Sonoma Travel Itinerary: A Weekend of Phenomenal Food & Wine

Image source: Sonoma Magazine

Planning a trip to Sonoma? We're jealous. There are few places in this world that strike such a beautiful balance between world class wines, exceptional food & stunning scenery to explore.

With over 400 wineries to choose from, you are truly spoiled for choice here. And with only a weekend to tackle the area, it's tough to choose where to go. To lend a hand, we've pulled together a short list of special tasting experiences & restaurants curated specifically for serious wine & food lovers. You won't find the most 'famous' Sonoma institutions below — rather, we have focused our itinerary suggestions on high quality food & wine and unique, memorable experiences you'll look back on fondly for years to come...

NAPA VS. SONOMA

For those new to Northern California wine country, you may be wondering what the difference is between Napa and Sonoma. While these two valleys share a border, your experience with each of them will be very different in a few key ways:

• Atmosphere: Affectionately nicknamed 'Slownoma', Sonoma has a more laid-back vibe and feels less serious/stuffy than neighboring Napa.

• Wine styles & varietals: Napa focuses primarily on Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Sonoma is a lot more varied, growing over 60 varietals, and is well known for Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Red Blends and Chardonnay.

• Size: Keep in mind that Sonoma is almost double the size of Napa, with wineries & restaurants spread out over a much larger expanse. This is important to keep in mind when planning your itinerary & driving times!

• Affordability: In Napa you're likely to find more 95+ scored wines at triple digit prices. While you'll find plenty of highly rated wines in Sonoma as well, there are more value driven options available at more accessible price points. Tasting experiences also tend to be more affordable in Sonoma. Tip: some Sonoma hotels even offer tasting 'passports' which get you complimentary tastings at select nearby vineyards, so be sure to inquire before you book!

Unless you want to spend half your weekend in the car, you won't want to attempt visiting both Napa and Sonoma in a single weekend trip. With that in mind, it's important to figure out which experience is right for you. Check out our guide to Napa Valley to aid your decision.

Settled on Sonoma? Let's dive in and explore your perfect weekend wine tasting itinerary.

WHERE TO TASTE IN SONOMA

Stop #1: Donum Estate

• We love them for: their award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the memorable walking tour of the estate and incredible collection of over 50 open-air art sculptures.

• Recommended tasting experience: we love the Discovery Experience ($125/person, 90 minutes). Upon arrival, we were served a tasting of their fantastic Chardonnay to enjoy as we walked through the grounds admiring the art installations & saying hello to their donkeys and goats. We ended with a private tasting of their seasonal wines (all the Pinot Noirs we tasted were delicious, but our favorite is the East Slope) paired with tasty small bites. You can see all tasting options here.

• Website: DonumEstate.com

Image source: Sonoma County Tourism

Stop #2: Hamel Family Wines

• We love them for: their collection of organic, biodynamically-farmed wines, particularly the gorgeous Nuns Canyon Vineyard — this wine has great aging potential and we had every intention of cellaring it for a few years...but we loved it so much we couldn't help opening it as soon as we got back home to LA.

• Recommended tasting experience: we suggest the Collectors' Experience ($100 person/1-1.5 hrs), with which you'll taste a flight of some super special limited-production wines, including the Nuns Canyon and their divine Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. You can check out all their tasting experiences here.

• Website: HamelFamilyWines.com

Image source: Hamel Family Wines

Stop #3: Repris Wines

Image source: Repris Wines

• We love them for: their beautifully elegant Bordeaux and Rhone-style blends. Their winemaking style & choice of varietals are a very welcomed change of pace in your Sonoma tasting itinerary. If the quality of these wines isn't already obvious to you on your vineyard tour, it will be 100% evident when you give them a taste...

• Recommended tasting experience: they currently offer one in-person tasting format, which takes 90 minutes and costs $100/person. On this private tour, you'll learn all about their organic farming practices and terroir before you sit down to a tasting of their estate grown wines paired with artisanal cheese and charcuterie.

• Website: ReprisWines.com

Image source: Repris Wines

Stop #4: Gloria Ferrer

Image source: Cellar Pass

• We love them for: their refreshing, sustainably-made Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-based sparkling wines, which you can enjoy while soaking in the sweeping views of the surrounding Carneros vineyards. A visit to Gloria Ferrer is a great pick-me-up and way to diversify your experience between tastings of Sonoma's overwhelming number of still wine options.

• Recommended tasting experience: indulge in the Caviar & Wine experience ($135/person, 90 minutes). With your guide, you'll explore the nuanced flavors of three different caviars paired with four different estate-exclusive sparkling wines. You can see all the winery experience options here.

• Website: GloriaFerrer.com

Image source: Gloria Ferrer

WHERE TO EAT

Image source: SF Chronicle

• El Molino Central is hands-down the best Mexican food in the area. They elevate typical dishes like enchiladas and tamales with inventive ingredients like Butternut Squash and Ahi Poke — and their mole sauce is to-die-for. Stop in for a fast & flavorful lunch between tastings. Our favorite menu items include: the Dungeness Crab Tostadas, Chiapaneco Mole Chicken Enchiladas & the Citrus Spiced Tacos Al Pastor. Tip: they are dog friendly so feel free to bring the pooch along!

• For dinner, head to Valette in Healdsburg for elevated Californian cuisine. The ambience is elegant & romantic and the food is exactly what you want to eat after a long day of wine tasting. We highly recommend the Day Boat Scallops en Croute, the Slow Roasted Honeynut Squash and the Coriander Crusted Duck Breast. You can also leave your selections up to the chef with their 'Trust Me' tasting menu.

• For a special occasion dinner, there's no better option than SingleThread. Many folks prefer this to French Laundry, and for good reason: this three-Michelin-star restaurant takes 'farm-to-table' to another level. Their Dry Creek Valley farm supplies vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers, honey, eggs, and olive oil to the kitchen. The prix fixe tasting menu is a delightful culinary adventure (it reminded us a lot of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York, if you're familiar, but with a Japanese inflection) and the wine pairing was very satisfying. Be prepared to shell out the $$$s but rest assured it's money well spent!

First bites at SingleThread Restaurant

WHERE TO STAY

Image source: MacArthur Place Sonoma

• The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a great option — luxurious and great amenities without breaking the bank. The room service & on-site restaurant food is very good, the beds are comfortable and the hotel is centrally located in Downtown Sonoma.

• If you're looking for a slightly more upscale & boutique hotel experience, MacArthur Place Hotel is for you. They have a great spa (try the Citrus and Kale Face Masque treatment) & are home to the popular restaurant Layla.

We hope you've found this guide helpful as you plan your next Sonoma adventure. Have any feedback or suggestions you'd like to share? Email us at info@winesocietyla.com or drop us a comment!