Winter WINEland

Winter WINEland is a 33rd annual grand tasting wine festival held each January across the Wine Road in Sonoma County, California — spanning multiple wineries over 2 days with tasting hours from 11am to 4pm each day. The January 17–18, 2026 edition is organized by Wine Road, an association that has grown from 9 founding wineries in 1976 to nearly 140 member wineries across the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys of northern Sonoma County.

Winter WINEland uses a passport-style format: attendees check in at a chosen starting winery to collect a glass and wristband, then drive the Wine Road at their own pace, stopping at participating wineries throughout the weekend. Each winery provides a minimum of 3 tastes per visit. The format suits guests who want to cover a range of producers without a rigid itinerary. One practical note: all participating wineries enforce a no-groups-of-8-or-more policy, and the organizers specifically ask guests not to arrive by bus or in large parties, as wineries cannot accommodate them. A Friday night preview event at Trattore Farms on January 16 — free to ticket holders — offered the inaugural release of their sparkling wine, "Bolle de Trattore," from 5pm to 7pm.

Tickets for the 2026 event sold out. Wine Road Insider Members received 20% off 2 tickets. Lodging packages were available through CellarPass, bundling 2 event tickets with 2 nights at partner hotels including properties in Sebastopol, Windsor, and Healdsburg, priced from $500 to $560 — all of which also sold out. Guests who keep their wristband can visit select wineries on Monday, January 19.

The Wine Road corridors — Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley — are recognized AVAs known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winter WINEland is one of 3 annual Wine Road events, alongside Barrel Tasting in March and Wine and Food Affair in November, all of which draw thousands of visitors to northern Sonoma County each year.