Hello. My fiance and I wanted to head out to Sonoma for 4 to 5 days for some wine tasting to start off our honeymoon. We drink wine, but haven't really been wine tasting. Can anyone recommend where to stay in Sonoma and some nice winneries to visit in mid October.
Thanks so much.
Rick

I like the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley region, especially near Healdsburg area.

Here's a couple of links: www.wineroad.com
www.visitwineroad.com

Wine Road gives a great overview of the area, and Visit Wine Road provides proposed itineraries/day trips. Some great wineries in the area.

Try Benziger near Glen Ellen and the Valley of the Moon State Park, which is also worth a visit.

my husband and I had a great lunch and tasting in sonoma - We went to the Dry Creek market and picked up some fresh made sandwiches and cheese and then went to Passalaqua Winery (across the steet) and tasted some of the best wines we had and then you can use thier beauful grounds to have a picnic.

Also, we enjoyed Ledson winery and even though most will say Robert Mondovi is too touristy we thought the grounds we some of the most beautiful and the tour and tasting were extremely nice and worth the money. Hope this Helps. PS I hope you plan to visit Napa - it is also worth it - Have lunch outside at Brix!

The Sonoma Mission Inn is very nice. We liked Ledson, Chateau St. Jean, Blackstone, Valley of the Moon, and Imagery in this area. Be sure to ask the concierge for some complimentary tasting passes to local wineries whever you decide to stay.

Have fun and congrats on your upcoming wedding! ***kim***

I second the areas Budman reccommended. We liked David Cafaro - very laid back, great wines. Ask for barrell tastings. There are tons of places on Dry Creek road, but do many in such a small area. Its great.

Place to stay? www.springhillcabin.com Wonderful and magical.

The term "Sonoma" invokes all kinds of venues....to include the County of Sonoma, and the various wine areas included in that.

I would do the Sonoma Valley....a 17 mile stretch between Somona, the town, and Santa Rosa. The town of Sonoma is historic, dating from the Mexican occupation and has the last Spanish Mission built in Dalifornia.

I would stay at the El Pueblo Inn in the town of Sonoma, which is lovely ahd reasonable, even if it is a former motel.

I would start out by visiting the historic Buena Vista winery, a mile or so out of town, where a Hungarian Count, by the name of Haraszthy (or some other spelling) brought the first European grapes to California. Other wineries to visit in the Valley are Benzinger, which gives a really good tour, and Kunde, which has tunnels into the limestone hiil created by he same tachnology as the Chunnel in England.

Have fun.

Check out the B&B that is run by the www.foursisters.com. There are 2 in Sonoma. We just got back from 4 nights at one in Napa and found it delightful.I think it would be great for a honeymoon. They run between $175 and $250 but they include a full, hot breakfast, and wine tasting and snacks in the afternoon. In between wine tasting and exploring, they are very relaxing. They are B&Bs but the hosts are not intrusive, but available for suggestions on places nearby.