Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is a weekend-long celebration featuring the best of Sonoma County. This event beckons foodies and wine enthusiasts from near and far to indulge in an epicurean adventure that offers a variety of events and packages that cater to every palate and preference.
I started out my weekend at the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting. Wines from over 100 of the finest producers from Sonoma, Napa, and internationally renowned regions were poured allowing guests to embark on a wine tasting journey.
As I meandered throughout the plaza and mingled with vintners and chefs, I enjoyed viewing branded booths and even an airstream that was creatively decorated. Renowned chefs prepared delightful bites with Sonoma’s seasonal agricultural bounty. There were so many great dishes served at the Grand Tasting, but some of my favorites included the following:
Chef Casey Thompson of Folktable’s scrumptious Farm Honey-Butter Fried Quail. The succulent quail with a light and crispy coating paired nicely with pickled strawberries and tangy green yogurt. The harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors that were both familiar and unfamiliar intrigued my palette.
Souvla, one of my favorite Greek restaurants in San Francisco, sliced a large and juicy leg of lamb. As for presentation, the lamb was accompanied by cucumber, pickled red onion, feta cheese, and a creamy Greek yogurt sauce.
Leah Scurto of Pizzaleah made some delightful handcrafted pizzas. The crust has a slightly thicker yet airy texture that provides a satisfying bite. It’s easy to see why Leah is an award-winning pizza chef!
After the grand tasting I made my way over to Rodney Strong Vineyards for an outdoor concert featuring the award-winning country duo, Maddie & Tae. Guests danced the night away to live music nestled among the vineyards. There were a variety of food trucks serving gourmet comfort food and wines were available for purchase. A portion of ticket sales went to the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation, the Leadership Academy and workforce development.
This was my second year attending Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience and I had a wonderful time! There are world-class events at picturesque venues, engaging seminars, and lively cooking demos led by the best in the business! It keeps food and wine enthusiasts like me craving for more and on that note I hope to attend a third time next year!
