When people talk about visiting wine country, Napa in particular, they often clump together Napa and Sonoma and generally speak of it all as “Napa Valley.” When actually Napa and Sonoma are quite different, in many ways besides location.
Sonoma County is a little bit more laid back and rustic than Napa, which is why it’s quickly becoming a favorite of many wine lovers, especially the younger generations. Lower tasting fees, unique wine making techniques and chill vibes – no wine snobbery to be found here!
Just like many clump all of wine country together, the same often happens to Sonoma. Sonoma includes just the town of Sonoma and surrounding countryside, while Sonoma County on the other hand, includes many other favorite wine tasting destinations such as Kenwood, Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Geyserville, etc. It can be confusing if you’re not super familiar with the area, but knowing the difference and all of the individual towns will help you when planning out your stay and your wine tasting agenda. Far too often I’ve heard of someone tasting in the town of Sonoma and then having their next tasting all the way up in Healdsburg (an hour away) because they thought it was all “Sonoma.”
Alright! Now that we have that straight, let’s get to the good stuff. If you’re looking to spend the day in Sonoma, here are three must visit wineries.
Scribe Winery
Ok, I’ll be the first to admit – Scribe seemed to be so hyped up by everyone that I went in thinking it was going to be overrated. The. Hype. Is Real. Folks.
I fell into the Scribe spell and loved it. Everything was carefully crafted from the overall vibe, design, curated farm to table food pairings and small production wine. Scribe is authentically them and doesn’t conform to the typical wine tasting rules. Make sure to book ahead of time, they’re hard to get into!
Patz & Hall Winery
One of the best spots in Sonoma to taste Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is Patz & Hall. They’ve specialized in these two varietals for over three decades and have long term partnerships with some of the best vineyard owners throughout Sonoma County including Chenoweth, Hudson, Hyde and Dutton. Plus, the patio and views are to die for!
Rams Gate
Talk about a beautiful building and view! If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy with friends, Rams Gate is a great stop, especially if you’re coming from San Francisco, or driving back, as it’s the closest winery to the city, sitting in the southern most point of Sonoma County. They have an extensive food program as well – I highly suggest trying out one of their pairing experiences. Oh, and their Pinot Blanc is amazing!
Other wineries I love in Sonoma also include:
- Walt Wines – great pinot noir with cute downtown tasting room.
- Gundlach Bundschu – beautiful estate, lots of history and family owned.
- Pangloss – fun downtown tasting room with food pairings.
- Petroni – epic cave tasting with Italian varietals.
- Sojourn – amazing pinot noir and located in a cute old house downtown.
Sonoma is one of my favorite places to taste and I hope you enjoy it too!
