Calling all wine and food admirers to the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University: Taste of Sonoma holds their annual showcase of Sonoma County’s most established, renowned wineries and chefs–and more. The event, held on Aug. 31, includes a wine grand tasting area, guided wine seminars, chef’s pavilion, a beer garden, and themed lounges filled with entertainment. However, with tickets ranging from $150-255, does Taste of Sonoma add up to its price tag? 

With featured wines from: Alexander Valley Winegrowers, Fountaingrove District Winegrowers Association, Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance, Russian River Valley Winegrowers and Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, it is quite difficult to miss out on your favorite sauvignon blanc or pinot noir. Taste of Sonoma presents an outstanding variety of local wine. 

Home to over 400 wineries, Sonoma County makes it easy to feel overwhelmed and excited for individual’s delving into the experience. Yet, the informative wine seminars at the event allows for a quick gain of knowledge and wine IQ for Taste of Sonoma participants. With distinguished winemakers offering a lively panel discussion and focused tastings as well, the event is certainly an opportunity worth grasping. 

Chalk Hill Tasting Room Associate and Sonoma State student, Madisen Essinger, 

offers the inside scoop on the estate winery. At Taste of Sonoma, Chalk Hill offers its award winning estate red, a blend of 47% cabernet sauvignon, 37% malbec, 9% Petit Verdot Merlot and 7% merlot. 

Chef’s pavilion offers tasty bites–ranging from sweet to savory–offered by Sonoma County’s favorite food purveyors. Stop by the Grand Tasting and enjoy the opportunity to delve into delicious foods paired properly with exquisite wines. Look out for El Dorado Hotel and Kitchen at Grand Tasting, as it offers their mini salmon tacos and coconut puree to pair with your favorite buttery chardonnay or crisp pinot grigio. Grill stations are bursting with explosive flavors of gourmet creations, too; Gerard’s Paella, Imagination on Fire, Stockholm Restaurant and Three Sisters Artisanal Meats highlight the vast variety that these smokin’ stations have to offer. 

If participants’ palates desire something more than wine, it is never in doubt that Sonoma County is, after all, home to more than 40 breweries with alternative offerings to boot. Taste of Sonoma presents six of the finest breweries, each offering their local craft beer. Henhouse Brewing, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, Seismic Brewing Company, St. Florian’s Brewery, and Third Street Aleworks all offer their most refreshing ranges of hoppy, malty, toasty, and crisp selections.

Take a break from the tastings and venture away into the sound of music.Request a favorite song at Rodney Strong Vineyard’s “Have A Splash!” lounge with DJ Kind or spice it up with some live jazz or reggae. Get moving and grooving to Celebrity Cruise’s silent disco, a unique and entertaining experience. Offering a huge variety of entertainment, Taste of Sonoma makes it practically impossible to miss out on all the fun. 

Altogether Taste of Sonoma offers a plethora of tasting and events. “Voted one of the top wine festivals in the nation in a USA Today Reader’s Choice Poll, this event is sure to satisfy any and all wine and food enthusiasts,” as SonomaCounty.com says. Thanks to the generous sponsors and the county of Sonoma, Taste of Sonoma brings the community of wine and food together for an unforgettable day worth the price tag.