During a conference in San Francisco, my boss Joe wanted to thank a few of our clients for working with us over the years, renting a limousine to tour California’s wine country.

One of the wineries on our list was Sebastiani, located in the heart of Sonoma.  This historic winery has been providing some of the best wines in the region for over a century.  Opening in 1904, Samuele Sebastiani, an immigrant from the Tuscany region of Italy wanted to provide wines to San Francisco restaurants and his friends and family.

The only Sonoma winery to survive prohibition (they provided wine to the local churches), the winery was passed down from one generation to the next (August, Sam) and has grown to become one of the most recognized wineries in all of Sonoma.  We were so excited to visit the winery’s tasting room and explore the winery with an informational tour.

Today, Sebastiani is focused on developing its exceptional estate wines from vineyards with optimal terroir for wine production.  Daily wine tastings are offered for groups of six and less without a reservation from 10AM to 4:30PM.  The 30 minute tasting costs $20 per person and wines by the glass are offered as well ranging from $7 – $10.  In addition, the winery offers a wide range of educational tasting opportunities to include wine and food pairings in addition to locally crafted foods, cheeses and chocolates, the winemaking process, and the history of winemaking.

Have you had the opportunity to visit one of Sonoma’s oldest wineries?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my brief visit to Sebastiani and wishing you many Happy Travels!  Cheers!

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What to See and What to Do:

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery
389 4^th Street East
Sonoma, CA  95476
Telephone:  707 933 3200

• Amenities:  a hospitality center, barrel room with antique redwood tanks, grand event space and daily tours and tastings; culinary and wine tastings;

Where to Stay:

Silverado Resort and Spa
1600 Atlas Peak Road
Napa Valley, CA   94558
Telephone:  707 257 0200

Where to Eat:

The Girl & The Fig
110 West Spain Street
Sonoma, CA  95476
Telephone:  707 938 3634  x10

I love the concept of food and wine pairings in this charming brasserie. I would definitely order the fromage tower.

What to Eat in Sonoma: 

• Dungeness Crab from nearby Bodega Bay, usually starting in November.  Call ahead to confirm as “crab catches can be unpredictable”.
• Free-range chicken from Petaluma Poultry has been serving up juicy birds since 1969.
• Goat cheese
• Lamb at Marin Sun Farms
• The Olive Press produces Sonoma’s second-largest harvest of olives.
• Peaches in Healdsburg from Dry Creek Peach & Produce
• Pekin Duck from Liberty Ducks/Sonoma County Poultry in Penngrove has been around for four generations
• Pork from Front Porch Farm which offers a wide range of breeds to include European Mangalitsa, Mulefoot, Red Waffle and Tuscan Cinta Senses pigs.

What to Read: 

• Divisadero, by Michael Ondaatje
• A Fire Story, by Brian Fies
• Into the Forest, by Jean Hegland
• The Life She Wants, by Robyn Carr
• The Road to Hope, Crissi Langwell
• The Underside of Joy, by Sere Prince Halverson

Photo Guide for Sonoma: 

• Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve, Guerneville
• The Barlow, Sebastopol
• Domaine Carneros Villas and Vineyards for incredible views of the chateau and gardens.
• Duncans Landing at Bodega Bay for coastal views and beach scenes
• The Fremont Diner, Sonoma:  Check out the “Greetings from Sonoma” sign
• Paradise Ridge Winery Sculptures, Santa Rosa for works of art throughout the estate
• Petaluma Historical Library & Museum for its amazing interior
• Petaluma Pumpkin Patch for the sunflower field and animals from the petting zoo
• River’s End Restaurant in Jenner is perfect for photographing the sunset
• The Russian River
• Salt Point State Park’s Sandstone Hills showcases spectacular sandstone rocks and panoramas of the Pacific Ocean
• Screamin’ Mini’s to photograph all of the ice cream flavors of the rainbow and interior
• Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Santa Rose for beautiful waterfalls and spectacular nature
• Tea Room Cafe in Petaluma for foodie photos