4 Seasons in Sonoma

Can every season be your favorite season? Sonoma County makes it tough to choose. Each season in Sonoma County brings with it a special overlay of flavor and charm to the northern wine country. An attractive event destination no matter the season—with each opening up a different range (and clothing choices) for groups to engage in—you can’t go wrong picking Sonoma County.

Take a look below at the seasonal offerings Sonoma County offers!

Winter

Although Sonoma County’s winters aren’t incredibly biting (outside treks aren’t completely counted out), they still serve as great opportunities to head indoors and explore the city’s shops, cafes, bakeries and more.

Sonoma County’s coast is full of bakeries and restaurants that deserve a visit. Wild Flour Bread in Freestone serves coffee, scones and various kinds of sourdough breads. While Wild Flour does not have an indoor space, it does have a wildflower garden visitors can check out. Downtown Bakery & Creamery is a from-scratch bakery in Healdsburg, is also a go-to location for fresh pastries, bread, desserts, cakes and more. They also sell pre-made doughs for pies, tarts and galettes for you to take home and try your hand at.

Spring

Spring in Sonoma County brings with it a vibrancy that can’t be beat. As things begin to heat up, the season, associated with new beginnings, also makes for an opportunity to get a sampling of the its farmers markets and outdoor events.

If the group has the desire to get a feel of Sonoma County’s local community, there are several places they can stop. The 550-acre McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma is the producer of award-winning extra virgin olive oil, small-batch wines, culinary treats and olive oil-based skincare. The family-owned business has been in operation for more than 30 years, and in addition to seeing what the ranch produces, private events can also be hosted here in one of its six venues.

Along with McEvoy Ranch, there are several other locations group members can visit if they want to get a feel for the local community, like Andy’s Produce Market, Oak Hill Farm (open April-December) and Tara Firma Farms.

Summer

While every season has something special about it, summertime in Sonoma County is where the sun (and the county’s outdoor activities) really shines.

These are prime days for thrilling outdoor adventures, like hiking and biking around Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and more toned down outdoor adventures, like visiting “the Springs,” a collection of lively neighborhoods—Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, Fetters Hot Springs and Agua Caliente—in and around Sonoma County, replete with plenty of Latino-inspired F&B selections.

Fall

The end of summer is when wineries begin to harvest, so fall is a great time to taste (and maybe even take home) fresh flavors Sonoma County wine makers having been working on. Add to this small plates for wine pairings and you can consider that an evening well spent.

Locations like the French-influenced Jordan Vineyard & Winery features its Cabernet Sauvignon- and Chardonnay-paired menus that showcase foods grown on property. Jordan Winery can also takes guests on a several tours, including a 45-minute culinary exploration Jordan wines and olive oil paired with seasonal bites to a more than three-hour tour of the Jordan Estate, paired with Jordan wines, olive oil and cuisine.

Hamel Family Wines is a collection of three vineyards and offers four different ways to experience the winery. On of which is Hamel’s Reserve Experience, which takes six visitors on a tour of the vineyards, its 12,000 sq. ft. of caves, and lets visitors get a taste of several wines, followed by a four-course menu paired with its Cabernet Sauvignons.