For thinner crowds and lower prices, travelers should book their trip between the months of November and May.
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While you could easily spend an entire month getting to know Sonoma wine country, there are a few places that you simply should not miss. Here, we focus on the town of Sonoma with our ideal itinerary for a long weekend.
Visiting Sonoma ValleyNapa might win on being more expensive, but Sonoma is certainly more expansive, spread out, and laid-back. (People often say Sonoma is “less commercialized” than Napa.) It's almost double the size of Napa, and grows far more grapes than Napa in a variety of conditions.
Our beloved Sonoma County, California is renowned for amazing wines and legendary vineyards, as well as gorgeous organic produce and sustainable farming. Our natural beauty is our calling card, from our mountains, forests, rivers, valleys, and meadows, to all 55 miles of our Pacific Ocean coastline.
June-OctoberThe five-month stretch between June and October is considered peak season in Sonoma, with harvest time in September and October seeing the most tourists. Unfortunately, this time of year is also the most expensive, with weekend hotel rates costing an average of $230 a night.
In short, if you want a laid-back introduction to stellar vintages and gorgeous properties, Sonoma – rather than Napa – should be your California wine country destination. If you're only here for a day, consider signing up for a guided tour. A handful of the best California tours feature daylong excursions in Sonoma.
The closest airport and shuttle service to Sonoma County are the county's own Charles M.Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), in Santa Rosa, with daily flights on three major carriers; and the Groome Transportation, which runs between Sonoma County and the San Francisco and Oakland airports.
For many of us in Sonoma County, fall is a special and much-anticipated time to be outdoors. The summer crowds have thinned, the vineyards turn striking shades of red and orange, and the air carries the scents of autumn.
Spend your next wine country getaway directly at a winery! Sonoma County has many wineries where you can spend the night surrounded by vineyards. Browse our listings and read this article about staying at a winery.