Sonoma County

“One of the Seven Greatest Rides on Earth”
Bicycling Magazine

“Sonoma’s wine road . . . always provides that undiscovered back road that leads to revelation and authenticity.”
Tom Wark/Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog

Plan to visit Sonoma County on your next trip to California! A million acres of small towns, back roads, vineyards and biking trails await your discovery. While a million acres may sound like a lot of acreage, remember that winegrapes are grown on just 6 percent of these acres. Pastures and forests dominate the rest of the land.There are 1800 winegrape growers in Sonoma County and 80 percent of the vineyards are less than 100 acres in size.

Grapes

Visitors come from all over the world to touch the grapes, smell the soils and feel the microclimates.Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures are self-guided (www.sonomavineyardadventures.com) tours throughout 13 distinct winegrowing regions organized by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.

Wine

There are 400+ wineries in Sonoma County producing world-class wines! Come and visit and meet the owners, winemakers and vineyard managers.  We are also blessed with an amazing abundance of local organic food and produce. Sonoma County chefs know how to take advantage of such local bounty and pair it with food-friendly wines. 60 miles of pristine Pacific Ocean coastline, along with our relaxed and friendly people, complete the Sonoma County experience.

Climate
Marine influences impact the climate of many growing regions along California’s coast, but none so profoundly as Sonoma County. Cool maritime fog defines the region, which has 60 miles of coastline. Marine intrusion from the Pacific moves onshore through multiple entry points, roaring through low-lying coastal gateways, pulled by strong onshore winds. Chilled air is drawn inland by the hot Sacramento Valley, warm inland air rises, and is replaced by cooler Pacific fog. Fog is pulled across and stays in Sonoma County, blocked by the inland Mayacamas Range on the county’s western border. Sonoma growing regions are bathed most nights by coastal fog during the summer months and into fall. Vineyard distance from the coast, topography and elevation determine the impact of fog over the daily growing cycle. The ebb and flow of cooling fog creates diurnal temperature swings of 40 degrees or more.

Soils/Marine and Volcanic Origin
Eons ago, as the earth’s crust ruptured, tectonic plates moved, changing topography. Tectonic plates shifted and collided, pushing ocean floor and marine material upward. Volcanoes formed as mountain ranges rose, lava flowed toward the sea and water receded. Layers of varied soils were created over time. The result is more varied soil types than are found in all of France. The prized alluvial soils bring distinct character to the grapes in Sonoma County: mineral notes from river beds and shallow bays; higher elevations on the bench lands, ridges and mountain tops feature thinner soils. This leads to the production of intense, small berries with concentrated aromas and flavor.

Lodging

Choose the perfect Sonoma County get-away for you, whether it is a luxurious full-service hotel or a charming seaside lodge. Are you loyal to a specific chain-we offer those as well! Don’t forget camping as an option.

Visiting Sonoma County?  Well, there is an app for that http://www.sonomacounty.com/iphone

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley® partner with the Sonoma County Vintners, the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau to offer a well-rounded experience to all regional, national and international visitors to Sonoma County. (Also, see www.sonomacounty.com for travel and tourism information in Spanish, French, Deutsch and Japanese.

Sonoma County Tourism Bureau www.sonomacounty.com

Sonoma County Vintners www.sonomawine.com

Sonoma County Winegrape Commission www.winegrape.org