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Sonoma Wineries, Plenty of Views of Sonoma Valley Vineyards

One of the things that I really love about the Sonoma wineries is the number of them that have their tasting rooms up on a hill. It is so nice to sit on a veranda overlooking a vineyard. It is what I dream about.

Sonoma is a great little place to explore. I would recommend starting your day and ending it in the plaza. The Sonoma mission is there and there is the rock that the flag for the Republic of California flew from. Enough about history though, onto the wine.

I would have breakfast in the square, the Harvest Moon Cafe is good, as is The Girl and The Fig. I have never had a bad experience with the restaurants on the square. Ok there was that one time that I had too much wine, but what do you expect? It's Sonoma. Then head off to some Sonoma wineries for some wine tasting.

Since you started in the square, head South onto the 12. Here's a link to a map. It's a pop-up to mapquest, so make sure you're browser allows it to pop up. This will take you to some great wineries.

I'd start at the Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards. In the early morning, sparkling wine is a good way to start. The Gloria Ferrer wines are some of the best local sparklers. Their veranda is a great place to enjoy wine and friends.

Next, I would head over to Cline Cellars, by heading south onto Arnold Dr. They are on the right and they have some good wines. Nothing too heavy and some great Riesling. Cline wine is good and the pourers are friendly.

Since I have set you up, directly across the street from my favorite of the Sonoma wineries and the place I go for lunch even when I am not wine tasting, head right across the street to Viansa. Viansa is great. The food in their Italian marketplace is reasonably priced, my mom, son and I had lunch there, including their $10 wine tasting for a little over $20. Then the wine, oh the wine. Most of the grapes are Italian, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Barbera to name a few.

My favorite of their early wines is the Prindelo. I hear they changed the formulation in 2006, but it should still be good. The 2005 was excellent. Please note, I do not like the fact that in this premium wine tasting the Barbera follows the Chardonnay. It is a bad combination. To help the Barbera out, ask for something to cleanse your palate.

After putting together a great lunch, and eating it overlooking their vineyards, head back out to Arnold and keep going south to Roche Carneros Estate Winery if you want to go for a horseback ride. The horseback ride is an hour and a half and if you like the ride and their vineyards head to the town center. Why? Because if you want to drink some more wine in their tasting room, they recently moved to the town square in Sonoma.

Since your day will be winding down at that point, and your already back in town or heading that way a great way to enjoy a number of Sonoma wineries in a single stop is to head back into town. Be sure to stop at one of the two tasting rooms on the square. Enoteca has 12 wines from different microwineries. These are great family wines and you will rarely find them outside of Sonoma. Definitely stop in and give them a try. Or you can go to the Sonoma Plaza Wine Experience. I haven't been to this one but have heard good things.

Sonoma Restaurants:

For dinner, I would recommend Della Santinas, great food and a great staff. The wine selection is great too and if you like it enough, you can join their wine club. They give you 4-6 bottles for less than $100 a month. That is unheard of in wine country.

Or for some south of the border cuisine, head over to Maya's for some great Mayan food and tequila. If you want to continue your wine voyage (I am not a fan of tequila after wine) check out La Casa. I love their food and the ambience. It feels warm and inviting.

Sonoma Lodging:

At the end of the day, it doesn't get better than to let your head hit the pillow at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa. I love this place. It is beautiful and everything that wine country is about. The restaurants are also great, with a more relaxing atmosphere than you would expect.

The Sonoma Fairmont is a favorite among my European friends as well, so don't be surprised to hear British accents and French flying around. The price tag is high, but definitely worth it.

Want to stay on the square and minimize post dinner driving, stay at the Sonoma Hotel, right on the square and central to the Sonoma wineries. This is a fun, historic place to stay. Sonoma is an older west coast town and this hotel gives you that feel. They also have a complimentary wine service in the evening and The Girl and The Fig restaurant is their neighbor.

If you don't want to pay that much, there are a number of bed and breakfasts locally. The Trojan Horse, is nicely decorated and small so that you don't feel surrounded by people (I hate that feeling). I love the quiet and this is a great place to get it.

Sonoma Wineries Day Two:

You didn't think I would let you get off that easily. We explored one part of Sonoma, now let's head out Napa Road and explore the northeast part of Sonoma.

Feel like things are too stuffy. Head over to Gundlach Bunschu and their Rhinefarm vineyard, where you can take a two hour tour of their vineyards in their Pinzgauer vehicle during the growing season. They actually kidnapped Richard Bronson once. If he had a good time, I can guarantee you will.

This winery has also been around for 150 years. If anyone in Sonoma knows how to make wine, it's them. They have caves you can tour, and tastings of their great wines only cost $5.

Next, head north and up Old Winery Road, to Buena Vista Carneros Winery. Part of the carneros appellation, these are some great wines. The winery is a designated historic landmark and they offer a food and wine pairing sampler menu. A great way to enjoy their beautiful picnic grounds.

Last, head out to Ravenswood. This is the most likely of the wines I have mentioned for you to find locally when you go home. They have some great classes and if you get the urge, they even have a class where you can make your own blend of their wine. It's only offered on Fridays though, so it is not a weekend trip.

Then, head back into town and stop at whichever tasting room you missed yesterday. A good place to wind up and walk home to after dinner.

Here is a map that will take you on this tour, starting and ending at the Sonoma Hotel, because it is on the plaza: Here is a map that will take you on this tour, starting and ending at the Sonoma Hotel, because it is on the plaza.

If that isn't enough for you, explore Kenwood, Napa, St Helena, or any of the other locations nearby. Or explore more Sonoma wineries, because there are more. These are just my favorites.

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