03 August 2023
7 experiences to have in Sonoma Valley
With its vineyard-blanketed hills and farm-to-food culture, Sonoma Valley has plenty of experiences to delight every foodie...
With its vineyard-blanketed hills and farm-to-food culture, Sonoma Valley has plenty of experiences to delight every foodie...
All images: Shutterstock
Make sure you have a designated driver on hand: Sonoma Valley is known as California’s birthplace of wine, and you’ll want to explore and taste as many as possible. You’ll also find arts, culture and fantastic food - there are great experiences at every turn. Here are Audley’s favourites...
You might end up a little wobbly on your wheels, but exploring the Valley’s vineyards by bike is a delightful and leisurely way to sample a variety of wines, as well as taking in scenic countryside. Quiet backroads will steer you through the Valley’s rolling fields and lush vineyards. There are several designated self-guided routes you can choose from, such as the Sonoma Bike Path, also known as the City Trail, a converted rail track which used to run through Sonoma town. Following it takes you to wineries including Sebastiani, Gundlach and Bartholomew Estate. Prefer to have someone in charge? You can do a wine tour combining cycling and kayaking, or pick a half or full day or cycling with wine tasting as well as food.
Everybody say ‘cheese’! The Golden State is the largest milk producer in the USA, and this is used to make over 250 types of cheese at a variety of artisan dairies, creameries and farms. The Cheese Trail, which highlights 77 locations where you can visit cheese-makers and sample their products, was the brainchild of self-confessed ‘cow addict’ Vivien Straus in 2010. Straus felt it would be a great way to earn about cheese production, while exploring the state. The Sonoma County portion of the trail runs through 100 miles of pasture and hills, and connects around 30 farms and creameries. Around the Valley, you’ll find the likes of Vella Cheese Co, known for their Monterey Jack and cheddar, and Ramini Mozzarella, who make their own fresh, handcrafted buffalo mozzarella.
All that incredible produce is not just for home cooks; it’s used by chefs who pride themselves on bringing the best, locally-sourced ingredients straight to your plate. Restaurants work closely with nearby farmers and producers, reflecting the supportive, tight-knit community of Sonoma Valley. In addition, you can be sure that sustainabioility and environmental responsibility are top of the agenda on all sides. Try Sonoma favourite, the girl and the fig, which offers a simple but tasty Cali-French menu with dishes such as grilled artichokes and caper remoulade, local chicken with spring vegetables, and a plate of local cheese and charcuterie, or Glen Ellen Star, where you’ll find smoked Mt Essen trout or wood-roasted asparagus. And don’t forget to pair your meal with some of the incredible local wine, too...
Nestled in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Healdsburg oozes with small-town charm – despite being Sonoma's unofficial wine capital. Its walkable nature plays a large part in this, with Healdsburg Plaza the town's nucleus and a boutique collection of shops, art galleries and tasting rooms. This is where the region's viniculture and farm-to-table philosophy is taken to a whole new level, as the town is home to trendsetting restaurants and upscale wineries. Nearly all the produce you'll eat here comes from surrounding Sonoma County but it's crafted in a uniquely creative way, whether you just want a quick bite to eat at gourmet sandwich ship Troubadour or fancy something a little larger like the crispy crab tacos on offer at Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar. There isn't a shortage of wineries offering you tastings of their small-batch vintages and many pair these wine experiences with exploring Healdsburg's wild surrounds, whether it's gentle strolls or kayaking the Russian River.
Speaking of the Russian River, a guided kayaking experience here offers one of the finest ways to immerse yourself in Sonoma County's wilds, with trips ranging from 90 minutes to six hours. Between May and September, the gentle currents of the Russian River will have you paddling along glassy waters while towering redwoods watch on from either side as you glide past. The occasional sandbars along the way make for excellent picnic spots (and places to swim from). But despite the Russian River's remote location, you won't be alone: on your paddling adventure keep your eyes peeled for otters, turtles, deer and abundant birdlife like bald eagles, blue herons, kingfishers, ospreys and more. Fancy a bit more adventure? You can pair your kayaking experience with a walk through the redwood groves of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, located a nudge north of Russian River.
Sonoma Valley is not just about amazing food and wine; it offers a wide range of culture too, particularly art. There are a host of galleries, art studios and public displays which showcase local artists’ work. Check out the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, located next to the town’s historic plaza. which has a focus on contemporary and modern art, then explore some of the local galleries, such as ArtEscape, which also showcases work by local students, and Gallery 212, home to various community projects. If you fancy pairing your art with wine, visit the Donum Estate, a winery which is also home to the owners’ sizeable collection of sculpture by artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Tracey Emin. The Valley also holds an Art Walk each month.
Just twenty minutes’ drive from Sonoma town is this sweeping stretch of land, which covers over 4,000 acres, and is perfect for outdoorsy, nature lovers. You can camp here (what better way to gaze at the stars at night?) as well as go mountain biking, horse riding and fishing. For hikers, there are 40km of trails, ranging from around one kilometre to 14km, and you could also tackle one of the park’s two peaks – the western one is 591m, while the other one, Bald Mountain, soars to 832m. From here, if the weather’s clear, you can see across to San Franscisco Bay. The park is also home to the Sonoma Creek Falls, which cascade down nearly 8m in rainy season. Just don’t forget your picnic!
As you can see, there is plenty to explore in Sonoma Valley; but where to start? Which wineries shouldn’t you miss, which farmers’ markets are open during the week? Relax. Tour operator Audley, who have plenty of experience in California, can help. Leave the hard work to them, then just enjoy!
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