Student Winery to Hold Holiday Tasting Event Saturday

A local educational winery will offer free tastings during a family-friendly event this weekend.

The nonprofit Shone Farm Winery, which serves as a classroom for Santa Rosa Junior College students, will hold a celebration Saturday in Forestville with wine and cheese pairings, a holiday movie showing, holiday music and activities for kids.

Shone Farm will also unveil a new extra virgin olive oil at the event.

"Attendees will be the first to taste Shone Farm’s unfiltered '2013 Shone Farm Reserve Extra Virgin Olio Nuevo,' filled with fresh aroma and taste," a press release states. "All of the award-winning wine and olive oil will be available for purchase at discounted prices for the holiday season."

Kids' activities at the free event will include a workshop to write letters to Santa, ornament making and an area where popcorn garlands can be made.

“Shone Farm is the community’s winery, so creating a welcoming space for families is essential as well as delightful,” the press release quoted Shone Farm Wines Director of Marketing and Wine Studies student Marieshka Barton as saying.

The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at the winery, 7450 Steve Olson Lane in Forestville.

Here's how the press release describes the winery:

"SRJC’s bonded winery serves as a teaching facility for students specializing in wine studies. Students learn the art and science of winemaking, following the entire process from grape to glass. The wine is professionally crafted by Chris Wills, enologist and veteran winemaker of 25 years, and approved by an expert tasting panel before bottling. All proceeds help support the winery and further the educational mission at Santa Rosa Junior College."