By Leslie Sbrocco—
From April showers to May flowers, springtime is also swirl, swish, and sip time. I’ve selected a May festival that captures the tasty fun of wine country, a newly-released book on the treasures of Italy, and a white wine that’s like drinking sunshine in a bottle.
To Do: The Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience
https://www.healdsburgwineandfood.com/
When it comes to local wine events, this is one of my top choices for savvy socializing. The festival runs from May 14–17 for a four-day celebration of Sonoma County’s farmers, growers, winemakers, and chefs alongside acclaimed wines from leading regions around the world. There will be celebrities—such as Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine magazine, who will be showcasing 150 Years of Beringer Vineyards—along with Grand Tastings that will offer sizzling chef-driven fare; and aisles and aisles of world-class wines to sample. There will also be Sommelier Showdowns, and a Big Bottle Party at the Matheson with Chef Dustin Valette. Is music on your weekend menu? The outdoor concert at Rodney Strong Vineyards will feature Grace Bowers, the 19-year-old award-winning guitarist and singer. Food truck dinners will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting Farm to Pantry. Do good and drink well!
To Read: Italianity: The Culture of Italian Wine by Andrea Lonardi MW and Jessica Dupuy $49.95 (May 2026)
If you are a lover of all things Italian, this beautiful new book is one to aquire. Jessica Dupuy joins Andrea Lonardi MW to create a tome that reads like an Odysseus-style trek through and celebration of Italy. It’s not an academic book so much as a collection of more than 90 essays that are personal reflections, profiles of the people who put Italian wine on the global map, and a cultural journey sharing how Italians do libations differently from wines to coffee rituals and even the etiquette of enjoying a Spritz—Italian style.
To Sip: 2025 Garzón Reserva Albariño, Maldonado, Uruguay $25
https://bodegagarzon.com/
Bodega Garzón is Uruguay’s flagship wine property. Alejandro and Bettina Bulgheroni dreamed of creating a winery emblematic of modern winemaking in Uruguay and they did it with respect for the land and the environment. This stunning property is located near the Atlantic Ocean and is home to a wide range of complex and elegant wines from vineyards influenced by cooling ocean breezes. Seek out a slice of South American sunshine with their Reserva Albariño. The white grape is known in Spain and Portugal where it’s named Alvarinho. This white is zesty and bright with citrus notes, a rich texture, and a lingering finish. It’s a wine to sip on poolside to tableside with spicy fare, grilled fish, and fresh-from-the-garden salads.
Author, speaker, wine consultant, and television host Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her work on PBS, which includes hosting the series “Check, Please! Bay Area,” which is now in its 21st season; “Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!” and the nationally aired series “100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations.” www.LeslieSbrocco.com
Sbrocco Sips
Published on April 23, 2026
Recent Comments