Trip Itineraries

A Fabulous Fall Weekend in Sonoma County Wine Country

Carneros AVA

For a true fall getaway, follow scenic two-lane highways to the incomparable Sonoma Valley, nestled in Northern California’s Sonoma County Wine Country. With fewer visitors on the roads and the gentle perfume of grapes in the air, autumn is an ideal time to sample Sonoma County’s beauty and abundance.

In October and November, the valley’s grapevines slowly change from green to bright yellow, dusty gold, rusty red, and burgundy. Soft daylight often bathes the rolling hills and fields with a golden glow. Daytime temperatures are typically mild to warm, occasionally even a bit hot, while cool nights prevail.

Restaurant menus reflect the seasons, highlighting the delights of autumn. In the wineries, the frantic pace of harvest gives way to slightly less harried cellar work. The last grapes are crushed and processed while older vintages are taken out of barrels and put onto the bottling line.

This two-day itinerary lets you explore Sonoma Valley from south to north, or feel free to reverse the direction and pick and choose from these activities for your perfect adventure.

Day One

Start in the charming town of Sonoma with a morning nosh. Pick up coffee and a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito at the Carneros Deli.

the valley of fertile vines is surrounded by mountains in Sonoma County — Vineyards in the famous growing region of Carneros in Sonoma County Wine Country, California

You’re in the Carneros Wine region, at the southern end of the Sonoma Valley. Here, sparsely wooded, windswept hills rise above a wide, flat plain, creating broad vistas and a fertile home for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay winegrapes, often used to make elegant sparkling wines.

For a bird’s-eye view, go aloft in a vintage biplane at the Sonoma Valley Airport (also known as the Schellville Airport), where the Vintage Aircraft Company offers air tours.

Tables with red umbrellas sit outside of the ivy-covered cellar door in Sonoma County — Schug Carneros Estate Winery in the town of Sonoma, California

To get an up-close look at grapevines in autumn, take the free self-guided vineyard tour at Schug Carneros Estate Winery. Check in at the tasting room for a map of this half-mile trail through vineyard rows of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Next, park your car in the town of Sonoma (pop. 10,648) and stretch your legs in the eight-acre Sonoma Plaza, the largest town square in California.

Do you enjoy history? Sonoma State Historic Park offers several sites around and near the plaza, including Mission San Francisco Solano, the 21st and northernmost of the California missions.

Are shopping, nibbling, and sipping more your style? You’ll find an intriguing variety of stores, galleries, tasting rooms, and restaurants ringing the plaza.

Chairs sit outside of the French cafe in Sonoma County — Basque Boulangerie Cafe in the town of Sonoma, California

For a bite to eat on the Plaza, the Basque Boulangerie Caféoffers mouth watering sourdough and sweet French bread, pastries, baked goods, and a light breakfast and lunch menu.

If drinks and small plates are what you crave, drop in at Oso Sonoma, where fans rave about offerings like deviled eggs topped with fresh crab or braised short ribs with gouda polenta. For the ultimate Oso experience, enjoy the five-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings.

You can explore downtown Sonoma on your own, but if you’d like a more focused approach, both Sonoma Food Tour and Gourmet Food and Wine Tours-Sonoma offer guided walking tours that give you insight into the town’s history and architecture while sampling delectable food and wine.

Red roses bloom outside in the courtyard in Sonoma County — Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, in the town of Sonoma, California

For more tasting opportunities, cruise to the area’s many wineries. Just a few blocks east of the Plaza, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery has been crafting wines for more than 100 years. About two miles farther, you’ll find Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857. This carefully restored historic winery includes a unique wine tool museum.

If you want someone to handle the driving and details, choose from a number of guided tours. Hop aboard the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley (a replica of a 1890s San Francisco cable car, with a top-notch sound system and on-board refreshments) for a six-hour field trip to top wineries.

Roasted chicken on top pf a bed of green beans and tomatoes in Sonoma County — the girl & the fig in the town of Sonoma, California

Ready for dinner? On Sonoma Plaza, the girl and the fig presents innovative country food with a French passion. For fine dining, the Santé Restaurant at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn uses fresh local produce, meats, poultry, and seafood to create elegantly simple dishes that let the natural flavors shine.

For a bit of nightlife, Hopmonk Tavern, Murphy’s Irish Pub, and Olde Sonoma Public House all typically feature live acoustic music and brews in a relaxed, neighborhood-pub atmosphere. In an alley off the Plaza, you can catch blues, country, and Americana musicians performing in the cozy Sonoma Speakeasy.

Or enjoy a quiet nightcap in the sleek 38 Degrees North lounge at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn.

Day Two

Start the day at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, where the Santé restaurant is known for its breakfasts, such as lemon-and-cottage-cheese pancakes with crème fraîche. Or, at Les Pascals French pâtisserie in the folksy town of Glen Ellen (pop. 784), where chef Pascal Merle and his wife Pascale offer croissants, brioche, assorted quiches, breads, French cookies, and more.

The ruins of the park are surrounded by red and orange vineyards in Sonoma County — Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, California

To stretch your legs, head to Jack London State Historic Park, which combines 1,400 acres of trails and pristine vistas with historic buildings.

For more of a workout, hike beside a creek, across meadows, and through a gorge and canyon along some of the 25 miles’ worth of trails at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in the town of Kenwood.

For a luxurious lunch, consider the five-course Wine & Food Pairing at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Santa Rosa. Experience this multi-course fine-dining tasting with select wines in a relaxed, casual atmosphere with stunning vineyard views.

A statue of a woman in the garden is surrounded by plants and a fountain in Sonoma County — Chateau St. Jean in Kenwood, California

There are many other wineries to explore in the area around Kenwood. Both Ledson Winery & Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean are housed in what can only be described as castle-style architecture. In addition to wine, VJB Vineyards, Cellars & Marketplace produces estate-grown olive oil, sauces, pestos, and homemade pastas.

When it’s time for dinner, the Glen Ellen Star presents a seasonal menu of California-Mediterranean cuisine that celebrates a fire-fed wood oven.

This is just a sampling of the autumnal delights you can discover in the Sonoma Valley at this bountiful time of year!

Written by Sonoma Insider Patricia Lynn Henley