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Updated: August 3rd, 2024

When you hear California wine country, your mind most likely will immediately jump to Napa Valley, but don’t overlook Sonoma Valley if you’re thinking about visiting this amazing region! Sonoma Valley is the heart of Sonoma County’s wine country and prides itself on its laid-back vibes, delicious food, and let’s not forget about the world-renowned wines! Sonoma County is situated just 30 miles North of San Francisco making it the perfect destination for anyone, no matter where you live. What makes Sonoma County so unique is that it encompasses towns from the Pacific Coast all the way inland to Sonoma’s wine region, making it super easy to do other things besides visiting wineries every day.

This was my first time visiting Sonoma and because I was meeting up with a few of my friends from around the country, San Francisco was the ideal meeting point since it had the most flight options available for us. We rented a car from the airport for the entire duration of the trip and driving to our Airbnb in Santa Rosa only took a little over an hour with traffic. If you’re planning to fly into San Francisco, this itinerary is perfect for you. It was also my first time in San Francisco, so I made sure to spend some extra time exploring the city's main attractions. Please continue reading for key tips and my Sonoma Valley itinerary!

How Many Days Do You Need in Sonoma?

Although there are over 500 wineries in Sonoma County alone, you can easily spend four days in Sonoma and have a wonderful time while getting your fix of wine and nature. I’ve visited Sonoma County twice with trip durations lasting from 3 days to 5 days and I would recommend that to be the sweet spot. Sonoma County is the perfect weekend getaway if you reside in the Pacific Northwest as it’s a quick flight and it’s an easy drive from the Bay Area in California.

During my first trip to Sonoma County, I set aside two days for driving to and from San Francisco to Santa Rosa and since it was my first time flying to San Francisco, there were a few things I wanted to see while I was there. If you have a couple of extra days and are looking to add an additional stop to your trip to Sonoma County, San Francisco, Sausalito, or Bodega Bay make for fantastic options!

What is the Best Time to Visit Sonoma?

The best, and busiest, time to visit Sonoma is during the Summer and Fall months, May - October. The weather is sunny and perfect almost every day, letting you take advantage of all the activities offered in this region from sipping wine at a vineyard to hiking in the Redwood forest. I visited in late August and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! Personally, I would recommend visiting in the month of August because it’s right before most vineyards harvest the grapes so you’ll still get to see the grapes on the vines at most wineries. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, try visiting in September or October during the grape harvesting season. Some of the wineries offer hands-on experiences that let you get in on the action. The temperature in August in Sonoma stays in the mid-80s-90s range during the day and cools off a bit at night, getting down in the 50s.

Where to Stay in Sonoma Wine Country?

If visiting wineries is your main priority in Sonoma County then try to stay in one of the towns in Sonoma Valley or Santa Rosa. We chose Santa Rosa because the prices were slightly lower and it’s a great central location to the wineries and the coast since I knew we wanted to spend a day exploring the coastal villages and seeing the Redwoods. The town of Sonoma is a short one-hour drive from San Francisco and Santa Rosa is only an additional 20 minutes further. Both towns have hotel options for couples and small families, but if you’re doing a girls’ trip or traveling with a larger group you can easily find a ton of house rentals on Airbnb. Our Airbnb was a gorgeous three-bedroom duplex that was within walking distance of downtown Santa Rosa and a short 20-minute drive to some of Sonoma’s top wineries.

Getting to Sonoma County & How to Get Around

Getting to Sonoma County is very easy! There’s a smaller airport just North of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County which is the most ideal place to fly into. If you fly into the Sonoma County Airport, Charles M. Schulz, you can rent a car as soon as you land and make your way to your hotel. Other airport options include San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento.

For my first trip to Sonoma County, I flew into San Francisco and rented a car. Driving from San Francisco to Sonoma is simple and only takes about an hour and a half so whether your intentions are set on Sonoma or you have a few extra days in San Francisco and want to get out of town, both places are easily accessible to one another.

Do I Need to Rent a Car in Sonoma?

One of the most important things to consider when visiting Sonoma is whether you’ll need a car or not. For those of you who have never visited this area, it’s bigger than you think. Sonoma County spans from the outskirts of Napa all the way to the coast so renting a car is dependent on what you plan to do during your time in Sonoma County. We rented a car for our entire trip and loved having the flexibility to go where we wanted to - but we also explored the area and drove to the coast one day and visited a Redwood forest.

If you are flying into Sonoma County Airport, staying near the town of Sonoma or Santa Rosa, and only plan on visiting wineries then you don’t need a car. Car share services, like Uber and Lyft, are present in the area but the wait time is longer than what you’re probably used to so keep that in mind when booking your winery appointments.

4-Day Sonoma Itinerary

Day 1: San Francisco to Sonoma

To maximize your time on vacation, you should always try to arrive earlier in the day and then leave towards the end of the day. We landed in San Francisco by 11am and picked up our rental car by noon. Our first priority was to grab lunch and we ended up having a great, light lunch at Nopalito. I had the pork tacos which were really yummy and the pork had a great marinade on it. Aside from the hills, the first thing we realized in San Francisco was the weather. Because of its geographical location, San Francisco is very breezy and was pretty chilly compared to Sonoma, which was in the low 90s and sunny most days. If you plan on making pit stops in San Francisco, be sure to pack a lightweight down jacket or a chunky sweater to throw on. Our last stop before we started making our way to Sonoma was seeing the nearby Painted Ladies. These iconic pastel houses are right across the street from Alamo Square and it was easy to find street parking. In total, we only spent about 15 minutes at the park and walked up the hill to get a better view of the houses and stretch our legs. By 2pm we were back in the car and on our way to the Airbnb in Santa Rosa. You could easily stop at one of the many pull-offs on the way out of San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. We made a pit stop on day five as we headed to the airport.

Checking into our Airbnb was super easy and we had the entire place to ourselves. We booked a three-bedroom duplex that was a short walk to the downtown Santa Rosa area and it was a great house! I typically don’t book Airbnb’s, but when you’re traveling with a group of friends, it’s hard to find a hotel that works and vacation rentals are usually the less expensive route. Our host was extremely helpful, attentive, and even wrote us a welcome card and set out a bottle of wine for us! We took the rest of the afternoon to unpack, unwind, and get ready for dinner. One of my friends flew over from Florida so the time change was a bit rough for her. Dinner that night was at The Spinster Sisters located in Santa Rosa. The food was amazing (you’ll probably see that a lot in this post because the food in Sonoma County is truly unbelievable!). The vibe at The Spinsters Sisters will make you feel like you’re eating at a close friend's house. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available, and if the temperatures drop a little during the evening, there are heat lamps and even blankets for you to borrow to keep you warm. We sat outside and it was so relaxing! Their menu changes as produce becomes seasonally available and most dishes have a unique spin on them that makes them standout. I had the salmon with seasonal vegetables and it was cooked to perfection! They also have a good selection of wine, because when you’re in California’s wine country, that’s the drink of choice.

Day 2: Sonoma Wine Tour with Sonoma Wine Rides

Because there are so many wineries and tasting rooms in Sonoma County and Napa, one of the best things to do while visiting is to book a wine tour! There are small group and private tour options and it’s one of the safest ways to get around while doing wine tastings at multiple vineyards. We booked a small group, all-day tour with Sonoma Wine Rides and had an absolute blast! It ended up being our group of three, plus another group of three and it was the perfect size. Our guide, Jason, was friendly and knowledgeable and sat & chatted with us during each of our tastings. He took us to three wineries and we spent at least an hour at each winery. Sonoma Wine Rides rotates the wineries they visit so you won’t necessarily have to visit the same ones if you book multiple tours. The vineyards we visited during our tour were Wellington Cellars, St. Anne’s Crossing, and Dutton Estate Winery. All three were gorgeous, and welcoming, and had delicious wine! We loved St. Anne’s Crossing so much that two of us signed up for their wine club and we even went back on day four! After 6.5 hours of wine tasting, we were more than a little tired, so after Jason dropped us off at our Airbnb, we had some much-needed girl time catching up with one another before dinner. For dinner, we ate in Santa Rosa again at a restaurant called Perch + Plow. This restaurant has really great reviews, but I’m not sure if they were training new staff or what because our experience wasn’t the best.

Day 3: Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve and the Sonoma Coast

For those of you wondering what else there is to do in Sonoma besides visiting vineyards and drinking wine - this day is for you! You can easily spend your entire time in Sonoma drinking wine, but you’ll be missing out on some really gorgeous areas. On day three we started off by visiting the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve which is about a 30-minute drive from Santa Rosa. California is known for its giant Redwoods and they are truly magical to see. We did an easy 2-mile hike along the Discovery Trail and Pioneer Nature Trail which only took about an hour. Next, we drove another 30 minutes to the Pacific Coast and stopped at Jenner Headlands Preserve to hike another short trail with beautiful views of cliffs along the coast. Our last stop before lunch was Goat Rock Beach located in Jenner just on the other side of the preserve. This beach has everything you dream of when it comes to West Coast beaches. It has huge rock formations out in the ocean and you can even see spotted seals darting through the water. By then we were starving and we stumbled upon the cutest seaside café called Café Aquatica. Here, you can find healthier options like avocado toast and fresh crab rolls, along with really great coffee to help you get through the day. Order inside at the counter and make your way around back for picnic tables and Adirondack chairs right on the water. After our late lunch, we made our way back to the house to freshen up before dinner. For dinner on day three, we ventured to Sebastopol to Fern Bar which was a quick 15-minute Uber ride. Fern Bar was hands down one of the top two meals we had on our Sonoma trip! As the name suggests, you can find ferns all throughout the restaurant giving it a tropical twist. They make stellar cocktails and have tons of options on the menu for those with allergies or intolerances. Make sure to try the Pierogi appetizer, they’re delicious!

Day 4: Sonoma Wineries and Glen Ellen

We spent our last full day in Sonoma visiting more wineries and we had a blast. Since there are so many wineries in Sonoma Valley, I suggest spending at least two days visiting different vineyards. Some vineyards require reservations for tastings, but for those that do require reservations, you can usually walk up to the counter and order a glass of wine to enjoy on the patio if they’re fully booked. Our first stop of the day was Gloria Ferrer who is one of the few vineyards in the region that only produces sparkling wines. This tasting was by far the most expensive at $60 per person (most tastings are about $25 per person), but it was well worth it! The tasting included four different types of sparkling wines and the pours were very close to a full glass of bubbly. My favorite was the sparkling Pinot Noir, and I loved it so much I had a case shipped home! After our tasting, we ordered a glass to enjoy on the patio and took in the views of the rolling vineyards. Stop number two was B. R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company where we enjoyed a glass of wine since they’re wine tastings were fully booked for the day. As the name suggests, they also produce olive oil and have a lovely gift shop where you can sample the olive oil and vinegar varieties they make and pick up some great gifts. Next, we visited Kunde Family Winery which is one of the oldest bonded wineries in all of California. Their property sits on a whopping 1,850 acres and they offer different types of tastings from a $20 option at the standing outdoor bar to the stunning mountain top tour & tasting which goes for $100 per person. We didn’t have a reservation beforehand and enjoyed the classic tasting at the outdoor bar. Before dinner, we stopped by St. Anne’s Crossing one last time to have a glass of our favorite wine from two days prior. Dinner on our last night in Sonoma was at the much-anticipated Glen Ellen Star and it did not disappoint! This Michelin Star restaurant was our absolute favorite meal and I was shocked that it didn’t come with your typical Michelin Star price point. The brussel sprouts and fresh baked bread were some of the best I’ve ever had and we ate every last bite of our meals!

Sonoma County is for more than wine-lovers. This destination perfectly blends nature, wine, and the coast - and it’s truly one of my favorite places to visit.

Happy travels! 

-Tess

Tess Arnold

Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip!  If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!