Sonoma County Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Areas in Sonoma County

• Russian River Valley

  Fog-cooled vineyards around Sebastopol, Forestville and Guerneville, known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, plus sparkling wine. Redwood trails are close to Guerneville.

  130+ places in Cruv

• Healdsburg

  The 19th-century downtown centers on a plaza lined with tasting rooms, shops and restaurants. The Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander valleys meet here.

  120+ places in Cruv

• Sonoma Valley

  The town of Sonoma and its historic plaza, plus Glen Ellen and cooler Kenwood to the north, with state parks nearby.

  70+ places in Cruv

• Dry Creek Valley

  A narrow, rural valley just outside Healdsburg, about 16 miles long and best known for Zinfandel; Sauvignon Blanc grows here too. Lake Sonoma sits at the north end.

  65+ places in Cruv

• Alexander Valley

  The valley follows the Russian River north from Healdsburg toward Cloverdale, and Cabernet Sauvignon leads. For tasting rooms in town, head to downtown Geyserville.

  45+ places in Cruv

• Santa Rosa and Fountaingrove

  Sonoma County's largest city, on Highway 101. Downtown has tasting rooms, and parts of the city lie in the Russian River Valley, Bennett Valley and Fountaingrove District AVAs.

  35+ places in Cruv

• Petaluma Gap

  Southern Sonoma County around Petaluma, where a gap in the coastal hills lets in cool Pacific wind and fog. Pinot Noir is the main grape here.

  15+ places in Cruv

• West Sonoma Coast

  The county's far western edge, with steep ridgetop vineyards in cold marine air and heavy fog, planted mostly to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

  6 places in Cruv

Also in Sonoma County: Knights Valley, Rockpile.

Know before you go

Reservations

In the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander valleys, many wineries welcome walk-ins with no booking, though a few of them ask you to call ahead.

Tasting fees

Many wineries charge to taste, so look up the fee for each stop on your list.

Getting there

Highway 101 runs north from the Golden Gate Bridge through the county. From the bridge, downtown Sonoma is about 45 minutes, Santa Rosa about 50 and Healdsburg about an hour; rush hour adds time.

Best time to visit

Harvest runs from August into October, and fall color usually peaks from mid-October into early November. Early winter is quiet, and mustard blooms in the vineyards in March.

Getting around

Distances between valleys add up, so focus on a few areas at a time and leave the driving to a designated driver, a rideshare or a tour.

Barrel tastings come in early spring, and fall brings harvest events and grape stomps.

Nearby wine regions

• Napa Valley

  California's first AVA centers on a narrow valley floor about 35 miles long and is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

  340+ places in Cruv · 100+ upcoming events

• Carneros

  Cooled by winds off San Pablo Bay, Carneros spans Napa and Sonoma counties and is known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wine.

  35+ places in Cruv · 20+ upcoming events

• Mendocino County

  North of Sonoma County, fog-cooled Anderson Valley pours Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, while warmer Redwood Valley is known for Zinfandel.

  55+ places in Cruv · 10+ upcoming events

• San Francisco Bay

  Urban wineries make wine in Berkeley and Oakland, with more tasting rooms in Contra Costa, on the Peninsula and along the coast.

  45+ places in Cruv · 55+ upcoming events