Taste of Railroad Square

One of the finest Sonoma County events~
My daughter and I have attended two years in a row and we love it!
Thank you to the organizers as the event will continue to evolve and grow into a signature Sonoma County event~

Kudos for the event organizers to this. (And a tsk tsk to the residents for not supporting more.)
As a person who actively attends a lot of Bay area, and So Co, events, this one deserves recognition for being well organized and executed.
It was a perfect day weather wise, mid 80s. There were a wide variety of quality vendors serving/​pouring food, wine, beer tasting ice cream, olive oil, chocolate, cookies, bbq, and all kinds of savory items. A handful could have been better, but for the most part each offering was well done.
The venue itself was very reasonable. $ 40/​person gave a decent wine glass (kudos for no logo on it, can actually be re-​used) (do Riedel or Spiegelau next time: p) and a punch card.
The punch card offered 10 ‘tastes’. Many offered both a food and wine pairing for one ticket. If you filled up a card and wanted to partake more, a 2^nd card was only half price. Most vendors had more consumables than attendees unfortunately and by mid day weren’t punching cards anymore. Some of the wineries were also giving away free tasting coupons to visit the winery.
Vendors included:
Ledson Winery & Vineyards | Slow Food Russian River | Hare Hallow Fine Condiment Oils & Vinegars | Matanzas Creek Winery | Sam Adams | Korbel Champagne Cellars | Lagunitas Brewing Company | Seed Restaurant | Délice de la Vallée | Lost Coast Brewery | Suncé Winery | Sift Cupcakery | Zichichi Family Vineyards | Trentadue Winery | Songbird Apothecary | Dry Creek Olive Company | Matrix Winery | Samuel Adams | Hook & Ladder Winery | Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar | Kenwood Vineyards, as well as food prepared by Chef’s from several hotels. (The Hilton did a yummy 5 spiced pulled short rib.) Aioli Delicatessen, (not listed on the website), also was present with a yummy appetizer, paired with 2 pinots that Canopy Wine Group was pouring.
Reading above, I didn’t even make it to all of them, and I was there for almost 3 hours and buzz/​stuffed when I left!
Some of the vendors seemed a bit discourage by attendance. As an outsider looking in, don’t be, or give up the faith yet. The event had more people than appeared, but b/​c there were so many stops, spread across, several block and mostly in shops, (instead of the more traditional outside with tents/​tables) you never saw the entire crowd. No doubt attendance should have been better, and hopefully word of mouth, and more advertising will help. Santa Rosa needs more great events, and support for them when held.
Another nice touch: each attendee got a goody bag. Hidden in some of the marketing fluff was some good things; discounts at restaurants (although one bag didn’t have the Jack & Tony’s gift card :().
Special kudos to Cellars of Sonoma, for being such generous hosts.
My only suggestions: continue to get the word out and promote it. (billboard signs.?); maybe put more of the ‘tastes’ into that outside grassy area for more critical mass. I like the shops better one street over (5^th?) instead of the Yarn Shop, Thrift shop etc: p (this was an semi inebriated observation at end, don’t remember which street.)
It may also serve better to bring a few that were on the fringes in closer.
In summary, this event is on par with many other great ones here, don’t skip it next year!