Located in California's wine country, the Sonoma Raceway hosts a series of nationally televised events such as the NASCAR Nextel Cup and the American Motorcycle Association's Super-bike tour. Featuring a number of motor-sport events throughout year, this 1600-acre (647-hectare) raceway is where pro-racers from around the world, assemble to compete in some of the most popular races. Head down to this track to catch some of your favorite racers and teams in action, or enroll yourself in one of the local events and test your nerves on the racetrack.
Robert Mondavi is one of the most renowned vintners in Napa County, producing affordable and complex wines. The Robert Mondavi Winery offers several tasting tours varying in depth and price. The Taste of Wine is a two-hour formal tasting dedicated to training your palate as well as learning about various wine characteristics. Reservations are required all tours and tastings. In addition, the winery hosts countless concerts, art exhibits and community events. Visit the website for details on tours, tastings and events.
Located on top of a mountain, Pride Mountain Vineyards is spread out over 235 acres (95 hectares) and due to its vantage point, offers stunning views of Sonoma County. Offering exciting varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and more, the winery welcomes you to a tour of the estate and its most popular attraction, the caves. These caves lie about 50 feet (15 meters) below ground and the wine is aged in them in wooden casks. There are different, special, curated tasting sessions depending on location, so be sure to pick out your experience before visiting.
This restored grist mill, originally built in 1846, is still functional and visitors can see its massive millstones in action, where millers grind flour out of local wheat. Guided tours of the mill are highly recommended, and flour produced here can also be purchased as a souvenir. The verdant surroundings are a great addition to the historic charm of this site, with winding trails adding to the outdoorsy appeal of this park.
The Museums of Sonoma County, located in downtown Santa Rosa, consists of two museums, and together they stand in appreciation to Sonoma County's unique history, art and culture. The museums have over 25,000 exhibits of regional artistic and historic articles like wooden furniture, paintings, ceramics, documents, photographs and much more. The museums host a number of programs for children and families to educate them on art and local history. Tours are conducted to some of the area's historic sites. You can also visit the museums' shop where there is a large selection of creations from local artists.
Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, St. Francis has a talented wine-making team that focuses on producing high-quality varietals from hand-harvested grapes. Its two wine clubs give you the opportunity to sample new wines that are not available in retail stores and restaurants, while the Visitor Center offers a fantastic view of the mountains and vineyards (it can also be booked for weddings and other family functions). A knowledgeable staff is at hand to guide you through the intricate details of wine-making.
The vineyards in Sonoma are lush and extensive, and Domaine Saint George is no exception—it capitalizes on the natural richness of the area by cultivating top-notch grapes, the flavor of which is sure to cheer up many a barbecue or dinner party. The winery has been around for a long time, so expect quality produce. Boasting an excellent cellar, it takes utmost care in the preservation and blending of the varietals. Saint George has won enough Barrel Reserve Awards to fill up a keg, so fix up a date and let the wines flow!
A small winery located in the Bennett Valley, Sable Ridge introduces a minimum of four new wines in the market every year, and has been the proud recipient of several awards since 1998. Grapes grown in Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Valley are bottled to produce a number of varietals, including "rich and balanced Zinfandels" that top the list of Sable Ridge's hand-crafted wines. You can buy their wines both online and from various restaurants and retail shops in California.
Organic farming and wine-making is the hallmark of Helena View Johnston Vineyards. What started off as just appreciation for good wine has grown into a winery of exceptional Bordeaux Red varieties. The winery and tasting rooms are tucked into full grown trees with a cave built in for the storage and maturing of wines. The winery also buys top quality fruits from the neighboring farms to make its signature wines. You'll need to call ahead for a tour.
1998 Stony Hill White Riesling leaves a distinct tang of melon and apricot with each sip. Another vintage treasure of Stony Hill Vineyard is the 1996 Stony Hill Chardonnay that imparts a unique toasty taste with every sip mingled with a bit of apple and pear. Their wines are produced by crushing the grapes in oak cooperage and then left to age in oak barrels. This is something that helps in producing fine and aptly flavored wines. They say 'balanced' is the way to be.
This winery, situated in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, believes in environmentally-friendly farming habits. The wine estates are on Big Ranch Road in Oak Knoll and Los Carneros. This 50-acre (20-hectare) estate is famous for producing classy wines of the finest qualities like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This winery won the 'Estate Winery of the Year' award in 2000 by the Wine and Spirits magazine. One can take a tour of the estate and sample the wines by booking an appointment.
Moss Creek Winery produces some fine wines like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. This winery is owned by the Moskowite family who started grape farming in the serene Napa Valley in 1917. Made of old stone, the winery has vintage charm and hillside caves running beneath it. The winery also has a picnic area for visitors, which is an enchanting spot nestled amongst oak groves. Please book an appointment to visit this fantastic place.