Make your plans now

for the first big wine event of 2004, which will be held on
Saturday & Sunday Jan. 17 & 18, 2004. The wineries and
lodgings of the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys,
which make up the Russian River Wine Road, invite wine enthusiasts
to discover or rediscover Northwest Sonoma County at the ninth
annual “Winter Wineland.” With more than 85
wineries participating, there is plenty to do, see and taste.
A list of participating wineries is available on the Russian
River Wine Road website at www.wineroad.com. Tickets may be
purchased through the website.
Participants can spend the weekend talking to winemakers and
vineyard managers and tasting rare older vintages and new releases.
Visitors will enjoy food and wine paring, component and vertical
tasting, bottle and barrel displays and more.
Tickets prices, which are good for both days and include a logo
glass, are $30 per person when purchased in advance (by Jan. 11,
2004) and $24 per RoadRunner member. For more information, call
433-4335, or (800) 723-6336.