Do Good and Celebrate! Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience

Have fun while doing good. That’s the message you’ll find throughout this year’s 2nd Annual Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience, which showcases Sonoma County wine, agriculture, and sustainability and celebrates the local vineyard workforce.

Tickets are on sale now for the event that runs from May 18-21, 2023.

Named among the best places to travel in May, Healdsburg is the crown jewel of Sonoma County’s Wine Country. Imagine scenic vineyards tucked along the Russian River, a community rooted in the fertile land and bounty that grows from it, small-town charm with world-class wines, and a diverse and eclectic mix of culinary choices in what some argue is the best part of California.

Spring is when the land comes alive. The earth that has been lovingly cultivated during the cooler months springs to life as flowers bloom and crops ripen. Intuitively, people, too, feed off the energy that spring brings and naturally want to be near where the heart and hands of Mother Nature have touched.

Sonoma County has it all. A rugged coastline along California’s Pacific Coast, towering redwoods, quaint downtowns, a thriving culinary scene where farm-to-fork is the natural byproduct of this rich agricultural area, a diverse cultural scene, craft beer and spirits, and yes…wine.

According to the 2021 Sonoma Crop Report, there are over 39,000 acres of red varietal grapes producing 121,693 tons in the county, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Grenache, Malbec, Mataro/Mouvedere, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah-Shiraz, and Zinfandel. The whites added 13,487 acres planted, producing 84,318 tons of grapes. White varieties include Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Blanc/Muscat Canelli, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, and White Reisling.

That’s a lot of grapes! For wine enthusiasts, that means a variety of wines to love; for growers and owners, that translates into a half-billion-dollar market ($540,954.500 in 2021).

The chef lineup is impressive:

• Local chef Dustin Valette, chef/owner of The Matheson, and Douglas Keane from award-winning Cyrus;
• Food & Wine’s Best New Chef Matt Horn;
• Food Network star Maneet Chauhan;
• “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard;
• Food Network’s “Chopped” star and “Top Chef” finalist Joe Sasto;
• Food & Wine’s Best New Chef and Iron Chef America winner Viet Pham.
• Local participating beloved chefs include Thomas Bellec, Domenica Catelli, Duskie Estes, Matt Horn, Crista Leudtke, Tracey Shepos,
• Leah Scurto, Casey Thompson, and Ari Weiswasser.

Events during the weekend are held at various venues and wineries. You can explore Healdsburg as you enjoy HWFE at:

• The Matheson
• Montage Healdsburg
• Madrona
• Aperture Cellars
• Bacchus Landing
• Bricoleur Vineyards
• Ferrari-Carano Winery
• Jordan Winery Estate
• Kendall-Jackson Estate and Gardens
• Rodney Strong Vineyards
• and more!

They will be making a significant contribution to the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation, whose mission is “for Sonoma County grape growers to be agriculture leaders in social sustainability through partnerships and programs that support the skilled agricultural workforce and their families who sustain farming in Sonoma County.”

In addition, Healdsburg Future Farmers of America (FFA) will receive benefits from a community brunch at Chalkboard Restaurant. Sponsored by Foley Family Wines, a significant donation will go towards the HWFE Future Farmers Scholarship, created by HWFE for students from the local Healdsburg High School FFA chapter. Farm to Pantry, whose goal is to bring together our communities to end food injustice and reverse global warming by rescuing and sharing locally grown food with those who have been marginalized, will also receive contributions from the event.

With a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, wet winters, and warm, dry summers, Sonoma County is ideal for growing crops, including apples, cherries, berries, olives, hops, oats, hay, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and grapes. The soil benefits from the sustainable farming practices of the growers who mindfully work with the region’s rich volcanic and alluvial soils, nourished by riparian floodplains. This nutrient-rich soil creates flavorful and nutritious crops. 

While there are always challenges in the agriculture industry related to inclement weather, drought conditions, pests, disease, and fires, Sonoma County reported a 19.2% increase in value for 2021 on its annual Sonoma County Crop Report. This increase is despite a drought that has been testing the area’s farmers and growers since 2013.