Given Sonoma is 1,800 square miles with more than 425 wineries and vineyards within its county lines, tasting one’s way through the Northern California wine country can be a daunting task. As a result, smart oenophiles carve out time to explore the region in sections, often combining the northern Sonoma County American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, and Dry Creek Valley – often called The Wine Road – given their proximity and diversity of varietals and experiences.
Here are 13 of the most impressive tasting experiences in the region that should be on any wine lover’s bucket list.
Chef’s Tasting at Montage Healdsburg
When the resort in question is the Montage Healdsburg, the answer is a resounding yes. The tranquil jewel in Sonoma’s metaphorically large crown celebrates its natural surroundings with vineyard and forest views in every direction and is home to Hazel Hill. This terroir-to-table signature dining experience blends California’s fresh, seasonal approach to wine and food with globally inspired flavors. The best way to pair local wines with the menu is to leave it to the pros via the chef’s tasting menu. This five-course adventure is hand-selected by the culinary team based on what is in season, and – for an enhanced fee – each dish is paired with a generous pour of local wine to prove, once and for all, that what grows together goes together.
Baldassari Truffle & Wine Pairing
There are many amazing local wine tastings paired with savory bites. As such, Baldassari Family Wines is offering something sweet via its wine and chocolate pairing. But not just any chocolates. It partners with Chef Robert “Buttercup” Nieto – a Food Network Holiday Wars champion – and his Fleur Sauvage Chocolates located in nearby Windsor, Calif., on this truffle chocolate and wine pairing. Expect the unexpected when it comes to flavor profiles and combinations as the chocolates run the gamut from traditional to avant garde, each finding a yummy partner in the small-production winery’s best vintages.
Caviar Tasting at Trattore Farms
The salty smoothness of good caviar is hard to top, but Trattore Farms does just that with this luscious wine country experience for discerning palates. During this reservation, which is best enjoyed while enjoying the view from Trattore’s hilltop estate terrace, the Estate, Classic and Osetra caviars from Tsar Nicoulai Caviar are served with ample pours of select wines chosen specifically to shock and awe in the best way possible.
Oh, but there is more. Trattore complements the caviar and wine with smoked salmon, house-made egg mousse, crème fraîche, potato chips, and blinis to ensure every bite and sip knock it out of the park.
Dutton-Goldfield Sushi Experience
Talk about an outside-of-the-box experience. Dutton-Goldfield Winery – a leader in cool-climate varietals – has partnered with Hana Sushi, local tastemakers who share the vineyard’s commitment to quality, to pair four single-vineyard wines with four fresh pieces of sushi. Both the wines and sushi bites change seasonally but expect duos like buttery hamachi with Chardonnay and a salmon-infused roll with Pinot Noir.
La Crema Sparkling and Oyster Pairing
Looking for a little umami in the afternoon? Believe it or not, the magic in the pairing of sparkling wine and oysters to create true umami has been studied around the world, even by the likes of Nature Scientific Reports here. La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard is putting palates to the test in one of the most delicious experiments in wine country via its sparkling wine and oyster pairing.
During the experience, guests are treated to half a dozen locally sourced and freshly shucked oysters and La Crema’s estate Blanc de Blancs, which bursts with big baked apple, Meyer lemon, and bread on the nose and to the taste when enjoyed with the briny delights.
Dry Creek Bocce Experience
This private, family-owned winery is known for consistently producing 90-plus point wines and for being 100 percent certified sustainable. Oh, and for fun! There are several experiences on property from which to choose, but one of the best ways to sip away the day is by booking the bocce experience. The reservation includes a private bocce court and tables for up to 12 guests, with an array of wine and small bites from which to choose on a la carte menu.
Williamson Wines Helicopter Experience
One of the best ways to see the grandeur of Sonoma is from high above the vineyards, valleys, rivers, and lakes via helicopter tour. At Williamson Wines, guests may book a VIP tasting with a side of these views thanks to the deluxe helicopter experience. The tour departs from a private helicopter at the Santa Rosa Airport and soars across Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Lake Sonoma, Alexander Valley, and even Chalk Hill AVA before returning to the airport, where a guide is ready to whisk the group to the vineyard for a wine pairing lunch crafted by Williamson’s personal in-house chefs.
Jordan Winery Chateau Winery Tour and Tasting
Inspired by French wines and hospitality, the 58,000-sq.-ft. Jordan Estate looks like a chateau one might find in Europe. Inside, the famed winemaker built a space for all winemaking operations but also a grand commercial kitchen, lavish dining space, and epic cellar. Outside, the property is completely enveloped by towering trees, acres of vineyards, and what feels like miles of forest. During the Chateau tour and tasting, guests will experience the best of the indoors and out via a walking tour with bites and sips along the way, followed by a seated pairing of the brand’s award-winning Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignon with decadent hors d’oeuvres that rival full meals at the James Beard Award-winning eateries down the street.
Flowers Estate Vineyard Immersion
In 2019, Flowers wowed the entire region when it opened its 15.5-acre minimalist, modern House of Flowers Estate complete with a winemaking facility, full hospitality center, expansive kitchen, an outdoor wood-fired oven, and (of course) gardens. Grand in scale, the woody, two-story space feels but ultra lavish and homey at the same time, thanks to chic enclaves with plush furniture and accents throughout, not to mention the cozy fireplace. Every space offers a means to see or escape to the outside patio as well, which is a dizzyingly delightful combination of Redwoods, wild gardens, lounge-style seating, capped with a large swing that looks like a piece of immersive art. As the name suggests, the best way to immerse oneself in the full scope of the space while enjoying the iconic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays produced within is via the vineyard immersion experience. Guests may choose to dine inside or out, and once seated they will experience a focused tasting of varietals from the brand’s most lauded vineyards, Camp Meeting Ridge and Sea View Ridge, with small bites from the creative minds of the in-house culinary magicians.
The Bubble Room at J Vineyards
Love bubbles? What about epic red wines? J Vineyards is a world-wide leader in both, and its one-of-a-kind Bubble Room is the best way to experience it all. In the Bubble Room, the aim is to tell a story of the local terroir through wine and food in perfect harmony. The experience begins with a welcome splash of bubbly before guests are seated in a modern, sleek dining room with bubble-themed art installations overhead and floor-to-ceiling windows. A hospitality veteran then guides diners through a five-course meal meant to showcase the bounty of Sonoma County while elevating a series of sparkling wines and Pinot Noirs, delivering each course on a plate almost too pretty to eat. Think celery carpaccio with capers and mustard aioli paired with Late Disgorged Brut and mushroom risotto with sage and parmesan with Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Insider tip: save room for the post-dessert bonus treats.
Aesthete Winery & Farm Creekside Reservation
Though Aesthete only formally opened in Spring 2024, the brand is already making a name for itself both for its 100 percent estate-grown, premium wines and its unbelievable location – complete with a farm – near the creek. The Creekside lounge is something so very special as it boasts individual patios, with nine seating areas in total so even at full capacity it is still ultra private, with Adirondack chairs right off the water. The two-hour reservation may be paired with an exploratory tasting, picnic, or a selection of treats from the tasting room’s bar.
Kendall-Jackson Five-Course Menu Pairing
Before drinking in any of the wine estate’s varietals, it takes a few beats to drink in the view at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens. The property features seven distinct gardens/farms, all open to the public via a meandering rustic path. The extensive interconnected gardens are overseen by Kendall-Jackson master culinary gardener Tucker Taylor, whose work is that of legend, so much so, he has his own best-selling book about the property. Once guests have walked the garden and farms, they are invited to sit inside or out for a five-course pairing menu that showcases a selection of seasonal fruit, vegetables, and herbs harvested onsite alongside responsibly raised proteins and seafood. Each course is complemented with Kendall-Jackson wines not often available to the general public.
Bricoleur Vineyards Rooted Experience
Once a horse retirement sanctuary, today Bricoleur is a celebration of Sonoma, boasting farms, gardens, vineyards, and a sustainable approach to making wine that honors the surrounding area in every way. The centerpiece of the property is the former barn, which is now a chic, wooded epicenter of wine tasting, pairing lunches, and special events. The in-house culinary team worked with local legend and celebrity chef Charlie Palmer to tantalize any tastebud with the vineyard’s signature experience: Rooted. This six-course food and wine collaboration is an epicurean adventure through the fresh produce, edible flowers, and herbs from the winery’s culinary garden as well as other ingredients native to California.
Events are also a great way to enjoy unique experiences in the area. Some of the best are the Wine and Food Affair, Winter Wineland, Barrel Tasting, and the Harvest Wine Trail.
For more information, visit www.wineroad.com or download www.wineroadpodcast.com.