Throughout the state of California exists precious areas specifically geared toward the production of wine. From Temecula in the south to Paso Robles and Santa Ynez centrally, and up to Napa in the north, there’s no shortage of options. Napa often gets the notoriety as “the” premier spot for wine tasting and other wine-centric activities. There’s no denying the allure or beauty of Napa.
However, let us offer you an alternative. Sonoma County doesn’t often get the same hype as Napa. However, as you will learn, it could end up as a far better alternative for your vacation escape. We will offer three reasons why that could be the case.
Surrounding Areas
Sonoma County in general is massive. There’s so much to explore that goes beyond simply wine tasting. However, if you’re solely in the mood for that, you’ve come to the right place. Some of the biggest wine brands in the world reside in Sonoma County. You can get lost for hours on back roads, unearthing hidden gems and larger estates with some of the most delicious wine in the world (not to mention stunning scenery).
Using Santa Rosa as a starting point, head west towards the coast and you’ll run into a plethora of little towns and unique settings. Forestville — formerly the home to the popular tasting room Wine Guerilla (run by the Railla family) — has other tasting rooms in addition to some delicious local restaurants. If you keep going beyond Forestville, you’ll eventually hit the coast, not before traveling through gorgeous winding roads within the Russian River Valley and clusters of gigantic redwoods. South of Forestville is Sebastopol, a hippy-happy place with breweries and eclectic stores. Keep heading west, and you’ll hit the famed Bodega Bay. Up north is picturesque Guerneville, a haven for those who enjoy wine and picturesque views off the beaten track.
In addition to Santa Rosa, you also have two other larger cities in Healdsburg and Petaluma. Healdsburg is one of the leading bed-and-breakfast cities in the world. People come from all over the planet to enjoy an elite experience in hospitality. Down south, Petaluma’s downtown area has some fantastic Italian restaurants, not to mention some fun dive bars.
Crowds
With the reputation of Napa being one of opulence and class, you’ll see hoards of people traveling up from San Francisco, other parts of California, and out-of-state destinations in search of a good time. Wine tastings at trendy spots can get crowded. However, in Sonoma County, you don’t run into that problem. It’s just as likely that you’ll stumble onto a charming estate without a line or obnoxious people participating in an impromptu photoshoot.
Cost
Generally speaking, when people want to experience wine country in Northern California, Napa is often the place pegged as the premier destination. There are some very nice aspects of the city. However, it does come at a bit of a cost. Napa tends to be more expensive. That not only includes restaurants but also potential places to stay throughout the area.
With Sonoma County encompassing a larger area of space, there are far more cost-effective cities and properties to look into comparatively. Everything is in relative proximity, and as such you can bop from one city to another with a car or some sort of ride-share situation.
