Sip, Shop, Relax and Repeat

To sip, shop, relax and repeat sounds like a dream day, especially when it comes to holiday shopping, but this is the real deal. On Dec. 6^th, the Wine Road will be holding the Holiday Wine Trail + Market. This one-day wine tasting and shopping event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, and deserves a closer look.

Broad Brush View

The Wine Road’s Wine Trail tastings events happen five times a year, but the December Wine Trail is always extra special because wineries bring in local crafters to showcase their creations. Over 30 wineries will be participating on December 6^th, and ticket holders are welcome at all locations to sip, shop and relax before going on to the next winery.

It’s a given that all the participating wineries will be pouring great wines. And, since it’s not possible to make it to every participating winery during the event day, below are some stops you might want to consider.

Multiple Vendors = More Shopping Options

Korbel Champagne Cellars, located on River Road just east of Guerneville, holds an annual holiday market, which just happens to be the same day as the Wine Trail + Market. Korbel’s 2025 holiday market will include 30 local vendors. Here are just a few of the gift items available for sale: custom fresh floral bouquets, repurposed tin cans and seashells into works of art, crocheted items, jewelry, candles, wax melts, aprons, baby items, plants, wreathes, pet accessories, pottery, upcycled license plate planters, watercolor paintings and cards, honey, cheesecakes, cookies, sourdough and brownies.

The Wine Trail hours are from 11 – 4, and the Korbel holiday market is from 10 – 3, so if you make this your first stop, you can shop and then sip before you repeat. Just don’t plan to make this your last stop as the vendors will be packed up and gone after 3 p.m.

Korbel California champagnes being poured to ticket holders:
2022 Blanc de blanc
2023 Rouge
2021 Blanc de Noirs, Master’s Reserve

ACTA Wine will also have multiple vendors for their 2^nd annual holiday market, plus there will be a holiday arts and crafts booth for children and families. You’ll be able to shop for one-of-a-kind earrings, ceramic art, locally grown and produced olive oil, lavender hydrosol, lip balm made from local honey, and more.

A local Girl Scout Troop will host a holiday photo booth where you can get your picture taken with The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. What a great idea for your family holiday photo! Along with these vendors, Small Pie Pizza Company will be offering their delicious pizzas on site. A perfect pairing with the ACTA wines.

ACTA wines being poured to ticket holders:
2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
2022 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
2022 Proprietary Red Blend, DEEDS, Alexander Valley

The Charm of a Handmade Gift

Carol Shelton Wines have “crafty” Wine Club members who will have their wares for sale. Are you in the market for handcrafted wine-themed earrings, handmade gift and bottle bags, wine bottle candles, or wine bottle appetizer trays? All great ideas for friends and family who love wine as much as you do.

Carol Shelton wines being poured to ticket holders:
Chardonnay, Wild Thing
Coquille Blanc (White Rhône Blend)
Coquille Rouge (Red Rhône Blend)
Old Vine Zinfandel, Wild Thing
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile

Lana Mounts, the co-owner and hostess extraordinaire of Mounts Family Winery, is also a crafter and will be selling her creations during the Wine Trail — festive succulent arrangements and Butterfly Fig Farms’ figgy bourbon jam. Last year we stopped at Mounts and purchased a few of the beautiful succulent arrangements and some jars of jam, too. The photo was taken during our stop, and Lana assured me she’ll have plenty more of everything, including complimentary samples of her famous cowboy cookies for shoppers to nibble on.

Mounts wines being poured to ticket holders:
2023 Verah Viognier, Estate Grown
2022 Tempranillo Blend, Estate Grown
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown

Peterson Winery is showcasing three crafters — vibrant mosaic creations made by Pam, one of the tasting room staff. Plus, Pam’s friends will be selling their crafts, too. Hand knitted cozy scarves, mittens, hats, gloves and more made from natural materials, and one-of-a-kind hand-illustrated cards created on archival paper using pen and ink or watercolors. All distinctive and unique gifts for your besties or yourself!

Peterson wines being poured to ticket holders:
2023 3V White Wine Blend (Vermentino/Vernaccia/Verdelho)
2020 Zinfandel
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Syrah
Muscat Blanc, dessert wine

More Than Just Stocking Stuffers

If you’re looking for more than just a small gift or a stocking stuffer, here are some options to check out during Wine Trail.

DeLoach Vineyards is featuring gift items from Water and Stone Sonoma. These artisan-designed concrete vessels make wonderful holiday gifts, and you might have to pick something up for yourself, too. Each piece is individually handcrafted so no two pieces are identical. The collection includes candle holders, vases, trays and other unique items.

DeLoach wines being poured to ticket holders:
Sparkling Blanc de Noir, Heintz Vineyard
Sparkling Shiraz, Wattle Creek
Pinot Noir

Oak Tree Winery will be showcasing items from Art Barrel Creations. Each item is made using the parts of retired oak wine barrels —staves and metal hoops. Produced from the staves: candle holders, balance bottle holders, bottle openers, coat racks, platters, single stave trays, lazy Susans and barrel head platters. Produced from the metal barrel hoops: heart bookends, wall pumpkins and 3D Pumpkin art.

Wine lovers will appreciate receiving a gift made from wine barrels. And how fitting that a winery named Oak Tree is showcasing items made from oak barrels. Sort of a full circle of giving.

Oak Tree wines being poured to ticket holders:
2020 Brut Cuvée, Carneros
2019 Red Blend, Monson Vineyards, Alexander Valley
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Monson Vineyards, Alexander Valley

Fine Art

Two wineries will be displaying fine art pieces. Truett Hurst Winery, located in Healdsburg, is featuring local artist Jane Gardener. Gardener is a painter, figure drawer, printmaker and sculptor, whose art is influenced by her love of nature and gardening. Truett Hurst will have several of her paintings and sculptures on display and available for sale.

Truett Hurst wines being poured to ticket holders:
Sauvignon Blanc, Bluebird
Pinot Noir, White Sheep
Zinfandel, Rattler Rock

Woodenhead supports local artisans year-round, and for Wine Trails is featuring local botanical artist Victoria Kochergin. There will be greeting cards, journals and prints for sale of Kochergin’s detailed drawings in colored pencil. If you stop by Woodenhead, be sure to also browse the other artists’ work they have on display.

Woodenhead wines being poured to ticket holders:
2019 “Naturale” Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine
2022 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
2018 Zinfandel, Guido Venturi Vineyard

And There’s More

There are many additional shopping options, so be sure to check out the Holiday Wine Trail + Market program on the Wine Road website. Baldassari Wines will have holiday wreathes and candles. Balletto Vineyards will host several local artists and vendors, plus have cheese sampling from Valley Ford Creamery and Gravenstein apple cider samples from Hale’s Apple Farm. Taddei Wines will have an antique dealer displaying and selling collectible depression glass in a variety of colors.

Look for recycled bottles of your favorite wine made into candles, as many wineries will have them available for sale. Several wineries will be offering gift baskets, and of course, wine also makes a terrific holiday or host/hostess gift, so be sure to stock up as you enjoy your day along the Wine Road.

The Details

Wine Trail tickets and complete details are available on the Wine Road website. Tickets are $50 per person, with $10 from each ticket being donated to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Each winery will be pouring at least three wines, and you can sip, shop and hang out as long as you like before repeating it at the next winery. Be sure to bring your holiday gift list along, and get all your shopping done at the Holiday Wine Trail + Market!

Happy Sipping!

Posted by Rebecca Germolus

Rebecca Germolus, co-owner of Maximum Value Marketing, loves Sonoma County and playing along the Wine Road. Rebecca daily immerses herself in wine country by providing cost-effective marketing and writing solutions to wineries and restaurants.

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