California’s Sonoma County is a wine and food lover’s dream destination. We have found the top rated wine tours as per recent travelers reviews
List of wine tours in Sonoma
Embark on a unique wine country experience with a trip aboard the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley. Modeled after the famed cable cars of San Francisco, the trolley shuttles you through Sonoma’s picturesque winemaking region with stops at three different wineries. Taste regional varietals at each estate, and savor a gourmet picnic lunch catered by top-rated local bistro The Girl & the Fig. Learn about the history of Sonoma from your spirited guide as you roll past a handful of historic landmarks throughout the day.Stop at three different wineries hand-picked for their welcoming atmosphere and excellent wines, and sample classic California varietals like chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and merlot (tasting fees not included).
Escape to California’s famous wine country on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Taste regional varietals at multiple wineries in Napa and Sonoma, including both big-name and family-run estates. Learn about the winemaking process during guided tours of vineyards and barrel rooms, and savor the area’s gourmet culture with a stop for lunch in charming Sonoma Square Plaza. Transport by luxury, air-conditioned coach including onboard restroom and free Wi-Fi. Choose from two departure locations in San Francisco: Fisherman’s Wharf & Union Square
Taste Best Wines , the region has to offer. This tour lets you plan your day If you are unsure of which wineries to visit, there are predetermined lists of our top picks available, and we can accommodate your specific desired wine type.The price is per group (up to 4 people). It also includes Free Pick up in South Central Sonoma , Napa and Marin County only, private transportation and bottled water
Visit some of the top wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties on this private wine tour from San Francisco. Traveling by private vehicle with your own chauffeur, you’ll discover the best of California wine country as you enjoy wine tastings at select wineries. When booking, select the option that suits your group size. Because this is a private tour, your itinerary can be customized.
Visit the wineries of Sonoma on a half-day 4-hour Segway tour, departing from the Sonoma Plaza. Once you’re comfortable on your 2-wheeled electric vehicle, motor along quiet country roads leading you to some of California’s oldest wineries; tasting fees not included. Stop for a provided picnic lunch of local goods. Numbers are limited to ensure a small-group experience with a professional guide.
Departing from San Francisco, hike the redwoods and sip on world-class wine on this Muir Woods wine country day trip led by an expert guide, enjoy views of the San Francisco Bay and Marin Headlands as you travel to the trails of the famous Muir Woods. After admiring groves of California redwoods, head to Sonoma and Napa Valley for an afternoon of wine tasting. There, sample wine and cheese at a handful of notable cellars before returning to your original departure point.
All Inclusive Wine & Picnic Tour is a full-service day in wine country. Leave everything to us! Your tour package will provide; Complimentary pick up from most local hotels, three winery visits (wine tasting fees covered), an artisan boxed lunch catered by Sonoma Market and hosted transportation with a guide. The only thing not included is gratuity for your host, which is customary but discretionary.
SONOMA WINE HISTORY
California’s Sonoma County is home to 425 wineries and nearly 60,000 acres of vineyards that span from the Pacific Coast to the Mayacamas Mountains, all of which are part of the 18 American Viticulturally Areas. In addition to wine tastings, many wineries host events like dinners and live music performances. The area’s diverse geography and multitude of microclimates provide an optimal environment for producing world-class, terroir-driven wines and bountiful local foods.
As early as 1821, Russian colonists planted and cultivated grapes at Fort Ross on the Pacific Coast. But it was the Spanish Franciscan fathers who laid the foundation for the wine industry in 1832 when Padre Jose Altimera planted several thousand grapevines at their northernmost mission, San Francisco Solano in Sonoma.
In 1834, political upheaval brought an appropriation of the missions by the Mexican government. During this period of disarray, cuttings from the Sonoma Mission vineyards were carried throughout the northern California area to start new vineyards
By the time of the “Bear Flag Revolt” and the subsequent annexation of California by the United States, the vineyards of General Mariano Vallejo, the military governor of Mexican California, were providing an annual income of $20,000.
Other areas in the county were developing at this time: Rocky Mountain trapper Cyrus Alexander in northern Sonoma County first planted grapes in what would become Alexander Valley; the county’s first “feminine vineyardist,” Senora Maria de Carrillo, had 2,000 vines in what would be Santa Rosa; Captain Nicholas Carrigan, probably the first American settler, had vineyards in the Valley of the Moon; and, later in 1852, his neighbor William Hill, planted the first non-mission grapes in the county.
All of this activity took place prior to the arrival in 1855 of the man considered “The Father of California Wine Industry,” Count Agoston Haraszthy. The Hungarian purchased the Salavador Vallejo vineyard in Sonoma Valley, renamed it Buena Vista, and soon was producing fine wines from the vineyard.
In 1861 he was commissioned, but never paid, by the California legislature to study viticulture in Europe. He returned to Sonoma County the following year with more than 100,000 cuttings of prize grape varietals from France, Italy, and Spain. Haraszthy is credited with first promoting the concept that fine table wines could be produced in Sonoma County as well as Europe.
And, as they say, the rest is history. We’ll drink to that.
source:sonomacounty.