Over 100 wineries in the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley will be participating in the 32nd Annual Russian River Wine Road Barrel Tasting taking place this weekend and next weekend. This is Sonoma County’s largest wine tasting event.

The general idea of barrel tasting is that you can sample wines that are still in the barrel and not yet finished—basically, a wine in progress. Then you call upon your knowledge, imagination and intuition to figure out what the finished product will taste like. Or, just guess. Sometimes, the wineries will pour the same wine from a previous year to give you an idea of the direction it’s heading. (It's a great education for your palette.) And if you have high hopes for the sample, you can purchase the future wine right there, typically at a discount. Once the wine is aged and bottled, around 12-18 months from now, you can pick it up or have it shipped to you. Since many of the participating wineries are small and make very limited productions, this could be your best chance to get their wine.

To join in, just show up at one of the wineries and buy a tasting glass and wristband for $20 for the entire weekend. Then drive around some of Sonoma County’s most scenic roads and check out the places that interest you. Many of the smaller wineries are not typically open to the public. Plus, much of the time, the owner or winemaker will be on hand to answer questions. 11am – 4pm; (800) 723-6336

Also of note, the Hilton Santa Rosa is making a special offer for Barrel Tasting Weekend visitors. Stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night for free. Click here for more information.