Sonoma County is an hour and a half north of San Francisco, and to the west of Napa Valley.  Sonoma County is really big and it would take at least two hours to drive from one end to the other.  This section of wineries refers to those in the southern part of the county near the town of Somona.

Sonoma has an adorable town square flanked by restaurants, shops and tasting rooms.  Any visit to the town of Sonoma must include a visit to the square.  It is one of the few public parks where you can consume wine legally (I think the man who donated the land made that a stipulation).

Sonoma town square

Near the square on the various side streets are more wineries and tasting rooms as well.  The vibe is quite different on this side of the mountains than in Napa.  Things are more laid back, less polished and more bohemian.  The wine is great but different than Napa.  Both regions have their place in the world of wine in my opinion.

North of the town of Sonoma are the small towns of Glen Ellen and Kenwood which will be included in this section.  I am lucky to have two aunts living in this area so I have had the opportunity to visit many of the wineries around Sonoma.