURS... will take to the Northern Sonoma County roads. If you sign up for the adventure, you will not, repeat not know all the places you and the luxury bus you're on are heading. You can know there shall be five wineries involved, with food and wine pairings at each, plus a goodie bag, plus "an entertaining tour captain" sweeping the whole thing along in wine-informative fashion. The cost? It's $100 a ticket, and that includes all of the to-dos just listed. One extra bonus of not knowing where you're headed, winery-wise, is you just may land at a new place, which can be a bit of a challenge for those wine country daytrippers who return, again and again, to their go-to vineyards. You can narrow it down, a bit, by deciding upon your chosen area: Dry Creek Valley, Anderson Valley, and other fertile nooks of NoSoCo are possibilities.
HOW WILL YOU... help the grape-glorious region mark its 40th? All of the various soirees are listed here.
