Weekend Warrior picks: 11/20
Beaujolais Nouveau Day is today! Thanksgiving is next week! Let’s get this holiday party started, Sonoma Valley! 
Friday, November 20
Go buy some Beaujolais Nouveau! and toast to France. The official Beaujolais Nouveau Day was Thursday, when the famed, inexpensive, first wine of harvest is released in France at 12:01 AM. It’s cheap, fun to drink and a good excuse to toast to France during this intense time in the country’s history. You can pick it up at Sonoma Market and Whole Foods!
Go buy your Thanksgiving veg & table decor at the Farmers’ Market! You’ll really impress your guests by proudly declaring that the sweet potatoes are from the farm down the street and the lovely table decor of winter squash, too! Regardless, it’s a great place to pick up a fresh sandwich for lunch or a soup, the latter made from fresh ingredients found at the market that morning. The market runs from 9AM to 12:30PM, Arnold Field, 241 W. 1st St., Sonoma; svcfm.org.
Saturday, November 21
Make a donation to help hungry families in Sonoma Valley and Lake County via one of the the many donation opportunities in our community. Stock up at Sonoma Market, Safeway, Whole Foods, or during your weekend trip to Costco or Trader Joe’s and help make someone’s table – and belly – full this holiday season and beyond. Learn more in our food drive guide.
Tony Stewart of Madrone Vineyard Estates launches his own wine label with a festival fall release party. If you haven’t checked out the new Madrone Vineyard Estates, formally Valley of the Moon, you’re missing out on a fabulous experience.
This is a great chance to meet Stewart, who is the super friendly, new proprietor of the winery, and winemaker David Marchesi, who worked with Stewart to craft a Chardonnay, Cab and Old Vine Zin – the latter uses old vine Zin from the famed Madrone property, some of the oldest grapes in the region.
Their chef, Stephanie Gagne, will serve up tasty appetizers, including locally sourced cheeses and charcuterie. It’s a great excuse to check out the new digs, meet the super nice folks at Madrone! $20 for club members, $25 for public (buy tickets online!); 3 PM-6PM; 777 Madrone Rd., Glen Ellen; 939-4500; madronevineyardsestate.com.
Sunday, November 22
Holiday in Carneros is Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is a little more chill and has a little less tourists, generally. 15 local Carneros-region wineries open up their doors and invite the public in for tastings, food and entertainment. There are often also good deals for stocking up on holiday wine.
For the first time ever, they have a “VIP experience”: for $125 you get escorted around in a bus, returning you to your car at the first winery you visit. Perks include food and wine pairings, a blending session, reserve tastings, and barrel tastings. One of the food and wine pairings involves a local food truck!
Wineries participating include Gloria Ferrer, Cline Cellars, Homewood, Jacuzzi, Keating Wines, Meadowcroft, Larson Family Winery, Poseidon Vineyards, Robledo, Schug, Tin Barn and Ty Caton. VIP folks also visit Peter Cellars.
Saturday and Sunday, 11AM to 4 PM, $50 general admission, $125 VIP. Buy your tickets online here.
