Top 10 Annual Wine Country Events You Don’t Want to Miss!

Festivals, concerts and fairs are a fun way to experience the “best of” a city or region. Take Napa Valley for instance. This area known primarily for its hundreds of wineries hosts a plethora of annual events that invite locals and visitors alike to celebrate film-making, California cuisine and, of course, wine. Browse the following wine country events and start making plans to visit now!

Top 10 Annual Wine Country Events

Napa Valley Restaurant Week – January is an exciting month in Napa for many reasons including the much-anticipated Restaurant Week! Usually held the last week of January, you can try all the restaurants you’ve been dying to with prix-fixe menus that will satisfy your palate and your wallet! A plethora of restaurants participate, from cafes to Michelin-Star rated restaurants.

Napa Valley Marathon – Voted the best road race in the country by the Road Runners Club of America, the Napa Valley Marathon is noted as a great race for beginner marathoners! It’s mostly downhill course is a beautiful one as it begins in Calistoga and finishes in Napa with a bevy of beautiful vineyards and towns to view along the way!

BottleRock Festival – Enjoy music by world famous artists, food by award-winning chefs and sip on a variety of Napa’s prized wines and craft beers at BottleRock. It’s usually held at the end of May, which is a perfect time of year in Napa. The lineup of artists, chefs and wines/beers changes annually, so be sure to visit the website for the latest info and tickets!

Napa Porchfest – This annual event, held each July in Napa is a live music festival featuring more than 100 bands who set up and play on front porches around town! Private homes, bed and breakfasts and businesses offer up their front porches to bands to play. Pack a picnic, hop on a bike and tool around town to listen to various artists!

Festival del Sole – Festival del Sole is a celebration of music, art, wine, food and dance. Festival-goers gather at nearly 40 iconic venues throughout the valley for the 10-day event that benefits local schools and arts organizations. Be sure to check the calendar for this popular July event.

Napa Wine & Crafts Fair – This arts and crafts fair draws more than 10,000 attendees each year who love to see and purchase locally handmade crafts. Nearly 150 arts and crafts vendors display their wares during the annual event that also features an array of wine and food vendors. Held each September in downtown Napa.

Flavor! Napa Valley – Each spring, Flavor Napa Valley presents 40 culinary events over 5 days. Events range from a celebrity chef and wine maker golf tournament to a Napa Valley wine tour to the main event: The Grand Tasting.

Napa Valley Film Festival – This 5-day festival held each November features more than 100 films shown at various locations throughout the valley. In addition, festival goers get the chance to dine on some of the area’s most delicious cuisine and sip top-notch California wines.

Napa Truffle Festival – As the event website describes, the Napa Truffle Festival is a chance for you to “Experience the brilliance of Amerca’s top truffle chefs.” It’s where “World class cuisine meets cutting edge truffle science.”

Music in the Vineyards – Each summer, an incredible month-long festival featuring some of the best musicians in the world takes place at various wineries. This annual event, called Music in the Vineyards began in 1994 and has grown to become known for its concerts in atmospheric venues as well as the delectable wine served at intermission.

Napa B&B Holiday Tour & Taste Event – This annual event is a great opportunity for you to explore Napa’s beautiful bed and breakfasts all decked out for the holidays. In addition, each stop on the tour offers an array of hors d’oeuvres and wines for you to sample, making it an all-around festive way to kick off your holiday season!

Download Our Vacation Guide

For even more information and things to do and see in Napa Valley, be sure to download our free Vacation Guide. Let Churchill Manor serve as your home base during your stay. Our 1889 mansion features 10 beautifully decorated rooms with a host of modern amenities to offer you the ultimate in comfort. Start each day with a delicious three-course breakfast and enjoy our famous wine tastings each afternoon.

Photo Credit: Visit Napa Valley