Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience

What Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience does

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience (HWFE) is a privately-held event production company that organizes an annual multi-day wine and food festival in Healdsburg, California. Operating through SD Media Productions, LLC with a team of 1-10 employees, HWFE serves affluent adults aged 21+ seeking premium wine country experiences. The festival, scheduled for May 14-16 in 2026 and May 20-23 in 2027, draws on the Sonoma County region's concentration of over 425 wineries across the Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander Valley AVAs and features farmers, growers, winemakers, and chefs alongside globally recognized wines.

HWFE's product is a single annual festival weekend with a layered portfolio of ticketed components. The flagship is the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting ($275 general admission, $195 Healdsburg residents), which features 150+ wines, beers, spirits, and bites from top chefs. Layered around this are ancillary events including an Outdoor Concert at Rodney Strong Vineyards ($95), wine seminars led by Master Sommeliers ($125-150), chef-driven lunches such as Horn Barbecue and Courses on the Court ($200-250), Big Bottle Party at The Matheson ($400), a Sushi by Scratch Omakase Dinner at Aperture Cellars ($375), and a Welcome Celebration plus Wine-Down Pool Party. The Platinum VIP Weekend Package ($4,700) bundles four-day immersive access with concierge service, priority hotel booking, and complimentary shuttles. Underlying technology is limited to a Squarespace-hosted website, Facebook/Instagram presence, and email marketing.

The business model is direct-to-consumer ticket sales through the company's own website (no third-party ticketing platforms) plus sponsorship revenue from partners including First Citizens Bank (Reserve Lounge presenting sponsor), Visit California, and Sonoma County Tourism. Most events are sold out, and pricing power is demonstrated across multiple tiers. Customer acquisition relies on earned media coverage (Forbes, Thrillist, FOOD & WINE, San Francisco Chronicle, Haute Living), social media amplification, email list building, and reciprocal partnerships with at least six Healdsburg-area hotels and marquee wineries such as Kendall-Jackson, Rodney Strong, Ferrari-Carano, and Chalk Hill Estate.

Name

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience

Legal name

SD Media Productions, LLC

Website

https://healdsburgwineandfood.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is a privately-held event production company (SD Media Productions, LLC) operating an annual multi-day wine and food festival in Sonoma County, California, serving affluent adult consumers through tiered ticketed experiences ranging from $95 to $4,700.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine & Food Festival Events

NAICS

Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF), Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Wine festival events
• Culinary tasting experiences
• Wine country tourism
• Food festival production
• Premium event ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Healdsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue is generated from selling tickets to individual events and package deals including the Platinum VIP Weekend Package. Events range from $95 general admission concerts to $4,700 all-inclusive VIP weekend packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience produces an annual multi-day wine and food festival in Healdsburg, California, selling tickets to a portfolio of culinary events including the flagship Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting, Platinum VIP Weekend Package, chef-led dinners, wine seminars with Master Sommeliers, outdoor concerts, and pool parties across Sonoma County partner venues. The event celebrates regional farmers, growers, winemakers, and chefs alongside globally recognized wines, with individual tickets priced from $95 to $4,700.

Product overview

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is an annual weekend-long food and wine festival event company offering a unified portfolio of tasting experiences and culinary events centered around Sonoma County wine country. The core product is the main festival (May 20-23, 2027), complemented by ticketed modules including the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting, Platinum VIP Weekend Package with exclusive access, Outdoor Concert Series, Big Bottle Party, chef-led dinners (Sushi by Scratch Omakase), seminars, and pool parties. The product architecture is a single unified event with à la carte, package, and VIP ticket tiers rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience (Main Festival) Weekend-long wine and food festival celebrating Sonoma County's culinary diversity, sustainable farming practices, and agricultural heritage through tastings, seminars, concerts, and chef-led dining experiences targeted at adults 21+.
• Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting Flagship tasting event featuring 150+ wines, beers, and spirits alongside bites from top chefs and restaurants, priced at $275 general admission and $195 for Healdsburg residents.
• Platinum VIP Weekend Package Four-day premium package at $4,700 per person offering VIP access to Welcome Celebration, chef-led lunches and dinners, early Grand Tasting access, Reserve Lounge, Big Bottle Party, Wine-Down Pool Party, plus hospitality concierge, priority hotel booking, complimentary shuttles, and a welcome gift bag.
• Outdoor Concert Series at Rodney Strong Vineyards Annual outdoor concert events at Rodney Strong Vineyards featuring live music performances, priced at $95 per person with food trucks available for purchase.
• Big Bottle Party at The Matheson High-profile wine party featuring large-format wines (magnums, jeroboams), caviar stations, late-night bites, DJs, and live music, priced at $400 per person.
• Sushi by Scratch Omakase Dinner Michelin-starred omakase dining experience at Aperture Cellars featuring Japanese cuisine paired with premium wines, priced at $375 per person.
• Welcome Celebration Opening night event featuring chef stations, wine tastings, and entertainment to kick off the festival weekend.
• Wine-Down Pool Party Sunday afternoon pool party at Appellation Healdsburg featuring wine, food, and mingling with chefs and makers.
• Reserve Lounge at The Matheson Rooftop VIP rooftop lounge offering specialty wines and food prepared by Chef Dustin Valette, exclusive to Platinum VIP package holders.
• Courses on the Court Lunch Farm-to-table luncheon at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens combining NBA connections with wine country culinary experiences, priced at $250 per person with Top Chef Stephanie Izard.
• Legendary Leaders of Terroir Wine Seminar Educational seminar led by Master Sommelier Jason Smith featuring California's most legendary vineyards and winemakers, priced at $125 per person.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 5,000 attendees in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montage HealdsburgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury resort partner providing venue for Welcome Celebration and Wine-Down Pool Party. Offers exclusive rates for HWFE attendees and serves as VIP hospitality hub with complimentary shuttle service to all events.
• Appellation HealdsburgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCulinary-driven luxury hotel from Chef Charlie Palmer serving as venue for Welcome Celebration 2026 and host hotel with shuttle service for guests.
• Dry Creek InnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel offering special rates for HWFE attendees located in Healdsburg.
• Hotel TriominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel with special rates for HWFE attendees.
• Hotel HealdsburgminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel offering special rates for HWFE attendees.
• H2 HotelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel with special rates for HWFE attendees through Hilton booking links.
• The Lodge at HealdsburgminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel with special rates for HWFE attendees through Hilton booking links.
• Liora Hotel (formerly XXVII North)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel for HWFE attendees.
• Rodney Strong VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual outdoor concert venue partner. Hosted concerts featuring Maddie & Tae (2023), Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram (2024), Allen Stone (2025), and Grace Bowers (2026). Rodney Strong is the Official Wine Partner with over 425 Sonoma County wineries in the region.
• J Vineyards & WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Shifting the Lens brunch and pre-concert reception events. J Vineyards' award-winning culinary series highlighting fresh perspectives and exciting pairings.
• MacMurray Estate with Ravenswood WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Platinum Dinner featuring Chef Britt Rescigno and Ravenswood wines.
• Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Platinum Lunch featuring The Pasta Queen (Nadia Caterina Munno) and Italian dishes paired with Ferrari-Carano wines.
• Chalk Hill EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Platinum Dinner with Chefs Maneet Chauhan, Antonia Lofaso, and Crista Luedtke.
• The MathesoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm-focused restaurant, sushi kitchen, rooftop cocktail lounge and 88-bottle self-serve wine wall serving as venue for Big Bottle Party, Reserve Lounge, and Exclusive Pre-Party events.
• Aperture CellarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning winery venue for Sushi by Scratch Restaurants omakase dinner. Winemaker Jesse Katz was awarded 2025 Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.
• Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Wine Partner of the NBA hosting Courses on the Court lunch with NBA appearances and Top Chef Stephanie Izard.
• First Citizens Bank and First Citizens WealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Reserve Lounge at The Matheson Rooftop.
• Guy FiericoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCelebrity chef partnerships for annual Magnum/Big Bottle Party at The Matheson.
• Sonoma County TourismcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial shuttle service provider for event transportation with stops in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg.
• Future Farmers of America (Healdsburg Chapter)minorOthersCharitable beneficiary. HW&FE Scholarship Fund benefits economically challenged students pursuing careers in farming and agriculture.
• Farm to PantryminorOthersNonprofit partner dedicated to ending food injustice and fighting climate change by rescuing and sharing locally-grown food. A portion of concert proceeds support this organization.
• Visit CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState tourism organization featuring HWFE in editorial content promoting California culinary experiences.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kohler Food & Wine Experience: Multi-day food and wine festival with celebrity chef programming, wine seminars, and tasting events. Comparable in multi-day ticketed festival model and chef-driven structure.
• Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: Multi-day food and wine festival featuring celebrity chefs, wine seminars, and tasting events. Comparable in festival programming structure and educational/tasting format.
• BottleRock Napa Valley: Major California music, wine, and food festival in Napa Valley combining concerts, celebrity chef programming, and wine tastings. Comparable in California wine country setting and multi-stage festival format.
• South Beach Wine & Food Festival: Major annual food and wine festival in Miami featuring celebrity chefs, tastings, and premium experiences. Comparable in scale, sponsor-driven model, and multi-tier ticketing.
• Festival Napa Valley: Napa Valley wine, food, and arts festival with culinary programming, winemaker dinners, and premium experiences. Direct competitor for premium California wine country tourists.
• New York Wine & Food Festival: NYC-based food and wine festival featuring celebrity chefs, tastings, and premium dining experiences. Comparable in scale, multi-venue format, and tiered ticketing.
• Sonoma Wine Country Weekend: Sonoma County wine country event featuring multiple wineries, chefs, and culinary experiences. Closest geographic peer and direct competitor for Sonoma wine country visitors.
• Food & Wine Classic in Aspen: Premier multi-day food and wine festival in Aspen featuring celebrity chefs, master sommeliers, and premium tasting events. Closest comparable in tier, programming model, and affluent target audience.
• Charleston Wine + Food Festival: Multi-day food and wine festival in Charleston with celebrity chef programming, ticketed events, and culinary experiences. Comparable in festival model, premium pricing, and target affluent culinary traveler.
• Naples Winter Wine Festival: Florida wine festival with high-end auctions and chef-driven dinners at top-tier pricing. Comparable in ultra-premium pricing tier and luxury event positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HealdsburgWineAndFood
• Instagraminstagram.com/healdsburgwineandfood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healdsburg-wine-food-experience

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience