Southern Sonoma County Tour Itinerary

In southern Sonoma County, California, visitors are enchanted by the lush, rolling hills and acres of vineyards. This area often benefits from cool breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean and from San Pablo Bay. Located about 45 minutes north of San Francisco, southern Sonoma County is an ideal base for exploring everything Sonoma Wine Country has to offer. 

Sonoma Valley Airport, Sonoma

Also known as the Schellville Airport (0Q3), this property is a gathering place for locals and tourists who enjoy viewing antique aircraft.  The classic and vintage planes kept here are often open for inspection, and the Vintage Aircraft Co. offers the chance to actually soar in a biplane.

Shellville

Visit the tiny outpost of Shellville, near the larger towns of Sonoma and Petaluma, to explore this unincorporated town that began in 1887 as a South Pacific Railroad station. Today, it’s home to Hanson of Sonoma, a distillery that offers tasting flights of vodkas made from grapes, and Lou’s Luncheonette, which uses locally sourced seasonal ingredients for items like buttermilk biscuits and gravy for breakfast and tasty chicken platters and sandwiches for lunch.

Wine in Carneros 

Shellville is also a gateway to Carneros, the only American Viticultural Area (AVA, or wine region) shared by both Sonoma and Napa counties. The vineyards here are influenced by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay, summer fog, warm days, and a long growing season.

Carneros AVA has long been known for its unassailable Chardonnays, elegant Pinot Noirs, Syrah, cool-climate Merlots, sparkling wines, and new varieties emerging. Carneros wineries with tasting rooms (all of which require advance reservations) include Roche Winery & Vineyards, Schug Winery, Anaba Wines, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Ram’s Gate Winery, and Viansa Sonoma. 

Cornerstone Sonoma, Sonoma

Taste wine, explore unique shops and galleries, and visit Sunset Magazine’s Test Gardens and Outdoor Kitchen. At Cornerstone Sonoma, you can stroll through gallery-style gardens from the world’s finest landscape architects and designers. Each garden is unique with innovative architectural designs and plantings, yet all encourage interaction and contemplation. Cornerstone hosts festivals and other events on weekends.

Petaluma

In the town of Petaluma, experience the charm of one of California’s oldest cities, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Home to one of the best-preserved historic downtown areas in America, Victorian homes and Iron Front buildings surround this picturesque Riverfront town. You’ll find numerous shops, galleries, restaurants, and markets that are worth exploring, including: 

Della Fattoria 

Della Fattoria means “of the farm,” a fitting name since all of the prepared foods, breads, and pastries made in this side-by-side café and bakery have roots in the soil of a Petaluma farm. The bakers and chefs here pride themselves on good, slow food that honors the surrounding culinary bounty. The café has been featured on the Zagat Guide‘s “Essential Sonoma County Restaurants” list for several years.

Petaluma Village Premium Outlets

Find impressive savings at 60 outlet stores, like Ann Taylor, BCBG Max Azria, Banana Republic, Bose, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Jones New York, Levi’s, Nike, Puma, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and more.

Farm Tours at Achadinha Cheese Company

Reserve an approximately two-hour tour of the pastures, milking parlor, loafing barns, and cheesemaking plant at Achadinha (Osh-a-deen-a), which includes tastings of their delicious cow- and goat-milk Farmstead cheeses. This 230-acre, family-operated ranch also has cows, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and ducks. Be sure not to wear your nicest shoes, as this is definitely a working farm. 

Valley Ford

Head to the quaint town of Valley Ford, a small, unincorporated community just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean coast, and full of historical buildings and charm. In the mid-19th century, the town had a grain mill and was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad, which connected the town of Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry. Today, it is home to antique stores, art galleries, curio shops, and restaurants.

Valley Ford Hotel

The historic Valley Ford Hotel, built in 1864, has been reopened by new co-owners Shona Campbell and Brandon Guenther. The inn offers six charming guest rooms, each with a queen bed and private bath. The rooms feature comfortable high-thread-count triple sheets and quilted beds, oversized bath towels, and local handmade soaps. Guests can relax in the natural beauty and peaceful setting, sipping small-production Sonoma County wines in teak rockers on the front porch, or savoring local coffee and teas on the garden patio surrounded by old-growth Cypress trees.

Rocker’s Roadhouse

The same couple who owns the Valley Ford Hotel also owns this restaurant. Rocker’s Roadhouse is a hip, cool spot with great Southern-inspired food, made with fresh Sonoma County ingredients. There’s a saloon where locals and tourists hang out and listen to good music.

For more on southern Sonoma County, see Petaluma Hotels and Lodging, Guide to Cornerstone Sonoma and Carneros Wineries, and Valley Ford Trip Ideas.