Miles of vineyards and stunning properties await you in the beautiful wine country of Sonoma Valley, California. In late Spring, my daughter and I visited my sister in Sebastopol and thoroughly enjoyed everything the destination offers. From wineries to fantastic dining, read on to get a taste of our recent Sonoma trip, as well as my recommendations for your next trip to wine country.
Pre-planning your vineyard visits and securing reservations for wine tasting is very important so as not to be disappointed. We were lucky enough to snag tastings at four delicious wineries in Sonoma, starting with Aperture Winery. Sitting on the terrasse of this gorgeous modern tasting room owned by a young vintner makes one feel as if they’ve been whisked away to Europe. We then headed to Flowers Vineyard, which had a “California cool vibe” and offered a delicious food pairing during the tasting in one of their lovely arbors. In a location off the beaten path, we then swung over to Quivira Vineyard for a classic tasting at their shady picnic tables. Last but not least, we stopped just outside of Sebastopol at Dutton-Goldfield’s rustic, cozy tasting patio and enjoyed their highly rated wines. Their staff was pleasant and friendly.
While wine is the star of this county, there are some incredible restaurants to try out as well. One of my favorite stops was The Barlow in Sebastopol, a food-hall style complex with f restaurants, shops, tasting rooms, and even a jewel box-sized supermarket. In South Sonoma, FolkTable, spearheaded by prior Top Chef contestant Casey Thompson, was a fabulous experience. She even came out to say hello to us after we told the staff we were huge fans, and she couldn’t have been nicer! A few other honorable mentions were Blue Ridge Kitchen, great sushi at Kosho, and delicious sandwiches from The Farmer’s Wife.
While I stayed with my sister in Sebastopol, Sonoma County is not short of incredible places to visit. One of my favorite recommendations is the family-run Farmhouse Inn, a luxury boutique romantic getaway that features a Michelin Star restaurant on property. They have a wonderful spa as well. If you want an over-the-top larger resort with exquisite grounds and views, then the recently opened Montage Healdsburg is the place for you. Overall, Sonoma brought us lovely wine, food, and memories. We did drive ourselves, but if you are looking to imbibe a bit more, we can set up transportation for you. If a trip to wine country is on your list, reach out to me at jodi@leisureluxetravel.com. I will plan your trip from transportation to tannins, so all you have to worry about is which wine you’ll try first!