Since you are fond of reds, I will recommend a very small winery , but it is in southern Napa. Tulocay Winery in Coombsville http://www.tulocay.com/

It's basically a one man show, no sign at the driveway, fantastic low production wines with grapes from very special microclimates. You need to call or email for a tasting appointment. Ours was on Bill Cadman's back porch, nibbling bread and cheese as he opened bottles. Wonderful Cabs and Zins and Syrrah, and his wine may change your opinion of Pinot Noir. Some of the best Merlot and Chardonnay, too. Decent prices. Tell Bill that the doctor from Long Island recommended you.

By all means, avoid Napa and Sonoma if price and traffic are of primary significance to you. On the other hand, if you're going to wine country for the wine... don't ask for advice here.

I do not doubt that California was lovely everywhere 30 years ago, when grass was green and grain was yellow. And I know that retirees on fixed incomes can get very stroppy about paying an extra $5 for a wine tasting. But saying that Napa and Sonoma are just not worth the effort any more is simply pique masquerading as expertise--it's bad advice. Because the wine made there is great. Not cheap, but great.

That said, I love the Anderson Valley, to name just one place that isn't Napa or Sonoma. But most of what is made there is pinot noir.

My goodness -- for someone who doesn't live out here you do get 'stroppy' when we suggest Napa/Sonoma aren't the be all end all.

The OP asked for alternatives and specifically mentioned the foothills and delta areas. . . and we gave lots of useful information about alternatives - so get off your high horse.

You love Napa - great -- but this is not the first time you ave attacked others w/ different ideas.

But most of what is made there is pinot noir.

Not at Navarro nor at Husch, to cite only two of the vineyards in the Anderson Valley.

Pardon me, I am not attacking anyone. I am saying that advising a visitor to avoid Napa and Sonoma is bad advice. It's not the first time I;ve said this because it's not the first time that this bad advice has been given.

The OP said "My main interests are Sonoma and Napa, because I'm most familiar with them, but the up-and-coming areas like Suisun Valley and Sierra Foothills are on my radar as well."

It's not an either/or. Don't avoid Napa, don't avoid Sonoma, and don't avoid less famous wine areas--it's all good.

Michael, Navarro and Husch make wines other than pinot, yes. I said that most of what is made there is pinot, and I stand by that. I never said nothing else is made there.

Navarro and Husch make wines other than pinot, yes. I said that most of what is made there is pinot, and I stand by that. I never said nothing else is made there.

From the little experience I have had there, I think that Scharffenberger and Roederer are probably the main ones to concentrate on pinot noir for their bubbly. When purchased as a still wine (available only at the winery), their pinot noir tends to be more like the German/Austrian pinot noir.

I take the correction: reds tend to be pinot noir, but there is a large variety of whites.

Oh MY! Didn't mean to start a firestorm folks!
I appreciate all the input- regardless of where your preferred visits are. Mostly, I am hoping to find new wineries, and new wines---Napa, Sonoma, Amador, Lodi....its all great input for my needs/interests!!

We've spent roughly 10 years visiting Sonoma County, with some visits to Napa thrown in for "good measure". And I really love Sonoma County wines; but I know that my usual haunts are just the tip of an iceberg and I'm looking for options that will not only improve my wine experience but, hopefully broaden my palate as well.

I understand and appreciate the differences in opinion- its what makes this such an interesting journey! I take everyone's replies as the opinions of interested parties with similar interest...some things will work for me, others won't, but its all an education that I welcome, so PLEASE!
feel free to offer your thoughts and suggestions.

AJPeabody- this sounds like a winery that I need to visit! Its that sort of very small, unpretentious place that I am searching for. thanks for this tip and please share if you have more...

otherfootloose, my favorite little-known winery in the Dry Creek AVA is Unti. Excellent Italian varietals, some other things, too, organic, small production--I hope you will add it to your list!

I have heard of Unti! Actually, I have tried to visit Unti...but was unable to score an appointment. Don't they make a Barbera?

If you like Italian varietals, you should visit Nello Olivo Winery. If Nello is in the tasting room, he will talk your hear off about his wines.

Some of my favorite wineries in El Dorado and Fair Play appellations:
http://www.nelloolivo.com/
http://gracepatriotwines.com/
http://www.jodarwinery.com/
http://winerybythecreek.com/

Unti does make a Barbera, and a Sangiovese, and some Italian whites, too, a Vermentino, I think. I don't think they require an appointment, at least not any more, as they recently built a larger tasting room.

Rather than recommend any other wineries, I suggest instead a tactical approach. In a very short time you can gulp so many wines that your tongue will be as numb as your brain unless you focus your attention and spit a lot out. Instead, you could choose a few select wineries to visit, maybe 3 or 4 in a day tops. This is where I would go: Tulocay, Ridge, Navarro. You could choose your own targets.

Or you could focus on one or two target varietals and ignore the bulk of the offerings at each place. Or even look for wines you have no experience with at all. For example: Cabernets for aging. Late harvest sweet wines. Whites other than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris/Grigio. Unfiltered unfined wines. Wines from old vines. You get the idea. Don't be afraid to try only one wine at a place if that's all they have that meets your goal.

I just get bored as heck at the fourth place that sells everyone 5 tastes of their low priced reds and common whites, then adds a "just for you" taste of the reserve over-oaked chardonnay. Spare me!

Oh, and don't forget to chat up the people at any restaurant you go to. A bit of interest on your part will often net a recommendation for a visit or even a bottle of something extra special for your meal.

Love N. cal. We loved Russian River area. Last time we stayed at a lovely VRBO off the beaten path in Cazadero (http://www.vrbo.com/190858) and ended up not wanting to leave except for one day at wineries and the others at the coast and driving the back roads. It was one of those trips that you never forget and can't quite be equalled. Maybe a trip where you see the beauty of the area as well as a few wineries?

yes- excellent idea.