Healdsburg Kicks Off Preparations for the 2026 International White Wine Festival

Healdsburg is set to kick off the 2026 International White Wine Festival with a series of preview tastings featuring Anderson Valley winemakers. These events will take place from mid-January until February 6, hosted by the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association in collaboration with Stay Healdsburg. The tastings will bring spotlight on Anderson Valley’s cool-climate white wines in the familiar venues of Healdsburg, acting as a precursor to the main festival in Mendocino County.

Healdsburg, long celebrated as a crossroads in Northern California wine country, draws visitors headed north to Anderson Valley while also sheltering many winemakers who call it home. The locale is marked by its familiar ebb and flow—busy weekends at home and quieter mid-week escapes.

The preview events will commence on January 18 at Little Saint, featuring a casual tasting with winemakers pouring their wines alongside crisp small bites. Several renowned wines from producers such as Husch and Smith Story will be available for tasting. Guests dining at the venue can enjoy a special pour of Husch’s late-harvest Gewürztraminer when purchasing the tasting flight.

On February 1, Maison Healdsburg will host a polished afternoon tasting event, spotlighting five Anderson Valley whites along with their winemakers. For those looking to deepen their wine knowledge, a private master class will follow to explore cellar-worthy selections.

The final preview event will take place on February 6 at the Healdsburg Bubble Bar, focusing on sparkling wines, with a few exclusive bubbly selections available for guests.

Courtney DeGraff, the executive director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, emphasized the importance of these previews, stating that they encapsulate the essence of the International White Wine Festival—connection, discovery, and a genuine passion for white and sparkling wines. The series of tastings pave the way for the festival’s main event scheduled for February 14 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds, complemented by an open house at Anderson Valley wineries the following Sunday.

For further details on the festival, visit the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!