Napa Valley tends to dominate the Northern California wine scene, but Sonoma’s world-class wineries, hotels, and restaurants are just as incredible. Plus, Sonoma is usually less crowded and expensive than Napa. So here’s the ultimate Sonoma trip planner!

Sonoma is one of the Best Destinations To Visit In September.

Know Before You Go: Sonoma is much larger than most people think. Wine tourism is centered in Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Guerneville, Monte Rio, Bodega Bay, and Jenner. So you should choose a hotel or vacation home that’s close to the activities you want to do.

Here’s the ultimate Sonoma trip planner!

Top Wineries To Visit

There are more than 400 wineries in Sonoma, so deciding which ones to visit can be daunting. That’s why I’ve rounded up my favorite and most popular and Instagram-worthy wineries into categories to help you decide.

My Favorites: Blue Farm, LaRochelle Winery, Three Sticks Wines.

For Red Wines: Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Winery, Arrowood,  Dry Creek Vineyard.

For White Wines: Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards (known for its sparkling wine), Chateau St. Jean Winery, Benziger Family Winery.

For Rosé Wine: MacRostie Winery, Lynmar Estate, Martin Ray Winery.

Best Views: Hamel Family Wines, Coursey Graves, Ram’s Gate Winery.

Themed Wineries: Donum Estate (famous for its modern art and sculpture garden), Schug Carneros Estate Winery (designed to look like a traditional Germany cottage).

When To Go

Sonoma is a year-round destination because the region doesn’t experience seasonal closures. August-October is the peak season for Sonoma because of the grape harvest. These months have the perfect weather, and you can participate in harvest dinners, balls, and grape smashing. But crowds and prices are at their peak, so book as far in advance as possible.

November – February is Sonoma’s low season because the weather is in the high 50s to low 30s, and these are the rainiest months. But if you want to experience Sonoma on a budget, it’s worth packing your warm layers and rainjacket to come in the winter. Accommodation rates are at their lowest, there won’t be many other travelers, and wineries offer deals and discounts.

March-May is the region’s shoulder season. Crowds and prices won’t be at their highest yet, and the temperatures will be rising. The Spring wildflowers will be blooming, and the (still cool) temperatures are perfect for hiking and other outdoor activities.

June-July brings long, sunny days. Tourist numbers and prices will be on the rise during these months, so visit during the weekdays to avoid some of the crowds and rising costs.

Where To Stay

Sonoma has some incredible hotels for every budget and preference. From trendy boutique hotels to historic inns to old-world mansions, I’ve rounded up the best hotels in Sonoma.

If you want to glamp, check out AutoCamp Russian River. Sonoma also has some incredible vacation homes!

Where To Eat

French Food: La Gare French Restaurant, Les Pascals, Patisserie Angelica.

Italian Food: Mary’s Pizza Shack, Mamma Tanino’s Ristorante, The Depot Sonoma.

Brunch Places: Sunflower Caffé, Black Bear Diner Sonoma, Layla at MacArthur Place.

American Food: El Dorado Kitchen, Cafe La Haye, B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille.

My Favorites: The Girl & The Fig (French), LaSalette (Portuguese), The Matheson (American, Wine Bar).

Restaurants With A View: River’s End Restaurant, Cafe Aquatica, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.

I HIGHLY recommend making reservations for every meal!

What To Do

Sonoma offers far more than just wine tasting and vineyard tours. Other activities I recommend are biking the Sonoma City Trail, shopping in the towns, and taking a cooking class.

You can also ride the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, hike some of the fantastic trails in the region, paddle the Russian River, go horseback riding, go ATVing through vineyards, and drive the scenic Bohemian Highway.

One of the most iconic things to do in Sonoma is a hot air balloon ride! These start very early in the morning (usually, you meet your guides between 5 – 5:30 am), so if you take a ride, make sure to give yourself time for a nap later in the day.

Pro Tip For Hot Air Balloon Rides: bring a warm layer because it’ll be cold during the first part of the ride. But make sure it’s a layer you can easily take off and tie around your waist because the heat from the balloon will make it warmer and warmer as the ride progresses.

Getting Around

Unless you have a designated driver in your group, you will not want to drive to and from wine tastings. I recommend hiring a driver who can guide you around the region to some of the best wineries, sights, and viewpoints.

I recommend using Bin 415 – a fantastic private tour company – to plan your winery visits. Bin 415 will customize the perfect tour for you, and your guide will handle all the logistics. Plus, you’ll get the VIP treatment throughout the entire day!

You can also use UBER and Lyft. Many of the larger hotels and resorts in the region also provide shuttle services around the area.

I highly recommend spending at least a few days in Sonoma, but the region can also be explored as a day trip from San Francisco, so here’s my Ultimate Guide To San Francisco.

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This Sonoma trip planner is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Sonoma trip planner are entirely my own. Some of these links are affiliate links, and at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this Sonoma trip planner.