Home to some of California’s best wines whilst retaining a lovely friendly, casual atmosphere, Sonoma is an excellent place to visit for oenophiles and travellers alike. An hour or so from Karl (the fog) of San Francisco, the quaint towns that make up Sonoma County, amidst the valleys of wine country, make for a majestic backdrop to sample some superb wines.
Keep an eye out for: Grapes! Queen of the wine regions in California, in Sonoma you’ll spot a heck of a lot of vineyards as you drive along, and hopefully you’ll have the chance to visit some! If you plan to visit just before harvest time (the best time!) expect to see bountiful bunches of juicy grapes hanging on the vines ready to be picked – you may even get to try some of them when you join a vineyard tour.
How to get to Sonoma
By car – The easiest way to reach Sonoma County and explore the various sub-AVAs is by car. Take the drive north from San Francisco for an hour and only a few miles east off the Highway 101 (a classic American road trip route), Sonoma is well connected to much of Central California. Having a car is however a catch-22: although it might seem easiest to drive around the many vineyards, this does mean the designated driver has to miss out on all the tastings. Instead, once you’ve made it safely to your hotel in Sonoma, leave the car there and hire a driver for the day so everyone gets to try the delicious wines.
Where to stay in Sonoma
MacArthur Place – The charming MacArthur Place spread across seven acres of winding paths and picturesque gardens adorned with sculptures began its days as a working ranch. Now a luxury resort, guests can let their tensions melt away with an array of treatments at The Spa utilising fruits, flowers and herbs grown in the gardens. Rooms are all uniquely furnished featuring fluffy bathrobes and provision baskets stocked with snacks to make guests feel at home.
Farmhouse Inn – A dreamy vision of country chic hues and cosy fabrics, rooms at the Farmhouse Inn are the perfect place to relax after a day’s wine tasting. During summer days indulge in an afternoon by the pool and treat yourself to daily abbreviated wine tastings just steps away from your room. After dinner, cosy up by the fireplace and roast s’mores under the starry sky, before retiring to your room where a jetted bubble bath and homemade triple chocolate chip cookies await.
AutoCamp – Taking glamping to a whole new level, at AutoCamp you can stay in a fully decked out Airstream. Every feature you’d expect in a high end hotel has been carefully built into these campervans including a large tiled bathroom complete with walk in shower and both air conditioning and heating to keep you at the perfect temperature all year round. During warmer months luxury tents are also available for booking, bathroom facilities are located in the Clubhouse.
Gaige House – Inspired by traditional Japanese ryokans the suites at Gaige House are sleek and minimalistic with subtle Asian accents. To help guests find their Zen there’s a meditation room available for private yoga or meditation sessions and a number of secluded spots with swing chairs and shimmering lanterns tucked away in the gardens.
Where to eat in Sonoma
As well as growing premium grapes, the land around Sonoma is also home to some excellent produce. As such, many of the restaurants you visit will celebrate this (and of course the wines), with some fabulous chefs delivering farm-to-table cuisine with top-notch wine pairings.
Barndiva – Behind the iconic bright red barn doors Barndiva is home to a restaurant, wine bar, cocktail lounge and art gallery – there’s something for everyone! Swerve wine (just this once) for a cocktail to pair with your meal as their seasonally inspired mixes are delicious.
Farmhouse Inn – Whether you’re staying at the Farmhouse Inn or not, a meal at their Michelin star restaurant must be on your list when visiting the area. Utilising seasonal, farm fresh ingredients (some from the owners’ own ranches!) the menu at Farmhouse is ever-changing yet always delicious. Enjoy dishes such as grilled octopus with lemon chickpea and chocolate hazelnut mousse with blackberry sorbet paired with divine local wines.
Diavolo Pizzeria – To soak up some of the wines you’ve been sipping all day, head to Diavolo Pizzeria for a slice of the good stuff. Serving up authentic Neopolitan style pizzas from their wood burning oven you’ll struggle to pick which one to go for. There’s a wide and diverse list of pizzas on offer including The Dictator (topped with marinated rib-eye, garlic, scallions and Japanese spices and sauces) and the more traditional Salsiccia (topped with sausage made in house, red onions and pecorino).
Valette – Just off the main square in Healdsburg sits Valette, a treasure trove of delicious dishes waiting to be discovered. Founded by two brothers sharing a passion for great honest food, boutique winemakers and artisan producers Valette was born. Diners can (and should) choose the ‘Trust Me’ Tasting Menu where each course is $15 (with a minimum of five courses); trust us, you’ll want more! Highlights include the day boat scallops en croute, goats’ cheese semolina pasta and coriander crusted duck breast – yum!
Where to drink in Sonoma
Sonoma is one of America’s best wine regions and undoubtedly one of the main reasons people venture out to Sonoma. Although some craft breweries and distilleries are popping up in Sonoma, the number one drink to drink will always be wine! There are hundreds of wineries and winemakers dotted around Sonoma many offering tastings and visitor experiences for guests to enjoy, however finding the perfect place to suit your palate might be a little bit trickier. Don’t panic, we’ve listed some of the best vineyards/wineries we visited during our time in Sonoma to help you.
MacRostie – MacRostie has views to die for. Nab a table on one of the four terraces overlooking the rolling hills brushed with row after row of vines and settle in for a great tasting. It might not matter what the wines taste like when you’ve got views like this but for the record, the wines are also pretty tasty – be sure to explore their varietals from across Sonoma County.
Jordan – One of the more famous labels from Sonoma, Jordan offers guests a range of tasting experiences including a perfect pairing of cabernet sauvignon and charcuterie that you can enjoy perched above the vineyards under the shade of an old oak tree. Showcasing four different vintages of cabernet sauvignon paired with custom made charcuteries (with some made using their own wine!) you’ll be able to appreciate how each wine and charcuterie complements each other in different ways.
Iron Horse – Iron Horse offers visitors a break from the standard chardonnay and pinot noir tastings, instead offering a flight of their sublime sparkling wines. Enjoy tastes of their signature bubbly, so good that its been served to several previous Presidents, at a rustic yet pretty spot overlooking the vines and valleys of Sonoma beyond.
Gary Farrell – Leading winemaker, Gary, sources grapes from premier vineyards across Sonoma all of which you can visualise on a helpful map during your tasting journey. Paired with delicious cheeses, both from the US and further afield, the team at Gary Farrell are passionate about finding pairings that truly allow both the cheese and wine to express themselves.
Williamson – There’s never too much good wine or too much good food and Williamson Wines do a great job of highlighting just how well food and wine can enhance each other’s flavours. Plump for the icon tasting to enjoy five small plates paired with some stellar wines. As well as being able to purchase the wines you taste you can also take home some of the high quality herbs and spices used in the dishes you’ll taste.
Hawkes – Specialising in the iconic Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon grape, Hawkes offer a unique past, present and future tasting of their three main plots dotted across the valley. Taste wine directly from the barrel (future) side by side with the same vines from the current release (present) and also with one of their aged library wines (past) to truly taste how wine changes and develops over time.
What to see & do in Sonoma
Go wine tasting – There’s a fairly strong chance that if you’re visiting Sonoma then you’re a fan of wine therefore wine tasting must be on your list of things to do! So no one has to be the designated driver and miss out on the delicious wines book a driver for the day with Napa Sonoma Wine Tasting Driver. As some wineries are fairly small and can only accommodate a few people at one time, and others operate on an appointment only basis it’s advisable to book your appointments in advance, NSWTD can also assist with this.
Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride – Soar above Sonoma wine country in style with Up & Away and get an epic bird’s eye view of the vines and the gorgeous Russian River Valley. Float up, up and away just after sunrise for the best flying conditions enjoying Sonoma spread out below you as you rise up into the sky. Knowledgeable pilots are on hand to share the history of Sonoma and show you key points of interest on your journey.
Zipline through the Redwoods – An iconic part of Northern California, what better way to see the Redwoods than by whizzing past them? Join Sonoma Canopy Tours for an unforgettable experience up in the trees immersed in some of the tallest, oldest trees in the World. Choose from either the classic Forest Flight Tour or even more thrilling Tree Tops Tour offering longer ziplines and faster top speed.
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