Tips for experiencing a wine festival in Napa Valley

Regular visitors to Napa will know that all through the year, there are many events and wine-related festivals taking place in and around the Napa Valley, such as the Annual Vineyard to Vintner Festival each April, the Calistoga Wineries Spring Celebration in May, and also the Sonoma Wine Country during Weekends each July.

'Napa Valley Festival del Sole' is arguably one of the world's most distinctive summer wine festivals. With a package of activities every day, music is the centerpiece of the festival and it is acclaimed by the media as a "feast for the senses," featuring the finest cuisine, wine and hospitality the Napa Valley has to offer. The weeklong schedule also includes fabulous concerts, exclusive receptions, lunches, dinners, wine tasting sessions and art exhibitions. It is to be noted that some of the world's most renowned performing artists visit Napa Valley each year to perform at 'Festival del Sole' and to wine, dine and celebrate the "art of life" with all other festival guests.

For the last four since inception, 'Napa Valley Festival del Sole' is offering an exceptional blend of world-class artistry, five-star cuisine, fine wines and exceptional hospitality. Gala events with the artists and other special guests are the culinary highlight and social attraction of 'Festival del Sole'. More of the region's beautiful properties extend their hospitality for this season's daily lunches.

Late January up to end-March is mustard season in the Napa Valley. Mustard fields are ubiquitously found in all of California but among the vineyards they appear truly spectacular. Its vibrant yellow color set against a gray winter sky casts a magic spell to the entire Napa Valley vineyards. It is a good and valid reason to visit the wine country during the Napa Valley Mustard Festival which attracts visitors to the Valley in what is the ideal travel time of the year.

Yet this is a wonderful time to visit the Napa Valley as visitors will not encounter over-crowded tasting rooms and congested roadways. Restaurants are less busy and many accommodations offer very attractive winter rates. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is an annual event, filled with a variety of activities to attract tourists during these winter months.

It's a fun, grass-roots, eco-event during April, featuring a walk around tasting of spring wine releases from nearby Green Valley. The festival features interpretations of world street food- everything either grown on the Iron Horse estate or come from farms within a 100 mile radius. Ticket includes a private reception at the Victorian home of Iron Horse founders Audrey & Barry Sterling. During August, you can enjoy premier wine and food festival, combining the best of Sonoma's wine and food and a Wine Auction. The festival features more than 200 wineries and chefs, plus winemaker lunches and dinners, a grand tasting.

Throughout the year, visitors to Napa Valley have opportunities galore to attend various fascinating events and festivals. Every year during early September for a day, the music and wine festival takes place in the Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill. This is the largest music festival of the year held in Napa County, with many attractions including live musical performances, wine tasting, workshops, and songwriter showcases.

The 'Home Winemakers Classic' is an annual event generally held in the middle of July for local winemakers to share and collectively enjoy their home made wines. This is a fun-filled event, in which people get to taste the creations of up and coming wine makers as well as renowned ones.