(Courtesy of Patz & Hall)

10 Alfresco Dinner Parties in Wine Country This Summer

12 June 2019

You fancy, huh?

Plan a trip to Napa and Sonoma this summer to wine and dine amongst the vines at any of 10 fabulous outdoor parties.

Farm-to-Table Dinners at Kendall-Jackson Estate

(Courtesy of Kendall-Jackson Estate)

KJ's notoriously gorgeous estate gardens are the backdrop to their monthly Farm-to-Table Dinners ($175/person) held through October—and of course the gardens supply many of the ingredients as well. Each event will have a different themed menu highlighting local purveyors, such as Costarella Seafoods (July 13) and Liberty Duck from Sonoma County Poultry (Aug. 10). Look out for a completely vegetarian meal on September 14th. The evening will begin with hors d'oeuvres and wine, followed by a seated, family-style dinner, and later, dessert in the tasting room. Wine will be flowing all night long, carefully paired with each course. // 5007 Fulton Rd. (Fulton), kj.com

Garden to Table Dinners Robert Mondavi Winery

(Courtesy of Robert Mondavi Winery)

Robert Mondavi is always looking for fun ways to bring guests into their famed To Kalon estate vineyard, so every Thursday through October, there's a hands-on Garden to Table Dinner ($160/person) on offer—a great excuse for a long Wine Country weekend. You'll begin with a walking tour of the winery gardens to harvest ingredients for the meal, and then move into the kitchen to begin prep side-by-side with winery chef Jeff Mosher. The tour finishes with a peek at the winery facilities and, finally, you'll settle in among the vines for a three-course dinner with wine pairings. You even get an apron and a recipe to take home. // 7801 St. Helena Hwy (Oakville), robertmondaviwinery.com

Farm to Table Dinners at B.R. Cohn Winery

(Courtesy of B.R. Cohn Winery)

B.R. Cohn is upping the ante with a pair of sunset-timed Farm to Table Dinners ($90/person), bringing in none other than Sonoma's famous The Girl & The Fig to cater. On July 6th, the menu features a summer salad, wood-fired pork with summer beans and salsa verde, and two types of dessert: an almond brown butter cake and chocolate butterscotch tartlet. The second dinner will take place on August 7th, but the menu is yet to be announced. The event takes place inside an open-air pavilion with vineyards views as far as you can see. // 15000 Sonoma Hwy (Glen Ellen), brcohn.com

French Connection Wine Dinner at Imagery Estate

(Courtesy of Imagery Estate)

Can't make it to France this summer? Imagery Estate's French Connection Wine Dinner ($85/person) on July 20th will transport you right to the streets of Montmartre and Le Marais Cinderella-style (you know, for the night). The soirée will feature a caricature artist and live French music from an accordion and guitar duo, while the family-style dinner will consist of grilled peaches, bistro filet with bacon marmalade and wild mushrooms, lemon-herb risotto cake, grilled vegetables, and dessert, all paired with a diverse selection of red and white wines. // 14335 Hwy 12 (Glen Ellen), imagerywinery.com

Live Fire Guest Chef Series at Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead

(Courtesy of Long Meadow Ranch)

Meat lovers can't miss the Live Fire Guest Chef series ($170/person) at Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead. Top chefs from all over the country arrive in tiny St. Helena to roast, smoke, and sear delicious meats (and sometimes fish) at the fire pit alongside executive chef Stephen Barber. The 2019 lineup features chef Cassidee Dabney of Tennessee's Blackberry Farm (Aug. 16) and chef Howard Hanna of Kansas City's The Rieger (Sept. 27). These events even support a charitable cause, the Timothy W. Hall Foundation, which benefits school programs in the arts and sciences. // 738 Main St. (St. Helena), longmeadowranch.com

Vineyard Dinners at Patz & Hall

(Courtesy of Patz & Hall)

Patz & Hall's intimate Dinner in the Vineyard ($279/person) on August 10th is a great excuse to plan a weekend getaway in Sonoma. Their charming Sonoma House is located just a few minutes from the historic Sonoma Plaza and is host to a romantic evening at sunset, which consists of a three-course dinner in the garden set adjacent to their estate vineyard. Each dish will be paired with their pinot noir and chardonnays sourced from some of the top vineyards around. // 21200 8th St. East (Sonoma), patzhall.com

Sonoma Bounty Dinner at Jordan Vineyard & Winery

(Courtesy of Jordan Vineyard & Winery)

Jordan Vineyard & Winery hosts a slew of epic wine and food experiences at its chateau throughout the year, but many of them are reserved for participants in their winery rewards program. Tickets to the Bounty of Sonoma County Wine Dinner ($200/person) on August 17th, however, are available to the general public. Taking place on the chateau's sprawling lawns, the evening begins with a Champagne reception with hors d'oeuvres, then moves to a seated, multi-course dinner prepared by winery chef Todd Knoll, who sources many ingredients just steps away from the Jordan gardens, plus other local farms. Each course will be paired with different vintages of Jordan chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, and the event concludes with a French-inspired dessert spread in their newly-designed dining room. // 1474 Alexander Valley Rd (Healdsburg), jordanwinery.com

Paella & Petite Sirah Dinner at Robert Biale Vineyards

(Courtesy of Robert Biale)

Robert Biale offers something different than any other event on this list: paella and petite sirah. While petite sirah is difficult to find in the land of cabernet these days, Robert Biale has been committed to keeping the old tradition of this intense grape alive, often making it from very old vines. The August 17th Paella & Petite Sirah Dinner ($110/person) takes place on the relaxing back porch, looking out at the vineyard during sunset. // 4038 Big Ranch Road (Napa), biale.com

Chef's Dinner at Seghesio Family Vineyards

(Courtesy of Seghesio)

Head over to Healdsburg on August 30th for Seghesio Family Vineyards' Chef's Dinner ($175/person), set on their idyllic Tuscan-style terrace. Executive chef Peter Janiak will work with local Sonoma County farmers to curate a five-course menu that pairs with Seghesio wines, including refreshing summer whites, zinfandels, and the Italian varietals for which they're known. Held once a year, this incredibly intimate dinner is limited to just 30 guests, so get your tickets fast. // 700 Grove St. (Healdsburg), seghesio.com

Lobster Feed at Landmark Vineyards

(Courtesy of Landmark Vineyards)

While all of these wineries no doubt have spectacular views, wine, and food, only Landmark is coming at you with one of life's greatest delicacies: lobster. This year, they're hosting their popular annual Lobster Feed ($150/person) twice on back-to-back weekends, September 6th and 13th. Tie on a bib and watch the sun set behind the Mayacamas Mountains while you dig into fresh lobster with sides of prawns, hot links, artichokes, potatoes, onions, corn, sourdough baguettes, and, of course, tubs of butter—which all washes down smoothly with Landmark's single vineyard chardonnays. // 101 Adobe Canyon Rd. (Kenwood), landmarkwine.com