Visiting Sonoma's Best Wineries

No longer... these days Sonoma which has taken to calling itself “Real Wine Country” has a following and the emergence of Pinot Noir as it's signature grape, has helped propel many Sonoma estate's into an exclusivity rarely seen outside the more famous valley to Sonoma's east.

If you're looking to experience luxury Sonoma, here are four of our favorite stops:

Merry Edwards (pictured above)

Merry Edwards has become famous as one of the first female winemaker owned wineries in America, but the Pinot Noir here has been award winning for well over a decade. As a winemaker Edwards learned the trade at Mt Eden in the Santa Cruz mountains and over the years has done enough to support Pinot Noir production through research and making an incredible product, to be affectionately called the “Queen of Pinot”. Located in rural, western Sonoma County in a small town called Graton the winery is by appointment only, but if you don't have one….calling a few moments in advance is sometimes all the time they need. You'll end up with not only a private tasting, but one of the best history lessons about Pinot Noir anywhere.



Ram's Gate Winery

When you walk inside, Ram's Gate feels as much like a high end San Francisco restaurant as it does a winery, or tasting room. There's someone to seat you and the marble bar is surrounded both by tables, as well as by more private tasting environments, one which is a real, working kitchen. While the room is a spectacular place to taste, don't be fooled, the wine is just as good. Located directly off highway 121 which cuts across Sonoma County bisecting many of the best driving miles of vineyards anywhere in California, Ram's Gate has gone for a high end aesthetic and the crowd typically matches it. The wine's are worth some serious contemplation as well, during a recent review in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, multiple white and red wine's were scored in the mid 90 point range, quickly making Ram's Gate one of the preeminent stops along anyone's wine tasting trip through Sonoma County.



Sojourn Cellars

Sonoma Square is well worth a trip for anyone interested in history (it's where California first became a Republic and there's a few historic buildings that you can see) or anyone traveling with children (there's a playground, as well as a duck pond). The Square is also flanked by a variety of high end restaurants and wine tasting rooms. Among my favorite is Sojourn Cellars, which crafts award winning Sonoma Pinot Noir, as well as Napa Valley Cabernet. You'll need an appointment, but you'll have the chance to taste through Sojourn's wines with a staff member in a one on one environment, the fact that the whole tasting takes place in the dining room of an old craftsman house, is really just a bonus. Really, this is one of the best tasting trip's anyone is likely to have because you have access to both great wine, as well as someone intimately involved with the winery.



Copain Wines

No trip to Sonoma would be complete without a drive through the famed Russian River Valley, after all this is where many of the highest scoring wines are made and the best grapes are grown. Plus, it's one of the more accessible spots in California wine, often with name wineries on both sides of the street and a very useful sign post system to lead you to your next tasting spot. Of the wineries in the Russian River Valley, I suggest Copain because it can be invitation only during much of the week, but also because the winery sits on a hill overlooking much of the valley itself. Sitting in an Adirondack chair and enjoying a glass of wine from winemaker Wells Guthrie, who helped to bring lower alcohol levels to the forefront in California wine, can be a transformative experience if you're experiencing Sonoma for the first time. The view is memorable as is the entire white glove treatment from the staff.

More information: uncorkedventures.com