As the birthplace of California cuisine, the San Francisco Bay Area has attracted food and wine lovers for decades. In Sonoma Valley, local farmers and wine growers offer some of the finest produce available, and it’s not uncommon to hear lots oohs and aahs from out-of-town visitors at the farmers markets. However, with a long list of options, deciding where to go and what to do can be daunting. Here are our top Valley culinary experiences, sure to bring out your inner gourmet.
GET CHEESY
Award-winning Sonoma Chefs Sheana Davis and Ben Sessions have been ardent advocates of the local cheese industry in Sonoma for over two decades. As talented cheesemakers as they are teachers, Sheana and Ben instruct their students at The Epicurean Connection with contagious enthusiasm. Sign up for dynamic, hands-on cheese classes or private ones, grab a group of your besties or make it a fun day of team building with your colleagues. After making your own homemade ricotta, you may even get a chance to sample Sheana’s own cheese, Délice de la Vallée, a triple-cream blend of cow and goat milk. Mmm!
If tasting is more your thing, check out the Vella Cheese Company--a Sonoma institution. The story of Vella Cheese is the history of Sonoma cheese making. Housed in a brick building that was a former brewery, Vella Cheese has been making world-class jack, cheddar, and Italian style cheeses by hand since the 1930s. Still family run and still offering samples of the wonderful offerings, Vella Cheese is a must-stop for foodies in the know.
FOOD & WINE TOURS
Take your tastebuds for an unforgettable walk around the Sonoma Plaza on one of the two walking food tours in the city of Sonoma: Award-winning Gourmet Food & Wine Tours, and Sonoma Food Tour, visit three highly acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants and eat fabulous dishes made entirely from local produce. Your tour guides will teach you the who’s who of the local chef scene, the ins and outs of the food history of Sonoma. Meanwhile, the tours offer specially selected “off-the-beaten-path” food locations within the quaint historic downtown square of Sonoma. The food and wine and cocktail samplings stimulate your senses and whet your appetite for more.
OLIVE OIL TASTINGS
Sonoma Valley has long been a hotbed for artisan olive oil production, paving the way for the Cline family, who has been crafting specialty extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars in Sonoma Valley since 2013. Stop by The Olive Press, their Tuscan-inspired tasting room and mill off of Arnold Drive, and let the friendly staff guide your through their delicious and diverse extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar. Or get geeky with a private group tour to go deep into the production experience.
Further afield of Sonoma Valley, west of Petaluma, be sure to visit the stately McEvoy Ranch, where their incredible views, surprising wines, delicious olive oils and incredible array of olive-oil based products will keep you busy for hours. Private tours available.
SONOMA VALLEY'S FARMS
Farms are what have made Sonoma Valley a top culinary destination for decades. Not only can you taste their delicious products in the Valley's many restaurants, but you can also have the opportunity to taste them directly on site in the places where they are grown. Each one offers its own charms. Visit Oak Hill Farm to learn about biodynamic farming and browse the bounty at their Red Barn Store. Go to Cassidy Ranch and pick your own berries (while also sampling their elegant wines). Spend the night at Beltane Ranch's farmhouse on 100 acres of pristine land. And visit Charlie's Acres, a family favorite, to learn about the special farm animals who grace their sanctuary. If agrotourism is your passion, check out Sonoma County Farm Trails for an active map of great farms to visit.
VISIT OUR FARMER'S MARKETS
The bounty of produce in Sonoma Valley makes a visit to one of our farmer's markets a true adventure for epicures. Featuring a cornucopia of produce, breads, flowers, handmade specialty products, and crafts--and by a variety of fascinating farmers and makers--you'll feel like you've been transported to a bygone era. Whether you're staying in a vacation rental or have access to just want to pick up some ingredients for a picnic (or gifts for the folks at home), you'll regale in the colors, slow browsing, and answers to all of your juicy food questions by local producers. The Friday Morning Farmer's Market at Depot Park runs year round, from 9am-1pm is is the most extensive market in the Valley. But if you want to take in a bunch of fun all at once--complete with food trucks, live music, and varsity-level picnicking, make sure to visit the Tuesday Night Farmer's Market on the Sonoma Plaza, from May through September, from 5pm-8pm.
TAKE A COOKING CLASS
Taking a cooking class is a great way to connect with your travel companions, while bringing the flavors of Sonoma Valley home with you. Check out the Epicurean Connection (see above) for fun hands-on cheesemaking classes--perfect for groups. Get acquainted with the Calendar of Events at Sonoma Community Center for regular cooking classes, often taught by local culinary heroes. And don't forget to visit the original Williams Sonoma location on Broadway, where a wide variety of cooking demonstrations tempt the senses. You don't have to be an expert to participate.
