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Sonoma
We've compiled a list of our favorite guides, restaurants, inns, etc. from beautiful Sonoma.
TWM hopes that you will find this information useful and would appreciate any additions, comments, experiences or disasters that would assist us in continuing to update these travel sites. You can email us at winemerchant@fuse.net.
BEST GUIDES BOOKS
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Fodor’s Wine Country
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The Insiders’ Guide to California’s Wine Country
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The Best of the Wine Country
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Frommer's Portable California Wine Country
BEST WEB SITES
Sonoma, the unsophisticated Wine Country, seems forever in the shadow of Napa Valley. Truth is that there are far fewer wineries here AND fewer tourists, which makes it easier to enjoy. Sonoma County has a beautiful coastline worthy of a trip. Because it is less traveled, it offers more of a haven for a “getaway.” Family-owned wineries, more personal attention & fun-loving people are what you will find on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains.
TIPS: *Do a little homework before traveling; arm yourself with a few guidebooks. *Don’t try to see too much - three wineries per day is enough. Spend some down time wandering the countryside. *Try to travel before June or after September if possible because there will be fewer tourists & rates on hotels are more favorable. Check on midweek rates as there is often a discount available.
BEST ACCOMODATIONS
SONOMA SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA - 100 Boyes Boulevard , Sonoma 95476 Founded in the 1920’s, this restored resort is on 7 acres with spa, tennis courts and 2 warm mineral water pools. Well-appointed rooms have all the amenities & it has two restaurants: The Grill, a more classic restaurant with a nice wine list and the Mission Inn Café, serving more casual cusine.See Restaurant section for details.
170 rooms Very Expensive
THISTLE DEW INN-171 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 95476
(707) 938-2909 or 800-382-7895 Fax: 707 996-8413
Turn-of-the century Victorian home, filled with quality Arts & Crafts, a short walk to Sonoma Plaza. Walking distance of restaurants, shops, sites etc. 4 rooms have private entrances & decks, all have queen-size beds with private baths & air-conditioning. Full breakfast tdibandb@aol.com6 rooms Expensive to Very Expensive
VINTNERS INN-Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma
Situated in the vineyards of Sonoma County's Russian River Region, Vintners Inn provides outstanding hotel lodging & cuisine. Set on 50 acres of vineyards, this French provincial inn has large rooms, many with wood-burning fireplaces, & a trellised sundeck. Discount passes to an affiliated health club are available. 44 rooms, Moderate to Expensive
(707) 575-7350 (800).421.2584
KENWOOD
KENWOOD INN & SPA -
10400 Sonoma Hwy. Kenwood 95452
(707) 833-1293 (800) 353-6966
Italianate style villa with Mediterranean Style furnishings including all the amenities. The pool & grounds are beautifully landscaped. No phones here. The Spa is in a separate villa & offers a full range of treatments plus fitness workouts.
12 rooms. Expensive
SANTA ROSA
HOTEL La ROSE-
308 Wilson St. Santa Rosa
(707) 579-3200 P: 800-527-6738
Romantic little hotel in the historic district of Santa Rosa & now a National Historic Landmark. Reconstructed in 1985, the hotel now consists of 29 non-smoking rooms & a carriage house which has 8 smoking rms. & 12 non-smoking rms. Very near Railroad Square & many restaurants.
HEALDSBURG
GRAPE LEAF INN
539 Johnson St., Healdsburg
7 rooms, each named for a wine varietal, 4 upstairs & very well furnished. Best is the Chardonnay suite. Near shopping & restaurants.
Moderate To Expensive
707 433-8140
HEALDSBURG INN at the Plaza
112 Matheson Street Healdsburg, CA 95448
Entrance is not elegant, but you will enter an art gallery, then a staircase takes you to the rooms with private baths. Garden Suite or Honeymoon Suite are the newest & most private-features a whirlpool tub for two, a corner fireplace, king size iron & brass bed & a French door leading to the back balcony.
10 rooms. Expensive
707 433-6991 or 800-431-8663
MADRONA MANOR
1001 Westside Rd., Healdsburg, Ca. 95448
Tel. (800) 258-4003 Fax: 707/433-0703
Built in 1880, Madrona Manor is the oldest operating inn in the area. This elegant Victorian mansion is surrounded by 8 acres of wooded & landscaped grounds. The rooms, all with private baths, are spread between the mansion, the carriage house & two cottages. The Restaurant is world class & there is also a pool. Full breakfast.
21 rooms , Moderate to Expensive
GLEN ELLEN
GLENELLY INN
Location: 5131 Warm Springs Rd., Glen Ellen, CA 95442,
(707)996-6720 Fax: 707 996-5227
Just outside the hamlet of Glen Ellen, this bright, small inn, built in 1916, offers all the comforts of home with a theme of French Colonial plus a hot tub in the garden. Innkeeper Kristi Hallamore serves breakfast in front of the common room's cobblestone fireplace & provides local delicacies in the afternoon. Outdoor hot tub.
8 rooms Moderate
OCCIDENTAL
THE INN AT OCCIDENTAL
3657 Church St., Occidental, CA 95465
(707) 874-1047 (800) 522-6324 Fax (707) 874-1078
National Geographic Traveler: “54 Great Inns - Expert Picks from Coast to Coast include the world class elegance in a quite mountain setting. A Victorian bed & breakfast tucked among redwoods, minutes from the Wine Country, Pacific Coast, & Russian River. Rooms are decorated with fine art & have private baths, fireplaces, & spa tubs. They also own The Sonoma Cottage (see next pg.)
16 rooms Expensive
VERY SPECIAL RETREATS
SONOMA COAST VILLA
16702 Coast Highway One, Bodega, Ca. 94922
(888) 404-2255 Fax (707) 876-9856
You'll find privacy & seclusion here on this 60 acres in western Sonoma County. A luxurious retreat with private patios, swimming pool & indoor whirlpool massage & spa services.All are at this bed & breakfast resort. The elegant inn has comfortably casual rooms. Refrigerator with Sonoma Wines & a hot country breakfast is included. “Guests of the Sonoma Coast Villa, in Bodega, often toss out their itineraries & spend the weekend nestled in at this peaceful spot.” Diablo Magazine, December 1998
GAIGE HOUSE
13540 Arnold Dr. Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(800)-935-0237 (707)-935-0237 / FAX: 707-935-6411
Frommer's 2000 Portable California Wine Country Guide named it one of five of "The Best Luxury Hotels & Inns". "This is the finest B&B in the wine country! First class service, an abundance of amenities, luxurious rooms...everything you'd expect from an outrageously expensive resort, but at much more reasonable prices ( with a much more intimate atmosphere).
12 Rooms & Suites 3 exceptional Cottages Expensive to Very Expensive.
KENWOOD CARRIAGE HOUSE
Glen Ellen Wild Sanctuary Cottage,& Sullivan Birney Vineyard Cottage $250-$395 depending on season
(707) 935-0237 (800) 935-0237 FAX 935-6411
Extended stay Min.2 days
THE SONOMA COTTAGE
(707).939.1322 (707).695.3222
A casual & comfortably elegant two bedroom house fully furnished. There is a living room with twelve foot ceilings & a fireplace for gazing, a dining room with an antique pine table and English Windsor chairs for comfortable conversation, and a great kitchen with all the conveniences.
DONNERS COTTAGE
270 France Street Sonoma CA 95476
707.996.2482
Looking for a romantic Sonoma Valley Bed & Breakfast? Donner's Cottage received a distinguished "Award of Excellence" for historic architectural design.This rose-trellised garden cottage is nestled among pool & flowers on historic property in downtown Sonoma. Enjoy the quiet of your own separate quarters. French doors open to this large room with soft colors, vaulted ceiling, romantic lighting, ceiling fan & large private bathroom. Expensive
BEST RESTAURANTS
Sonoma County's restaurants are numerous and acclaimed. Brand-new, chef-proprietor locales brimming with originality are springing up along established favorites for Italian, French, American and wine country cuisine. With its wines and homegrown ingredients harvested at the peak of freshness, Sonoma County is a food enthusiast's dream!.
SONOMA
SANTE RESTAURANT
18141 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma CA
Tel.(707) 938-9000
Condé Nast Traveler said 'it's worth a special trip just to eat here' and Gourmet Magazine calls the food 'the best of the new Wine Country style.' Country, fresh seafood lamb loin etc Award-winning wine list. Very Expensive
THE BIG 3
18140 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma, CA,
Phone: 707/938-9000
Mod. To Expensive
Sonoma Italian. Overstuffed booths, ceiling fans, & an open kitchen gives this corner Bistro an informal feel. Country breakfasts, pizza from the wood-burning oven, & tasty Californian renditions of Northern Italian cuisine are the specialties. The limited menu includes several spa cuisine options. Mission-style setting with an exhibition kitchen & two clay ovens.
GENERAL’S DAUGHTER
400 West Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476
Tel. 707.938.4004 FAX (707) 938-4099
Once owned by General Vallejo’s daughter Natalia, this restored Victorian houses Chef Joe Vitale. His cooking is influenced by Mediterranean & Southwestern cuisine & reflects the available fresh produce, meats, fish & cheeses. Over 100 wines on the list.
Moderately expensive
GLEN ELLEN INN AND RESTAURANT
13670 Arnold Dr. - P.O. Box 1593 Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707.996.6409
Glen Ellen Inn Restaurant, which originally built the adjacent cottages to accommodate diners, serves superb food and has an enclosed patio with a roaring fireplace and a long list of martinis -- just in case you ever tire of wine.
CAFE LA HAYE
140 E. Napa Street, Sonoma, 95476
(707) 935.5994
Located just off the Square in Sonoma, this tiny restaurant has a cozy feel & a lusty cuisine. Recommended by one of our wonderful clients. This small café serves some of the best food around. A sleeper: good, inventive, reasonably priced food!
Moderate
EL DORADO KITCHEN
W.First Street Sonoma, CA 95476
Tel. (707) 996-2351
Fancher's menu is Mediterranean bistro. Look for an appetizer of crisp baby artichokes, haricot verts and fennel served with roasted garlic aioli : and a saddle of lamb with olive oil-smashed potatoes.
Moderate
BISTRO RALPH
109 Plaza St., Healdsburg
(707) 433-1380
A very simple atmosphere belies the quality of the food. Narrow & frequently noisy. TWM discovered this Bistro years ago & really enjoys the feeling of a real local place. Contemporary French Casual with definite California twists.
Moderate To Expensive
RAVENOUS CAFÉ
117 North Street,
Tel: 707.431.1302
An American bistro at the Raven Theater; 1 block north of the Plaza. Menu changes twice weekly. Lunch & Dinner .
GEYSERVILLE
CHATEAU SOUVERAIN CAFE at the WINERY
Souverain Road Geyserville, CA 95441
tel.707.433.3141
Offers a bistro-style menu that presents all wine country elements in a unique dining experience that is both elegant & casual. Cuisine: California Wine Country
Moderate to Expensive
SANTA ROSA
CAFÉ LOLO
620 5th St., Santa Rosa
(707) 576-7822
This casual but sophisticated spot is the home of chef & co-owner Michael Quigley, who has made downtown Santa Rosa a culinary destination.Don't pass up the chocolate kiss, individual cake with a soft, rich center. Moderate
MIXX RESTAURANT
135 4th Street Santa Rosa, Ca
(707) 573-1344 FAX: 573-0631
Mixx opened it's doors in May of 1989 with owners husband & wife team, Dan & Kathleen Berman. Mixx is situated in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Great service & an exciting mix of cuisine makes a statement in this small restaurant.
SYRAH RESTAURANT
205 5th street, Santa Rosa Ca.
(707) 568-4002
Recently named one of Sonoma’s Best Restaurants by The Wine Spectator. Chef Josh Silvers & his wife opened in 2000 to rave reviews serving California/French cuisine. There are 3 choices to dine: the dining room, the enclosed patio dining complete with a fountain & flowers & a dining counter curving around an open kitchen. Expensive
LISA HEMENWAYS
714 Village Ct. Santa Rosa Tel.
(707) 526-5111
This Bistro has a cozy atmosphere & a comfortable place to dine in beautiful surroundings. Lisa was a protegé of John Ash & has traveled world wide. This travel influences her food combinations & the artistic presentations. An award winning wine list. Picnic food available at the takeout counter
Moderate To Expensive
KENWOOD
CAFE CITTI-
9049 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood
(707) 833-2690
Italian trattoria in a small cottage near wineries. TWM experienced this excellent lunch & dinner a few years ago. Fine pastas with a number of sauces plus good salads, etc. A Charming patio is available for outdoor dining.
Moderate
KENWOOD RESTAURANT and BAR
9900 Sonoma Highway Kenwood, Ca 95452
(707) 833-6326 FAX: 833-2238
Opened by Max & Susan Schacher in 1987. He had extensive experience in Germany, France & England before coming to the U. S. TWM has eaten in this establishment several times. Food is good, interesting starters if you just feel like a small meal, wine list well chosen. This bright & airy building is situated among the vineyards & has an outdoor terrace. First-rate cuisine, perfectly balanced between tradition and innovation, and complemented by a reasonably priced wine list. Moderate to Expensive.
BODEGA BAY-
This awesome coastline is also home to the Sonoma Coast State Beach with hiking, picnicking & camping. Hitchcock picked the towns of Bodega & Bodega Bay to serve as the setting for his thriller “The Birds.” “ "Best Picks" is a short list of fun & diverse things to do while visiting Bodega Bay & West Sonoma County including wine tasting, golf, hiking, beach walking, galleries & horseback riding...
THE INN at the TIDES
800 Highway One Bodega Bay, California 94923
Tel.-(707) 875-2751 (800) 541-7788
Six coastal acres & 12 separate, nicely appointed guest lodges sit in the hills above Bodega Bay’s harbor. Located 60 miles north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, this coastal retreat keeps watch over this port & the largest fishing fleet on the Pacific Coast. Whether this is a romantic mini-escape or a golf vacation, you will not want for comfort & service.
Moderate
BODEGA HARBOUR GOLF LINKS-Special packages are offered.
BODEGA BAY LODGE & SPA
103 Coast Highway One Bodega Bay, CA 94923
(707) 875-3525 (800) 368-2468 (707) 875-2428 fax
In addition to 78 beautifully appointed guestrooms, Bodega Bay Lodge has completed 6 new Ocean Club Suites. All have a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape & are 565 square feet & provide all the amenities. Want to be spoiled? Then enjoy the spa for relaxation. Expensive. The Duck Club at the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa was given a Five Star Diamond award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences & now joins an elite list of other Five Star Diamond restaurants including Le Cirque 2000 in New York; & Les Ambassador in Paris.
BEST PICNIC PLANNING PLACES-The Sonoma Valley is so naturally beautiful & it is not quite as crowded as Napa Valley. Picnicking is a pure joy. Choose you picnic items from the many Delis & Gourmet shops & head for your special spot. If you picnic at one of these wineries, it means you should buy a bottle of their wine for you picnic. Bon Appetite!
LO SPUNTINO
400 First St. E., Sonoma
tel.: 707/935-5656
Trendy deli & wine bar owned by Sam & Vicki Sebastiani.Italian food for a" snack". Begin by tasting the multitude of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, pastas, salads, & breads. Gigantic sandwiches with herb-marinated rotisserie chickens, turkey, duck, pork, lamb, or rabbit.. The Wine Bar features Viansa's Vineyards current releases for both tasting & purchase.. Live jazz bands-Fri. night-6 to 9 pm. Moderate
OAKVILLE GROCERY
124 Matheson Street Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707).466.3200 (800).973.6364
Marketplace featuring pizzas, sandwiches, salads, great picnic fare, wine bar & seating on shaded terrace as you enjoy lunch, dinner, a snack, or glass of wine. Picnics to go Inexpensive to Moderate. ,depending on your choices.
VELLA CHEESE COMPANY-
315 Second St., Sonoma.
(707) 938-3232
Located a block east of the mission & 1 block north to Second Street. Old cheese-making company with great cheese, picnic items etc. TWM recommends!
SONOMA CHEESE FACTORY-
2 West Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476
Tel. 707.996.1931
Another Fine place to pick up some items for a picnic.
JIMTOWN STORE
6706 Hwy 128, Hbg.,
707-433-1212. Home-style food. Seasonal patio dining & A nice place with local flavor to pick up picnic items.
THE DOWNTOWN BAKERY & CREAMERY
308-A Center St. Healdsburg, Ca. 95448
(707)-433-2719
“The Downtown Bakery is almost always a first stop on any picnic excursion. A whole lot of pleasure is in the coffee & conversation that accompanies your purchase of the county's very finest baked goods.”
BEST WINERY PICNIC AREAS
GLORIA FERRER CHAMPAGNE CAVES
23555 Hwy. 121, Sonoma
(707) 996-7256
Picnic tables available for those that purchase a bottle of wine. Also an option to sip Champagne & enjoy some wine on the terrace with appetizers.
GUNDLACH-BUNDSCHU WINERY
2000 Denmark St. Sonoma
(707) 938-5277
Picnic tables are in a grove of oak trees with a view of the lake. A great fun winery!
KUNDE ESTATE WINERY
10155 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood
(707) 833-5501
Picnic grounds are in the middle of the vineyards & there is a very good gift shop in the winery.
RAVENSWOOD WINERY
18701 Gehricke Rd, Sonoma
(707) 936-1960
Picnic tables & a barbecue every weekend from May through December.
VIANSA WINERY
Italian Marketplace
25200 Arnold Dr., Sonoma
(707) 935-4700
Italian is definitely the theme of this winery/gourmet Tuscan deli/food shop. Lots of picnic tables at the the different levels of the building & Italian style wines are available.
OTHERS-Field Stone Winery-Alexander Valley, Simi Winery-Healdsburg, Piper Sonoma-Healdsburg, Hop Kiln Winery in Russian River
BEST FREEBEES
SONOMA COUNTY WINE -sponsors a series of wine & events;
(707) 586-3795 o write to 5000 Roberts Lake Rd. Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928
Maps & Information booklets
RUSSIAN RIVER WINE ROAD -map of wineries, restaurants, & lodgings available throughout the region or write Russian River Wine Road, P.O. Box 46, Healdsburg, Ca. 95448
(707) 433-6782
SONOMA COUNTY FARM TRAILS
Map list some wineries & direct consumer produce outlets. Organized in 1973 by a group of farmers who wanted to maintain this heritage in the Sonoma Valley. Sample local fresh foods & wine. Copies available at any of these outlets or at most visitor’s bureaus. Picnic items here-fresh fruit etc
SITES
JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK
London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen
Tel.-938-5216
Park hours: 9:30-7 Museum hours: 10-5
The authors ranch, his wife’s home & Wolf House ruins, plus his stables & the remains of his winery are all on this property. The Wolf House is a lava stone mansion which he was restoring but which burned in 1913. The museum is in the “House of Happy Walls” & allows a look at the man who was so multi-talented. Seven miles of hiking trails, biking & horseback riding trails plus picnic sites are available.
SONOMA STATE HISTORIC PARK
707-938-1572
DAILY 10—5
This park includes Sonoma Barracks, La Casa Grande, Toscano Hotel, & Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of California’s Franciscan missions. This is a replica of the original. These are all located on the 8 acre Sonoma Plaza except General Vallejo’s Home which is south of the Plaza. There are many picnic tables which makes a fine lunch spot after investigating this fine historic spot.
SONOMA COUNTY WINE LIBRARY COLLECTION
707-433-3772
221 Matheson Street Healdsburg, Ca
Housed in the Healdsburg Historical Museum containing books & documents about the California wine industry & some artifacts.
BEST ON THE FAR SIDE
SAFARI WEST WILDLIFE PRESERVE & TENT CAMP
3115 Porter Creek Road Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tel. +1 707.579.2551 or 1-800-616-2695
A private wild life sanctuary located on 400 acres near Santa Rosa. You can opt for a guided, open-air jeep tours daily (by reservation only.) It is home to over 400 mammals & birds in a lush oasis in the heart of the wine country. Another option is a deluxe African style camping adventure with overnights in tents that offer all the amenities of a fine resort. Check out web site for details.
RAMEKINS COOKING SCHOOL
450 West Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476
Tel. 707.933.0450
Learn basic cooking skills. Ethnic cuisine and famous chefs' menus will increase your skills. Every cook will find some class to meet their skill level & culinary interests. Cost of the classes ranges from $38 to $98 per class with discounts for series.
LOCALS, A COOPERATIVE TASTING ROOM Coming this fall
21023-A Geyserville Avenue Geyserville, CA 95441
Tel. 707.857.4900
Call to see if they are open. Sounds like a very good place to taste a number of wines from a variety of small wineries. Give TWM some feedback, please.
GUIDE BOOKS
- SONOMA COUNTY GUIDEBOOK - Vintage Publications-Tel. +1 707.226.6211 to order Sonoma, CA-Lodging, Sightseeing, Wineries, Maps, Recreation, Tours, Galleries, Museums, Shopping, Antiques, Restaurants & Menus.
- THE BEST OF THE WINE COUNTRY - Don & Betty Martin-Humorous yet useful paperback to the California Wine Country. Published by Pine cone Press, Inc. Columbia, California
- THE INSIDERS’ GUIDE TO CALIFORNA’SWINE COUNTRY - Phil Barber & Ted Block 1999 Falcon Publishing Co. 150 W. Brambleton Ave Norfolk, Va.
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WINERIES -TWM has spent 29 years traveling to the California vineyards. Sonoma has some of the most charming, welcoming vineyards in California. It is impossible to mention all so we just listed a few giving you a place to start. Always check to make sure if wineries need notice of your visit prior to the date you wish to visit. Remember, during the harvest visitors must come second to the work they have waited to do for 1 year. Jan. through May & Oct. through Nov. you will receive more attention. Below are a few of the wineries that we have visited, ENJOY!
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SONOMA
GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU Winery
2000 Denmark St. Sonoma CA 95476
Phone: (707) 938-5277
Hours: daily 11AM-4:30PM Tasting Charges: no. Tours: yes
A fun spot-these are wonderfully wild people!
SANTA ROSA
MATANZAS CREEK WINERY
6097 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa CA 95404
Phone: (707) 528-6464 (800).590.6464
Hours: daily 10AM-4:30PM Tasting Charges: no. Tours: yes
HEALDSBURG
RABBIT RIDGE VINYARDS
3291 Westside Rd. Healdsburg CA 95448
Phone: (707) 431-7128
Hours: daily 11AM-5PM Tasting Charges: $2, refunded with purchase.
GEYSERVILLE
GEYSER PEAK WINERY
22281 Chianti Rd. Geyserville CA 95441
Phone: (800) 255-9463
Hours: daily 10AM-5PM Tasting Charges: no. Tours by appointment.
MURPHY GOODE Estate Winery
4001 Hwy. 128 Geyserville CA 95441
Phone: (707) 431-7644
Tasing Room Hours: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM Daily
CHÂTEAU ST. JEAN
8555 Sonoma Hwy. Kenwood CA 95452
Phone: (707) 833-4134
Hours: daily 10AM-4:30PM
Tasting Charges: no. Tours: self-guided-a very beautiful winery!
LANDMARK VINEYARDS
101 Adobe Canyon Rd. Kenwood CA 95452
Phone: (707) 833-0053
Hours: daily 10:30-AM to 4:30PM
Tasting Charges: no. Tours: by appointment only
Directions: Hwy. 12 north of Sonoma in the town of Kenwood. Very nice tasting room.
Check it out-they have a guest cottage and a guest suite for stays at the winery.
BUNGALOWS 13313
313 First Street East
Sonoma, California 95476
1-707-996-8091
Located 1 Hour north of San Francisco & 1/2 block from the Historic Sonoma Plaza. The Historic Brick House was built in 1907 in the Italian Stone Farmhouse style. It originally served as a hotel for Italian immigrants. The Bungalows 313 have served as Prime Wine Country Vacation rentals since 1990.
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