This past week concluded a month-long visit in Sonoma wine country in California. It was month one of a three-month trip that takes me from the vineyards of California to the Inside Passage of Alaska to the historic cities of Central Europe. This first month was a month I won’t soon forget. House-sitting for one of my best friends, I got to see Sonoma County from a perspective that not everyone to Northern California wine country gets to see it from. While most of the world automatically associates wine with Sonoma, there’s much more here than meets the eye. Today I breakaway from my typical posts to give you a photo tour of Sonoma wine country in Northern California.
An all too familiar sight in Sonoma County: Vineyards stretching across the Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville is just one of the many wineries owned by celebrities in Northern California.
Lunch break for a couple deer at Foothills Regional Park in Windsor.
What's good wine without good food? This from the food/wine pairing in the Bubble Room at J Winery.
Overlooking Sonoma from the top of Foothills Regional Park in Windsor.
Not all wineries are tasting rooms and cellars. Here I'm enjoying a Mai Tai at the pool at Francis Ford Coppola Winery.
Home to Lake Sonoma, Pacific Ocean coastline, and the Russian River, recreational activities abound in Sonoma.
A perched bird looks down on the valley floor of Sonoma County.
Off the beaten path in Sonoma County at Windsor Oaks Vineyards.
The sun sets on the Alexander Valley at Medlock Ames Tasting Room and Bar.
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There is so much to love about California wine country, as your collection of photos shows. I love the deer–I saw many while camping north of Healdsburg a few weeks ago.
Awesome. Sonoma County really just blows me away. SO many people don’t even realize that there’s coastline along the west end of Sonoma County that is beautiful. It’s such a gem.
This all looks like bliss. I’ve never actually been wine tasting in CA – when I’m up in Napa, it’s always to visit my uncle (who granted, has a winery, so I do taste his stuff) – but I’m sure once we’re back there long-term eventually we’ll find plenty of excuses to change that.
Well Emily, ping me when you’re up here and I’ll give you the low-down on some of my faves! I was just up in Mendocino County and am becoming quite taken with the wines there.
Can you tell me what some of your favorite wineries were in Sonoma? We are going there in September & there are so many to choose from! I like smaller unique wineries with character. We are a group of six & will be doing some cycling & hiking as well, if you have any suggestions. We are staying in the Windsor area.
Thank you!
Carol
oh Sonoma is beautiful! I camped there once on a wine tasting excursion and it was a lot of fun. I love the Jacuzzi winery – maybe it was just the 4 wineries previously talking but their Wine of the Seven Brothers was the best and I can never find it anywhere!
It is indeed Bethany! There are really some great camping opportunities in the Sonoma area. Some of my favorite, in my opinion, being along the Sonoma coastline, which a lot of people don’t realize. Some really beautiful coastline in Sonoma County that isn’t too far away from the wineries.
The scenery here is just gorgeous! You captured it so well with your photography.
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