Some of the most eye-catching wineries in the county are listed below. I don't make any claim to these being the most beautiful as beauty is in the eye of the beholder / beer holder / Chardonnay holder.
Some are more for the architecture, some for the surrounding landscape, some have artwork.
Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon. There are folks out there who believe Napa is the only place for Cab. There's another valley, and it's not too far from Napa.
The big happenings from March through May in Sonoma County, some are wine-related, some aren't.
American wine wasn't always named for its varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, etc.).
What determines the price of a bottle of wine? There's definitely supply and demand, for certain wines and for certain grapes from certain places. What we'll cover here are the basics or labor, material, and overhead.
In case it's dreary at home, and you want a break, here's what you might find in Sonoma County in the winter months. All are my photos from past years.
The Silicon Valley Bank's Wine Division puts out an annual report on the financial state of the American wine industry. The data comes from wineries returning a survey of their past year's performance. Their State of the US Wine Industry report is required reading for many in the wine business. Below are a few key points. Go here and click on Download Now to see the full report.
Something ain't quite right with your wine, but you aren't sure what it might be or if it's just you. Following are the most common problems you can find with wine. Some of them happened at the winery, the others in storage, in transit, or in your hands.
If you are wondering where to stay when visiting Sonoma County, rather than asking people on Reddit or looking at a map, use this handy description guide to pick what fits your personality.
Towns listed from large to small.
Is an off-season visit right for you? Here are pros and cons of a winter visit. The same applies for Napa, our next door neighbor.
Lots of people know about the wine towns of Napa Valley (Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga), and next door in Sonoma County (Sonoma, and Healdsburg). These burgs tend to be cutesy and pricey. California has other wine towns that aren't so well known, maybe not so cute, and probably not so expensive.
Napa Valley and its small towns sometimes have issues with people overdoing it. Luckily, it seems most folks are aware of the potential to overindulge and hire a driver, have a designated-driver, or keep their winery stops to two per day.
Welcome to 2026. We made it! Following are some of last year's big stories relating to the U.S. alcohol industry.
