Three Day Sonoma Itinerary

Sonoma is one of our favorite places to visit in the states. A long weekend is the perfect amount of time to explore downtown Sonoma and visit the tasting rooms on the square as well as spending a day visiting vineyards.

Day 1

Try to get an early flight, you’ll have a 1-2 hour drive depending on where you fly into and what traffic is like. I recommend trying to land around noon at the latest to give you plenty of time to hit up a few tasting rooms before they close. 

Check in to your hotel, I recommend staying somewhere within walking distance of the Sonoma Plaza.

Where we’ve stayed:

MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa: https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/macarthur-place-inn-spa.en.html?aid=7957877&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2

Cinnamon Bear Creekside Inn: https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/cinnamon-bear-creekside-inn.en.html?aid=7957877&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2

Stop 1

After you’ve checked in head out for your first tasting at Pangloss. Pangloss is our favorite tasting room on the square and they have some of our favorite wines. Most tasting rooms either have great wine or a great atmosphere, Pangloss is one of the few that nails both. If you’re hungry for a snack, their charcuterie boards are delicious. We usually go here multiple times per trip, once for a tasting and then at least once more to order a glass to sit and enjoy. 

Stop 2

Next head to Kamen Estate Wines which is a short walk from Pangloss. The owner is the screenwriter for The Karate Kid and Taken. We got to meet Robert Kamen during our tasting, so keep an eye out! Not a great atmosphere but the wines are fantastic, known for their reds. Keep in mind they close at 6 PM, like most tasting rooms. 

Depending on what time you arrived, you may have time for a third tasting. I recommend Roche Winery. Their wines aren’t our favorite, but they have nice outdoor seating and the tastings are affordable.

Walk back to your hotel to get ready for dinner or stroll around the square, there are plenty of cute shops to pop in. 

Dinner

You have a few options for dinner on your first night. Oso Sonoma serves up delicious small plates. If you aren’t into small-plate dining, Della Santina’s has great Italian food. Make sure to sit outside on the back patio. My number 1 recommendation is to reserve a 7-course wine and food pairing meal at Mayo Family Winery Reserve Room. 

Day 2

Today will be spent on the square, no driving required!

Lunch

Start your day with Brunch/Lunch at Sunflower Café. They open at 11 AM and I recommend going around that time, you have a full day of wine tasting ahead of you so get started early!

Stop 1: Winery Sixteen 600

They make organic wine and great reds. The theme of their tasting room is drastically different than anything else you’ll find in Sonoma. Very rock ‘n’ roll inspired.

Stop 2: Hawkes Wine

Great Cabernet Sauvignon.

Stop 3: Auteur Wines

We haven’t been here but it’s on my list for our next trip. Right next door to Hawkes. 

Stop 4: Walt Wines

Known for their Pinots. Great atmosphere if you sit outside on their back patio. Across the street from Auteur. 

Stop 5: Cochon

We’re mostly red wine drinkers, but if you enjoy whites, it’s what Cochon is best at.

Dinner

Make a late dinner reservation, you may need a nap after hitting 5 tasting rooms in one afternoon, it’s a lot. Feel free to skip a tasting room or two and don’t be afraid to split a tasting between two people!

Make reservations at Girl and the Fig, but be sure to make them at least a month in advance. They get booked up even on weekdays.

If you’re in the mood for dessert, check out Sweet Scoops for ice cream.

Day 3

There are a few options for this day. You can hire a private driver to take you around to the wineries, you can pay for a winery bus tour, or you can Uber/Lyft between the wineries outlined below. We’ve done both the winery bus tour and Uber/Lyft. We like the flexibility of Uber/Lyft but it can take a while to get a driver during the slow season so keep that in mind. If you have a larger group it may make more sense to hire a driver for the day. 

Stop 1

We did the Reserve Experience which was pricey at $150 per person, but worth it if you’re celebrating or feel like splurging. Known for their reds. I recommend making the earliest reservation. The tasting menu will fill you up for lunch. 

Stop 2: Benziger Family Winery

Beautiful small vineyard, they make great Sauvignon Blanc. Known for organic wines. I recommend the Biodynamic Vineyard Tram Tour. 

Stop 3: Kunde Family Winery

One of the prettiest vineyards we’ve been to in Sonoma. We went here on a bus tour the first time we visited and did tastings in their cave and on a hill overlooking the vineyard. 

Stop 5: imagery estate winery

They have a recently renovated outdoor area with yard games. All of their bottles feature art done by a local artist. Their wines aren’t our favorites but we find ourselves coming back here for the atmosphere. 

Dinner

Glen Ellen Star. Make reservations at least a month in advance. There is essentially no cell phone service at this restaurant. If you have a sober member in your party, definitely drive. If not I recommend calling a taxi company ahead of time to arrange for pickup or schedule an Uber/Lyft ahead of time. We sat outside of the restaurant for an hour once waiting on a taxi and another time we met a couple that drove us back to our hotel…learn from our mistakes. 

Day 4

Say goodbye to Sonoma and start planning your trip back on your way home.