The Coming of Enhanced Wine Tourism

Wine tourism has always meant visiting wineries, tasting wines, maybe buying, and moving on. Sometimes there might be a look at the wine production facility. This is changing.

Sonoma Mountain Appellation

The Sonoma Mountain range that sits to the west of Sonoma Valley separating it from the Santa Rosa and Petaluma plains. The highest point in the range is Sonoma Mountain at about 2,500 ft. 

Within the Sonoma Mountain range is the Sonoma Mountain appellation or AVA. 

Not All Wine is in the Doldrums

The common opinion is that wine sales are in trouble. While overall sales are definitely down, not all market segments are the same. Here's where you'll find growth.

Visiting Sonoma County, Part 2

The previous post was title Visiting Sonoma County -- Basic Info. This one is the intermediate course.  🍷

Visiting Sonoma County -- Basic Info

If you're planning a visit here are some things to consider. 

Alternates to Your Favorite Wine Varietal

Why try something besides your favorite kind of wine? One reason is that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon are often on the expensive side due to their popularity. Another, you might just want to change it up.

This is focused on alternatives made in California. 

Free Stuff in Sonoma County This Summer

There are numerous free events and other ideas for the warm months of 2026.

Where To Go In California, By Wine Varietal & Style

The idea for this post came about after reading for the hundredth time in a Napa social media group, "We're going to Napa for our first time! I love Riesling, where do we go?" I didn't reply, but I'm thinking, you go to New York or Washington State. You don't go to Napa.

Following along with that idea is this, "I like ____. Where can I find it?" Not all-inclusive, but I hit some of the major ones.

Napa Being All Friendly

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I say this halfway joking.

The Growth of White Wine

White wines are in the midst of a boom cycle as U.S.sales surpassed red wines in 2024. That same year global white wine sales were up 3% while red wines were down 3%. Why is this and what might red wine producers learn?

The Emergence of Pinot Noir in Sonoma County

Sonoma County growing areas such as Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Petaluma Gap are known for Pinot Noir. Following is a timeline for the growth of Pinot in the county.

The Rise and Fall of Kenwood Vineyards

Kenwood Vineyards, located in the village of Kenwood in Sonoma Valley, has been a fixture of Sonoma County winemaking for over 50 years. The site has been home to winemaking for 120 years.