Wine & Food Affair

The Wine & Food Affair is Wine Road's November weekend of pairings. Across Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River, each participating winery sets a featured dish beside its wines, so every stop is a plate and a pour rather than a tasting bar alone. You choose a check-in winery when you buy, collect a glass and a wristband there, and plan your own route for both days. The roster runs to dozens of wineries, from ACTA and J. Rickards in Alexander Valley to Mazzocco in Dry Creek and DeLoach on the Russian River.

Go for the season and the cooking. Harvest is in, the hillsides are turning, and the tasting rooms trade crackers for food made to stand next to one particular wine. Wine Road keeps the recipes online, so a pairing you love on Saturday can be cooked at home the following week. The pace is yours: four or five wineries a day is plenty when every stop includes a plate, and lingering is the point. Book the designated driver ticket for the friend at the wheel, who still eats at every stop.