Doing a quick overnighter in Sonoma and plan to visit a few wineries and eat. We won't be driving up to the Russian River Valley - just Sonoma and Glen Ellen.

1. Where can I get a good, reasonable picnic lunch? I'm driving up from the Bay Area so it would be ideal if I could pick it up while driving North and then picnic at Gundlach-Bunchu.

2. Small, fun winery suggestions?

3. Girl & the Fig - overrated or worth making reservations for lunch?

4. Any other favorite things in the area?

Thanks!

I am not sure where you can get a picnic lunch; however, I can answer the other questions. Ledson was a wonderful winery....some of the best Zinfandel I've ever tasted! Gloria Ferrer down in Carneros was great for sipping champagne on a veranda overlooking a vineyard...try the blanc de noirs...quite delicious.

The Girl and the Fig was good...my husband and I went there for dinner, but I thought somewhat overrated. There is a nice little Italian place diagonally across the square that was lovely (I unfortunately do not remember its name...had a wonderful St. Francis red there)...also a good pizza place on the square as well, but not nearly as lavish.

The spa at the Sonoma Mission Inn, just past the town itself is wonderful! The peaches and cream line is great there.

The Sonoma Market has everything you need for a picnic.

I dont' think the girl and the fig is over rated, we have enjoyed several lunches there in the past. The El Dorado Kitchen across the street is also very good.

For a small fun winery, check out KAZ they make good wines there and it's a fun place to wine taste. ***kim***

The Sonoma Cheese Factory is another place to put together a picnic lunch. They make sandwiches to order, have a large variety of salads, olives, pickles, etc. They sell wine, beer and soft drinks. Pretty much anything you would want for a picnic. It's not on the way, but right on the square.

In Glen Ellen - you can visit Jack London's park, house, museum, and his grave.

A few of my favorite stops in Sonoma:

http://www.domainecarneros.com/

http://www.schugwinery.com/index.jsp

http://www.nicholsonranch.com/

http://www.jlohr.com/

In the main square of Sonoma, you can pick up your picnic goodies at the Basque Boulangeire and Bakery (in from of the Visitor Cebter and next to the movie house). They have very good freshly-baked breads (baked on the premises), excellent sandwiches, terrific salads, soups, pies, pastries - all are French Basque inspired.

http://www.sonomashop.com/pages/basque.html

Benziger Winery is on the road between Glen Ellen proper and the Jack London State Park. It offers tours of the vineyard and wine tasting.

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions!

Mary's Pizza SHack is on the square in Sonoma. We really enjoyed the pizza! It is just a casual pizzeria but we enjoyed it!

***kim*** I don't recall you ever mentioning KAZ before...Are you copying off of R5's paper again? :-?

I gain 3lbs every time I walk by Sonoma Cheese Factory and they are grilling burgers outside.
My second fave smell.

Is this the list you are talking about , Kal?



Author: razzledazzle
Date: 02/11/2007, 11:56 pm
When in Napa get yourself over to the
Silverado Trail which parallels Hyw 29-
less traffic. Make a rezzie for the tour at Del Dotto, then continue up valley
to Darioush, Sinskey, Rombauer, Twoomey
Frank Family. Coppola is now Rubicon Estate and charges $25 to get in-nothing laid back or romantic about THAT, LOL!


There are many wonderful restaurants in the Napa Valley- Bistro Don Giovanni,
Redd, Ad Hoc, Bistro Jeanty, NV, Zuzu,Cindy's Backstreet, Terra and on and on....

Near Sonoma town seek out Mayo,Kaz,
Gundlach-Bundschu & Benziger. Too
bad you won't have time for the Healdsburg area-it is beautiful AND romantic !!

You didn't mention if you will be doing the wine thing on the weekend. If so Napa traffic on Hwy 29 will be it's usual grumpy self-
consider spending more time over here in Sonoma County.

The Glen Ellen Market, sister to the Sonoma Market, is also a great place for made to order and ready made sandwiches as well as other deli items in their salad bar area.

On the Plaza, the Sonoma Cheese Factory and Vella's both have picnic supplies. The Sonoma Market is West of town a couple of blocks. Since you want to picnic at Gundlach Bundschu, you might see if Viansa Winery still sells food. (They used to, and you pass right by it on your way in, but the management, maybe even the ownership, has changed, so I am not sure.)

Otherwise your best bet is in town.

You might pay a visit to the Buena Vista Winery...a small historic stone building under oak trees. This is where the Hungarian Colonel whose name I can never spell brought the first European wine grape cuttings to California. Go out East Napa Street to Old Winery Road. It is at the end. We like their Green Hungarian wine.

Kal & Scarlett !
Now where's TTess and her scooper ?
:-?

If you come into Sonoma via Hwy 37
and 121 over to 12, consider a stop at Angelo's Wine Country Deli across the
road from Gloria Ferrar-at least take home some of their fantastic salsas
and bbq sauces.

R5

Oh, and I was just reminded by an earlier post – if you come into Sonoma via Hwy 37
and 121 over to 12, stop by Viansa winery. Very nice Tuscany villa architecture and ambiance.

You can go nuts with their fresh deli items, good bottled prepared condiments and do some free tasting while you’re there.

Hi Razzledazzle - I've been in ***Fresno***. Kal told me that I needed to get my pooper scooper over there to pick up some gray roots. Hate that drive - it's nice to be back on the peninsula.

Don't forget to tour Ferrari-Carano. Love their wines and their winery.

If you want to take your picnic to G-B winery, there is a new deli/cafe/market nearby - At the top of the "T" intersection of 8th St and Napa St., owned i think by Girl and the Fig people, or at least has a similar name (sorry, can't remember the name).

I went to Sonoma last summer. By far my favorite winery was VJB. It is a small family winery that only produces 4k cases in a year. This winery is owned by an Italian family and host was the original founder, an older gentleman who was very knowledgable. I would also recommend a terrific restaurant, http://www.lasalette-restaurant.com/ This is a Portuguese cuisine that was out of this world. Enjoy.