Sonoma Valley
Certainly the most historically interesting of all the California Wine Country appellations, Sonoma Valley also has a well earned world wide reputation as one of California wine country’s top viticultural areas, along with the Napa Valley.

Home to the original Franciscan Mission San Francisco de Solano and the epicenter of California wine country history, the Sonoma Valley is arrayed around an extensive valley in southeastern Sonoma County. The word “Sonoma” comes from the Native American Miwok language and means “Seven Moons” possibly referring to a phenomenon in the winter skies whereby the moon appears to rise seven successive times over the rugged peaks of the Mayacamas range.

Jack London, who lived in the Sonoma Valley at the spa town of Glenn Ellen, made the area famous in his novel “Valley of the Moon.”

The modern day town of Sonoma, in the middle of the Sonoma Valley was not just the site of the last California Mission, but also headquarters for General Vallejo, site of the California Bear Flag Revolt and home to the California wine country’s first commercial wineries. Today, the lovely town plaza – largest of its kind in California – is home to numerous wine shops, beer and Sonoma wine tasting rooms, cafes, boutiques, a cheese factory and numerous historical buildings.

The Sonoma Valley’s climate varies from the cooler windy south to the warmer uplands. The Sonoma Valley is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Zinfandel

Sonoma Valley wineries that offer winery tours and wine tasting are: Sebastiani, Buena Vista, Ravenswood, Kunde, Kenwood, Gundlach Bundschu, and Chateau St. Jean

Sonoma Valley Wineries: 42
Sonoma Valley Wine Grape Growers: 200
Sonoma Valley Vineyard acreage: 13,000

Wineries

Sebastiani Vineyards,
Sonoma,
707-933-3290,
www.sebastiani.com

Buena Vista Vineyards,
Sonoma,
800-926-1266

Ravenswood Winery,
Sonoma,
707-938-1960

Kunde Estate Winery,
Kenwood,
707-833-5501

Kenwood Vineyards,
Kenwood,
707-833-5891

Gundlach-Bundschu Winery,
Vineburg,
707-938-5277

Chateau St. Jean,
Kenwood,
707-833-4134