Sonoma Travel Guide
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California's Napa and Sonoma valleys are two of the most famous winegrowing regions in the world, and two of my favorite places to visit in the state. In fact, I liked Napa so much I moved there. The workaday valleys that are a way of life for thousands of vintners are also the ultimate retreat for wine and food lovers and romantics. Hundreds of wineries are nestled among the vines, and most are open to visitors. But even if you don't want to wine-taste, the country air, rolling countryside, and world-class restaurants and spas are reasons enough to come. If you can, plan on spending a couple of days just to get to know one of the valleys. No matter how long you stay, you'll probably never get enough of the romantic, indulgent lifestyle.
While Napa and Sonoma are close to each other (about a 30-min. drive apart), each is attraction-packed enough that your best bet is to focus on just one of the valleys, especially if your time is limited. I recommend that you read about each, then decide which one is right for you -- unless, of course, you're lucky enough to have time to explore both.
Sonoma is often thought of as the "other" Wine Country, forever in the shadow of Napa Valley. Truth is, it's a very different experience. Sonoma still manages to maintain a backcountry ambience thanks to its lower density of wineries, restaurants, and hotels; because it's far less traveled than its neighbor, it offers a more genuine escape. Small, family-owned wineries are its mainstay, just like in the old days of winemaking, when everyone started with the intention of going broke and loved every minute of it. Unlike the rigidly structured tours at many of Napa Valley's corporate-owned wineries, tastings and tours on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains are usually free and low-key, and come with plenty of friendly banter between the winemakers and their guests.
