Best Wine Country Festivals

Napa Valley Mustard Festival, Feb.-Mar. When Napa is at its least crowded, and wild mustard blooms in between the vines, locals celebrate wine, food, and art with exhibitions, auctions, dinners, and cooking competitions. (707/938-1133 www.mustardfestival.org)

Wine Road Barrel Tasting Weekends, Mar. For two weekends in March more than 100 wineries in the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander valleys open their cellars to visitors who want to taste the wine in the barrels, getting a preview of what's to come. (707/433-4335 or 800/723-6336 www.wineroad.com)

Hospice du Rhône, early May This three-day event in Paso Robles is the largest celebration of Rhône varietals in the world. (805/784-9543 hospicedurhone.org)

Sonoma Jazz + Festival, late May Headlining jazz, rock, and world music performers play in a 3,800-person tent in downtown Sonoma, while smaller music, food, and wine events take place around town. (866/468-8355 www.sonomajazz.org)

Auction Napa Valley, early June The world's biggest charity wine auction is one of Napa's glitziest nights. Events hosted by various wineries culminate in an opulent dinner and auction. (707/963-3388 www.napavintners.com)

Sonoma County Harvest Fair, early Oct. This festival celebrates agriculture in Sonoma County, with wine tastings, cooking demos, livestock shows, crafts, carnival rides, and local entertainers filling the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. (707/545-4203 www.harvestfair.org)