Sonoma vs. Napa
Which suits your fancy? Here's our newest guide to each.
Sonoma
With its laid-back charm, Sonoma County appeals to star gazers, oyster slurpers, and wine tasters looking to avoid all pretentions.
EAT
There is no shortage of places to eat in Sonoma County, from Cyrus (still delicious after all these years) to the Fremont Diner. But if you’ve yet to make it to Valley Ford, go to Rocker Oysterfeller’s now. At dinner, the roadhouse serves plenty of oysters, of course, along with burgers, Dungeness crab, and steaks. Brunch includes fried chicken and waffles, scrapple, and biscuits with sausage gravy. The wine list features lots of Sonoma- grown bottles to quaff alongside your meal. Bonus: Oysters are $1 on Thursdays, and there’s live music on Sunday nights.
14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, rockeroysterfellers.com
STAY
If you imbibed too much of that Sonoma wine and ate more barbecued oysters than you were counting on, it’s nice to know that Rocker Oysterfeller’s is housed in the same building, built circa 1864, as the Valley Ford Hotel. Just upstairs from the restaurant are six rooms with comfy quilt-topped beds. Sleep off dinner, and then greet the Sonoma morning from a rocker on the porch, a cup of coffee in hand.
14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, vfordhotel.com
CRUSH
Come October, nearly every winery in Sonoma and Napa celebrates the end of the grape harvest. At family-run Robledo Family Winery, one of a handful of Mexican-owned wineries in the country, the harvest festival on Oct. 23 begins with a traditional blessing of the grapes, called a mixcoatl-anahuac, followed by a performance by Aztec dancers, a grape stomp, and Mexican fare prepared by matriarch Maria Robledo, who is famous for her salsas.
21901 Bonness Road, Sonoma, 707-939-6903, robledofamilywinery.com
DRINK
Owned by wunderkind Andrew Mariani and his family, Scribe Winery is the anti-Napa. No monstrous Tuscan-style tasting room awaits you and no gift shops hawk tacky wine charms. Instead, you’ll be treated to an intimate tasting—Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet, and Chardonnay—often led by Mariani himself, on a gorgeous 200-acre property dotted with palms. Tastings are by appointment only.
2300 Napa Road, Sonoma, 707-939-1858, scribewinery.com
SEE
Though Sonoma’s myriad charms have been well-documented, most visitors don’t stick around to check out Robert Ferguson Observatory, which opens to the public only one day a month. It’s worth the wait until nightfall, when you can wonder at a never-seen-in-SF, star-filled sky, viewable through any of several telescopes, with docents nearby to point out the constellations. The next public viewing is Oct. 2.
2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, 707-833-6979, rfo.org
Napa
When in Napa, think spas, harvest parties with celebrated chefs, new hotels—and, of course, the requisite taco truck.
EAT
The parade of fancy rental cars are likely heading down the road to the French Laundry. But locals are queuing for tacos from Tacos Garcia, which parks in the lot beside restaurant industry after-hours hangout Pancha’s. The menu is extensive, but you want the tacos, especially the tangy al pastor and tender beef tongue.
6764 Washington St., Yountville, 707-980-4896
STAY
The former Yountville Inn will reopen late this month as Hotel Yountville. The petite hotel is gunning to give Bardessono a run for its money: 80 rooms, with four-poster queen beds and many with fireplaces, a 4,000-square-foot spa, and a restaurant run by a former Michael Mina cook. If that isn’t enough to wow you, consider the complimentary bikes, loaner iPads, and 24-hour cappucino service.
6462 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-5100, hotelyountville.com
TASTE
Buy a Taste Napa Downtown card ($20), and you’ll have access to tastings at 14 different wineries, including Oxbow Wine Merchants and Ceja Vineyards, all located within walking distance from one another. They did the math—should you try all the wines at all 14 spots, it works out to about a dime a pour. Best of all, you can use the card multiple times between now and the end of the year, so you don’t have to hit them all in one day. napadowntown.com
CRUSH
If you’re as interested in eating as in drinking, buy a ticket to Paraduxx Vineyards’ harvest celebration on Oct. 9. Noted chef Cindy Pawlcyn (recently on Top Chef Masters) will be on hand, serving food from her three Napa restaurants. Think duck burgers, oysters, wild mushroom quesadillas, and more, paired with wines and set to a soundtrack of live salsa music.
1000 Lodi Lane, St. Helena, 707-967-2031, duckhorn.com
SOAK
Locals know that the best time to visit Calistoga Spa and Hot Springs is after 7 p.m., when the crowds have departed and admission drops to $15 (the pools are open until 9 p.m.). The mineral-rich water is channeled into four pools of differing temperatures, including one with jets at a stress-neutralizing 104 degrees. No glass is allowed poolside, so we suggest decanting something local into a thermos before you go.
calistogaspa.com
Oh dear, the hot spring just took my heart away. I am going there ASAP! quotes about death of a loved one
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By on December 20, 2011
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By on December 13, 2011
I hold with Lizbeth. I live in Sonoma County, 20 mins from Old Sonoma and 30 mins from Bodega Bay. Sonoma is much historic and picturesque than Crucifer. The road from Sonoma Shape to Santa Rosa, finished the Depression of the Month, is handsome, as is the Slavic River region land to the shore. A lot of the Sonoma wineries inform me of Crucifer 15 to 20 life ago - small, friendlier and oftentimes don't incriminate for feeding. There are many zealous Reds to be launch throughout the location.
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By on December 05, 2011
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By on December 03, 2011
Its comments similar Egan's that employ me saintly cerebrate to accept out of municipality guests to Sonoma...meet returned from 3 days in Healdsburg and brought folks from Phoenix....impressive misstep, large and warm group, and wonderful content and wines. After 36 eld in California, I'll licence on Crucifer.
By on November 12, 2011
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By on October 26, 2011
OP, presuming you are idea the "towns" of Sonoma and Napa. Sonoma is small and definitely has author "tempt", Napa itself is larger with solon sketchy areas, but at 600k, you'll not be buying into those neighborhoods in either place. Prices have grow fallen, of class, so I would recommend Sonoma, you'll be able to chance into an region when in connatural years it would be beyond the budget you expressed. Crucifer testament bang marginally writer shopping and diversion opportunities, but real thing to get fevered about. Napa does hit the large infirmary.
By on October 09, 2011
To DocWine....After 61 years in California. I'll pass on Sonoma! Visit the Napa VALLEY and see why.
By on October 04, 2011
To DocWine....After 61 years in California. I'll pass on Sonoma! Visit the Napa VALLEY and see why.
By on October 04, 2011
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By on October 04, 2011
Sonoma's Highway 12 cuts lazily through rolling green hills, past cow pastures and farms, and through small towns relatively free of pricey boutiques and upscale restaurants. In fact, you can drive from the outskirts of Santa Rosa to the outer limits of Sonoma without seeing anything that looks even remotely like a Liz Claiborne outlet, though you run a greater risk of getting mowed down by a Ford half-ton pickup. The lower Sonoma Valley is mostly free of chain stores, strip malls, and Starbucks -- for now. It's a green, fresh, beautiful place to be, particularly in the spring when the lupines carpet the grassy hillsides.
By on September 22, 2011
I agree with Lizbeth. I live in Sonoma County, 20 mins from Old Sonoma and 30 mins from Bodega Bay. Sonoma is more historic and picturesque than Napa. The road from Sonoma Square to Santa Rosa, through the Valley of the Moon, is beautiful, as is the Russian River area down to the coast. A lot of the Sonoma wineries remind me of Napa 15 to 20 years ago - smaller, friendlier and often don't charge for tasting. There are some great Reds to be found throughout the region.
By on September 11, 2011
Sonoma's Highway 12 cuts lazily through rolling green hills, past cow pastures and farms, and through small towns relatively free of pricey boutiques and upscale restaurants. In fact, you can drive from the outskirts of Santa Rosa to the outer limits of Sonoma without seeing anything that looks even remotely like a Liz Claiborne outlet, though you run a greater risk of getting mowed down by a Ford half-ton pickup. The lower Sonoma Valley is mostly free of chain stores, strip malls, and Starbucks -- for now. It's a green, fresh, beautiful place to be, particularly in the spring when the lupines carpet the grassy hillsides.
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By on August 22, 2011
I have lived in Napa for approximately 15 years. While Napa is nice enough place, if I could go back in time and choose again, I would choose Sonoma. Particularly the town of Sonoma. It is charming without being pretentious (something you find often in Napa), has lots of good restaurants, shops, art galleries, etc. In Napa I often feel that things are done for the tourists, whereas Sonoma feels like a real place. I hope that makes sense to you.
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By on July 28, 2011
Can you PLEASE differentiate between Napa city proper and the Napa Valley? I have lived my whole life here in Napa, and let me tell you how utterly confused tourists get when they come to downtown Napa, and don't realize that they have to drive an extra 45 minutes upvalley to get to other destinations. Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, ARE ALL DIFFERENT CITIES. Quit grouping them all together under one banner "Napa." It's "Napa Valley." Let Napa city proper earn it's own name. We are a friendly, down to earth city of working class people, without all the stupid pretension that come along with snotty St Helena, etc...
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By on July 11, 2011
People are being silly on here. I live in Napa, work in Calistoga, and visit Sonoma when I can.
The prices in Napa have become absurd, but the people saying Sonoma is the place to graduate to after you've done the rookie/noob route and tried Napa are misguided.
For one thing, the shining varietals vary from AVA to AVA (with multiple appellations in both Napa and Sonoma) -- the best cabs I've had in my life have been from the Stag's Leap / Rutherford / Oakville areas off of Silverado Trail. I'm sorry, but Sonoma just doesn't hold up in the cab department.
On the other hand, many of my favorite chardonnays have often come from Carneros (also known for its pinot, but I have been more impressed with pinots from Sonoma Coast, Santa Lucia, and even central coast. But why not go for the gold and do Willamette Valley, Oregon?)
Healdsburg/Dry Creek has well-deserved fame for its zin.
So, the moral of the story? Explore every wine region you can, and be sure to appreciate the character, personality, and the best of the varietals from each one for what they have to offer!
(Note: in some areas, the wines just seem pretty lackluster across the board. I feel this way about Russian River)
By on May 24, 2011
The valleys are very different and each very wonderful in their own way. To not enjoy both is limiting your pleasure.
By on May 19, 2011
I'm with you. Make sure you check for whiskers in Sonoma wine.
And if you can't sleep after a bottle or two, it's because you are TWEAKING!
By on May 02, 2011
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By on May 02, 2011
This is what I heard about Sonoma wine -
After your 3rd glass of wine while watching the stars from Sonoma, you turn into a werewolf and end up running naked around Infineon Raceway.
Napa is a getaway. Sonoma is like camping and drinking with mountain people.
By on May 02, 2011
Egan, you are exactly why Napa is the way it is, and why people are now enjoying Sonoma much more..
By on April 12, 2011
Love crowds, tour buses, high prices and pretention? Go to Napa.
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By on October 12, 2010
Its comments like Egan's that give me good reason to take out of town guests to Sonoma...just returned from 3 days in Healdsburg and brought folks from Phoenix....awesome trip, great and friendly people, and wonderful food and wines. After 36 years in California, I'll pass on Napa.
By on September 27, 2010
Napa has a new food tour - Gourmet Napa Walking Tour - that I just did on Sunday. It was so much fun and we got to taste food from the Oxbow Market and several spots downtown. It's a nice change after wine tasting.
By on September 27, 2010
Sonoma lover's, jealousy is an ugly trait. Napa made you and brought you notoriety. Be appreciative. And we win all the awards for a reason.
Cheers
By on September 24, 2010
Napa is great for beginners. Easy to drive, Disneyland, big red, Bordeaux varietals. But, once you start to learn wine, you want variety. That's where Sonoma kills it. Drink by region like they do in the Old World.
By on September 24, 2010
"Sonoma makes wine, Napa makes auto parts."
By on September 24, 2010
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