Gingerbread Battles at Sonoma Wineries

Holiday Cheer got competitive between Sonoma Valley Wineries this December.

The Gingerbread Winery Contest is an annual event organized by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA). Established three years ago, the contest has become the signature event of the region's Holiday in the Vines seasonal celebration and allows professional and amateur chefs to create gingerbread likenesses of Sonoma's most acclaimed wineries.

Pictured above is this year's creation from Little Vineyards. The winery partnered with the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary School to recreate an edible version of their winery.

While many entries recreate gingerbread versions of their winery, Nicholson Ranch created a life-sized fireplace with over 400 gingerbread bricks. Gingerbread stockings hung from a chocolate fireplace mantle and the nearby tree was trimmed with edible ornaments.

Throughout December, visitors pick up a map and a ballot at participating wineries and cast a vote for their favorite creation. To encourage voting, each ballot gets the visitor entered into a raffle to win a case of Sonoma Valley wines.

The contest winner will be announced shortly.