I decided to write “perfect” instead of “best” because I mean seriously how could you write a post about Sonoma and say it is the best when there are so many options to choose from! But, when we came here for our mini-moon we felt this day was perfect and I wanted to share our itinerary for anyone looking to visit the area. We decided to keep it at four wineries so we could spend more time at each, instead of rushing from place to place and we thought it was the perfect amount. I recommend making reservations for everywhere you go in Sonoma. We saw so many people upset when they came in for walk-ins and many wineries weren’t able to accommodate due to being full. It just makes things go so much smoother and you don’t have to worry if you can get in or not!
A DAY IN SONOMA
We stayed in downtown Napa and it took us 30 minutes to get to our breakfast spot. Our day started at 8:30 and we were back in our hotel room at 8:30 so plan for a full 12 hour day!
Breakfast at El Molino Central
We spoke with a few locals prior to visiting Sonoma and everyone said we had to go to El Molino Central to try their famous chilaquiles. When we were there they opened at 9 am so it worked perfectly with our schedule. Make sure you check their website for opening hours because it changes with the seasons and so does their food menu.
We had the best customer service and food here! They told us the best sauces and things to order and then walked us to the back patio.
We were the first people here but heard it gets busy every day. Chilaquiles sell out quickly so get here as early as you can! So fresh and so yum!
Walk around downtown Sonoma
We had about 20 minutes before our first tasting at 10 am so we walked around downtown Sonoma. It’s the cutest little town and has a beautiful park right in the middle of all the restaurants and shops.
Tasting at Bedrock Wine Co.
Bedrock Wine Co. completely blew us away. When we first walked up we were greeted by the sweetest woman, Jackie, and she was so welcoming. She shared the history of the building which is called The Joseph Hooker House. Apparently, there was never a plan to have a tasting room but when they heard the 1852 home of General Joseph Hooker on the Sonoma Plaza was up for rent for the first time in its history, they knew they had to have it!
Jackie did an incredible job explaining the wines to us and we loved how quaint and historical this tasting room was. Our favorite wine was their 2019 California Syrah but they were all super good. We also had the chance to sit down with one of the owners, Chris and he was so kind and informative!
During the warm months you can even enjoy your tasting out on the patio!
I couldn’t recommend doing a tasting at Bedrock Wine Co. more. If you are interested make sure you give them a call to set up a reservation as they are by appointment only.
Tasting at Benziger Family Winery
Our next stop was 20 minutes away at Benziger Family Winery. The property here was absolutely gorgeous and we had a great time talking about the history of Benziger with a volunteer that was hanging out outside the tasting room.
Unfortunately, when we got into the tasting room our experience shifted. The main thing we didn’t love about Benziger was how rushed we felt. Our server was quite rude and seemed to care less that we were there. It was hard to adjust to after the incredible service we had at Bedrock. I would still recommend visiting this winery because we loved a lot of their wine. Their Sauvignon Blanc and 2014 Tribute wine were incredible and we went home with a bottle of each. I would totally come back here and do a tour or have lunch and a tasting on the patio. I’m sure we just caught our server on a bad day!
Tasting and Tour at Hamel Family Wines
We left and drove just 10 minutes to our next winery. We chose Hamel Family Wines because not only did we hear their wine was incredible we also heard that the architecture and property views alone were worth a visit! Well, we quickly learned that everyone was right!
They have three options for tours and we personally chose The Estate Experience due to time. If you have the time I recommend spending the extra money for their Reserve Experience. The four-course dinner sounds incredible. If you only have an hour or two though I couldn’t recommend the estate experience more! Click the link to learn more about tour options and visiting Hamel Family Wines.
After about 45 minutes of walking through production and the caves, our tour guide brought us out to a private tasting that was set up looking over the vineyards and the Sonoma mountains. We personally loved all the wines but the Rosé and Isthmus really stuck out to us. Before taking a couple of bottles home we sat out on the deck and enjoyed the views. Overall the Estate Experience at Hamel Family Wines was an incredible experience. The service, wine, and ambiance were all superb.
If you’re interested in visiting Hamel Family Wines I recommend reading my blog post all about it! It was so fun it deserved its own post.
Lunch in Sonoma
Lunch and Tasting at Scribe Winery
Our entire experience at Scribe Winery was such a dream. You’ll pull in and see the perfectly manicured landscaping, the gorgeous exterior, and even the driveway is lined with palm trees.
Before you start your tasting I recommend using the bathroom and walking around the beautiful building. There are so many pretty rooms and the design is incredible.
We were so grateful for the most beautiful sunny day when visiting Scribe. With the weather cooperating we had a private outdoor table that was so comfy and cute. They bring you their current tasting menu and do such a great job answering questions and describing the tasting notes of each wine. The service, wine and food were incredible.
Scribe was another winery I was so obsessed with I wrote a whole blog post about. If you’re in Sonoma this is an absolute must for visiting! They have brunch and dinner pairings and many different tasting options. Check out their website and make a reservation to visit this magical place yourself.
Dinner in Sonoma
Dinner at LaSalette Restaurant
We personally made our way back to Napa for dinner since we were staying there but I asked around and heard that the best sit dinner restaurant in Sonoma is La Salette Restaurant. It offers a “New Portuguese” cuisine in a white tablecloth setting focusing on seafood and fresh produce. We also learned that you can get takeout if you aren’t wanting to sit down. LaSalette makes its own cheese, bread, and sausage.
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Dinner at Tasca Tasca
If you’re looking for a more casual place for dinner then Tasca Tasca is your spot! They’re known for their tapas, wine bar, and cocktails. The cool part is it has the same owner as La Salette. I asked five locals what their favorite restaurants were and three said Tasca Tasca and two said LaSalette. I’d say the owner, Chef Manuel Azevedo knows what he’s doing! Out of the three that said Tasca Tasca two of them said, “But if you’re only in Sonoma for one night you have to get the wine and dine experience at La Salette! Come back someday for Tasca Tasca.”
Oh Sonoma, how I miss you so. So many people ask if Sonoma or Napa is better and seriously I have no idea how someone answers that question! They are just so different. Either way, if you’re visiting I absolutely recommend visiting Sonoma, even if it’s just for a day. If you’re interested in visiting wine country and want to learn more click the link to read my other California blog posts. Thank you so much for reading along!
