For 25 years, my husband and I have had a disagreement about California’s best wine country experience.
California has an amazing bounty of notable wine regions -- the Central Coast, Napa Valley, Mendocino, Temecula, and others – it’s a veritable embarrassment of riches. My husband is fond of the “big reds” of Napa.
Mind you, I wouldn’t pass up a chance to visit Napa, but when it comes to my personal favorite California wine country experience, it’s a no brainer. My favorite go-to wine region is Sonoma County.
Here’s why: The ultimate wine country experience, in my view, must celebrate all five senses. Sonoma County fulfills this prerequisite in spades. And Sonoma County’s 7 million annual visitors who revel in its lush beauty agree with me. I’ve lived in Sonoma, so I know its numerous charms first-hand. Read on and I’m sure you’ll agree with me.
Your visit to Sonoma will fulfill all five sensory experiences: sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. The sense of sight – the stunning beauty; taste – the exemplary wine; sound – the thrill of wine being poured into your glass; smell – the tempting and savory aromas wafting from your dining adventures; and touch – the rejuvenating sensations of the region’s memorable spa treatments.
Ferrari-Carano’s tasting room and vineyards lie in the sun-kissed Sonoma Valley.
To Wine is Divine
Sonoma was the birthplace of the California wine industry which helped establish the state as one of the preeminent wine producers in the world. But predating this, Father Junipero Serra, the Franciscan missionary who founded the historic California missions, is credited for bringing the first grapes to California in 1769.
Sonoma even played a role in the famous 1976 blind tasting in Paris, known as the Judgement of Paris, in which a small Napa winery (Chateau Montellena) shocked the world when its Chardonnay won over the panel of French judges. The event was made into a film — Bottle Shock — worth watching. Although it was a Napa winery which produced the wine, the majority of those Chardonnay grapes (80%) originated in Sonoma.
Mike Grgich, pictured in 2014 at age 91, was the winemaker of the award-winning Chateau Montellena Chardonnay at the Paris tasting in 1976. He now owns his own acclaimed winery Grgich Hills located in Napa.
Time and resources are the only obstacles to Sonoma’s vast bounty of liquid gold. Sonoma offers a dizzying number of wineries and tasting rooms to indulge your palate with more than 425 wineries and 62,000 acres of vineyards, The region grows 60 varieties of wine grapes!
To really enjoy a carefree wine experience, leave the driving to someone else. This allows you to sit back and enjoy imbibing — and better to see the picturesque landscape. The Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley Tour (sonomavalleywinetrolley.com) offers a great informative overview of the Sonoma wine country as well as some fascinating historical tidbits. The trolley stops at several wineries with a tour and lunch at Benzinger Family Wines. The tour concludes with a chocolate tasting and wine pairing, who can resist that?!
Sonoma also offers several other transportation options at (www.sonomacounty.com/transportation). You can hire a driver, pick up a Wine Pass, and you’re good to go. A Wine Pass gives you access to more than 80 wineries with tastings, tours and discounts on wine purchases. www.wineroad.com
Bountiful Beauty
Few destinations can claim the range of natural beauty that you’ll find in Sonoma County -- picturesque country roads that meander through oak-covered hills, enchanted redwood forests, the mighty Russian River, Bodega Bay Wharf (where Alfred Hitchcock filmed his iconic film The Birds) and 50 miles of the stunning coastline.
Sonoma is both a county and a town. In the town of Sonoma you’ll find the historic Sonoma Mission which is the northernmost and the last of 21 historic California missions established by Junipero Serra.
These are just some of Sonoma’s credentials that will make this your favorite wine destination as well.
The fabled Russian River meanders 110 miles through Sonoma County to the coast.
The Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean at Jenner-by-the-Sea which offers fun recreational options like kayaking.
A Foodie’s Paradise
Sonoma County also has a long-established agricultural history, so you’ll find numerous notable field-to-fork and farm-to-table restaurants. Hence, Sonoma has a sophisticated dining scene to match its fabulous wines. If you’re looking for culinary adventures to indulge your palate, here are but a few to put on your list.
For several decades John Ash has been among Sonoma’s celebrated chefs. His fine dining restaurant John Ash & Co. in Santa Rosa does not disappoint discriminating palates. Located adjacent to Vintners Resort with its 92 acres of lush vineyards and landscaped gardens. John Ash & Co. is credited for being the first Sonoma County restaurant to introduce the concept of cooking with seasonal fresh, local products paired with the exceptional wines from the region. www.vintnersresort.com/dining/john-ash-co
The Girl and the Fig located on the Sonoma Plaza features a tempting array of food that is fun and tasty with an innovative menu of creative bites that you can enjoy by dining in or take-out. www.thegirlandthefig.com
In tony Healdsburg, you’ll discover a cornucopia of dining options. A block off the park plaza is Baci Café & Wine Bar for the real deal Italian fare (baci: Italian for kiss). www.bacicafeandwinebar.com
Luxe Digs with Countrified Elegance
Accommodations in Sonoma range from B&Bs, boutique inns, spa resorts, and historic hotels, some notable options follow. Find your own perfect idyll at www.visitsonoma.com
The legendary Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn in the town of Sonoma has been a glamorous resort for more than 90 years. Built on ancient mineral springs, the Sonoma Mission Inn encourages guests to luxuriate in the ancient thermal mineral baths, enjoy spa treatments, join complimentary wellness classes, and dine at Santé, its Michelin-star restaurant. www.fairmont.com/sonoma/
The Farmhouse Inn is the perfect blend of rustic chic and relaxed elegance. The historic Farmhouse Inn dates back to 1873 and is operated by the 5th and 6th generations of the same family. It is still very much a farmhouse with onsite gardens and hens who produce eggs for the Michelin-starred restaurant. Don’t miss one of individually-curated spa treatments; the spa alchemist will even create your very own unique therapeutic treatment oils and fragrance. www.farmhouseinn.com
One of Sonoma’s early examples of relaxed but gracious hospitality can be found in the small town of Kenwood at the Kenwood Inn & Spa which has been pampering Sonoma Valley visitors since 1989. The rambling structure resembles a private Mediterranean villa with its 27 rooms and lushly landscaped 2-1/2 acres. www.kenwoodinn.com
You would be hard pressed to find more charming hosts than the proprietors at Bella Villa Messina. Located in the chic town of Healdsburg, the Bella Villa Messina is perched on the top of a knoll with a long driveway of cypress trees, notably reminiscent of a Tuscan manor. Co-owner Jerry Messina hosts convivial daily wine and cheese gatherings as well as a sumptuous breakfast. www.bellavillamessina.com
The Bella Villa Messina in the tony town of Healdsburg offers visitors the warm hospitality.
For the Birds
Among the many notable Sonoma highlights is Bodega Bay, a busy but laid back harbor. Bodega was immortalized by The Birds, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic horror film. Hitchcock filmed throughout the small town of Bodega and the harbor. When I lived in Sonoma County, just south of Bodega in the town of Valley Ford (population 125) some of the Bodega residents had some of the crows that were used as props in the film.
The historic Potter School, built in 1873, served as a public school and a community hall until 1961. That next year Hitchcock used the school to film the terrifying scene when students were attacked by crows in The Birds.
As the best wine country destination, the 50 miles of spectacular Sonoma coastline seals the deal.
Plan your visit: https://www.sonomacounty.com/
Photos by Lydia Kremer