Grapes hang from a vine at Chateau St. Jean winery in Kenwood, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sonoma is the largest producer of wine in all of Northern California, and three-times the size of Napa County. It’s safe to say that if you’re into wine, you’ve found yourself in the right place.
In terms of climate, Sonoma experiences one that is broadly Mediterranean. This means that even during the winter season, temperatures rarely go below freezing, but the environment will be cold and wet. In the summer, it can be hot and dry, yet it’s not typically oppressive. Note that more 40 grape varieties are grown through Sonoma County making it arguably the most diverse wine-growing region in the U.S.
One of the wineries with a name that is hard to forget — or to roll off the tongue — is Gundlach Bundschu, the oldest continuously running family-run winery in Sonoma. It’s also home to the first caves in Sonoma, and known for producing cool-climate Bordeaux-style wines since 1858. Its property is located at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros and Napa Valley appellations. One of my friends has steered me to Domaine Carneros for bubbles and Chateau St. Jean for its beauty, saying they are “required trips.”
The Sonoma Wine Exchange is another must stop. It has a great collection of local wines, many very hard to find gems.