Holiday doings in Wine Country

The second the last plate is put away from Thanksgiving it’s time to (yet again) eat, drink and be even more merry as the holidays kick off everywhere you look in Wine Country with festive open houses, tree lightings, Santa parades, special dinners and, yes, so much more. Don’t just stay home. This is a wonderful time of year to see your own region in a whole new light.

Friday, Nov. 27

Holiday Open House: Kendall-Jackson kicks off the season with an open house, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Wine Center chateau set among 120 acres of prime Russian River Valley vineyard land. 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton, 571-8100, www.kj.com.

Yountville Festival of Lights: A tradition for more than 20 years, Yountville will light its festive lights during an afternoon celebration lasting from 2 to 6 p.m. with food, wine, live entertainment and activities for the entire family, including a visit from Santa and his helpers. 944-0904, www.yountville.com.

Thursday-Friday, Dec. 3-4

Heart of Sonoma Valley Holiday Open House: It’s the 26th year of this annual festive event, a chance to peek into favorite wineries in the area and find new finds. Participants include everyone from Chateau St. Jean and Benziger to tiny Enkidu (great syrah) and Audelssa, a producer of mountain-grown cabernet sauvignon worth knowing, with a new tasting room in Glen Ellen. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. $30 advance/$35 door. (866) 794-9463, www.heartofsonomavalley.com.

Dec. 3

The Holiday Celebration in Old Downtown Windsor (in and around the Town Green) will feature holiday musical classics, Holly Trolley tours of Old Downtown, strolling carolers and an Elves’ Craft Workshop for children. A holiday tree lighting will occur at 6:15 p.m. The day also includes Children’s Polar Express Train Rides ($1), Jingle Bell Carriage Rides ($1) and photos with Santa ($9). Rain or shine from 5 to 8 p.m. 9455 Bell Road, Windsor, 838-1260.

Dec. 4-6

Calistoga’s Winter in the Wineries Passport Weekend sees more than 20 Calistoga wineries invite “passport holders” to tour their facilities, meet the winemakers and sample world-famous wines. Participating wineries include Castello di Amorosa, Bennett Lane, Clos Pegase, Dutch Henry, Envy Wines, Lava Vine Vineyards, Madrigal Vineyards, Silver Rose Cellars, Sterling Vineyards, Summers Estate Wines, T-Vine Cellars, Twomey Cellars, Von Strasser, Rios Wine Company, W.H. Smith Wines and Zahtila Vineyards.

During the weekend visitors will also enjoy discounts at several of Calistoga’s finest restaurants and lodgings. Among the highlights of the weekend will also be Calistoga’s 14th Annual Lighted Tractor Parade on Dec. 5, when vintage and modern tractors bedecked with Christmas lights (and maybe even Santa) roll down Calistoga’s scenic main street to celebrate the season. Held just after dark, the parade is a salute to the area’s agricultural heritage and features a wide range of small to gigantic equipment lighted and decorated. Passport Weekend is $40; tractor parade is free. 942-6333, www.calistogavisitors.com.

Dec. 4-19

The wonderfully seasonal 12 Days of Meadowood brings together 12 of the country’s most renowned chefs to collaborate with 12 of Napa Valley’s preeminent vintners. Highlights include a Dec. 17 pairing of chef Cat Cora with D.R. Stephens Estate and on Dec. 19 all things Meadowood when the resort’s own chef Christopher Kostow pairs dishes with the exquisite wines of Harlan Estate. Lodging and dinner for two starts at $950 per couple per night. 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena. Reserve via 968-3153 or reservations@meadowood.com.

Dec. 5

Take a St. Helena Holiday Home Tour, the perfect opportunity to get some holiday cheer whilst benefiting the children of St. Helena primary and elementary schools. $45 door/$40 advance. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 967-2717.

On that same day the Napa Bed & Breakfast Inns host their annual Holiday B&B Tour and Taste Event from 2 to 6 p.m. throughout Napa. Inn tours will feature holiday decorations and festive entertainment, as well as food and wine pairings. Buses and shuttles will provide transportation between inns. Featured inns include The Arbor Guest House, The Beazley House, The Candlelight Inn, Cedar Gables Inn, Churchill Manor, Hennessey House, Hillview Country Inn, The Inn on First, Inn on Randolph, McClelland-Priest B&B Inn, Napa Inn and the Old World Inn. Meet winery owners and winemakers from Ahnfeldt Wines, Artesa, Baldacci, Robert Biale, Bouchaine, Baldacci, Caymus, Dutch Henry, Folio, Frank Family, Jessup Cellars, Madonna Estates, Miner Family, Mumm Napa Valley, Peju Province, Reynolds Family, Rombauer Vineyards, Van Der Heyden and V Sattui.

$55 per person includes food, wine and access to all B&B tours. Get tickets via www.NapaHolidayTour.com.

Dec. 5-6

During the Rutherford Wineries Passport Weekend, experience the wineries of the Rutherford appellation as never before, with exclusive barrel tastings, wine and food pairings and special discounts. Head to Honig, romance your senses at Rubicon or find your festive spirit at St. Supery, among many others. $65 weekend/$50 Sunday only. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 302-1124, www.rutherford-appellation-wineries.com.

Dec. 9-11

At the 21st Annual Mendocino Coast Candlelight Inn Tour, enjoy evening tours of Mendocino area bed-and-breakfast inns and lodges while benefiting Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mendocino and the Mendocino Unified School Enrichment (MUSE). Dec. 9 features the inns of Little River and Albion, Dec. 10 the inns of Mendocino and Dec. 11 the inns and lodges of Fort Bragg. $25/$10 kids 10 and under, cost includes all three days and light refreshments at the inns. From 5 to 8 p.m. 964-1228, www.mendocinoinntour.com.

Dec. 10

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers its “Seven Courses of Christmas Dinner,” a feast straight out of Dickens. Each of the seven courses is based on traditional holiday foods, sparkling wine included. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. $172 to $192. Then on Dec. 14 and 19 the wine train becomes the “Morning Santa Express.” $20 to $40. For details, call (800) 427-4124 or visit www.winetrain.com.

Dec. 12

St. Francis Winery hosts an “Ode to Crab” dinner to celebrate the start of the Northern California Dungeness crab season with a menu featuring all things crab. Every gourmet course will be paired with a St. Francis wine including a special library selection. Reservations required. Starts at 6:30 p.m. $125. 100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa, 833-0255, www.stfranciswine.com.

Virginie Boone is a freelance wine writer based in Sonoma County. She can be reached at virginieboone@yahoo.com or visit wineabout .pressdemocrat.com.