Cradled between two mountain ranges and located only 45 minutes north of San Francisco, Sonoma Valley is an appealing vacation destination for travelers and the birthplace of the famed California wine industry.
Sonoma Valley combines everything desired in a memorable travel experience – the finest wines, dining, lodging, and spas, a flourishing arts community, remarkable history and more than 13,000 acres of state and regional parkland. The valley also offers visitors beautiful scenery and a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.
The 17-mile long “Valley of the Moon” is lined with hundreds of acres of vineyard lands where many of the state’s world-class wines are created. Sonoma Valley is blessed with exactly the right combination of soil, sun, seasonal moisture and geography for growing wine grapes of exceptional quality. As a result, this small valley today ranks as one of the finest wine producing regions in the world and has been designated as its own appellation.
The boundaries of the Sonoma Valley are contained within the much larger Sonoma County. The valley begins in the north at the edge of Santa Rosa and extends 17 miles south to the Carneros area, encompassing the cities/towns of Sonoma, Glen Ellen and Kenwood and more than 40 wineries. The Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the Sonoma Mountains to the west border the valley.
The City of Sonoma’s eight-acre Plaza is rimmed with old adobe buildings and carefully preserved historic structures. Lining the square are the former Mexican army barracks, 19th century hotels and the pristine Mission San Francisco Solano, as well as chic boutiques, bounteous shops and extraordinary restaurants. Sonoma also hosts a number of annual events, many of which are centered on or around the historic Plaza, such as the Ox Roast, Sonoma International Film Festival, Sonoma Jazz+, Sonoma Valley Olive Festival, and Vintage Racecar Festival.
The Sonoma Valley has attracted famed writers and artists since the legendary author and adventurer Jack London was inspired by the area to write “Valley of the Moon” and to spend his final years here on his Beauty Ranch in Glen Ellen, now a state historic park.
For information on the Sonoma Valley or to receive a free Visitors Guide, contact the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, located on the historic Sonoma Plaza, at (707) 996-1090 or visit www.sonomavalley.com.