Sonoma Coast, one of 12 official appellations of Sonoma County, is known for its cool climate and high rainfall compared with other regions of Sonoma. Its particular soil and weather produce excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and cool-climate-loving Syrah.  

The wild Sonoma Coast is one of the county's most compelling landscapes—miles of bluffs, beaches, wildflowers, and the crashing Pacific Ocean.  

Oak barrels are one symbol of wine country. These are from a winery in the Alexander Valley, one of Sonoma County's appellations well worth a day of exploring and wine tasting—especially for lovers of complex reds, though the valley floor produces a flavorful Chardonnay.  

Even in winter, a drive through Sonoma County reveals landscapes and scenes evoking the region's engaging history and character.  

Sonoma's rich soil nurtures the fruit of the vine and a lot of other delicious fruit as well, from lemons and limes to sweet pears and golden apples like these.  

Part of Healdsburg's charm comes not from its wine culture but from its arts culture, and benches like this one on Healdsburg Plaza celebrate both of the town's passions.  

Healdsburg is more than tasting rooms. It's home to several excellent hotels and fine restaurants, and these fanciful trees represent one of the town's more unique attractions, the Hand Fan Museum.  

Summer brings plump grapes to thousands of vines across Sonoma County, and they look particularly beautiful basking in the late afternoon sun.  

Charming hotels like Vintners Inn in a serene corner of Santa Rosa make staying in Sonoma wine country appealing for a weekend or a week. This inn has the added advantage of being adjacent to one of Sonoma's well-regarded restaurants, John Ash.  

Sonoma County wineries can be simple or grand affairs, like this one, and offer tastings that range in price from free to $25 or more per person. Half- and full-day tours cost more but leave the driving to someone else.  

It's called an "urban wine trail," a collection of tasting rooms in town that allow wine enthusiasts to sample from many wineries without having to get in a car. Healdsburg has multiple tasting rooms and fine hotels that offer a sophisticated base from which to explore them.  

In the summer months, vineyards are ablaze with color from ripening grapes—and also often thanks to flowers planted near the vines in a riot of brilliant colors.