Sonoma
is Easy
That’s the Sonoma Valley I’m talking about. The first
wineries in the main valley are barely an hour from San Francisco, and 5 miles
north of the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Valley of the Moon, as its known, is 15
miles long and quite narrow, a mile to a mile and a half, tucked between the
Mayacamus Mountains to the east and a series of hills including Sonoma Mountain
to the west.
Unlike Napa where wineries in the main sections of Oakville
and Rutherford sit cheek to jowl, the wineries in the Valley of the Moon are
wonderfully spaced out (no pun intended) with rolling vineyards, forests and
pastures in between. It’s never a long ride between them, but it is beautiful.
I have an upcoming tour driving a group in a Limo bus for
Beau Wine Tours, and the best part of the trip is that it all takes place in
the Sonoma Valley, just minutes from our home. The first stop is the B.R. Cohn
Winery, five miles north of the Plaza, perched on a graceful hill surrounded by
vines and olive trees. It is hard to find a prettier spot.
That tasting room was once the stagecoach stop for the
Sonoma to Santa Rosa line. There is a separate cottage for food and gift items
including their wonderful olive oil. The inside of the stylish tasting room is
filled with Music memorabilia from Bruce Cohn’s continuing career as a music
producer. They host a great series of concerts on their grounds during the
season. The wines have a wonderful sense of place. They are able to produce varietals
with remarkable qualities because of the underground hot springs underling the
vineyards. In the late 1800’s the area just to the south was home to many
popular spas, but after the 1906 earthquake the springs receded from the
surface, but they are still there below.
From there we’re going to the Landmark Winery which is
another charmer. Owned by members of the John Deere family it is wonderful
combination of country hospitality and wine country style. The enclosed
courtyard gardens are some of nicest in the valley, and possibly the most
hospitable. They include numerous Rhone style wines among their collection. I
especially enjoy their Pinot Noir.
Finally we’re visiting the Kunde winery, surrounded by their
extensive vineyards, wrapped over the hillsides and overflowing the valley floor.
The distinctive tasting room and winery building sits on the site of an old
Georgian Style cow barn. Yes, they also raise cattle. The new building was
modeled on its predecessor, with the addition of gracious patios surrounding a fountain,
and just steps away are the aging tunnels bored into the hills under the
trellised vineyards.
Doesn’t that sound like a great day? Like I said, the Valley
of the Moon is easy. In our book Sonoma Dream Tours, and our iPhone App, Sonoma
Winery Tour we include mapped tours of the valley based on themes, with hints
about where to eat, picnic or restaurant, as well as where to stay. Enjoy!
Ralph & Lahni de Amicis are authors of the Amicis Winery
Guides, and owners of Amicis Tours. They are authors of over twenty books on
health, design, business and travel. Their iPhone Apps, The Napa Valley Wine
Tour, and The Sonoma Winery Tour are a tour guides approach to these beautiful
area, complete with 1000’s of photos and insights. Their articles and products
can be found on the sites http://www.amicistours.com and http://www.spaceandtime.com
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