Guide to Windsor

Sonoma Wine Country may be famous for wine tasting and spas, but there is more to Wine Country than that. And Windsor (pop. 27,849), in northern Sonoma County, shows that the small towns of this region hold surprises for visitors.

Sooner or later, visitors to Windsor will end up at Café Noto. Located at the eastern end of the Town Green, this locally-owned coffee shop is where visitors stand in line with locals, artists meet customers, high-school kids do their homework, young moms convene with their babies, and a conversation about farming spreads from one table to the next.

The coffee shop represents what Windsor is about. The town — and it is officially always going to be a “town” because of a decree from the Town Council — sits between better-known Healdsburg (pop. 11,541) and larger Santa Rosa (pop. 170,685). The former has the glitz and the fancy shopping; the latter has the airport and the major industry in Sonoma County.

In between, in Windsor, are families and farmers. The majority of the visitor attractions in Windsor are situated on the Town Green, a new-Urbanist experiment to create in-fill development that is pedestrian friendly. In the summer, the Town Green hosts concerts, movies, and a farmers market. On non-activity days the large expanse of lawn sees kids playing beside the fountain or in the playground.

The Town Green is home to some of the most diverse dining options in Sonoma County, with many great Asian restaurants (Thai, Himalayan, and Chinese) next to Mexican, Wine Country with European flair, tasty pub grub, classic American, diner delights, Grata, and even a deli inside a corner store.

And that’s just the dining options-when you’re ready for dessert, consider the sweet treats at Fruity Moto, the gelateria inside Cravin’s Candy Emporium, or the delicious baked goods at Burtonz Bakery.

The shopping options are eclectic, from Roost General Store to the custom jewelry at Mark Shimizu Design and the bicycles at Windsor Bike and Sport. And everyone seems to convene at Atrellis Flower and Gift Shop for its unique gifts and one-of-a-kind floral design.

Within walking distance of the Town Green are three hotels — Hampton Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and the full service Holiday Inn Windsor Wine Country.

And within a short bicycle ride you’ll find the vacation rentals Villa Terra Bella and Vintage Suites. There’s also a time share resort, Worldmark by Wyndham.

Speaking of bikes, take an amazing bike tour with Ace It Bike Tours Sonoma Bike Rental & Wine Tours through Windsor.

There are five great tasting rooms on the Town Green: Baldassari Wines, Bellacana Vineyards, Mutt Lynch Winery, J. Cage Cellars and Mengler Family Wines. And if you’re looking to head to a beer garden or taproom, we recommend checking out Barley & Bine Beer Cafe and Flagship Taproom Windsor – Flagship Taproom.

There are many wineries to visit in the area around Windsor, such as Bricoleur Vineyards, Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards, La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard, Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, and Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.

Ready for a visit? Check out more things to do in Windsor here. 

Looking for more fun things to do during your trip to Sonoma County? Take a look at the many outdoor activities to enjoy in the valleys, vineyards, coastline and Russian River areas of Sonoma County.