A busy calendar of events, activities and attractions animates the Napa Wine Country in California during the winter months when the golden wild mustard is in full bloom

Until March 29, 2008, the Napa Valley Mustard Festival celebrates the food, wine, art, and the rich, unique agricultural and cultural bounty of the Napa Valley at a time when the grapevines are resting and the scenery is spectacular.

The Napa Valley Mustard Season

The Mustard Season offers a busy calendar of food, wine, art, entertainment, and cultural activities staged throughout the world-famous grape growing region. From the end of January through the month of March, fields, vineyards, and hillsides are vibrant with the brilliant hues of green and gold of wild mustard in bloom. Yet until the festival's launch in 1994, only 7% of visitors to the Napa Valley came during the months of January through March. The same winter months now attract 27% of the year's visitors, second only to the high summer time.

About the Napa Valley Mustard Festival

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is non-profit community service organization with a dual purpose:

• serving local businesses and non-profit organizations by attracting visitors to Napa Valley during the winter months;
• promoting national and international businesses to sponsor and participate.

Save the Dates!

• February 29, 2008 - Le Grand Dîner at Domaine Chandon's Etoile Restaurant- Indulge in seven courses presented by seven of the region's most notable chefs and paired with Napa Valley's finest vintages presented by the local winemakers.
• March 14, 2008 - The Awards ~ A Tasty Competition, at the new Black Stallion Winery on Silverado Trail in Napa, a beautiful former equestrian estate. As mustard companies receive their World Wide Mustard Competition medals at The Awards, a panel of food journalists will judge the Executive Chef of the Year Mustard Recipe Competitions in a blind tasting session behind closed doors.
• March 15 & 16, 2008 - The Marketplace ~ A Signature Event for Connoisseurs, at COPIA, The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa. Showcase of Food, Wine, Mustard, Music & Art.
• March 29, 2008 - The Mumm Napa Photo Finish ~ The Grand Finale Event, at the Mumm Napa in Rutherford. The show and sale will launch on March 29 and unsold photographs will then hang through May 1, 2008.

Accommodation Packages and Napa Tours

A variety of Napa Valley lodging facilities - ranging from hotels to inns, ranches and B&Bs - offer special Mustard Season packages listed on the Festival’s website. Special winery and wine estate visits and discounted California Wine Tours are also available (in most cases until April 30, 2008).