Sonoma Valley Wine Country Archives - Wine Country Getaways

Recipes from Wine County – Sonoma

April 18, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Last time we highlighted recipes and wine pairings from the Napa Valley. Now it’s time for recipes from Napa Valley’s neighbor, the great Sonoma Wine Country. The wine towns of Healdsburg and Sonoma are culinary centers, and their respect is worldwide. Sonoma is a big County with wineries in many different wine appellations. From the coast to the Mayacamas Mountains, there are several climate zones. See the difference between Sonoma County, Sonoma, the city, and Sonoma wine country. While we currently cannot go to the wine country, we can create these fabulous recipes and purchase wine from these wineries.

Sonoma Winery Recipes

St Francis Vineyards and Winery

The St. Francis Vineyards and Winery are in the Sonoma Valley, at the northern end of Highway 12. The winery has an executive chef and has a wonderful array of recipes and wines to match. Here are some favorites.

Lemongrass, Ginger, and Carrot Soup – Sauvignon Blanc
Roasted Beet Salad – Zinfandel
Garlic Chicken Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan Winery

Jordan Winery is in the Alexander Valley on Highway 128, a few miles from Healdsburg. Jordan is most famous for its Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Their Chardonnay is exquisite as well. Jordan also has a chef and these are a few of their great recipes.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – Cabernet Sauvignon
Grilled Short Ribs – Cabernet Sauvignon
Mashed Potatoes with Mushrooms, Shallots, and Herbs – Cabernet Sauvignon

Merry Edwards Winery and Vineyards

Merry Edwards Winery is in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main grapes of this AVA. Merry Edwards is one of the great winemakers of our time. Last year, Merry Edwards sold her winery to the Roederer Family of Champagne fame.

Fabulous Porcini Mushroom Risotto for Two – Pinot Noir
Red and White Lasagna for Pinot Noir Lovers
Fall-Inspired Butternut Squash and Shiitake Enchiladas – Pinot Noir

Rodney Strong Vineyards

We started visiting the Rodney Strong winery way back in the early 1970’s. There were not that many wineries in the Russian River Valley in that era. The winery produces an extensive amount of wines. The Rodney Strong wines found in supermarket shelves are always a good wine buy. Check out these recipes from Rodney Strong.

Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich – Zinfandel
Grilled Shrimp Salad – Sauvignon Blanc
Ham and Coleslaw Biscuits – Chardonnay

Kendall Jackson

Kendall Jackson is one of the most recognizable labels at supermarkets and wine shops. The main winery is in Santa Rosa on Fulton Road. The tasting room is lush and the gardens amazing. Kendall Jackson owns several other wineries in California. Here are a few top Kendall Jackson culinary delights.

Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Peppers – Cabernet Sauvignon
Goat Cheese Enchiladas – Sauvignon Blanc
Slow-Cooked Salmon with Fresh Oregano Fennel Salad – Chardonnay

Ferrari Carano Vineyards

The Ferrari Carano winery is one of Dry Creek Valley’s most notable destinations. Tourists love the tasting room and the fabulous gardens. It really is a special place. One of the most popular wines by Ferrari Carano is the Fumé Blanc. It is one of the biggest sellers in fine supermarkets and shops. Here is a sample of recipes from owner Rhonda’s Kitchen.

Apple, Fennel, and Blue Cheese with Toasted Walnuts – Chardonnay
Capellini with Shrimp and Tomatoes and Arugula – Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)
Flatiron Steak with Blackberry Wine Sauce – Prevail Back Forty (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery

Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery are on Westside Road, a five-minute drive from downtown Healdsburg. The winery is in Dry Creek Valley, but a short distance to the west is the Russian River Valley. Mill Creek is a cute little winery with a working watermill. The winery is a great spot for a picnic lunch. The wines are delicious and so are these recipes.

Panino Di Manzo – Cabernet Sauvignon
Spicy Zinfandel Stew – Zinfandel
Brownies with Port Infused Cherries – Port

Kunde Family Winery

Kunde is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in California. Kunde is in the Sonoma Valley region, on Highway 12. There are many activities for the tourist at the winery. A cave tour and hike to the top of a steep vineyard hill are among the highlights.

Guacamole with a Kick – Chardonnay
Jim’s Famous Caesar Salad – Chardonnay
Grilled Rib-Eye with Carmelized Onions and Blue Cheese – Cabernet Sauvignon

Stay safe in your home and cook some of these fantastic meals with your family. Practice your food and wine pairing skills. Let us know what you try!

Sonoma or Sonoma Valley, what’s the difference

January 2, 2020 by Joe Becerra

Santa Rosa is to the north, the town of Sonoma is to the south. Both are in Sonoma County

This very confusing for wine country travelers. We recently met a couple in a tasting room on Westside Road in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. They mentioned they were staying in a B&B in the town of Sonoma. When they decided to visit this tasting room from their B&B, they had no idea that it was an hour’s drive away. When people say Sonoma wine country, what does that mean: Sonoma, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, and what’s the difference? Let’s clear up where is Sonoma wine country.

Where is Sonoma Wine Country?

Let’s start from the largest to the smallest of Sonomas

The County of Sonoma

Sonoma County is a large geographic area, almost double the size of Napa County. The southern portion of Sonoma County begins at the San Pablo Bay near Highway 37. To the north, Sonoma County stretches to the town of Cloverdale. From Highway 37 to Cloverdale (south to north), the distance is about 60 miles. The County stretches west to the Pacific Ocean and east to the Mayacamas Mountains and the town of Sonoma. There are several distinct geologic areas of Sonoma County. On the west side of Sonoma County, the Pacific Ocean means very cool temperatures, wind, and fog. On the east side of Sonoma County to the south, you have warm temperatures in the Sonoma Valley formed by the Mayacamas Mountains on the east side of the Valley and the Sonoma Mountains on the west side of the Valley. Along the San Pablo Bay, we have the cooling temperatures. The wine region here is the Carneros area of Sonoma County. To the north, it is the influence of the Russian River. The Russian River begins in Mendocino County to Healdsburg, and then west to empty into the Pacific Ocean at Jenner. In addition to the famous Sonoma Valley, other famous valleys in Sonoma County are the Dry Creek Valley, the Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley.

Dry Creek Valley, one of several valleys in Sonoma County

Sonoma Wine Country

Let’s keep this simple: Any winery or tasting room that operates within the boundaries of Sonoma County is in Sonoma wine country. There is a Sonoma wine country association that lists all its winery members. SonomaWine.com

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma Valley is a small valley in Sonoma County that runs along Highway 12. On the east side are the Mayacamas Mountains. On the other side of the Mayacamas Mountains is the Napa Valley. There are many beautiful wineries to visit along Highway 12 in Sonoma Valley. Sonoma Valley is 15 miles long and includes the wine towns of Glen Ellen and Kenwood.

View of the Sonoma Valley looking to the west.

The town of Sonoma

The town of Sonoma is historic. It is famous for the Mission San Francisco Solano (21st Mission), the Sonoma Plaza, and three of the oldest wineries in California. Some wine historians claim that the city of Sonoma is where the California wine industry began. In the city of Sonoma there are numerous excellent restaurants and accommodations.

Sonoma City Hall on the Plaza

How to travel the Sonoma Wine Country

We treat the Sonoma wine country as two distinct wine venues: 1. Sonoma Valley and the town of Sonoma. 2. Healdsburg and the Russian River wine area. Within each of those, there are several wine routes that we suggest so you can get the most fun from your wine country vacation. We suggest that you try not to do both of these areas unless you’re taking an entire week to travel. If you only have two days, you could quickly visit each area for a day. Ideally, you should take a separate vacation to each of these two fantastic wine regions.

healdsburg tasting rooms — This is the Healdsburg Plaza. Around and nearby the Plaza are several wine tasting rooms

Sonoma Wine Region Map

Wine and Food pairing at St. Francis Winery

February 17, 2016 by Joe Becerra

In the Sonoma Valley, Great Wine and Food at St. Francis

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in the Sonoma Valley

The trendy thing in tasting rooms these days is a wine and food pairing. We decided to try out the wine and food pairing at St. Francis Winery in the Sonoma Valley. St. Francis Winery and Vineyards is at the northern end of the Sonoma Valley, just off Highway 12. The setting is absolutely stunning, with the two mountain peaks of Sugarloaf and Hood Mountain making a dramatic backdrop for the St. Francis Winery and its lovely vineyards. Visitors to the center can enjoy a regular wine tasting, take a walking tour of the vineyards, or participate in the wine and food pairing. The chef is Byran Jones. Besides the wine and food pairing event, St. Francis offers private dinners and other food events.

Chef Byran Jones answers questions about his small plate concoctions

Right from the start, one thing impressed me. Most often chefs prepare their meal and go off to find a wine or wines that match with the food. At St. Francis it is done just the opposite, and I think a much smarter strategy when attempting to match food and wine. The staff at St. Francis chooses one of their wines to showcase and then the chef decides to prepare a dish that matches perfectly with that particular wine. I like doing this at home when I have special bottle of wine that I want to drink. I choose the wine and then prepare a feast that will bring out the best in the wine.

We had five small plates paired with different wines. View the slide show below to see the dishes and the wine pairings. We were instructed to “sip, munch, sip.” This tactic shows how wine can change in character when matched correctly with a certain food. The effects were quite impressive for all but one of the pairings. I did not think the Zinfandel, delicious on its own, matched well with the Mocha Pot de Créme. I would have preferred a Port wine with this particular dish. Every thing else, the wine and the food, was divine!

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The tasting is done around a circular table setting. Our tasting event had 16 folks participating. We were the only ones from California and it was nice to meet everyone and find out what brought them to the tasting. On this occasion, it was the week that the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa released it cult brew, Pliny the Younger. Half the people in our tasting were here to purchase Pliny the Younger. Another nice touch was to have chef Bryan Jones greet us and answer many questions about his delicious small plates. As a testamonial to the wine and food pairing, three couples in the group were here for their third St. Francis food and wine tasting. Visit the St. Francis Website for complete visitor information.

Mount Hood and the St. Francis vineyards – beautiful!

Sonoma Valley wine country getaway

February 15, 2016 by Joe Becerra

Mustard in February – Vineyard at B.R. Cohn winery in the Sonoma Valley

Our Sonoma Valley wine country getaway – do’s and don’t’s

There’s so much to see, do, and explore in this area known as the Valley of the Moon. We just spent three full days exploring the Sonoma Valley wine country. What a treat and delightful way to relax and rejuvenate while enjoying beautiful scenery, fine foods and fantastic wines. We’ve been here several times, and each getaway we find something new and exciting in the world of wine and food.

We headed over the Golden Gate Bridge, which is always a treat in itself no matter what the weather or other conditions. After driving north for about 30 minutes on Hwy. 101, take the Vallejo turnoff and then head to the Sonoma Raceway and the Carneros Highway. There are several beautiful wineries along this area of the Carneros wine region. Cline Cellars and Gloria Ferrer are always great wine visits, and we think very visitor friendly. Viansa winery and Jacuzzi (owned by the Cline folks) seem to be more on the touristy side.

Cornerstone

The boutique shopping and garden center Cornerstone is across from the entrance to the Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards. The Cornerstone Gardens have always been a remarkable attractions, but in May the gardens will be even more so. Sunset Magazine will add the Sunset Gardens’ site and will operate their test kitchen there. This will undoubtedly be a significant draw to Cornerstone. There are currently three different tasting rooms to visit. They each have a casual style and a relaxed setting. At the Poseidon Vineyard & Obsidian Ridge tasting room, we decided to sit and relax on the deck and enjoy a glass of wine. You can also taste the lineup of wines at each tasting room, but enjoying wine by the glass seems to be much more enjoyable than getting small sips of wine and having to listen to the pitch of how excellent and tasty the wines are. Besides the boutique art and other shops, there is a very laid back and comfortable eatery, the Park 121 restaurant.

One of three wine tasting bars at Cornerstone

Sonoma – The Town

From Cornerstone, stay on Highway 121 around the bend and head to Highway 12 and the town of Sonoma. There is Sonoma County and there is the town of Sonoma. The city of Sonoma is at the very heart of the Sonoma Valley or, as the Native Americans dubbed it, the Valley of the Moon. The main attraction in Sonoma is the Sonoma Plaza. Surrounding the Plaza are a plethora of boutique shops, restaurants, hotels, and wine tasting rooms. You could spend your entire getaway of three days just on the Plaza. We don’t recommend that, because there is much to see and do to the north of the town on Highway 12 and on the floor of the great Sonoma Valley.

Sonoma City Hall – Sonoma Plaza

Lodging in Sonoma

There are plenty of B&B’s and hotels in Sonoma. We stayed at the Sonoma Valley Inn at 550 Second Street West. It is a Best Western and reasonably priced, very clean and comfortable. Breakfast is included from 7 to 10 am. The Inn has a swimming pool and a fitness center. It is also pet-friendly. One can choose from a choice of rooms, standard to a luxury suite. The Sonoma Valley Inn is right across the street from Whole Foods market and is just one block from the Sonoma Plaza. There is no need to jump in your car for dinner. There are plenty of restaurants within easy walking distance. Enjoy that extra glass of wine and leave the car at the Inn. Other recommended lodging in Sonoma

Dining in Sonoma

We have a list of recommended Sonoma Valley restaurants for you to check out. We dined at a new restaurant, the Sonoma Grille. The food was delicious, and the prices were moderate. The Sonoma Grille has a perfect wine menu. I love it when the wine list at a restaurant is priced reasonably and has a lot of good choices. My only knock on the Sonoma Grille was the crowd noise. I rate it very noisy. We also enjoyed the Red Grape. The Red Grape is mostly a pizza joint and more family oriented. The Pizza is delicious and the fact that the restaurant has been there 13 years is a testament to their pizza and reasonable prices.

Tasting Rooms & Wineries

In and around the Plaza, there are 25 wine tasting rooms. We stopped in on three tasting rooms on our visit. We visited Walt Wines, Pangloss, and Passaggio. Walt Wines has

Janelle and Joe at the Walt Tasting Room

outdoor seating and delicious Pinot Noir wines. Pangloss has a very inviting tasting room; it’s like sitting in a huge living room with comfortable furniture. In Sonoma, but away from the Plaza, we love visiting the Buena Vista winery and Gundlach Bundschu winery. There is so much California wine history in these two wineries! They are among the oldest wineries in California. Along Highway 12 heading north are many beautiful wineries. These are full-fledged working wineries with vineyards, cellars and barrel rooms. Most of these wineries offer tours and picnicking in addition to a set of wine tasting choices. Our recommended list of wineries on Highway 12. The highlight of our Sonoma wine country getaway was a wine and food pairing at the St. Francis Winery. What a delicious treat and what a terrific way to learn about matching wine with food. Our full report on the St. Francis wine and food pairing.

Pan Seared Day Boat Scallop paired with St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc

Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley are within an hour’s driving time from San Francisco or Oakland. No matter what the time of the year, the Sonoma Valley has much to offer for wine country visitors. See more about the Sonoma Valley and its wineries – Sonoma Valley Wine Country.

Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma Valley

May 31, 2014 by Joe Becerra

View at Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma Valley

Hanzell Vineyards

High above the Sonoma Valley on the western side of the Mayacamus Mountains is the Hanzell Winery. Since 1957 the winery has been making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. James Zellerbach of Crown Zellerbach, who was the U.S. Ambassador to Italy (1957-1960), founded the winery. The winery is a gem in the Sonoma Valley in more ways than one. We recently had a wonderful tour and tasting at this winery, courtesy of our wine friend who has been a Hanzell wine club member since 1986.

Over the years, I had been to most of the wineries in Sonoma Valley, but not this one. I have to say it is one of the most breathtaking wineries in the area. I was impressed by the view, the treatment of both the land and the winery’s employees, and the delicious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The winery is not for everyone. The wines are at the upper end of the scale and limited in quantity. For wine country travelers who wish to visit this magnificent winery, it is open by appointment. To taste and tour, the fee is $45 per person.

Our tour guide was Zakk Murphy and he did a great job taking us around the vineyards in an SUV. We then walked through the cellars and the cave, followed by our tasting in a separate room. I always appreciate a wine tour much more when the tour guide is enthusiastic and passionate about the winery. Among many things we learned from Zakk: The winery’s first vintage was 1957. The two winemakers at the time were very scientific and inventive. They developed, and were the first to use, temperature controlled stainless steel fermenting tanks. They were also the first to use an inert gas to prevent oxidation. Today this method is universally used. James Zellerbach was a Burgundy aficionado. He insisted that Hanzell use French oak barrels to age the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hanzell was the first winery in California to adopt the French oak barrel for aging.

Hanzell Vineyards bonded the 70th winery in California

Sustainability is the operative word in the vineyards and the cellars. As we drove the vineyards, we spotted a small growth of tall Redwood trees surrounded by vineyards. Those trees have been preserved because they are the home to many Red-Tailed Hawks, and those birds of prey keep the rodent population in check. Cover crops grow in between the rows of vines, and are now in the process of being plowed under. There are several plots of vineyards and each one is named after one of the winery’s significant employees, past and present. Sadly, one of the great winemakers of California, Bob Sessions, recently passed away. He was the longest tenured winemaker at Hanzell. His memory lives on from the wines made from the Sessions Vineyard.

James Zellerback named his winery Hanzell, combining the first name of his wife Hana and their last name, Zellerback. Following James Zellarback’s death in 1963, his wife sold the property and wine cellars and moved back to San Francisco. A little bit of winemaking trivia: She sold the Hanzell wine in tanks and aging barrels to Joe Heitz who used that wine juice for his first vintages in the Napa Valley. The current owner is Alex de Brye, who at the age of 16 inherited the winery from his mother Barbara. He is now 39 years old and lives in London. He visits the winery each summer with his family for an extended period of time.

In the Hanzell tasting room

At the tasting we sat down and tasted the three currently-released wines. The first wine was the Sebella Chardonnay 2012 ($36).This is their highest-production wine, 3500 cases bottled. It is a fresh tasting Chardonnay with a great mouth feel. No malolactic fermentation and some neutral oak barrels make this wine particularly appealing as an aperitif. The 2011 Hanzell Vineyard Chardonnay ($78) had depth and complexity. This deep tasting wine might even pair well with a juicy steak from the grill. It is a wine to savor and ponder with each sip. A very elegant wine. The 2011 Hanzell Vineyard Pinot ($98) was young and fruity, one that will age to a wonderful character. We also tried, as a bonus wine, a beautiful tasting 2009 Pinot Noir. Wow! This is the best way to describe it. This wine is available for wine club members but only in the amount of two bottles. I very much enjoyed the wines. I purchase one bottle of the Sebella but the other two wines are way out of my price range. It was certainly a treat to be able to tour and taste at the historic Hanzell winery, and a big thank you to my wine friend Ray for inviting me.

1977 Hanzell Chardonnay

Following our visit to Hanzell, we went to lunch in Kenwood at Café Citti, an Italian Trattoria. My friend Mike is an avid wine collector and brought along a bottle of Hanzell Chardonnay 1977. The wine had a yellowish color from aging, but the taste of this Chardonnay was absolutely stunning. It will go down in my memory as one of the finer Chardonnays that I have tasted. It’s a tribute to the way the Hanzell wines are made.

If you decide to visit the Hanzell Winery, be sure to view our complete guide to the Sonoma Valley wine country. We suggest wineries, places to dine and lodge, as well as good picnic wineries.

Winemaker Brian Maloney zips and dashes between DeLoach and Buena Vista wineries

September 13, 2012 by joe

French open-top barrels

In 2003 Jean-Charles Boisset purchased DeLoach Vineyards and quickly revamped the winery, gaining certified biodynamic status, adding new wine making equipment, and most importantly hiring a young winemaker by the name of Brian Maloney. About a year ago Jean-Charles purchased Sonoma’s historic Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857 and, as he did with Deloach, is making major changes and restoring the winery to its former glory. Brian Maloney was doing such a fine job as winemaker at DeLoach, it was an easy choice for Jean-Charles to make Brian the winemaker at Buena Vista as well.

I met with Brian at the DeLoach winery located on Olivet Road in the Russian River Valley near Santa Rosa, CA. He says the workdays are long but rewarding. On many days he travels to both wineries, plus the Raymond winery in the Napa Valley. The Raymond facility is where some of the wine for both DeLoach and Buena Vista is made. He says he is fortunate to have skilled assistant winemakers at each location, who can take over when he is not present.

The focus at both DeLoach and Buena Vista is to make top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, using wine making techniques that have been around for centuries. This means large wooden open-topped tanks where Pinot Noir ferments, where workers take turns punching down the fermenting grapes by hand. After fermentation, watchful barrel aging takes place. The key is in the vineyard, where organic and sustainable farming enables the terroir to fully represent itself in the wines.

I asked Brian if there will be any differences in the way the Pinot Noir from the DeLoach Russian River vineyards and the Carneros vineyards of Buena Vista will be made. Here is what he had to say:

At DeLoach 90,000 cases of wine are made annually. A large production of entry level wines is placed in many supermarkets and wine shops, while the second tier of wines is sold through the tasting room or offered on the wine list at select restaurants. Visitors can taste wines for a $10 tasting fee. Check the DeLoach Website for other tasting and tour options. Travelers can make a full day of wine tasting on Olivet Road. In addition to Deloach, on this three mile road, there are four other small and family-run wineries: Olivet Road Wine Trail.

Count Agoston Haraszthy Returns

June 27, 2012 by joe

On Sunday afternoon we had the pleasure of attending a wine tasting party in San Mateo at the office of the Honorary Consul General of Hungary, Eva E. Voisin, to announce Count Agoston Haraszthy’s upcoming 200th Birthday Celebration on September 1, 2012, in Sonoma. The Buena Vista wines that were poured were donated by Jean-Charles Boisset, the current owner of the winery.

Buena Vista Winery

As you may know, the Count is known as the “Father of California Viticulture” and the entrepreneur who founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857. The Count emigrated from Hungary in 1840 and was involved in various business ventures in Wisconsin, San Diego and San Francisco before settling in Sonoma. He spent years experimenting with many different grapevines he had imported from Europe.

Harvest Film at Sonoma Film Fest and other Wine News

April 5, 2012 by joe

The 15th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival is April 11 to 15. For you wine lovers and wine country enthusiasts, the festival will debut the film “Harvest,” a feature-length documentary that follows five Sonoma County family wineries and their experiences in the harvest of 2011. I have not seen the film but I have watched the trailer. It looks like a terrific documentary. I won’t be at the film festival, but I sure hope I have the opportunity to see this film later in the year at other venues. Check out the trailer.

Benziger Family and Earth Day
Benziger Family Winery will host a winery event and nationwide wine tastings to spotlight sustainable winemaking in commemoration of Earth Day. At the winery, the event is called “Earth Day at the Estate” and will be a wine tasting with Mike Benziger. The event will take place April 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Benziger Family Winery, 1883 London Ranch Road in Glen Ellen. The cost is $40.00 for Wine Club Members and their guests and $60.00 for the general public. Seating is limited. To reserve a spot call 800-989-8890 or email buywine@benziger.com.
Throughout Earth Week (April 22-28), select wine shops and stores nationwide will offer “green flights” of Benziger Family Winery’s award-winning wines at in-store tastings sponsored by the winery’s distributor, Kobrand Corporation. For a complete list of participating locations visit www.benziger.com/earthday. Profits from both events will go to supporting the land and the community of farm workers who tend it.

Sonoma Valley Wine Country has Four 100 year-old wineries to visit

February 16, 2012 by joe

While the Napa Valley gets all the attention as far as popularity, few wine country travelers know that Sonoma County during the 1800’s was the star of California wine country. It all started in the Sonoma Valley wine country when the Buena Vista Winery was established in 1857.

In this first of two blog posts on Sonoma County’s oldest wineries, we focus on four wineries in the Sonoma Valley. Three of the four wineries are located in the town of Sonoma and the fourth just 10 miles away on Highway 12.

Gundlach Bundschu

We begin with Gundlach Bundschu founded in 1857 and today the oldest California winery that has been in continuous operation by the same family. The winery currently has sixth-generation family member Jim Bundschu at the helm. The tasting room is filled with amazing photos and wine bottles from Gundlach’s history. The staff at Gundlach is extremely knowledgeable and very welcoming. The winery certainly has that family feel to it. One added bonus: This is one of the best picnic wineries in all of California. There are three very different and beautiful areas one can choose from to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch. The tasting room is open daily 11 to 4:30.

Our favorite wines at Gundlach Bundschu: Tempranillo and the Gerwurztraminer

Jacuzzi Winery – a Tourist Delight in Carneros

June 18, 2010 by joe

We were jammed into the Jacuzzi Winery tasting room on a mid-week day fighting our way to the squeeze among a busload of tourists at the tasting bar. The big tour companies out of San Francisco love this winery. It is an easy drive from San Francisco, and they know tourists from far off places will have a fun time at this spacious facility tasting wine, sampling olive oils, and browsing the merchandise in their store. But it is just not the bus tours that like this place, it is the passersby who spot the winery from the Carneros Highway. Once drivers see the beautiful Italian-style villa they want to find out what is inside. jacuzzi