2018-12-17 20:29:41
Although it boasts some of the most celebrated vineyards in the world, the magic of California wine country goes far beyond the wine. Stretching from the rocky shores of Bodega Bay to the rolling hills of Sonoma County and the Napa Valley, this breathtaking region, just an hour north of San Francisco, is also home to a renowned culinary scene and plenty of shopping, culture and outdoor adventures. Here are a few recommendations to get you started. NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN For a memorable “wine and dine” experience unlike any other, hop aboard an exquisitely restored antique Pullman rail car and take a three- to six-hour voyage through breathtaking Napa Valley. winetrain.com Spas Built on natural hot springs, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn delivers the quintessential spa experience — dry sauna, private baths and two mineral soaking pools — while Forestville’s Farmhouse Inn has made local produce harvested on-site the cornerstone of their spa treatments. Spa luxury meets wine country extravagance at Auberge du Soleil, where temperate springs overlook vineyards and the resort’s own olive grove. Treatments include floral oils from the garden and a refreshing grapeseed scrub. Finally, Calistoga Spa Hot Springs is worldfamous for its traditional volcanic ash mud baths. BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO, SONOMA VALLEY IS CELEBRATED AS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA’S PREMIER WINEMAKING REGION. Just 45 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma Valley offers premium wine experiences, culinary discoveries, unique small towns, open spaces and the perfect places to spend a few days exploring. Our winery map on the reverse side will guide you through your wine-tasting adventure. 100+ WINERIES Sonoma Valley is the perfect spot for those new to wine tasting, as well as seasoned wine collectors. With more than 100 wineries – from striking castles and garden chateaus to modern lounges and Mediterranean-style villas – Sonoma Valley offers a unique wine-tasting experience for everyone. Sonoma Valley’s rolling vineyards are nestled between two mountain ranges offering exquisite beauty. Tasting experiences include walkable tasting rooms, as well as working wineries with vineyard tours or intimate sit-down experiences in salons with a knowledgeable guide. Some wineries have picnic areas that encourage lingering over a shared bottle, while others offer wine caves and still others are found in quaint small towns in the valley. Family owned and operated since 1982, Roche Winery & Vineyards offers more than 35 years of award-winning winemaking experience, several vineyard-designated wines, varietals and blends, as well as our down-to-earth, Irish family hospitality. We welcome you to visit our downtown Sonoma tasting room or Sonoma Valley winery tasting room. Downtown, join us for a tasting at our indoor or outdoor wine bars, while seated on the porch overlooking Sonoma Plaza or with friends in our shaded garden patio, where you can take in all of the action. For our evening visitors, cozy up to our popular firepit. Also, nestled within Tipperary Vineyards, our flagship winery provides the perfect stop for your Sonoma wine tour. rochewinery.com Find high-flying adventure nestled off the coast of Northern California and deep in the Redwood forest.Sonoma Canopy Tours is completely unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. With two unique courses, each two-and-a-half-hour guided eco tour includes multiple zip lines, sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase and a rappel to the forest floor. You will be immersed in the unparalleled beauty of the world-famous California Coastal Redwoods. Experience nature in a way that you never imagined, from panoramic forest views to thrillingly deep ravines. It’s an adrenaline rush like no other — right in the heart of Sonoma County, 30 minutes west of Santa Rosa. Reservations required. sonomacanopytours.com FARM - FRESH RESTAURANTS Like San Francisco’s famous food scene, Sonoma Valley is known for the “farm-to-table” ethos. This ethos has never been just a trend in this region, but rather an ongoing way of life. Sonoma Valley’s chefs are surrounded by some of the best agricultural areas in the country, which is reflected in their menus. Olives, tomatoes, citrus, vegetables and herbs are all grown nearby and available at year-round farmers markets. Lamb, beef, duck and pork from nearby farms join locally caught seafood on restaurant menus. Sonoma Valley’s dining ranges from Michelin-rated hot spots to corner stores selling tacos on freshly made tortillas. Dine in an elegant hotel, romantic corner café, picturesque patio or a country roadhouse with spectacular views of vineyards and mountains. Adventure awaits in every direction at the girl & the fig! Serving country food with a French passion in Sonoma Valley for more than 20 years, the girl & the fig features a wonderful antique bar with French aperitifs, unique and traditional cocktails, an award-winning Rhone-Alone wine list, a seasonal menu, cheese and charcuterie platters, and outdoor garden patio seating. With the girl & the fig, you can also dine at the fig café in Glen Ellen, host a party at Suite D, bring unique style to your next event with fig CATERS!, find a bite from the fig rig food truck or Fig Farm, and sip wine at The Rhône Room. Don’t leave the Sonoma Valley without a taste! thegirlandthefig.com STAY OVER NIGHT The best way to discover wine country is to spend a night. Sonoma Valley’s options include cozy bed and breakfasts, wine country bungalows, luxury inns or chic hotels offering guests world-class amenities. Stay within walking distance of the historic Sonoma Plaza, or take in a vineyard view from a country inn. Relax and be pampered with a hot springs luxury spa treatment using local products. SugarloafRidge State Park is an amazing natural haven of 3,900 acres in the Mayacamas Mountains. A favorite park for families, Sugarloaf boasts a variety of activities with stunning vistas and amazing scenery overlooking the North Bay to San Francisco and beyond! This year-round campground has 47 sites, more than 25 miles of hiking trails, spectacular wildflower displays, waterfalls and the Robert Ferguson Observatory, which houses a 40″ telescope and offers public viewings throughout the year. The Visitor Center contains park historic information and a gift shop. $8/car entry fee. sugarloafpark.com The Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa is a historicallandmark located just north of Sonoma Valley wineries, featuring all the modern amenities with a retro vibe. The resort offers 170 newly remodeled rooms and suites, two pools, a health club, full-service spa, yoga and cycle studio, poolside dining, tennis, lounge entertainment, free parking and WiFi, and Sunday Champagne Brunch. Relax, rewind or rejuvenate at this iconic hotel in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. flamingoresort.com Located just two blocks from the restaurants, cafés and boutique shopping of the historic Sonoma Plaza, Inn at Sonoma is the perfect destination for a Wine Country visit. This TripAdvisor top-ranked hotel features 27 well-appointed guestrooms featuring a queen, king or two queen beds, fireplace, flat-panel television and most have a private deck. Guests enjoy a sumptuous complimentary breakfast, afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres, and freshly baked cookies. The inn offers guests the use of bikes for a beautiful ride along bike trails with countless wineries. innatsonoma.com Now in its 22nd year, the Sonoma International Film Festival (March 27-31, 2019) takes place in the heart of Northern California’s Wine Country and features more than 115 hand-selected films, including independent features, world cinema, documentaries and short films. Films are shown at seven screening venues all within walking distance of historic Sonoma Plaza. This unique five-day event offers world-class cuisine from local artisans and exceptional wine from Sonoma vintners. Renowned filmmakers, industry leaders and celebrities walk the festival red carpet and enjoy its intimate ambiance. sonomafilmfest.org Welcome to the Sonoma Serengeti! Guests visiting Safari West discover a 400-acre wilderness begging to be explored. With more than 900 animals representing 90 different species roaming across some of the largest enclosures in the country, there’s a lot to see and do – a truly unique opportunity for a great experience. For more than 20 years, Safari West has existed as a place for people to meet the wonder of the wild face-to-face. Safari West truly is the cloest you can come to Africa without going there. Extend your adventure with an overnight stay in a luxurious Safari West tent. Imported from Botswana, each of the 30 tents have a private viewing deck, en suite bathroom and polished hardwood floors. Join us for a Safari tour in Wine Country. safariwest.com A family-owned hotel, Sonoma Valley Inn is the perfect expression of the friendly, hometown warmth that defines Sonoma. After a day of tasting at your favorite wine-tasting rooms just minutes from the hotel and steps from Sonoma Plaza, you’ll find everything you need to relax. From Jacuzzi Suites to pet-friendly garden patio rooms, our accommodations will take you away from it all. Lounge in the garden, unwind in the hot tub and new steam room, or take a dip in the heated saltwater pool. During the evening, savor a glass of wine around an outdoor firepit or by your room’s wood-burning fireplace. sonomavalleyinn.com EXPLORE SONOMA VALLEY Sonoma Valley has more than 13,000 acres of state and regional parks for hiking, biking and enjoying the serene beauty of Wine Country. Take a tour on foot or horseback and view ancient redwoods, the home of famous author Jack London, and hiking trails through vineyards and mountainsides. Grab a picnic with local cheeses, charcuterie and Sonoma Valley wine, and enjoy the solace of wine country. MEET in Sonoma Valley, an excellent place for group meetings. With a walkable historic downtown, modern meeting facilities, team-building activities and excellent off-site venues, Sonoma is the perfect spot for a wedding, corporate event or incentive group. SHOP in boutique and specialty shops for unique and authentic goods. Wander through chic and quaint stores brimming with clothing and luxury goods, home furnishings, kitchenware, jewelry, custom leather goods and gifts, prized arts, olive oils, cheese and more. There’s something extra special about a Sonoma Valley wedding. With a nickname like the Valley of the Moon, you’ll be adorned in romance for your special day. Gather your nearest and dearest among the vineyards and estates, at a picturesque hotel, inside a charmingly rustic barn, or simply take it outside under twinkling lights that may just be the stars above. You’ll find a venue that’s perfect for your big day. Few places offer the historic beauty, cultural purpose and resources of Sonoma Valley. Fine arts abound across Sonoma’s galleries and museums, while live music flows through local restaurants and wineries. Browse the events calendar for the best things to do. At the gateway of Sonoma Valley, three unique venues combine the beauty and bounty of of the area. Enjoy tastings of Rhone-style varietals and zinfandels at Cline Family Cellars; fresh, award-winning extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars at The Olive Press; and Italian-style wines and varietals at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. Enjoy complimentary tours of the winery grounds and California Missions Museum at Cline, discover the inventions and rich history of the Jacuzzi family while sampling unique Italian varietals, and browse special gift packages, spa products, olive oils and vinegars in the Olive Press’s artisan boutique. clinecellars.com | jacuzziwines.com | theolivepress.comSugarloaf Make art a part of your visit with a stop at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. A young, vibrant museum of modern and contemporary art, SVMA has intimate galleries, a 2500-volume, art library and an art studio, and features workshops, exhibitions and events year-round. SVMA also installs public art in Sonoma. Recent exhibitions have included the works of Richard Diebenkorn, Eleanor Coppola, Annie Leibovitz and more. Merely steps from historic Sonoma Plaza, an hour spent with SVMA’s exhibitions after you’ve eaten, tasted and shopped is a great way to renew yourself. Now, guests can peruse the Museum Shop full of Sonoma gifts and treasures for all. svma.orgNow For more than 27 years, Pure Luxury Transportation has been the premier transportation leader throughout Sonoma, Napa Valley and San Francisco. Let us provide your transportation! Pure Luxury combines uncompromising attention to detail and the best chauffeurs in Wine Country so you can sit back, relax and experience pure perfection! Pure Luxury Transportation proudly partners with amazing Sonoma Valley wineries to create a selection of unforgettable wine tours. Each member of our team is focused on ensuring every detail is flawless. With one of the largest chauffeured fleets in California, we always have the perfect combination of luxury and utility for any size group or occasion. pureluxury.com
©San Francisco. View All Articles.