Sonoma. My favorite wine region in the US

With over 400 wineries, Sonoma can keep you busy for a long time, trying to discover all of them. Don't think I haven't tried. Many people ask me why Sonoma is my favorite, and it's not just one thing. The wineries in the fall look like they are on fire, with colors of yellow, red, and orange. The people are among the most down to earth and its not uncommon actually to meet and talk with the winemakers. Let's not forget the most essential part; the wine is sublime and is fast approaching Napa status. 

I have divided Sonoma into five sections for various ways of enjoying your visit to this wine region. 

-1. The Wine Road; Wine and Food Affair: An annual event in the fall (due to the pandemic it's canceled for 2020), There are over 80 venues to visit to sample delicious wine and food pairings. One year with my wife driving, we managed to visit 40 wineries for the weekend. Did I recall any of the visits? Not really, so when it returns, this is a must-visit event.

-2. Big Estates: Kendall Jackson and its billion-dollar chardonnay might not convince you to visit this estate, but they produce other wines that are of the best quality and only available for sale at the estate. Another biggie is Francis Ford Coppola Vineyard, where you can sample his collection of value wines. The tasting room is cavernous with a display of many of the props from the films he directed. 

-3. Healdsburg Town Square: with an array of tasting rooms, shops, and places to eat, this is a great place to stop. I like staying at the Healdsburg Inn, which puts you right in the middle of the square. Some tasting rooms in or around the square; Rockpile, Stone Street, Hartford, Banshee, Portalupi, Longboard, Stephen and Walker, La Crema, and Thumbprint Cellars to name but a few.

-4. Family Wineries Tasting Rooms: A collective of several wineries, this is a great place to stop and sample some of Sonoma's finest wines. The separate wineries all have private rooms for your convenience except one which houses 6 different Sonoma labels. Papapietro Perry (the Pinots are excellent, but Ben's Zin is killer), Kokomo, Lago di Merlo, Optima, and Goldschmidt vineyards. Ask for Sean, the smiling guy in the photo, and tell him I sent you. You may get some select pours on the house. 

-5. William Seylem: Hidden behind a rusty solid metal fence with no indication you have arrived is one of the finest No Fee tastings you'll find anywhere in the world. You must email them for an appointment, but upon getting one you will be treated like royalty, I'm not kidding it’s that good. A plaque with your name attached to your party is on a table preset with all you need for a fantastic tasting experience. A personal guide will pour a collection of their fabulous wines and follow up with a tour of the grounds if you don't give a gratuity, think again because you should. 

-6. Driving around with no particular place to go: A favorite way to travel through any wine region here, you will find wineries you never heard of and probably won't be able to buy elsewhere. Some of the gems I found this way are Martinelli (their  Jackass Hill Zin is of cult status), Bella (the cave is cool, literally), Hop Kiln, Soda Rock, Medlock Ames, Dashe, Dry Creek Vineyards, Merry Edwards, Hook and Ladder, Hanna, Carol Shelby, Sebastiani, Jacuzzi, Gundlach Bundschu, Twomey, and many more. Many offer walk-in's but some ask for a reservation. I find prices for tasting in Sonoma to be much more reasonable and the general vibe much more chill than neighboring Napa Valley. 

***If you want to buy a case of different wines, you must put this shop on your GPS. Bottle Barn is a massive shop with great prices and the most significant selection you'll find. This is where the local's shop and you should too. They provide shipping with all the proper packaging.