A Travel Itinerary for Sonoma Wineries – The Best Places to Visit in Sonoma County
If you’ve never been to Sonoma, you may be surprised at how large the county actually is, stretching from Carneros in the south to Cloverdale in the north, with over 50 miles of coastline as its western edge.
Bricoleur Vineyards is situated in the heart of the region, in the Russian River Valley AVA. We’re at an ideal central point for various Sonoma County travel adventures.
This gives adventurers to the area a large amount of territory and several towns, regions, and AVAs to choose from for Sonoma County winery adventures and beyond.
The region of Sonoma is ideal for wine tasting – for the quality of its world-class wines, which are of comparable or better quality than Napa, you’ll often pay significantly less for tastings and wine purchases.
So, what is there to do after a visit to Bricoleur Vineyards ?
Continuing the Journey: Sonoma County Wine Tasting Adventures
We sit in a huge region rich with wine and culinary experiences, quaint California towns, as well as natural beauty and outdoor sights.
There are many routes to Sonoma wine tasting adventures leading out from Bricoleur – here are two sample travel itineraries , including some of our favorite spots in Sonoma:
Alexander Valley Area Wineries (Day 1)
Catelli’s Restaurant
Photo Credit: Catelli’s
21047 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville, CA 95441
Open Wed – Sun 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
CLOSED Mon & Tues
A local favorite in Geyserville, this third-generation, family-owned Italian restaurant is authentic from the organic truffle fries to the Clam, Prawn & Sausage Saute. With one of the best lunch menus (and dinner too!), be sure to stop in for a savory bite between the hills of Dry Creek and Alexander Valley.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Photo Credit: Jordan Vineyards and Winery
1474 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sat 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
CLOSED Sundays
In this winery’s own words, their long-standing commitment has been to a few key things: “chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and hospitality.” Jordan is still family owned, and offers a variety of winery tours and tastings that are not to be missed, all at their chic wine country estate in the beautiful Alexander Valley.
Silver Oak (Alexander Valley Location)
Photo Credit: Silver Oak
7300 CA-128, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Daily, Mon – Sat 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Silver Oak is dedicated singularly to Cabernet Sauvignon, and was the first LEED Platinum winery for its rebuilt winery complex, constructed after the 2006 fires. Nothing short of pure dedication both to Cab, eco-friendliness, and its guests, the winery itself literally “frames” the vineyard, offering beautiful views only 10 minutes from downtown Healdsburg. They also have a sister winery in Napa.
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Photo Credit: Alexander Valley Vineyards
8644 CA-128, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Wed – Mon 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
CLOSED Tues
Winemaker Kevin Hall’s attention to terroir creates wines of rare expression, available for tasting at this winery’s historic Healdsburg estate, featuring a half acre of underground caves where barrelled wine is stored. Booking ahead is available, but no advance reservations are needed for groups of 7 or less. Guests can enjoy wine and cheese, a cave tour, winery tour, vineyard hike, or a great blend of all of these.
Healdsburg Area Wineries (Day 2)
J Vineyards & Winery
Photo Credit: J Vineyards & Winery
11447 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Daily 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
This old great of fine Napa wine – and of Napa bubbly specifically – is renowned for its clear, crisp sparkling wines meticulously made in the traditional method. J offers a range of tastings, from its Bubble Bar to the refined treatment of their Signature tasting.
Aperture Cellars
Photo Credit: Aperture Cellars
12291 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Thurs – Mon: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
CLOSED Tues & Wed
Aperture is a work of art from its winery design to creative winery vision. The winery focuses on small-batch, Bordeaux-style wines from cool-climate Bordeaux varietal vineyards. Its unique, modern tasting lounge in the heart of their historic Healdsburg vineyard reflects the deep passion of father and son owners Andy and Jesse Katz for photography and visual perception, as do their wines for beauty.
Russian River Brewery (Windsor Location)
Photo Credit: Ron Thompson
700 Mitchell Ln, Windsor, CA 95492
Open Daily: Sun – Thurs 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Fri & Sat 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Known for Pliny the Elder and other cult-followed, excellent craft beers, Russian River Brewing company boasts two locations, including one right in our backyard of Windsor. Guests can enjoy their beautiful brews, pub grub, gift shop, and self-guided tour any day of the week. Have a group larger than 10? Be sure to make a reservation in advance!
Browne Family Wines (CIRQ)
Photo Credit: Browne Family Wines
Open By Appointment Only | Email leah.vandyke@brownefamilywines.com
Browne is a down-to-earth and cult-followed family winery, featuring allocation-only Pinot Noir, with the next slated for release in July 2024. Nestled in the foggy redwoods and rolling farmland hills of the Russian River Valley, winery visits are available by appointment only.
Copain Wines
Photo Credit: Copain Wines
7800 Eastside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Open Daily 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Copain focuses on vineyard-specific Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah, offering tastings at their hillside estate with a focus on a friendly, joyful atmosphere. It’s also a delightful venue for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and the like.
Farmhouse Inn Restaurant
Photo Credit: Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436
Open Thurs – Mon 5:30 pm -8:30 pm | Reservations Only
On-site of the luxurious yet homey Farmhouse Inn, this Michelin-level restaurant offers a warm yet elevated dining experience, featuring a seasonal menu from lead chef Craig Wilmer. If you choose to stay as well, your accommodations include a booking for two to the famous restaurant.
Sebastopol Area Wineries (Day 3)
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
17000 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446
Open Daily 8:00 am – 1 hour after sunset
10 minutes from Korbel, going north on River Road and north of Guerneville proper lies Armstrong Woods State Park. For nature lovers and travelers looking to stretch their legs among iconic Californian Redwood trees.
The 805-acre park is home to majestic Coast Redwoods that can be enjoyed on 9.2 miles of trails via self-guided tour. Stop by the visitor center, large outdoor amphitheater, go horseback riding, or have a lunch break at their picnic tables.
The admission fee is normally $10.00 per vehicle ($9.00 for seniors), but if you park close by – outside of the park – and walk or bike in, admission is free.
Iron Horse Vineyards
Photo Credit: Iron Horse Vineyards
9786 Ross Station Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Open Daily 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Heading south and west from Bricoleur, you enter the interior of the Russian River Valley, full of rolling hills wreathed in wispy morning fog.
Iron Horse is among the top producers of sparkling wine in the Russian River for quality – yet, they are still family owned, and their tastings are down-to-earth.
A stop for their sparkling wine flight overlooks the rolling hills of Green Valley, a subset of the larger Russian River, in an intimate, fun tasting.
Kenwood Area Wineries (Day 3)
Hammell Family Wines
Photo Credit: Hammell Family Wines
15401 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, CA 95476
Open Daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Thursday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Hamel Family Wines, set in the scenic Sonoma Valley, is a destination that seamlessly integrates winemaking with the stunning natural landscape. Known for producing wines that distinctly reflect the area’s ancient volcanic soil, the winery offers a memorable experience combining exquisite wines with the serene beauty of the surrounding Mayacamas Mountains. Their approach to winemaking, farming, and hospitality, all deeply intertwined with the environment, makes a visit to their estate an immersive journey into the heart of Sonoma’s wine culture.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Photo Credit: St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
100 Pythian Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Open Daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
This route takes us to the South and East of Bricoleur Vineyards. Our first stop is east of the city of Santa Rosa, north of the city of Sonoma. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards features an excellent wine and food pairing experience with a seasonal menu.
Indoor our outdoor tasting options are available, with views of the rugged, sweeping faces of the Mayacamas foothills. You can also take your wine on a self-guided vineyard tour, or take a group on one of the vineyard pedal trolley tours for some added fun and vineyard views.
The Crowning Experience: The Best Russian River Valley Wine and Food Tasting
Bricoleur Vineyards
7394 Starr Rd, Windsor, CA 95492
Open Thurs – Mon 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
CLOSED Tues & Wed
Our beautiful estate winery sits just north of Santa Rosa, proudly among the wineries of the Russian River Valley.
We also pride ourselves on being family-owned, community-oriented, and deeply rooted in the environment and produce of the region.
Our culinary and wine experts use these deep roots to offer the best wine and food experiences in Sonoma, using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from our estate culinary gardens and other local farms:
Rooted
Our signature, immersive six course wine and food pairing at a communal table, sourced from fresh, seasonal produce. Available for groups of up to 12, 12+ upon request.
Soaring
Our curators pair three estate wines with three seasonal bites for a dynamic Sonoma wine tasting experience. Available for groups of up to 12, 12+ upon request.
Atelier Bricoleur
Our most bespoke wine and food offering, curated expressly by our executive chef Todd Knoll. This experience is for two to eight guests, featuring five courses hosted privately at our chef’s table.