Spring in Glen Ellen: When the Valley Comes Alive

Spring in Sonoma Valley isn't just about the wildflowers and mustard blooms—though those are spectacular. It's about the moment when the earth wakes up, when farmers' trucks arrive at the back door with ingredients so perfect they dictate the evening's menu, when dining outdoors becomes possible again, and when everything feels new.

We've watched spring arrive in Glen Ellen for years now, and it never gets old. The light changes first—softer, golden, stretching longer into the evening. Then the hills turn that impossible green that only happens after winter rain. And then, almost overnight, the valley explodes with life. Mustard carpets the vineyards in bright yellow, fruit trees blossom, and suddenly every farmer we work with is calling with something they're excited about.

This is the season when dining in Wine Country becomes something transcendent.

What Spring Means on Our Menu

Spring ingredients arrive with a kind of urgency. Asparagus has maybe six weeks when it's truly perfect. English peas, same thing. Fava beans, morels, spring onions—they're fleeting, and that's part of what makes them so special. Chef Miller builds the menu around what's at its absolute peak, which means if you dine with us in March versus May, you're getting completely different dishes.

Right now, we're working with heirloom lettuces from three different farms, each one expressing the terroir of their specific plot. We're getting asparagus so sweet you could serve it raw. The strawberries coming from Sonoma County farms are unlike anything you'll find in a grocery store—small, intensely fragrant, the way strawberries used to taste before they were bred for shipping.

The Chef's Tasting Menu in spring becomes this progression through the season. You might start with a salad that's actually a celebration of 12 different lettuces, each one adding its own flavor and texture. Then spring onions charred over oak, served with cultured butter and sea salt. Asparagus three ways, showing what the vegetable can do when you stop treating it as a side dish. Halibut with morels and spring garlic. Lamb with fava beans and mint that was picked an hour before service.

And the wine pairings—spring is when Sonoma's white wines really shine. Crisp Chardonnays, aromatic Viogniers, rosés that are just starting to appear. The local winemakers we work with are bringing us their new releases, and matching them with spring vegetables and seafood is one of the best parts of the season.

The Experience of Dining Outdoors in Spring

There's something about eating outside in Wine Country during spring that just works. The weather is perfect—warm enough to be comfortable, cool enough that you want that extra glass of wine to linger. The light at sunset turns everything golden. You can hear birds, smell the flowering trees, feel that evening breeze that comes down from the hills.

Our outdoor space was designed for these evenings. Candlelight, the sound of conversation mixing with jazz from inside, the sight of vineyards rolling off into the distance. People come for dinner and stay for three hours, not because they have to, but because they don't want to leave.

Spring is also when we start hosting more private events in our outdoor spaces. Intimate celebrations, anniversary dinners, small group gatherings where people want to mark something important. There's something about spring that makes people want to celebrate—maybe it's the sense of renewal, maybe it's just that the weather's too perfect not to take advantage of.

Mother's Day: Our Most Anticipated Reservation Day

Mother's Day at Songbird has become something of a tradition, and if you're planning to join us, reservations typically open 30 days in advance and fill within hours. It's worth it. Chef Miller designs a special menu that showcases everything that's perfect in early May—usually some variation on spring vegetables, spot prawns if they're available, and a dessert that involves the first local berries of the season.

What makes Mother's Day here special isn't just the food. It's the atmosphere. Families celebrating together, mothers being genuinely pampered, the restaurant filled with that particular energy that comes with honoring someone important. We see multiple generations at tables, grandmothers and daughters and granddaughters, everyone dressed up, everyone taking their time.

If you're planning a Mother's Day weekend in Sonoma, there are ways to make it even more special. Book a treatment at MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa or Blush Day Spa in Kenwood earlier in the day. Or consider Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in Freestone for their unique Cedar Enzyme Bath and Japanese meditation garden—it's about 30 minutes away, but worth the drive for the experience. Then dinner with us in the evening, when you're relaxed and ready to celebrate properly.

Spring Activities Worth Planning Around

One of the advantages of Glen Ellen as your home base is that you're central to everything Sonoma Valley offers in spring, and close to experiences that make a weekend here feel complete.

Hiking the surrounding trails is exceptional this time of year. Sonoma Overlook Trail in downtown Sonoma is a quick 2-mile round trip with panoramic views. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers more challenging terrain—Bald Mountain Trail is about 7 miles with serious elevation, but the summit views on clear spring days stretch to the Sierra Nevada. Annadel State Park is massive, with over 40 miles of trails and Lake Ilsanovich surrounded by wildflower meadows in spring. Jack London State Historic Park is practically in our backyard, and touring his Wolf House ruins and hiking the Beauty Ranch Trail when everything's green and blooming is genuinely special.

The Sonoma International Film Festival in late March brings five days of independent cinema, filmmaker Q&As, and winery parties. It's a culturally rich way to spend a weekend, and the combination of film and wine country dining creates this perfect balance of intellectual engagement and sensory pleasure.

Easter weekend offers options whether you're traveling with family or celebrating as a couple. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn hosts an elegant Easter brunch with all the resort amenities. Sonoma Plaza has a community egg hunt that's charming and free. Viansa Winery does an egg hunt and brunch combination with stunning hilltop views. All three make for a lovely day before or after dining with us.

Sonoma County Restaurant Week (February 23-March 1) is when the county's restaurant scene showcases itself with prix fixe menus. It's an excellent opportunity to explore the culinary landscape before settling in for a more refined dinner at Songbird.

The question is always: what do you do with the rest of your day when you have dinner reservations with us? The answer is actually everything. Hike in the morning, taste wine in the afternoon, nap at your hotel, arrive at Songbird for dinner when you're ready for something beautiful.

Why Spring in Glen Ellen Is Different

Glen Ellen sits in a microclimate that's slightly warmer than downtown Sonoma, slightly cooler than Napa. The valley here is intimate, surrounded by mountains that create this protected feeling. In spring, when the hills are green and the vineyards are just waking up, it's easy to see why Jack London chose this spot for his ranch, why wineries have been here for generations, and why people keep coming back.

We're small enough to feel like a discovery, established enough that you know what you're getting. The ratio of locals to visitors is still healthy, which means genuine community rather than tourist monoculture. You can walk from our restaurant to Jack London's grave, to historic wineries, to hiking trails, all within a few miles.

Spring in Glen Ellen means the valley is at its most beautiful, the crowds haven't arrived yet, and there's this sense of possibility that comes with everything blooming and beginning. The farmers are bringing us their first harvests, the winemakers are excited about their new releases, and the whole valley feels alive in a way that's different from any other season.

How to Experience Songbird in Spring

Reservations open 30 days in advance, and spring weekends tend to fill quickly. We serve dinner Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5pm, with walk-ins welcome based on availability. The Chef's Tasting Menu is available every night and changes frequently based on what's at peak season—if you want to experience what spring in Sonoma Valley actually tastes like, this is the way.

For groups of 13-46 guests, we offer private dining experiences where we can customize the menu and create something memorable for celebrations, corporate gatherings, or intimate events. Spring is an ideal time for this—the weather allows for outdoor events, the seasonal ingredients are spectacular, and there's something about spring that makes people want to gather.

Sunday continues to feature our signature Hot Honey Fried Chicken, which has developed something of a following. It pairs surprisingly well with spring weather and a glass of chilled rosé on the patio.

If you're traveling from the Bay Area, Glen Ellen is 50 minutes from San Francisco, 30 minutes from Napa, and worth every minute of the drive. If you're staying in Sonoma Valley, we're a short drive from any of the main towns and vineyard areas.

Spring in Sonoma Valley is about renewal—the land renewing itself, the vines starting another cycle, farmers and chefs and winemakers getting excited about another season. It's the perfect time to experience what makes this place special, and to understand why we chose Glen Ellen as home for Songbird.

Reservations are available through our website or by calling directly. We look forward to welcoming you this spring.

Songbird Parlour

14301 Arnold Dr. Suite 3 Glen Ellen, CA 95442

(707)343-1308

www.songbirdparlour.com