Sonoma Wine Country Weekend raised more than $1.57 million for Sonoma County charities through auctions and ticket sales at events in Healdsburg and Sonoma.

  More than 4,000 people turned out over the holiday weekend to sample top wines and fine foods at the two principal events that were held back-to-back for the first time.

  Showcase: Taste of Sonoma was held Saturday at MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg and sold a record 2,200 tickets, a 50 percent increase over last year.

  The Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction took place Sunday at Cline Cellars. The annual event included a live and silent auction as well as its first online auction. The live auction raised $702,500 from 57 lots.

  With this year's tally, the harvest wine auction has raised nearly $9 million for Sonoma County charities in its 16-year history.

  Winemaker lunches and dinners put on over the weekend boosted the fund-raising efforts.

  "We are thrilled at the tremendous success of the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. By combining the two events into one weekend, we were able to showcase the best that Sonoma County has to offer," said Honore Comfort, executive director of the Sonoma County Vintners Association.

  The association and the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance sponsored the combined event.