Going to be staying in Sonoma and wanted your opinion on the best wineries to taste at i Sonoma and Napa or elsewhere. We are looking for something other than just drinking a few sips of half a dozen different wines. The winery should have something else going for it like interesting grounds, tour, food pairings. Looking for your suggestions. Leaving for a last minute trip this weekend. Thanks

This weekend is the Rutherford Passport Weekend. It's one of the premier Napa Valley events of the year. Check it out:

http://www.rutherford-appellation-wineries.com/

Some of my favorite spots in Napa are
Sterling (for the view from the winery more than the wine)
Mumm Napa when you can sit outside and enjoy the bubbles
Schrsmburg if you can get a reservation and don't mind the price.
Hess Collection for the art
Artesa for the views of San Pedro Bay on a clear day.

In Sonoma
Ferrari Carano Vineyards for the gardens
J Winery for food pairings and with reservations and the price, their Bubble Room Tasting.
Iron Horse when you reseve a morning vineyard tour
Ridge Lyton Springs just for the great red wines.

Love Gundlach-Bundschu in Sonoma and also - there are good Chards/Pinots in the nearby Carnerous area - Chalone, Acacia, etc.

And for an authentic cellar - check out Buena Vista - or is it Beaulieu? I get them confused: Anyhow - you walk into the underground cellars as part of the tour. see
http://www.bvwines.com/age_gateway?d...tion=node%2F15
and http://buenavistacarneros.ewinerysol...com//index.cfm

And there are so many other good wineries - also up in Calistoga, where you can get a mud-bath. see Chateau Montalena for a classic/old style winery - which also has good vino. http://www.montelena.com/

For Gundlach Bundschu - see: http://www.gunbun.com/ They also have an outlet in downtown Sonama I think. And there are cute restaurants in the village square in Sonama.

I'm a frequent visitor to "wine country" and STRONGLY prefer Sonoma over Napa. With so many great options, my suggestions are to pick up a map and do some research on your favorites.

If not for the libations, but for the view & chateau setting, don't miss Domaine Carneros.

http://www.domainecarneros.com/index...0-5beff7471968

I also suggest "GunBun," as well as Nicholson Ranch, Matanzas, Ledson, B.R. Cohn, Kaz, Larson, and Schug.

One final suggestion: If you see a tour bus, do not stop.

"If you see a tour bus, do not stop." Excellent advise!!!!

Agree with Gekko. Sonoma hands down. We like Dry Creek area and Russian River.

Our kids did a wonderful tour using DD's sommelier contacts. But one thing they did and is available was go to Conn Cave (think that's the name) where they toured the vineyards, learned about the grapes and varietals, and then blended a bottle of wine each.

Domaine Carneros in Napa! In Sonoma we love Gundlach-Bundschu. .

Benziger has a tour of the vineyard, explaining how they developed and maintain an organic system.

http://www.benziger.com/

Thanks to all that responded. We ended up having a blast. Some of the highlights were:
Jordan - classy food pairing with great wines
St Francis - Met some fun people. Good food pairing ok wine
Bezinger - Good tour, nice people and the reserve wines were very good
Robert Hunter - Private tour. Beautiful grounds, great host in intimate setting. Wines are really good as well
Ledson - Had a great sandwich before wine tasting. A 7 flight tasting turned into a 20+ one with a great host and excellent reserve wines.

Had a few other less remarkable tastings and the only bummer in the group was Sterling where they were more concerned with watching the sunset than taking care of their guests.