Help with winery visits
 

My daughter and I will be in Sonoma area from mid day Friday, Sept. 7 until midday the next day. We are staying in Rohnert Park...hope this is a good area. Any suggestions for wineries that are must sees? Do we need to make reservations? WE plan to drive back to San Francisco via the coast on Saturday.
Thanks,
Arlene

You will not need reservations.There are a ton of posts on here re: Sonoma Wines. Just do a search then perhaps, return w/any specifics you might have... Enjoy. Salute'.

I would suggest driving up to Healdsburg..about 45 minutes N. of Rohnert Park. The town square is very cute and has lots of shops, restaurants and wine tasting rooms. You probably can't do more than 4 wineries in a day. So pick an area... Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Russian River.. and drive to that area and stop where you want. Any of the wineries will give you a free map of the Healdsburg Area with information about tasting room hours, restaurants etc. Have fun. Sonoma County is THE place to visit.

If you are just going to taste, you can visit many more than four. We have done as many as 11. Needless to say, your tastebuds are shot after 7 or 8. I'd stick to the 5-7 range, max.

Thanks for the suggestions! Is Rohnert Park a safe area for two women to stay? We found very good rates there.
Arlene

Yes, I think its safe..its a college town. Sonoma State College is there. Are you sure you can't match the rate you are paying staying around the Healdsburg area? I'd check out www.sonomacountyvacations.com and see what they might offer. Cheapest ones are at the end of their list. You'll probably have to drive to anywhere you might want to visit. Staying in the Hbg/Windsor area, you can walk around the town square and see lots of things... and its safe.

A little known and out of the way, but great winery is the Bell Cellars in Yountville. I know the owner and he is a very interesting guy, as is his wife. His family is from South Africa and have a winery there.

i enjoyed murphy-goode winery, in sonoma.
planning on ordering some online soon, since it's hard to get here in new york.

Murphy Goode winery is in Healdsburg... in the Alexander Valley which is part of the county of Sonoma..not to be confused with the town of Sonoma.