Originally published on CaliforniaHomeDesign.com

As the race to harvest — before the wet, cool fall weather settles into the wine countries of Northern California — continues, another kind of race is happening over in the winery. Fermentation, which tends to take its own sweet time, is being coaxed along by winemakers eager to make room in crowded tanks for those last tons of fruit. As the red wine finishes fermenting, it is pressed off the skins and pumped into barrels where it will spend the next months and maybe even years of its life.

America’s Cup racers may have sailed off into the sunset last weekend, but one small winegrowing region in Sonoma County is still looking out to sea. On November 8, 40 different wineries from the Dry Creek Valley appellation will be setting sail for a three-hour sunset cruise — and you’re invited.

It’s no secret that people don’t need a reason to don a costume in San Francisco. It’s only natural then that locals go all out this time of year when Halloween rolls around. USA Today even named San Francisco as one of the best cities to celebrate Halloween. However, beyond the parties, parades, and costume contests, there are unique things to do beyond the city of San Francisco in Wine Country. Today we spotlight a few of the different Halloween activities happening in Napa and Sonoma this month.