Must see attractions in Sonoma Valley

  • G

    Top Choice

    Gundlach-Bundschu Winery

    California's oldest family-run winery looks like a castle but has a down-to-earth vibe. Founded in 1858 by a Bavarian immigrant, its signatures are…

  • S

    Top Choice

    Sonoma Plaza

    This is the largest plaza in California, and the veritable center for politics, love and community in the Sonoma Valley. Smack in the center of the plaza,…

  • S

    St Francis Winery & Vineyards

    The vineyards are scenic and all, but the real reason to visit St Francis is the much-lauded food-pairing experience. The mouthwatering, multicourse…

  • J

    Jack London State Historic Park

    Napa has Robert Louis Stevenson, but Sonoma has Jack London. This 1400-acre park frames that author's last years; don't miss the excellent on-site museum…

  • C

    Cornerstone Sonoma

    This roadside Wine Country marketplace showcases 25 walk-through (in some cases edible) gardens, along with a bunch of innovative and adorable shops, wine…

  • V

    Vallejo's Home

    A half-mile northwest of the plaza, this lovely historical estate, also known as Lachryma Montis (Latin for ‘Tears of the Mountain’), was built in the…

  • B

    Bartholomew Park

    The top near-town outdoors destination is 375-acre Bartholomew Park, off Castle Rd, where you can picnic beneath giant oaks and hike 2 miles of trails,…

  • S

    Scribe

    With Scribe, a new generation has found its place in Wine Country. Bantering groups of bespectacled, high-waisted-jeans-wearing millennials frequent this…

  • S

    Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

    There are 30 miles of fantastic hiking – when it's not blazingly hot. On clear days, Bald Mountain has drop-dead views to the sea, while the Brushy Peaks…

  • L

    Little Vineyards

    The name fits at this family-owned small-scale winery surrounded by grapes, with a lazy dog to greet you and a weathered, old-timey wooden bar, at which…

  • R

    Robledo

    Sonoma Valley’s feel-good winery, Robledo was founded by a former migrant worker from Mexico who worked his way up to vineyard manager, then land owner,…

  • B

    Benziger

    If you’re new to wine, make Benziger your first stop for Sonoma’s best crash course in winemaking. The worthwhile tour (reservations recommended) includes…

  • K

    Kunde

    This family-owned winery on a historic ranch has vineyards that are more than a century old. It offers mountaintop tastings with impressive valley views…

  • B

    Bartholomew Estate Winery

    Formerly Bartholomew Park Winery has transformed into Bartholomew Estate, set to open in its new form in spring 2019, ushering in a change of ownership,…

  • Q

    Quarryhill Botanical Garden

    Just when you thought the vineyards would stretch as far as the eye could see, out of nowhere comes a world-renowned botanical garden specializing in the…

  • L

    Loxton

    Say g’day to Chris the Aussie winemaker at Loxton, a no-frills winery with million-dollar views of the grapes you'll actually be tasting. The tasting room…

  • H

    Hawkes

    When you’re in downtown Sonoma and don’t feel like fighting traffic, Hawkes' refreshingly unfussy tasting room showcases meaty Cabernet Sauvignon from…

  • H

    Homewood

    Barn cats dart about at this down-home winery with several different tasting areas and a $20 wine and chocolate pairing. The winemaker crafts standout…

  • C

    Cline Cellars

    Balmy days are for pondside picnics and rainy ones for fireside tastings of old-vine zinfandel and Mourvèdre inside an 1850s farmhouse. Stroll out back to…

  • K

    Keller Estate

    This 42-acre estate sits in the newly dubbed 'Petaluma Gap,' where pinot noir and chardonnay grapes are tormented by wind and fog, urging them to produce…