Your Sonoma Chef cheat sheet for the next 30 days — Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Point Reyes, and northern Sonoma County.
Price is per person for a typical meal, or the posted ticket price for special dinners. Some cards show both.
Gold badge = don't miss it. Pliny closes in three days — start there.
The annual triple IPA release wraps Thursday April 2. This is the last week — both Windsor and Santa Rosa pubs. Walk in, no reservations.
The entire month of April. Participating wineries pour complimentary tastings and offer 10% off wine purchases. No ticket counters, no scheduled festival chaos — just you, the winemaker, and whatever's open that day. Build your own day.
The 35th anniversary of California's friendliest wine and food festival. Three days, 50+ wineries, celebrity chefs, live music. Friday April 24 Twilight Welcome Party at Bacchus Landing with Chef Kevin O'Connor open-fire cooking and DJ Saint Rose Disco. Saturday Toast & Taste at Bacchus Landing 9:30–11 AM (included with 2-day or Saturday ticket). New this year: single-day passes available.
The 80th annual Apple Blossom Parade and Festival. Theme: Blossoms of Oz. Saturday 10 AM parade down Main Street — floats, bands, vintage cars, local community groups. Festival at Ives Park continues Saturday and Sunday with live music, food, local wine and cider, artisan vendors, kids' activities. Art show at Sebastopol Center for the Arts Saturday 10 AM–6 PM and Sunday 10 AM–5 PM.
Small-group guided tours (4–8 guests) through West Marin stopping at an oyster farm, meadery, organic vegetable farm, and cheese producer with a farm-to-table lunch. Public and private tours available. Book early.
Scan by town. Click through before you go.
Late March into April: asparagus, first strawberries, snap peas, spring onions. Show up early.
Hosted cheeseboard and seasonal chef's lunch at The Fork overlooking Tomales Bay. Quiet, no crowds. Reservation required.
Outdoor oyster bar on Tomales Bay. Raw, BBQ, chowder. Friday through Monday only.
One of the most interesting independent producers in the Alexander Valley. Good Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Sirah. No event crowds, no ticket fees. Just the wine and the conversation.
One of the stronger dining destinations in Healdsburg. Seasonal menu, excellent wine program. Check their event calendar for special dinners and winemaker nights — they run them throughout spring.
The polished end of the Russian River corridor. Seasonal menus, strong local wine list. Worth the drive for a special dinner. Check their site for current events and winemaker evenings.
Weekend 1 (April 4–5): No major headline event — this is the right weekend for a quiet Alexander Valley tasting day under TASTE Alexander Valley. Mid-week is even better. Go north, pick two or three wineries, take your time.
Weekend 2 (April 24–26): This is the one. Passport to Dry Creek Valley Friday night Twilight Welcome Party with Chef Kevin O'Connor's open-fire cooking (wear denim on denim). Saturday morning Toast & Taste at Bacchus Landing 9:30–11 AM. Then drive south to Sebastopol — Apple Blossom Parade Saturday 10 AM, festival at Ives Park through Sunday.
Two completely different tones 20 miles apart. Wine country sophistication Friday night in Healdsburg, small-town apple orchard community Saturday afternoon in Sebastopol. That contrast is the point.
30 days means only confirmed events with verified URLs. Pliny the Younger closes April 2 — that's the one to act on tonight. TASTE Alexander Valley runs all month and is best used as a mid-week or off-peak weekend day rather than a headline event. Apple Blossom is confirmed April 25–26 from the official Sebastopol Chamber. Passport to Dry Creek is confirmed April 24–26 from the official DCV site.
The Matheson winemaker dinner that appeared in previous versions of this guide could not be verified with a current confirmed date — it has been replaced with a standing restaurant recommendation. Always check their calendar directly.
sonomacounty.com/events · wineroad.com/events · exploretock.com · farmtrails.org/events · thesonomalocal.com · drycreekvalley.org · alexandervalley.org · russianriverbrewing.com · appleblossomfest.com · healdsburgwineandfood.com · foodandfarmtours.com · visitmarin.org · bohemian.com · sebastopolfarmersmarket.org · golocal.coop
Always click through before you go. Dates, ticketing, and availability can change.