Rings in Season Long “Holiday in the Vines” Celebration

Sonoma Valley’s Vintner’s & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) has announced the contestants in the 6th Annual Sonoma Valley Winery Gingerbread Competition where wineries create edible replicas of their wineries. This signature event kicks off the Holiday in the Vines, a calendar of Sonoma Valley winery events including Open Houses, Winemaker Dinners, visits from Santa, Toy Drives, and musical events. For the complete list of festivities, visit the Events Calendar at www.sonomavalleywine.com.

Each year, Ramona Nicholson of Nicholson Ranch challenges the Sonoma Valley wineries to pick up their spatula and join the fun. This year’s creation by Tasting Room Manager Charles Whittaker is taking over the entire Nicholson Ranch Art Gallery overlooking the Tasting Room and creating a pure gingerbread exhibit of at least six full-sized gingerbread pieces of art. Some classic artworks will be created (Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh) and some winery related art as well (a still life of grapes, the Nicholson Ranch Chapel, a portrait of the Nicholson family, etc.).  It should be a show stopper!
Throughout the month of December, visitors can pick up a map and a ballot at any of the participating wineries and vote for their favorite gingerbread creation. As an added bonus, each time voters cast a ballot either at the wineries or on the Sonoma Valley Grapes & Wine Facebook page, they’ll be entered into a raffle to win a case of fabulous Sonoma Valley wines.

Larson Family Winery, last year’s winner, will again have their structure created by Rose Fanucchi of Sweet Treats who plans to depict a Sweet Snapshot Back in Time. The ever creative Kelly Cleaver is taking on B.R. Cohn’s theme of Gold Records and Gold Ribbons featuring edible gold as well as Chateau St. Jean’s structure based on a Classic Christmas Tale which promises to be very unusual and colorful. Marina Mayer of Gundlach Bundschu is designing their entry which will depict their tasting room. The ladies of Kenwood Vineyards are creating a structure with a theme of Christmas in the Vineyards. Lori Ferguson is creating A Tropical Paradise (including Santa in a swimsuit!) for Paradise Ridge Winery and the team at Roessler Cellars are creating a Winter Wineland-themed structure.

Be sure to visit all the participating wineries and cast your votes: B.R. Cohn, Chateau St. Jean, Gundlach Bundschu, Kenwood Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Nicholson Ranch, Paradise Ridge Winery and Roessler Cellars.

Additional Holiday in the Vines events are being added daily. For more information, visit the event calendar on the website at www.sonomavalleywine.com.