10 Things to Do Indoors in Wine Country This Winter

Sonoma County boasts year-round good weather because even when it’s a bit rainy and chilly, sunshine is usually just around the corner. Still, there are days when the indoors beckon — and we’ve got plenty of ways to entertain, whether your taste is music, fine wine, dining, or all of them together.

1. Enjoy a Show at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Celebrate the sound of music at this Santa Rosa venue, plus dance, theater, comedy, family activities, and arts education programs. The non-profit center hosts everything from folk music to symphony to smart humor and spectacular theatrics within the spacious center — capable of accommodating big audiences for big-name performers! Come for a concert or a lecture — it’s a wonderful way to spend time and leave inspired.

2. Take it All in at Green Music Center

Opened in late 2012 at Sonoma State University, this is still one of the hottest tickets in town for a long list of remarkable performers. The state-of-the-art theater, concert hall, and lawn performance space bring to life a constant line-up of talent. The recital hall is named after the Peanuts character Schroeder in honor of Jeannie and Charles M. Schulz’s contributions to the university and community.

3. Browse and Taste at The Barlow

There’s a treasure trove of shopping, wine tasting, and dining at this 12.5-acre center set in a former apple cannery at the southeastern entrance to Sebastopol. Discover several artisan wine-tasting rooms. Experience local-favorite Golden State Cider. Indulge at onsite breweries and restaurants. And sip fresh roasted coffee at Taylor Lane Coffee. There’s plenty to tickle your fancy at this uber-cool locale.

4. Play and Dine at Graton Resort & Casino 

The flashy 340,000-square-foot destination is heaven for fashionable gamblers and foodies alike, thanks to a dizzying array of games and fabulous restaurants in luxurious surroundings. Here are the stats: 3,000 slot and video poker games. Table games, like blackjack, baccarat, and Pai Gow poker. An 18-table poker room. A high-limit table game room with private salons. And a high-limit slots room with $300 pulls. Enjoy casual dining in four full restaurants: gourmet Italian at Tony’s of North Beach; dry-aged beef and seafood at 630 Park Steakhouse; classic American and Mediterranean cuisine at the Daily Grill; and an eclectic mix of Japanese and East Asian cuisine at the Boathouse Asian Eatery. Or check out the eight eateries in the casino’s Marketplace, offering pizza, burgers, sushi, barbecue, and more.

5. Savor the Flavors at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

You can see the elegant Mission-style tower from Sonoma Highway, and within awaits another treasure. The wine and food tasting offers a wonderful multi-course meal from chef Peter Janiak, bringing an assortment of dishes to pair with hand-selected artisan wines.

The dishes change daily to reflect seasonal markets, but some temptations might include pan-seared day boat scallops alongside Estate Cuvée Blanc from Sonoma Valley. Or roasted Liberty Duck breast cassoulet paired with Zinfandel from Bacchi Vineyard in Russian River Valley.

6. Discover Fritz Underground Winery

Some wineries have caves, but here, the entire operation is buried underground, dug into a remote hillside on the edge of Dry Creek Valley. Built in 1979, it spans three stories showcasing a gentle, gravity-flow winemaking process and ‘bubble’ architecture with windows that look like sunglasses peeking out of a grassy rise. Enjoy the specialties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, plus Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon either under the earth or on a patio, and if you show up on a weekend, you can make an appointment for a tour of the entire subterranean architecture.

7. Get Cookin’ with Relish Culinary Adventures

Owner Donna del Rey brings together talented chefs and fabulous cuisine at her state-of-the-art Healdsburg center. Classes and culinary events focus on a variety of topics, such as DIY canning, wild mushroom foraging, cheese making, and ethnic cuisines. Private cooking lessons are also available. Often, the classes include working with the actual farmers, cheese makers, and other food artisans, and whatever the event, the goal is the same — have a terrific time while learning. Chop, whisk, blend, and enjoy a few sips of great Sonoma wine along the way. Relish caters to adults but also offers specialty classes designed for kids.

8. Experience Valette 

The rustic, charming interior welcomes you into a warm, delicious retreat. Dustin Valette wows with his contemporary Cal-global cooking in the ambiance of a wood-trimmed, open kitchen. Reservations are recommended to score a table laden with seasonally (and often weekly) changing dishes like slow-cooked celeriac soup with toasted pistachios, yellow beet tartare, and goat cheese meringue. Start with handcrafted charcuterie from the custom-made curing case, and if you’re feeling adventurous, tuck into the ‘Trust me’ tasting menu, where Valette sends out a multi-course feast of his daily picks.

9. Relax at Kenwood Inn and Spa 

Blink, and you might miss this boutique hotel shrouded with ivy, roses, and trees on a gentle Sonoma hillside. With just 29 rooms, it’s an exclusive retreat — but book ahead to indulge in pampering at the elegant, intimate spa. Pad softly up the stone walkways past private hot tubs, and treat yourself to the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage, the Espresso & Mud Detoxifying Body Wrap, or the Ti Amo Massage for Two.

10. Warm Your Soul at Fairmont Spa

One of Wine Country’s iconic destinations is the spectacular, 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Fairmont Spa, which has 36 treatment rooms and indoor and outdoor pools. The baths are fed by the resort’s own source of natural thermal waters, running beneath the Inn. Rich with 24 trace minerals, these naturally hot waters are perfectly cooled for guests. The signature Bathing Ritual is included with every visit, featuring an exfoliating shower, two mineral-water soaking pools, herbal steam, dry sauna, and cool-down showers.

For more great ideas, check here: Fabulous Winter Getaway to Wine Country Itinerary and Fun Things to Do in Sonoma County on a Rainy Day.

---

Written by Sonoma Insider Carey Sweet