Dry Creek Valley Celebrates 35 Years of Passport Weekend with Extended Tasting Experience

New 'Twice as Nice' program offers 2-for-1 tastings across the region for two months.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A vibrant, abstract silkscreen illustration featuring repeated images of wine bottles, glasses, and corks in a grid pattern, using a bold, neon color palette to capture the celebratory spirit of the Dry Creek Valley wine festival.The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley are reimagining their annual wine festival with a bold, creative approach that celebrates the region's legacy while welcoming new audiences.Healdsburg Today

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley are reimagining their annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley event for its 35th anniversary, introducing a new 'Twice as Nice: The Extended Edition' program that runs for two months and offers 2-for-1 tastings at participating wineries. The expanded celebration also features a resident artist, non-alcoholic beverage options, and an AI-powered sommelier experience to make wine education more accessible.

Why it matters

As the wine industry faces changing consumer preferences, the Dry Creek Valley winegrowers are adapting their signature event to stay relevant and inclusive. By extending the experience beyond a single weekend and incorporating new elements like art, non-alcoholic offerings, and digital wine discovery tools, they are positioning the festival to appeal to a wider audience of wine lovers and the 'wine-curious' alike.

The details

The 'Twice as Nice: The Extended Edition' program runs from April 6 to June 1, 2026, transforming the traditional Passport to Dry Creek Valley weekend (April 24-26) into a two-month tasting experience. Participating wineries will offer 2-for-1 tastings during this period, encouraging guests to explore the region at their own pace. The festival will also feature a resident artist, Kanye Tomiwa, whose work will unfold in real time and invite attendees to contribute corks for a collaborative art installation. Additionally, the event will include non-alcoholic beverage options from brands like De Soi and DuJu, as well as a new wellness partner and an AI-powered sommelier experience to make wine education more accessible.

  • The 'Twice as Nice: The Extended Edition' program runs from April 6 to June 1, 2026.
  • The traditional Passport to Dry Creek Valley weekend takes place April 24-26, 2026.

The players

Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

The organization behind the Passport to Dry Creek Valley event, which is reimagining the festival for its 35th anniversary.

Lauren Fremont

The Executive Director for Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, who stated the goal is to 'stay relevant in a competitive event landscape' and 'create something more flexible, more welcoming, and ultimately more meaningful for today's wine lover and the wine-curious alike.'

Kanye Tomiwa

The resident artist whose work will be featured at the 2026 Passport to Dry Creek Valley event, inviting attendees to contribute corks for a collaborative art installation.

Katy Perry

The co-founder of the non-alcoholic beverage brand De Soi, which will be featured at the 2026 Passport event.

Amanda Brower

The Director of Communications for Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, who stated that the event's evolution is 'about creating space for discovery, for connection, and for new audiences to feel like they belong here.'

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What they’re saying

“We're looking beyond the traditional wine festival model. This is about staying relevant in a competitive event landscape – creating something more flexible, more welcoming, and ultimately more meaningful for today's wine lover and the wine-curious alike.”

— Lauren Fremont, Executive Director, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

“This isn't just an extension of an event – it's an evolution of how people experience wine country. It's about creating space for discovery, for connection, and for new audiences to feel like they belong here.”

— Amanda Brower, Director of Communications, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

What’s next

Tickets for the 2026 Passport to Dry Creek Valley event and the 'Twice as Nice: The Extended Edition' program will go on sale in the coming months. Interested attendees can visit the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley website for more information and updates.

The takeaway

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley are embracing innovation and inclusivity to reimagine their signature wine festival, demonstrating how traditional events can evolve to stay relevant and appeal to a wider audience of wine enthusiasts and the 'wine-curious' in the modern era.