Sonoma Wineries Spice Up Holidays

Pastry chef and Nicholson Ranch Winery tasting room manager Charles Whittaker poses proudly beside his creation, a life-sized "wood burning" gingerbread fireplace.
 
Sonoma Valley, Calif. -- The Gingerbread Winery Contest organized by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers was cooked up three years ago by Ramona Nicholson of Nicholson Ranch, as a way to increase seasonal traffic "And also give something interesting to the kids who get 'dragged' to wineries by their parents," the mother of three told Wines & Vines. This year's third annual competition is just part of SVGG's Holiday in the Vines celebration.

The competition is growing more ambitious and fiercely creative by the year. The Nicholson Ranch entry this year is a life-size gingerbread reproduction of a fireplace, with a model of the winery's tasting room on the mantel and gingerbread ornaments on the live Christmas tree. It was created by tasting room manager and pastry chef Charles Whittaker.

 
Matanzas Creek's gingerbread winery was baked and built by estate pastry chef Ryan Pollnow. It features the winery's famous lavender gardens in the foreground.

 Nine other wineries are participating in the competition; visitors receive ballots and for every ballot cast, a chance to win a case of Sonoma Valley wines. Participants include last year's winner, Little Vineyards Family Winery, partnered with Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary School; BR Cohn Winery, with help from students at the California Culinary Academy; Chateau St. Jean; first-time competitor Jacuzzi Family Vineyards; Kenwood Vineyards; 2006 winner Landmark Vineyards; Larson Family Winery and Matanzas Creek Winery.

The gingerbread wineries will be available for viewing and voting through December. For details on the competition and other Sonoma Valley festivities, visit sonomavalleywine.com.