Valley and Vineyards is a region of Sonoma Country. It encompasses communities like Boyes Hot Springs, Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Schellville.

Here you’ll find a wide range of wineries, acclaimed restaurants, and terrific places to stay. Three examples are the Fairmont Sonoma Misson Inn and Kenwood Inn and Spa, both on Highway 12 and the Gaige House Inn, an intimate luxury property in Glen Ellen.

All three are well located to visit the nearby wineries, shops and restaurants of Sonoma Valley. To really learn about how the grape goes from vine to wine, take the daily Biodynamic Vineyard Tram Tour between 11:30 and 3:30pm at the Benziger Family Winery.

Sonoma Country tasting rooms can vary from rustic to elegant. In some cases, they are even communal. Let me give you some examples. If you like your zinfandel world-class, visit the Tuscan-themed tasting room of Harvest Moon Estate and Winery on Olivet Road in Santa Rosa. You can even sample their olive oil.

Two of our favorites tasting rooms are in Kenwood. One is the Family Wineries of Sonoma Valley tasting room where you can sample the wines of 5 small, family-owned wineries. The other is the Wine Room where some six wineries are represented. One is Tommy Smother’s Remick Ridge which means if he’s there you can also get a lesson in yo-yoing. A terrific place to stay in the area is the Gaige House Inn.

Every square inch of Sonoma Country is rich in local tradition, can boast of a colorful history and promise you a terrific time when you visit. For instance, Cloverdale where the vineyards meet the redwoods. Premium wineries abound in the area.

The 70 acre Russian River Park and Lake Sonoma are nearby. And it is chockful of history. Come January, thousands will descend on Cloverdale for their annual “Old Time Fiddle Festival.” This year it’s the weekend of January 26th and 27th.

When you’re headed that way, stop in Geyersville to visit Francis Ford Coppoloa’s Rosso and Bianco winery where you can enjoy an authentic Italian pizza with a gorgeous view. Further south, another wine treat is Mazzocco Vineyards located in the hills between Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys.

Happy Thanksgiving! Perhaps, by now, you’ve dined, reflected on all you have to be grateful for and you are now wondering what to do with the rest of the long weekend. How about a weekend stay in Sonoma Country to do some wine-tasting?

Pedroncelli and Peterson Wineries in Dry Creek Valley are having their Holiday Open Houses on Friday and Saturday. In neighboring Alexander Valley, stop by Stryker Sonoma Winery with its award-winning tasting room. In the Russian River Valley, Paradise Ridge has an open house this Friday and a winemaker dinner on December 9th.

Want to know what a male warthog does to attract a female. Trust me, there’s nothing to learn from it. But, the answer is part of one the most unusual and fun Valentine’s Day events on the calendar. It’s the 6th Annual Adults Only Tour, Dinner and Dance at Safari West in Santa Rosa on Saturday, February 10th. It all begins with a reception, then a safari tour through the Wildlife Preserve to learn how the bird and the bees do it and giraffes, elands and cheetahs. After that it’s dinner and dancing. And, uh, don’t let a warthog cut in. Safari West has a lodging package where you can stay in one of their luxury tents. There’s also plenty of hotels and inns in the area.

Highway 12 which cuts right through the middle of the Sonoma Valley is just full of great things to do. On the stretch between Boyes Hot Springs and Santa Rosa, there are wineries galore, terrific places to stay and dine and wonderful recreational areas for the outdoor enthusiast. One of our favorite hiking locations is Jack London State Park.

After working up an appetite, it’s fun to head into Glen Ellen for lunch and a little shopping. Two great places to stay in town are the Glen Ellen Inn and the Gaige House Inn. While there, we also enjoy visiting Landmark Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean, both on Highway 12 in Kenwood. As a matter of fact, Chateau St. Jean has an open house on the weekend of February 17th.

Have you ever tried wine surfing? It’s a very safe sport and you don’t need a wetsuit. Gourmet Au Bay, the Sonoma Coast’s only Seaside Wine Tasting Bar and Gift Boutique invites you to pick a spot on their deck overlooking Bodega Bay’s fishing fleet, windsurfers and diverse sea life. Select 3 two-ounce glasses of the six California Premium wines being served at the tasting bar every day and they come out to you on a mini surfboard. Voila! You’re wine surfing. Gourmet Au Bay’s gift shop offers glassware, jewelry and other Holiday gift items. Make a stop there part of a coastal getaway by checking into one of a number of great inns on the coast and enjoy all that Bodega Bay has to offer.

I always try to keep up with the doings of the Sonoma County Vintners. Established in 1946, this fine organization boasts 145 members. They range in size from small, family-owned wineries to the large volume corporations. Now one way the Sonoma County Vintners promotes Sonoma Country wines is by hosting a wide range of fun events that include informal wine tastings to their extravagant Sonoma Showcase held every summer. Suffice it to say, at this special time of year, all the member wineries will have their holiday finery on and will look forward to the opportunity of introducing you to their fine wines.

In winespeak, an appellation defines an area where a wine’s grapes were grown. On example is the Chalk Hill appellation which occupies the northeast corner of the Russian River Valley. Here you’ll find Chalk Hill Estate Winery. All 1200 acres of it.

On the property is an extraordinary conservatory overlooking an equestrian center. The winery’s executive chef uses produce from their organic gardens to create small plates that you can taste paired with their wines by signing up for their culinary tours on Monday, Thursdays and Fridays.

What a great reason to organize a midweek getaway to Sonoma Country. There are lots of terrific places to stay nearby.

With the Holidays fast approaching, Sonoma Valley wineries are filling their calendars with myriad activities that include all sorts of celebrations and parties.

Some are planning women’s nights out. Others offer special shopping assistance for men and yet others are promoting Holiday winemaker dinners.

Fortunately, the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance have posted a timely schedule called Holiday in the Vines on their colorful website. It’s a very easy way and an efficient way for you to find out where all these events are taking place. Pick one or two and include them in your Sonoma Valley Holiday getaway plans.