Visit Santa Rosa, CA

Thanks to its central location in Sonoma County, we chose Santa Rosa as our home base for this leg of the trip—perfectly positioned for easy access to both coastal attractions and the rolling vineyard landscapes the region is famous for. Our plan was to explore a mix of natural beauty and wine country charm, including a day trip to the majestic Muir Woods National Monument and a curated selection of nearby vineyards. During our research, we discovered just how vast and diverse Sonoma County truly is. Spanning from the Pacific coastline in the west to the forested Mayacamas Mountains in the east, the county is home to nearly 60,000 acres of vineyards and boasts more than 425 wineries, making it one of the most prolific and scenic wine regions in California.

While we weren’t aiming to visit dozens of tasting rooms, we did want to include at least a few well-regarded spots that showcased the local terroir and delivered a quality experience. One standout that quickly rose to the top of our list was DeLoach Vineyards. Located just 7.1 miles from downtown Santa Rosa, DeLoach offered the ideal combination of convenience, beautiful surroundings, and a solid reputation for crafting exceptional wines. Known for its commitment to sustainable and organic practices, DeLoach specializes in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel, all grown in the cool-climate Russian River Valley. It turned out to be a relaxing and rewarding stop—exactly what we were hoping for in our brief taste of Sonoma wine country.

Click the above video poster image to view our California road trip which allows you to get a glimpse of San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito, Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey, Carmel by the Sea... We did this short video to inspire others to try it out.

Having thoroughly researched the wineries near Santa Rosa on our map, we ultimately chose to visit Deloach Vineyards. Situated within the esteemed Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, this region is renowned for its cool-climate wines, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay taking center stage. The estate itself exudes a captivating blend of rustic charm and refined elegance, showcasing sprawling vineyards, meticulously maintained gardens, and breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding countryside.

DeLoach is a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture, meaning they use organic farming methods and follow the rhythms of the earth and lunar cycles in their winemaking process. Visitors interested in sustainability and eco-friendly farming will appreciate learning about these practices during the tour.

As you can see in these images, the DeLoach Vineyards Tasting shop sits in the middle of one of their vineyards. Perhaps a half dozen tables, you tell the service staff what you want to do (you could select a "flight" of various wines, or you could zero in on one specific type). They have a small boxed charcuterie to have with your wine, and being that it was a nice day, we enjoyed ourselves as we snacked and tried their wines.

The tables in the patio area all had umbrellas to limit the sun if you desired. The inside area of the Tasting Shop contained bottles of their wines for sale, as well as some other merchandise - such as hats, t-shirts, etc.

We chose to do the wine tasting and the menu, shown above, had a Chardonnay, two Pinot Noir's, and a Zinfandel. We liked the Chardonnay the best and purchased a bottle before leaving. As you can see it was a picture perfect day, the temperature was in the mid 70s, the sun was shining, the wine was great and there wasn't anywhere else that we needed to be. If you are looking for a winery close to Santa Rosa we recommend giving it a try.

Sonoma Plaza is a vibrant hub that seamlessly blends a lively mix of restaurants and shops with the serene beauty of Sonoma State Historic Park. This captivating park encompasses six significant historical attractions, including the venerable Mission San Francisco Solano, the charming Blue Wing Inn, the historic Sonoma Barracks with its evocative servant quarters, and the elegant Toscana Hotel and Kitchen. General Vallejo's grand home, a testament to the region's rich history, is located less than a mile from the plaza. The entire area is meticulously maintained, and knowledgeable docents are readily available to provide insightful information and answer any questions.

There are 30+ wine tasting rooms within one block of the Sonoma Plaza, offering primarily Sonoma County wines (click here to view the complete list). This is California's largest town square, and there are a number of interesting shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms, etc, for you to visit or admire.

As can be seen in these images, the stores in Sonoma appeared to be prosperous - and yes - the Ferrari was owned by a local wine merchant. When he saw us admiring his car, he came out of his shop and spoke with us.

Wine Country Chocolates attracted our attention because they usually offer chocolate tastings. Unfortunately due to COVID tasting had been suspended. However we stopped in and purchased a mix of 7 chocolates and we relished them for the next few days as an afternoon treat. It's owned and operated by a mother and daughter who gave up their day jobs to become chocolatiers. It's a great story and their chocolate is fabulous. Check out their website (link below) for more information.

• Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
• Santa Rosa Article on the Wikipedia site
• History of Santa Rosa on the Britannica Website
• Sonoma History on the Britannica site
• Google search results list for "Accommodations in Santa Rosa"
• Google search results list for "Restaurants in Santa Rosa"
• Google search results list for "Restaurants in Sonoma"
• Google Image List for Sonoma
• Google Image List for Santa Rosa
• Napa & Sonoma Curated Wine Tour (day trip) from "Get Your Guide"
• Visit our Youtube Channel
• Our Image Gallery for Santa Rosa
• Wikipedia Article for Santa Rosa
• Google Image Gallery for Santa Rosa
• Google Reviews for Santa Rosa

As you can see in this static map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Each of the itinerary stops is linked to our content (or page) to allow you to view our content.