Attractions

Touring the Valley & Wineries

Sonoma Valley is currently home to about 40 wineries (including California's first, Buena Vista, founded in 1857) and 13,000 acres of vineyards, which produce more than five million cases a year of 25 types of wine.

The wineries here are a little more spread out than they are in Napa, but they're easy to find. Still, it's best to decide which wineries interest you most, and devise a touring strategy before you set out, to avoid backtracking a lot.

I've reviewed some my favorite Sonoma Valley wineries here -- more than enough to keep you busy tasting wine for a long weekend. For a complete list, pick up one of the free guides to the valley available at the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.