Every October and November, the grape harvest transforms Sonoma County into a paradise, complete with al fresco wine tasting, luxury lodging, and an endless view of sun-soaked vines. With the harvest in full swing, it’s the ideal time to experience Wine Country for the weekend. This is your guide to the best places to taste and relax in Sonoma.
TASTE
With its elegant architecture and highly acclaimed wines, Chateau St Jean is the quintessential Sonoma Valley winery. As a pioneer in vineyard designate wines, it is also home to the first Sonoma “Wine of the Year” for its iconic Cinq Cépages. 8555 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood, 877-478-5326, chateaustjean.com
Heart of Sonoma Valley Wine Trail Pass
Taste your way through Sonoma Valley this fall. Enjoy complimentary wine tastings and 10% off select wines at 14 wineries throughout the Heart of Sonoma Valley when you purchase a Wine Trail pass. You pick the day, we’ll pour the wine. One-day pass = $20. Two-day pass = $35. Northern Sonoma Valley in the towns of Kenwood and Glen Ellen, 707-431-1137, heartofsonomavalley.com
Our focus at Jigar Wines is to express the unique terroir of the different regions of Sonoma County in every bottle of our wine, from the Russian River to Dry Creek Valley. Visit our new tasting room and see for yourself! 6615 Front St., Forestville, 707-874-6123, jigarwines.com
Walt Wines is nestled off the wine trendy Sonoma Plaza, featuring twelve pinots and two chardonnays from up and down the Pacific Coast. WALT’s collection includes 30 wines rated 90 points and above—the up and coming brand is being heralded as “the new house of pinot noir.” 380 1st St. W., Sonoma, 707-933-4440, waltwines.com
Honest, authentic and compelling wines from special places. Established in 2006 by Pax and Pam Mahle, Wind Gap produces a range of wines including syrah, pinot noir, and chardonnay from vineyards across California that are influenced by wind gaps. Visit our tasting room at The Barlow in Sebastopol. 6780 McKinley St., Suite 170, Sebastopol, 707-331-1393, windgapwines.com
STAY
In Sonoma
The Sonoma Valley Inn, steps from the plaza, exudes the charm and warmth that has made Sonoma Wine Country famous. Enjoy our heated saltwater pool, wood burning fireplaces and garden setting. 550 Second St. W., Sonoma, 707-938-9200, sonomavalleyinn.com
In Healdsburg
Discover a taste of Tuscany at the Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg, the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. Relax at the Villa Toscana with a glass of wine in our beautiful piazza. 198 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 707-433-0300, drycreekinn.com
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