5 Places to Visit in the Sonoma Valley
This valley’s nickname comes from Native American legend. Beneath the Mayacamas Mountains, with the sweet town of Glen Ellen at its heart, the valley’s vineyards favor hearty red varieties like Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. A well-loved hiking and biking destination, Sonoma Valley offers several state and county parks.
1.
Jack London State Historic Park
The adventurous author’s home and other historic buildings are open for visits. In addition, this park is spectacular for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In summer, come for the Broadway Under the Stars performances in the ruins.
2.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Family owned for six generations, this historic property is making some of its best estate wines ever, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Gewürztraminer. It often hosts live music events.
3.
Fremont Diner
Gourmet and greasy-spoon don’t often run in the same circles, but at this oft-crowded roadside eatery, Southern-inspired, Sonoma-style fare (including biscuits, pie and small-batch brews) never tasted so good.
4.
Carneros Brewing Company/ Ceja Vineyards
Longtime grape growers and vintners, the Ceja family have a wine-tasting room as well as a taproom and beer garden trellised in hops, where they share their lineup of microbrews.
5.
Donum Estate
Offering some of the finest estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the appellation, Donum also features astounding outdoor sculptures created by artists like Keith Haring and Ai Weiwei.
*Photos by Meg Baggott
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