Back when we started the Mill District project in 2019, winter in Wine Country was a quiet affair. Tasting rooms were empty; hotels were discounted. As Healdsburg has become more popular, so too has the list of happenings. Nowadays winter offers almost as many options as other times of year. Here’s a sampling of some of the exciting events on our radar for the next few weeks.
A new terminal and baggage claim area have opened at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, modernizing the amenities at Santa Rosa’s gateway to 10 destinations nationwide. The new digs embrace some of the iconography that makes our region famous: Tree and vine sculptures in the terminal and giant three-dimensional renderings of Snoopy and his biplane in baggage claim. Next up for the airport makeover: A renovation of the on-site restaurant, which soon will offer indoor/outdoor seating and an expansive view of the tarmac.
The annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley event isn’t happening for another few months (April 29-30), but VIP experiences are selling out quickly, making now the best time to buy in for what is sure to be an unforgettable time. VIP tickets to the event include concierge services for accommodations and transportation, a welcome dinner at The Madrona on April 28, and a brunch amid the garden beds at SingleThread Farms. All VIP ticket holders also receive a swag bag of items from local artisans and makers.
The second-annual Sonoma Epicurean weekend is scheduled for March 9-12, and it aims to celebrate local food and wine and raise money to fight pediatric cancer. The event also will have star power: Greg Simon, former president of the Biden Cancer Initiative, will be the guest speaker at breakfast on Saturday, March 11, at Montage Healdsburg. Simon was expected to share the remarkable progress made by the first Cancer Moonshot, which he led, and discuss the priorities and initiatives of the new initiative under President Biden. Tickets are on sale now.
New boutique Maison Smith bills itself as a “modern mercantile,” which is another way of saying the store carries exquisite home goods shoppers likely won’t find anywhere else. Goods such as unique array of bespoke pieces, antique furnishings, vintage textiles, Belgian linens, and more. The store opened on Healdsburg Avenue north of Sanderson Ford in late 2022 and has attracted interest from locals and interior designers alike. Owners Buzz and Janen Korth own a second store with the same name in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
