Garagiste Wine Festival: Northern Exposure
Garagiste Festival: Northern Exposure in Sonoma, CA — 30+ micro-wineries under 1,500 cases pour at the Veterans Memorial Hall each spring; 2026 was the 8th. VIP $100.
Quick facts
At a glance.
The story
About this festival.
Garagiste Wine Festival: Northern Exposure is the Sonoma edition of the Garagiste Festival, an indoor grand tasting of micro-production wineries at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall, 126 1st Street West, in Sonoma, California. The eighth annual edition was held on Saturday, May 2, 2026; dates repeat each spring. More than 30 commercial wineries from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Amador County and beyond pour, every one making under 1,500 cases a year, and the organizers say over 85 percent have no regular tasting hours, so the winemakers themselves pour.
Ticket sales are capped to keep lines short, the hall is air-conditioned, and a silent auction sells the wines by the bottle. A VIP Rare & Reserve hour runs 1 to 2 PM before the main tasting; VIP was $100, with a $10 designated-driver ticket. The producers run sister festivals in Paso Robles, Glendale and Solvang.
Getting there
Location & logistics.
What to expect
The experience.
A mix of varietals from regional producers. Start light, work toward the bigger reds.
Held at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall in Sonoma. Check the venue page for layout details.
A mix of regulars and newcomers. Knowledgeable pourers happy to walk you through what you're tasting.
Arrive early, hit your must-try wineries first, then wander. That's the move.
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