The beautiful and picturesque 17 mile long Sonoma Valley is situated in the southeast part of the Sonoma County. Surrounded by the two mountain ranges - the Makayamas to the east and Sonoma Mountains to the west, it is only 45 minutes north of San Francisco. With its warm days and cool night the valley is the perfect place for growing the award winning wines and attracting visitors from around the country as a perfect vacation getaway. There is a wide array of activities for visitors from walking on long sandy beaches to dining in world class restaurants and antique shopping.

The diversity of the countryside provides activities to all ages... fishing, whale watching, hot air ballooning, cycling, golf, canoeing, antique hunting, or shopping our art trails. Whatever your pleasure, you will find it here. Our wines, scenery, recreational activities, and hospitality make the Sonoma County Wine Country the United States' premier destination.

Take a hot air balloon ride above the valley and spice it up with the champagne brunch, ride your bike the Joe Radota trail from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol for a farmer's market. For the ultimate indoor relaxation choose among the numerous wonderful spas in the area with their Cedar Enzyme Baths and hot stone massages. Don't miss Santa Rosa historic Railroad Square district where great little shops and stunning restaurants are nested in historic setting. The beautiful Russian River is worth mentioning here too as a must go for the outdoor fun. Besides kayaking, canoeing or backpacking, there is a myriad of little shops and cafes along the river shore.

But of course, no visit to Sonoma County is complete with out the wine tasting and visiting the wineries. Though often considered the "other" Napa for not having as many vineyards and not being visited as much as its neighboring sister Napa, Sonoma preserved that unique old-fashoined style of winemaking, here is where the majority of wineries have deep historic roots and rich traditions. Devote a day or two of your trip to the tasting and choose out of hundreds of local wineries famous worldwide. Wine and Cheese pairing events are extremely popular in the area thus making your lunch or dinner unforgettable.

I would definitely recommend Benzinger as a good place to start. They have a nice tour....you first go out to the vineyards; then they take you to where they process the grapes; then they take you to an impressive cave wine area and also explain how wine barrels are made; and after that a private tasting (for the group) of 2 wines; followed by more tasting in the public tasting room. They have nice tables outside if you decide to have a picnic there.

Many people choose Sonoma as a destination for the most important events in life, such as weddings or anniversaries. And there are tons of reasons to it - no setting is more dramatic or provides such wealth and hospitality.
article by Katya Vilchyk for napasonoma.com