Planning your visit to Sonoma "County"? This might help.

[Brian_Tuite]

@brianmcbrearty

Less wino types ask me, and I’m guessing all of us, “Where can I go in Sonoma and have a nice view and a picnic?” And then they call back next time and ask, “soooo where else??” and eventually I’m at a loss.

Could that attribute be added somehow?

Sure. Fire away with suggestions folks. Coppola, Paradise Ridge, Copain, Lynmar Estate…

[Paul_Luckin]

@Brian Tuite

@brianmcbrearty

Less wino types ask me, and I’m guessing all of us, “Where can I go in Sonoma and have a nice view and a picnic?” And then they call back next time and ask, “soooo where else??” and eventually I’m at a loss.

Could that attribute be added somehow?

Sure. Fire away with suggestions folks. Coppola, Paradise Ridge, Copain, Lynmar Estate…

off the top of my head:

Scribe
St. Francis
Imagery
Benziger
Arrowood
Kunde
Gloria Ferrer
Iron Horse

[Sean_Devaney]

@Brian Tuite

@brianmcbrearty

Less wino types ask me, and I’m guessing all of us, “Where can I go in Sonoma and have a nice view and a picnic?” And then they call back next time and ask, “soooo where else??” and eventually I’m at a loss.

Could that attribute be added somehow?

Sure. Fire away with suggestions folks. Coppola, Paradise Ridge, Copain, Lynmar Estate…

Preston, Rochioli, Hop Kiln, Passalaqua off the top of my head.

Please remember that most (all?) permits only allow the wineries own products to be consumed in their picnic areas. Yeah, this means no beer or other other wineries wine so don’t be “that guy (or gal)” and do something that could have negative consequences for the wineries license.

[M_Sai]

@Sean Devaney

Please remember that most (all?) permits only allow the wineries own products to be consumed in their picnic areas. Yeah, this means no beer or other other wineries wine so don’t be “that guy (or gal)” and do something that could have negative consequences for the wineries license.

Good call on that. Actually, the winery technically has to have a picnic permit from the health department to allow the practice at all - although I couldn’t say how many wineries know or care about this requirement. While there is no great vista, it is legal to have alcohol of all types in the park in the middle of Sonoma square. Maybe at the Healdsburg square as well?

[M_Sai]

Another spot in Sonoma that has a view - the Lovall Valley Road side of the Sebastiani property has a few picnic tables on the lawn there. I have no clue if they have to be reserved, but I often see them empty while running by. You can park your car on Lovall and just hop the short stone fence - you are right next to one of their estate vineyards and the old Cherry Block vineyard is just across the road. This is all just a few blocks from Sonoma Square.

[John_Davis]

@Andrew Demaree

Does anyone know if they allow corkage at Zin in Healdsburg?

Yes. We were just there but don’t remember what we paid. It was reasonable.

JD

[C_G_Nieto]

What a great thread. My wife and I are in Sonoma August 8-10 and using the information in here to plan our trip. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

[Taylor_Senatore]

Holy great info Batman!

[Marc_di_Maria]

Thanks Brian & Larry. I do love Sonoma! & I will certainly consider your advice to prepare my next trip to the area.

As you know, i do like lace wig

[Chris_Johnson]

Any recommendations for younger kid friendly places, our kids are 2 and 4? We are going to stop on our way to Oregon in Healdsburg for a couple of nights. Before the kids we used to go pretty often.

First day we were thinking the Peanuts museum and maybe a stop by Siduri on the way into town. Second day, make an appt for Copain (our 4 year old loves cheeses, so the pairing tasting would go over well), stop by Arista for the Japanese garden, and maybe Preston for the bocce ball courts and all the cats. Any other ideas?

[Dan_Hammer]

I just took at look at the first post in this thread. It had all the information, in this case, restaurant information that I needed for our trip.

Thanks Brian.

[Larry_P]

@Chris Johnson

Any recommendations for younger kid friendly places, our kids are 2 and 4? We are going to stop on our way to Oregon in Healdsburg for a couple of nights. Before the kids we used to go pretty often.

First day we were thinking the Peanuts museum and maybe a stop by Siduri on the way into town. Second day, make an appt for Copain (our 4 year old loves cheeses, so the pairing tasting would go over well), stop by Arista for the Japanese garden, and maybe Preston for the bocce ball courts and all the cats. Any other ideas?

Maybe visit a creamery, see cheese being made:
http://cheesetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cheese_map_2page_2014.pdf

[Chris_Johnson]

@Larry P

@Chris Johnson

Any recommendations for younger kid friendly places, our kids are 2 and 4? We are going to stop on our way to Oregon in Healdsburg for a couple of nights. Before the kids we used to go pretty often.

First day we were thinking the Peanuts museum and maybe a stop by Siduri on the way into town. Second day, make an appt for Copain (our 4 year old loves cheeses, so the pairing tasting would go over well), stop by Arista for the Japanese garden, and maybe Preston for the bocce ball courts and all the cats. Any other ideas?

Maybe visit a creamery, see cheese being made:
http://cheesetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cheese_map_2page_2014.pdf

That’s a fantastic idea! Many thanks!

[Larry_P]

@Chris Johnson

@Larry P

@Chris Johnson

Any recommendations for younger kid friendly places, our kids are 2 and 4? We are going to stop on our way to Oregon in Healdsburg for a couple of nights. Before the kids we used to go pretty often.

First day we were thinking the Peanuts museum and maybe a stop by Siduri on the way into town. Second day, make an appt for Copain (our 4 year old loves cheeses, so the pairing tasting would go over well), stop by Arista for the Japanese garden, and maybe Preston for the bocce ball courts and all the cats. Any other ideas?

Maybe visit a creamery, see cheese being made:
http://cheesetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cheese_map_2page_2014.pdf

That’s a fantastic idea! Many thanks!

Sure thing Chris. Of course make sure the place you’re going is open. Some just have tasting, some offer tours by appointment, and some are closed to the public.

[Mike_Walsh]

Brian, this is an incredible resource thank you so much for putting it together. I’m planning my first ever trip to Sonoma in a few months and this list is even better than most of the books out there. Thank you for taking the time and effort to assemble this and to keep updating.

[Brian_Tuite]

@Mike Walsh

Brian, this is an incredible resource thank you so much for putting it together. I’m planning my first ever trip to Sonoma in a few months and this list is even better than most of the books out there. Thank you for taking the time and effort to assemble this and to keep updating.

Thanks Mike, I did get help. Glad it’s being utilized. It’s about time I followed up on some needed additions and updates too.

Where are the poor souls who are going to take on this task for Napa? Paso? Mendocino? Etc…?

[Leonard_Maran]

Great resource! As for http://www.wineroad.com/ mentioned early in this thread I wonder how up to date they are as they do not list Dehlinger Winery which will be offering tastings again after harvest and such, in April, as they now do by appointment. I’ve no affiliation.

[Mel_Hill]

We will be in the area on the 30th of December and plan on using this guide

[Sean_Devaney]

@Leonard Maran

Great resource! As for http://www.wineroad.com/ mentioned early in this thread I wonder how up to date they are as they do not list Dehlinger Winery which will be offering tastings again after harvest and such, in April, as they now do by appointment. I’ve no affiliation.

Leonard, the Wine Road is an association of wineries, not a definitive listing of the all the wineries in the area they cover. I believe Dehlinger was once a member in the 80’s but dropped out. Rochiolli also was once a member but dropped out and offers tastings.

[Xavier_Lavoipierre]

Brian, you might want to add the newly-opened Oso Sonoma restaurant, on the square in Sonoma. Small plates to share, creative and delicious food, very nicely designed with a good vibe.
http://ososonoma.com