Sipping wine under the stars while listening to live music—now that’s an ideal pairing. These American wineries offer summer and fall concerts, featuring sounds of classic rock, contemporary, folk and blues. Some settings are small; others draw thousands, but all sell out quickly.
Music in the Vineyards
Napa Valley’s Chamber Music Festival features concerts at Hess Collection, Markham Vineyards, Harvest Inn, Silverado Vineyards, Merryvale Vineyards and other wineries from now through August 19. Musical groups set to take center stage include The Borromeo String Quartet, Pacifica Quartet and pianist Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Tickets are $50 each, or you can buy a 12-concert package for $534.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
From now through September 16, you can visit Washington State’s oldest winery to enjoy a summer music concert series that first kicked off in 1984. This summer’s lineup includes Diana Krall, Huey Lewis and The News and Bonnie Raitt, to name a few. You can bring your own picnic food, or buy the venue’s food and wine. Tickets start at $45 for lawn seating, and for approximately $65 you can secure a seat close to the stage.
B.R. Cohn Winery
At this winery’s 26th annual charity Fall Music Festival, taking place from October 5–8, you can see classic rock bands like The Doobie Brothers, War, The Turtles, and Lara Laura Johnston perform. In addition to the concerts, tickets for a dinner held at the winery’s 140-year-old Olive Grove are on sale for $200. Sonoma chefs Jeffrey Lloyd of the Michelin-rated Cafe La Haye and Peter Smith of The Lodge at Sonoma will prepare dishes. A golf tournament will also be held at the nearby Sonoma Golf Club. Winery owner and former band manager for The Doobie Brothers, Bruce Cohn, will donate proceeds of the events to local charities. Concert tickets are $85 for lawn seating. A $350 VIP package includes assigned upper-level seats, buffet lunch and two complimentary drink tickets.
Pontchartrain Vineyards
Louisiana blues, funk, R&B and rock bands will grace the stage at this vineyard for the Jazz’n the Vines concert series held from September 1–November 3. Bands scheduled to play include The Iguanas, Gal Holiday and Her Honky Tonk Revue and George Porter Jr. Located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, about a one-hour drive from New Orleans, concerts tickets are $10 (children 17 and younger are admitted for free). Bring picnic food and a fold-up chair for lawn seating, or buy food and drinks there.
Vartanyan Estate Winery
At this boutique winery in Bellingham, Washington—featuring views of snow-capped Mount Baker—weekend concerts kicking off in September feature folk, Celtic- and British- roots music from local musicians Rose Laughlin and Kate MacLeod and Kat Eggleston. In addition, cover band R Factor 5 will hit the stage on September 8 to sing 1960s–1990s pop hits. No tickets are required, but as $7 donation is encouraged upon entering. There’s lawn seating and picnic food is permitted.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Canadian bands like Sloan (pop/rock), Redeye Empire (hip-hop/reggae/rock) and Said the Whale (indie pop) will perform from now through September at this British Columbia winery, located in the southern Okanagan Valley, co-owned by Sandra Oldfield. Tickets start at $40. You can pack a picnic and buy a bottle of wine to enjoy during the show.