As planners look for more engaging and memorable settings, venues like vineyards, distilleries, and breweries stand out for their versatile spaces, offering both function and flavor. These settings combine atmosphere, experience, and amenities in one convenient package, giving event-goers the chance to sip, savor, and socialize while also conducting business. From barrel-lined tasting rooms to scenic patios overlooking grapevines or hops fields, these venues provide a distinctive change of pace and scenery from standard meeting spaces, resulting in meetings that feel less like obligation and more like opportunity—where connection, creativity, and collaboration come naturally.
Golden State grapevine gatherings
California has firmly established itself as one of the world’s premier wine destinations, with vineyard regions spanning from Napa Valley and Sonoma to Paso Robles and Santa Barbara. With a rich agricultural history, an ideal climate, and globally recognized varietals, the state’s wine country pairs perfectly with meetings and events, whether hosting intimate retreats or large-scale gatherings.
“Often when people think of California, they generally think of palm trees and beaches,” says Jody Bogle, vice president of consumer relations at Bogle Family Vineyards, sixth-generation farmers and third-generation winemakers in Clarksburg, Calif. “We have plenty of that in California, but we also have very agricultural regions like ours, where it’s very rural. Here, visitors can relax, unwind, and really be transported to a different place.”
Located in the California Delta, a region in convenient proximity to the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento, and Stockton, Bogle Family Vineyards offers a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces. The overall property can accommodate approximately 200 guests for private events, Bogle adds. Groups can enjoy hands-on experiences, including wine tastings, ranch tours, and wine education seminars about Bogle’s wine and history, as well as tutorials on how to taste and enjoy wine. The Bogle team can even set up teambuilding activities like blind tastings or quizzes, where attendees team up to compete, Bogle adds. “There’s a wide range of things we can do to allow additional engagement for groups and their guests,” Bogle says.
Also located in Clarksburg, Silt Wine Company is a private venue nestled in vineyards and lush gardens. The hidden gem offers such event spaces as a lounge, great room, tasting room, and vineyard terrace, which can accommodate everything from cocktail hours to corporate retreats. “We’ve had many groups host an event out on the terrace, which overlooks the vineyard and is absolutely beautiful,” says Robyn Lazzerini, event director. “Often, they will host a cocktail hour outside on the terrace and then move to the gardens for dinner, or host dinner inside the tasting room.”
Groups can also take advantage of experiences like venue tours and tastings. “It’s fun with some groups to have them do blind tastings, or we can have our winemaker come talk to the group about the wines and the history here,” Lazzerini notes.
Andis Wines is located approximately one hour outside of Sacramento in Plymouth, an area commonly referred to as the Gateway to Shenandoah Valley, a wine-producing region in the Sierra foothills. The property offers a small event venue that’s positioned to feature vineyard views, with mostly glass walls so visitors can enjoy the views, says Shannon Landis Corbell, events manager and corporate concierge. In addition, the property offers a number of activities for guests to enjoy pre- or post-meeting, including wine tastings led by a wine educator. “We like to do wine tastings where guests can taste wine and learn about the history of the region,” Landis Corbell explains. “Our region was founded by gold miners. When they didn’t find any gold, they started making wine. We like to incorporate that history into visitors’ time here.”
Guests are also welcome to tour the different areas of the property, including the crush pad, barrel room, and vineyard. Groups can enjoy trivia events, blending sessions, and other activities. “We’ve even done aroma classes, where attendees smell different wines and try to guess what it is,” Landis Corbell adds.
Beyond the California vine
While California may be the most well-known player in American wine, it’s far from the only one. Across the Southwest, states like Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona are home to thriving wine industries and distinctive terroirs.
Sonoita Vineyards, Arizona’s oldest commercial vineyard and winery, includes more than 30 acres of vineyards and is surrounded by grasslands and mountain ranges. “The natural beauty of the rolling hills, wide-open skies, and peaceful desert landscape create an unforgettable backdrop for any event,” says Lori Dutt Reynolds, winemaker. “Guests are surrounded by panoramic views of vineyards and mountains, which not only enhance the visual appeal but also contribute to a sense of calm and connection with nature.”
With an indoor space capable of hosting approximately 70 guests, a tasting room that accommodates upwards of 165, and numerous acres outdoors, the property has hosted small meetings, receptions, corporate retreats, and incentive trips. Groups can take part in vineyard and winery tours, as well as customized wine tastings and even crush wine tasting tours, where guests can watch the winemaking firsthand, depending on the time of year. According to Dutt Reynolds, the most popular option for groups is usually the tour and tasting.
In downtown Reno, Nevada Sunset Winery is the city’s only urban production winery, where visitors can watch as they craft their wines on-site, from grapes to glass, says winemaker and owner Kate Boyle MacDonald. “Oftentimes with wineries, you have to drive to the countryside, or if you are in an urban area, you will visit a tasting room, with the production facility being in a different location,” she explains. “Nevada Sunset Winery produces every bottle on site, and we welcome guests to get in on the action.”
Guests can take part in blending parties, winemaking experiences (particularly during harvest season), tastings of different wines, and seminars covering such topics as the vineyard, production, fermentation, and winemaking methods. Meetings and events can be scheduled in the venue’s newly remodeled tasting room; while the winery doesn’t include an onsite restaurant, groups can enjoy the food trucks often parked just outside or bring their own, Boyle MacDonald adds.
Situated in New Mexico’s Dixon Valley, approximately one hour north of Santa Fe and less than 30 minutes south of Taos, Vivác Winery is the state’s highest-altitude vineyard producing vinifera grapes and one of the highest in the world. The setting provides stunning views of the Barrancos Blancos sandstone cliff and the hills of the Rio Grande and Embudo rivers. The property’s indoor space accommodates smaller group sizes for private events, typically 40 or fewer people, according to Michele Padberg, co-owner. A small covered patio and vineyard seating are available for groups seeking outdoor options. In its tasting room, Vivác offers four-flight tastings, which can be customized based on request. Groups can also arrange tours of the rarely seen winery and a winemaker-led barrel tasting.
With high-elevation vineyards, abundant sunshine, and low humidity, Colorado has proven to be wine country as well—even in major metro areas. Nestled in a beautifully restored building dating back to 1886, Bigsby’s Folly is a craft winery situated in the River North Art District in Denver. The winery features more than 7,000 square feet of space across six different event spaces, including a private tasting room ideal for corporate meetings and teambuilding events; a barrel view area, which can be combined with the production area to accommodate larger groups; and courtyard, covered, and front patios. Groups can choose from several interactive winery experiences, including “Winemaker for a Day,” where they will be guided through creating their own Bordeaux blend; a self-guided tasting of five of their most popular wines; a blind tasting and trivia; wine and food pairings; and taste of terroir, an opportunity to learn about how the region’s climate, soils, and terrain affect the taste of wine.
“The group blending experience is our most popular,” says Cassie Sullivan, director of sales and events. “Our sommelier introduces the four wines the guests will be blending, then each guest measures and mixes with the four wines until they have their own unique blend. We give each guest a bottle of their own wine, with their recipe, and they use our equipment to cork, foil, and label their bottle to take home.”
In northern Colorado, tucked along the banks of the Big Thompson River, Sweet Heart Winery & Event Center delivers flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces, including the Barrel Room, which can fit up to 200 guests. Groups can elevate their time on site with guided wine tastings, interactive blending sessions, food pairings, or unique events like bouquet-making classes, sangria workshops, and wine and country line dancing.
At the base of western Colorado’s Little Bookcliff mountain range, Grand River Vineyards has become a destination wine estate, thanks to its wide range of activities, event space, and adjacent sister hotel, Wine Country Inn. In addition to 80 guest rooms, Wine Country Inn features the 2,400-square-foot Vineyard Ballroom and 540-square-foot Orchard Room, ideal for corporate retreats and seminars. When the meeting is done for the day, guests can walk to the vineyards—which also offer event spaces suitable for smaller meetings and events—to take part in tastings or a vineyards tour. “Food can also be catered from the inn, so we are truly a one-stop shop for a Colorado wine country experience,” says Anne Tally, co-owner and general manager of Grande River Vineyards.
Taps meet teams
With open taprooms, private event spaces, and plenty of personality, breweries are also standout spots for meetings and events. A laid-back, local way to blend business with a little hop-fueled fun, breweries bring a refreshing shift from the standard conference room.
Santa Fe Brewing Co. is New Mexico’s largest brewer and an ideal space for hosting events. Founded in 1988 and at its current taproom location since 2005, the property is divided into two separate spaces: one side housing the brewery, taproom, and beer garden; and the other side featuring a concert and event center. The event center can host large events with upwards of 350 inside and approximately 1,500 on the outdoor stage patio, says Brian Locke, CEO. Along with the taproom and beer garden, the property offers smaller space for private events, complete with a private bar, where groups can enjoy tastings.
Originally founded in 1884—making it one of Utah’s first breweries—Fisher Brewing Company is situated in the Granary District of Salt Lake City, just south of downtown; it is within walking distance of many hotels and is a short ride from the convention center. Planners can choose from a newly opened rooftop patio with mountain views, a rear patio for private events, a dedicated event room with built-in audiovisual, and a full campus buyout for up to 500 guests. The event space comfortably seats up to 70 for presentations, and the adjoining taproom expands the capacity to 250 for larger gatherings. With the added bonus of in-house tours and tastings, local catering partners, and creative group experiences like bingo or casino nights, Fisher Brewing Company delivers a turnkey event option that’s fun and functional.
Level Crossing Brewing Company is also part of Salt Lake City’s event scene. The brewery offers two locations: a taproom and restaurant nestled in the downtown Post District, making it ideal for hosting a breakout or small meeting complete with tastings; and another location housing the production facility, which is the go-to for group brewery tours.
Bivouac Ciderworks is a women-powered craft beverage company in San Diego, offering a mix of experiences and event spaces. It houses three interconnected storefronts, including a taproom and restaurant, an adventure lodge-inspired event space, and a café, which are all designed to host events like a casual lunch-and-learn, a corporate retreat, or a high-end tasting experience, says Lara Worm, CEO and adventure guide. The main restaurant space is ideal for seated events of up to 75 guests, with a rustic-casual vibe and a communal table perfect for more intimate gatherings. The Adventure Lodge space offers a “glamping chic” aesthetic and is well-suited for receptions or social-style events for 40 to 80 people. Groups can enjoy guided cider tastings showcasing Bivouac’s own creations alongside global varieties or take a behind-the-scenes tour of the onsite cidery. Bivouac also offers turnkey full-day programming, from breakfast buffets to breakout sessions to happy hour and dinner. There’s even an option for an unforgettable VIP moment in the speakeasy, an intimate space reserved for brandy tastings and ultra-curated experiences. “It’s designed to be like 1920s Paris, and it even has a rotating art installation,” Worm explains. “It’s not open to the general public, so groups booking it can have a really special experience.”
Crafted for connection
Distilleries offer a spirited setting for meetings and events, creating an atmosphere that’s a smooth alternative to a standard boardroom or convention center. With 165 years of farming expertise and custom distilling techniques, Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers is a sought-after grain-to-glass operation in Nevada. The property, located in Fallon, just an hour outside of Reno, doesn’t host private events, but it does offer a variety of experiences for groups to enjoy, such as tours and tastings each week. Guests can see the distilling process, from the stills to the mash to the barrel house, while a team member explains the Frey history in Nevada and its farm-to-glass approach as an estate distillery, explains Ashley Frey, co-founder.
In Henderson, Nev., Las Vegas Distillery can host a range of events. Its Tasting Room accommodates up to 75, where groups can meet before the hands-on distillery tour, which takes them behind the scenes of the full distillation process, notes Amy Close, special events and partnerships coordinator. “The tour includes insights into our ingredients, equipment, aging, and bottling techniques while guests can touch, smell, and taste the elements of the process,” she adds. “After the tour, we offer a curated tasting flight with the opportunity to pair it with unique food items that enhance the experience.”
The facility can customize the tour experience and curate unique additional options, such as custom wooden hang tags personalized with the client’s logo on all spirit bottles, Close adds. “We can also run their company logo across all TVs throughout the space and offer the option for looping custom graphics or videos to further enhance the atmosphere,” she says.
A one-of-a-kind experience in San Francisco is always on the calendar at Gold Bar Spirits Company. Located on Treasure Island, a short scenic ferry ride from the mainland—offering sweeping views of the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and Golden Gate Bridge—Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery is situated in the historic former Pan-Am Airport terminal, originally built in the 1930s. Steeped in history, the space now features an Art Deco-inspired distillery and tasting room, where groups can take in a whiskey flight or an immersive cocktail class, says Sam Thumm, director of marketing. “In this immersive and interactive class, they’ll craft three full-size cocktails, sample our award-winning Gold Bar Whiskey in a guided tasting, and get a behind-the-scenes look at our iconic distillery,” he adds. “Along the way, they’ll learn fascinating stories about San Francisco, Treasure Island, the World’s Fair, and the ‘Golden Age’ of aviation.”
Another interactive and fully unique opportunity available to groups is the barrel pull. The distillery has a variety of unreleased whiskies, some yet to be bottled, and extremely limited editions, Thumm notes, and guests can sample them straight from the barrels. “It’s an experience you can only take part in on-site, and it’s fun for visitors because they get to do it themselves,” Thumm adds. “It’s a great social media moment because everyone loves to video or photograph themselves doing it.”
