Sonoma County is famous for its vast selection of vineyards and wineries which are frequented by both wine connoisseurs and wine tasting novices alike. No matter your background or lack there of, Sonoma has a wide array of reds, whites and sparkling wines so there will be no disappointments!

We stayed for just a day and a half, but in that time we were able to visit Buena Vista Winery, California’s oldest commercial winery, and Gloria Ferrer, an upscale winery specializing in sparkling wines. Visiting these two renowned wineries was a victory for us, as most places we called required advanced booking due to the capacity rules of COVID-19 restrictions.

Buena Vista Winery

Buena Vista won our hearts and we highly recommend putting it at the top of your list when visiting Sonoma. The staff was friendly and welcoming while maintaining respectful distance and precautions in consideration of our health. Our host was knowledgeable and courteous when answering our questions, showing no annoyance toward the fact that we knew almost nothing about wine or the winemaking process. He sat us at a picnic beach under some tree shade which was a major plus considering it hit 103 F in Sonoma that afternoon – whew!

For the wine tasting experience, it was $20 per person and each individual got to taste five different wines – all of which were explosive with sparkles of flavor. It really dawned on me there how stark the contrast is between truly fine wine and the literally cheaper bottles of wine we buy from the market.

Buena Vista has a rich history and is located on its original grounds. Make sure to have your host share some of the stories behind Buena Vista’s successful legacy – really interesting!

Gloria Ferrer Winery

Gloria Ferrer rests atop the tranquil hills of Carneros, boasting dreamy views of the Sonoma County vineyards. This is their selling point, as well as their grand collection of the finest sparkling wines which you’ll pay a pretty penny to taste. All in all, the bubbly views were worth paying extra, around $70 per person for the tasting experience, since it’s a fantastic way to soak up the natural beauty of the wine country.

Yummy, organic breakfast? Sunflower Caffe does it right!

Sunflower Caffe was an absolute delight! A clear reflection of the artisanal genius that drives this charming historic town, the café features arranged seating at an outdoor patio dressed in thoughtful foliage and floral arrangements, and a petite menu offering locally-grown-based organic yummies!