Sonama Valley, California

Sonama Valley is also the home to excellent wines in California, but without the inherent nose in the air attitude of Napa. The wines produced on this side of the mountain are arguably as good or perphaps better than Napa, and one comment we heard was "Sonoma makes fine wines, Napa auto parts".

The openness of the region was reflected by the wineries, $2 dollar tastings was the norm, waived if you purchased a bottle. The Sonoma region is highlighted by houses among the vines, as opposed to the seperate villiages and wineries of Napa.

We stayed in the historic downtown section of Sonama itself, site of the most northern Spanish Mission, the Mission San Franciso Sonama. It's an interesting site, especially if you have ever visited the other California missions or even St. Augustine Florida.

 

	This ancient building in downtown sonoma (April 2003)
	Here's the inside of the mission, specifically the chapel. (April 2003)
	This area was where the California Republic was started, this flag created from old dress linen (the red) and canvas.. (April 2003)
	We swung by Rabbit Ridge winery, as we've always enjoyed it for a wine in the $10 range. We picked up a couple of special reserve bottles including one from Pases Robles. Apparently, with the land prices so high in the Sonama/Napa area, they bought 800 acres down in the south. As a contrast, they currently only have 41 acres in Sonoma! Tasting was $2, free if you bought (April 2003)
	My Man Rodney! (April 2003)
	We ended up getting a private tasting at Rodney Strong, and developed a new friendship with their director of education. We bought two very nice reserve chardonney's, almost (but not quite) a white burgundian. Rodney is a must on your list if you go to the area, tasting was $2, free if you bought. (April 2003)
	Rodney has a self guided tour, they configured the building when they built it so that you can walk easily around the processes without getting in the way. These large oak vats are used to primary ferment their chardonney wines.. (April 2003)
	And of course, they have stainless steel fermentation tanks as well.(April 2003)