I am going to Sonoma in May and would like any recommendations for restaurants and wineries. We have always stayed in Napa and gone to Napa wineries in the past, so we would like to see what Sonoma has to offer. Thanks for any info.

We loved the Viansa winery which is on the border of Napa and Sonoma. It's a beautiful setting and good wine. Go near lunch because they have a good deli too.

We really enjoyed Ravenswood which is right in Sonoma. We also liked Benzinger which was beautiful, BF Cohn and up the road a bit was Chateau St. Jean and Kendall. Kendall had a great staff nad lots of different types of wine that appealed to our group of 4.

Places I've been and recommend for various reasons...Gloria Ferrar for champagne and an outdoor veranda with million dollar views (great for ending a rigourous day of tasting). Schug is my favorite chardonnay and pinot noir with a very personable and knowledgeable staff (small winery = small tasting room). Arrowood has a great 'victorian-esque' wrap around porch for enjoyable sipping. St. Francis has excellent wines and beautifully manicured grounds out back. Kunde has free tours of their barrel aging caves Fri-Sun. B.R. Cohn for high quality olive oil and Doobie Brothers memorabilia (owner was their manager). If you play golf...try Stone Tree in Novato. The first nine holes are flat and the second nine head up into the foothills. Very cool course. I had an incredible brunch at the General's Daughter in Sonoma.

BR Cohn does have great olive oil. We went to a wedding there and everyone was trying to take the vinegar and oil off the table at the end of the night.

These are some of my favorite eateries many are award winers and IME for cuisine and ambiance:
Madronna Manor-Healdsburg
Willi's Raw Bar-Healdsburg
Syrah-Santa Rosa
Underwood Bistro-Graton
The Girl and The Fig-Petaluma (on the river!)
Glen Ellen Inn-Glen Ellen
The Farmhouse Inn-Forestville
K&L Bistro-Sebastopol
Lucy's-Sebastopol
Latitude-Rohnert Park
Zazu-just east of Santa Rosa
Meritage-Sonoma
Cafe la Haye-Sonoma
just a few that come to mind....
Sonoma County has 13 AVA's-
American Viticultural Areas-You may note that most people here refer to them as "Districts".
Such names as Caneros,Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley,Rockpile (there are even sub-AVA's!)
Check out this site:
http://www.sonoma.com/wineries/index.
html
for winery maps by region in Sonoma County. Another good site for West Sonoma County is wineroad.com
Some of my favorite tasting rooms:
In Sonoma town, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, areas: Valley of the Moon,Ravenswood, Gundlach Bundscuh,Arrowood,Cline, & St.Francis
In and around the county you could spend a day in the Alexander Valley (and have a picnic lunch from the Jimtown store!),another on Westside Road/Russian River/Healdsburg and at least an afternoon in Sebastopol/Forestville.
If you would like some of my picks in those areas or by varietal I'll be happy to respond!
Have fun and Welcome!
R5

Hi R5! Would you recommend the Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg? I'm about ready to book a room at the Hotel Healdsburg for $300/night which includes a tasting dinner at DCK. It is a deluxe room with a 6' soaking tub. Sounds like a good deal, offered on Thurs. night. Thanks for any info on Healdsburg, it will be my first visit there. ***kim***

Hi Kim! DCK is still on my list of
"to try"'s we just seem to end up at
an old fave and never seem to get there! Yet, my foodie friends & neighbors here tell me it's very, very good. $300 incl.dinner sounds good for this hotel. Just one night,tho? Not enough time for this area! LOL!
R5

I loved The Girl & the Fig in Sonoma, it's on the square. It was actually a spontaneous choice, a late lunch/early dinner on the day we arrived in Sonoma, but it ended up being one of our favorite meals of the trip. Just a lovely spot, not pretentious, good food, great wine (of course).

We went to a wedding at Viansa winery and it does indeed have a fabulous location. It's set on a hill so the views are spectacular. Saw a rattlesnake there! Wasn't expecting that. Watch your feet!

TX~Listen up to Razzle Dazzle..she knows her Sonoma.

Why thank you Pam darlin'-and may I add that you know of which you speak as
well-your knowledge is of experience(s)!
R5