California's Napa Valley offers several small events, wine auctions and tastings throughout the year. Visitors looking to enjoy the beauty of the area and sample the local wines can find a range of seasonal events celebrating and promoting the region's vineyards and wineries.
The Napa Sonoma Food and Wine Festival takes place in October. Several local wineries team up with local chefs to wine and dine attendees with organic produce and cheese produced in the area. In addition to luncheons, dinners and wine tastings, there are special events such as fashion shows. The Festival admission is $65 as of October 2010, with special events priced separately.
The Napa Wine and Crafts Faire happens mid-September every year, attracting more than 10,000 who come to sample wines and buy items made by local artisans. There are more than 200 vendors each year, along with live entertainment. The Faire is held downtown and is free.
Despite its name, the Mustard festival has nothing to do with the condiment. It refers to the wild mustard plants that carpet the Napa Valley vineyards in vivid shades of yellow throughout the winter months. Wine, food, art and entertainment are the big draws for this event which has been taking place every January since 1994.
