Sonoma: the next Napa

By Marie Belmont

For years, California wine was synonymous with Napa Valley. Those in the know are now heading to Sonoma, Napa's next-door neighbour to the west. Sonoma County’s valleys and mountain ranges offer diverse climates and soils, all kissed by that characteristic coastal fog. Sonoma is only two hours from Sacramento, but since multiple tasting rooms and driving don't mix, this gourmand-pleasing itinerary will keep you safe behind the wheel… unless you eat too much to squeeze in there.

Gallo Family Vineyards

First family

The Gallo clan, one of the founding families of California wine, is creating a third-generation legacy in Sonoma, where brother and sister team Matt and Gina Gallo experiment with artisanal winemaking techniques like whole-cluster pressing. The results are spectacular: Just sample the northern Sonoma Estate Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay (and other precious limited-production wines) at the Gallo tasting room.

Gallo Family Vineyards, 320 Center St., Healdsburg, Sonoma County, 707-433-2458

Della Fattoria

Cheese bored?

Sonoma is so green and pastoral, its rolling hills fairly beg for hungry sheep. Former lawyer Cindy Callahan raises them at Bellwether Farms with her son, Liam, producing some of the finest cheese in America (a favourite of everyone from the American Cheese Society to Martha Stewart). Sample the smooth San Andreas or creamy ricotta right at the dairy. You'll need bread with that, so stop by Della Fattoria for loaves created with the atmosphere (bakers slaving over wood-fired ovens at a family farm) and taste (rosemary and Meyer lemon bread) of Tuscany.

Bellwether Farms, 9999 Valley Ford Rd., Petaluma, Sonoma County, 707-763-0993

Della Fattoria Downtown, 141 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, Sonoma County, 707-763-0161

Hotel Healdsburg

Do not disturb

The flat-roofed, mocha-coloured Hotel Healdsburg is a contemporary beacon off the quaint, historic square of this postcard town. Take a running leap up onto your cushy featherbed and you might never leave… except to dip a toe in the perfect azure lap pool. The spa has a couple's treatment room, and the Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant (reserve seats on the breezy garden terrace for a weekend lunch) is run by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer.

Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg, Sonoma County, 707-431-2800

Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, Sonoma County, 707-431-0330

(Marie Belmont has accumulated over 1 million travel miles. She wrote about the Hawaiian cocktail renaissance in the December 2005 issue of onAir.)

Getting There

We offer the most non-stop service between Canada and California. Book now. And don't miss out on our great deals on car rentals and hotels (nightly rates starting as low as $52 CAD).

Back to top