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With lush landscapes, extensive coastlines, and gorgeous weather year-round, the best time to visit Sonoma County is, arguably, any time of year. Sonoma has an exceptional dining scene, easy access to fresh produce, beautiful hotels that range from slick resort stays to charming boutique properties, and ample opportunities like festivals and natural parks that make it an ideal getaway for a long weekend or even a whole week. But as with any destination, planning when to go depends on the kind of trip you want to have. This is all the more important when visiting California wine country: If you want to witness the vineyards during harvest season, you need to time your visit correctly for an exceptional experience that gets you up close with the winemakers. (And be sure you know how to pack wine in your suitcase.)
To nail down the best time to visit Sonoma County, I spoke to a group of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists who specialize in visits to wine regions like Sonoma: Stephane Tillement, president and founder of luxury travel agency Wine Paths; Ania Gatto, proprietor and lead concierge of Wine Country Concierge; and Liz Caskey of Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences, a boutique travel firm. Below, they share the best time to visit, when to go for a more affordable trip, how long to stay, and what to check out during your first time.
Jump to topic:
- When is the best time to visit Sonoma County?
- When is the cheapest time to visit Sonoma County?
- When is peak season in Sonoma County?
- When visiting Sonoma County for the first time, where should I go?
- How many days do I need to spend in Sonoma County as a first-timer?
- What else should I know before visiting Sonoma County?
When is the best time to visit Sonoma County?
All our travel experts agreed that the best time to visit Sonoma County is during the autumn: “It’s when everything comes alive in the vineyards with the harvest in full swing,” says Tillement of Winepaths. “It’s a genuinely unique opportunity to connect directly with the producers out in the fields, to really understand the intricacies of the harvest firsthand.”
That said, because the farmers and winemakers will be busy with their work in the fall, visiting at this time also may have its drawbacks. “A lot of them are going to be 100% engaged with getting crop in and not focused on visits,” says Caskey of Liz Caskey Culinary and Wine Experiences. Some wine estates may have the bandwidth to accommodate travelers during the autumn peak season, but on the whole, they will be quite preoccupied. If you want a less hectic, more intimate visit with winemakers and vineyard owners, Caskey suggests visiting in the offseason.
Naturally, Northern California’s temperate climate makes the entire calendar a good opportunity to visit Sonoma County. In the spring, everything is green from the winter rain and in bloom. During summer visits, beautiful dinners composed of lush in-season produce on terraces with balmy breezes and late sunsets are commonplace. And hotels have lower nightly rates in the winter, and winemakers—those who are around—will usually have more time to spend with you. “While it can be chilly in the winter months, there’s something lovely about curling up next to a fireplace with a glass of Pinot Noir,” Caskey says. “And with no crowds, it will feel like you own the place.”
When is the cheapest time to visit Sonoma County?
The cheapest times to visit Sonoma County are the shoulder seasons, as well as the winter offseason. “Early spring and the weeks after Thanksgiving are the most intimate times to visit,” says Gatto of Wine Country Concierge. “Winemakers and winery owners have more time to spend with you indoors instead of the bustling summer and fall when their days are full.”
For the most affordable stay, plan to take your trip to Sonoma County during the winter months, from January to March. “This period typically has the best deals on flights, car rentals, and hotels,” Tillement says. “The moderate climate still allows for pleasant outdoor activities, including coastal walks and redwood forest explorations.”
If you travel to Sonoma County during the offseason, remember to check restaurant schedules: “During this time, some places will prune their hours of operations,” Caskey says, because of declined foot traffic. “However, people actually live in Sonoma town, near Santa Rosa—and Healdsburg—and many great spots are open year-round.
When is peak season in Sonoma County?
When it comes to wine destinations like Sonoma County, the best time to visit is usually harvest season, which means it’s also peak season. This is when most oenophile travelers descend on the wineries to get up close and personal with the harvesting process. “Harvest starts in August with whites and ends in October with reds,” Gatto says. “Visitors can often see the crush process at wineries, which includes the sorting of grape clusters and the evolution of their juice into wine.”
Given the popularity of visiting during the autumn harvest, it’s important to secure your reservations well in advance—winery visits, restaurant tables, hotel rooms, and even private drivers and rental cars (always have a designated driver in your travel group!). Beyond the grape harvest time, summer is also a popular season in Sonoma County, with plenty to see, eat, and do. “You get perfect weather for outdoor activities and a lively atmosphere with various festivals and events,” Tillement says. Summer is arguably an even better time to visit for travelers who do not drink: “During pleasant evenings, wineries host outdoor events and amazing culinary experiences.”
When visiting Sonoma County for the first time, where should I go?
Sonoma County is massive, with a land area of about 1,500 square miles, and it has plenty of natural parks, coastlines, and charming towns to explore. And for wine fans: There are 19 officially designated American Viticultural Areas within the Sonoma County Terroir, from Carneros to Alexander Valley (one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Places to Go in the US in 2025), which means countless wines to taste and discover.
Gatto has a few favorite wine destinations within Sonoma County, including Carneros in the county’s southern region, which is just an hour by car from San Francisco: “The rolling hills there are planted with grapes that make the region’s best sparkling wines. The winery Gloria Ferrer is not to be missed. It’s owned by a Spanish family from Catalonia who has been making sparkling wine for generations, and they’ve been doing it in California since the 1980s.” In classic Healdsburg, where you’ll find luxurious wine country stays like the sumptuous Montage Healdsburg, Gatto recommends the town’s boutique shops and many tasting rooms. As for restaurants, she recommends Bravas, a Spanish tapas bar and a local institution.
For travelers who do not drink, there are many activities in Sonoma County that are not wine-related, especially because the area has fantastic produce and dining everywhere. Caskey suggests looking for seasonal food festivals, like the Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sebastopol, featuring apple treats and apple-focused activities. (This year’s Gravenstein is scheduled for August 9 and 10.) If you want a foodie road trip, head to the coast and eat oysters in Bodega Bay, about 40 minutes from Santa Rosa, or taste cheeses along Sonoma’s section of the California Cheese Trail, which includes the cities of Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Petaluma.
It’s also worth noting that families will have plenty of options to keep their kids entertained while the adults have their sips of vino. Caskey, a parent to children aged ten and eight years old, says, “The vibe in Sonoma County is more kid-friendly and less rigid than Napa Valley.”
How many days do I need to spend in Sonoma County as a first-timer?
For a first-time visit to Sonoma County five to six days is best. This allows you to factor in travel time on the road and sink into a slower pace of travel in Sonoma County. Gatto suggests flying into San Francisco and driving north over the Golden Gate Bridge, while taking a stop at the Muir Woods National Monument for a hike and a bit of forest bathing. (For more direct access, Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport puts you right in Santa Rosa, and 10 minutes away from Healdsburg; 30 minutes from Petaluma; and 40 from Sonoma, the historic city that lends the county its name.)
Tillement suggests a short itinerary that hits Healdsburg, Petaluma, and Sonoma town: “Healdsburg sits at the intersection of three wine valleys—Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley, allowing travelers to discover many vineyards. Petaluma is a haven for both foodies and outdoor enthusiasts. Lastly, Sonoma offers cultural activities with historic sites and museums, as well as farm to table restaurants and wellness retreats.” You can do one day in each, Tillement says, but it would be best to stretch it all out into a week.
What else should I know before visiting Sonoma County?
No matter the kind of trip you plan to Sonoma County, you will likely be outside and on your feet for long stretches of time. Gatto recommends opting for comfortable walking shoes so you can explore the vineyards and hike the trails nearby. And if you have accessibility needs, be sure to inform your hotel and the places you’re visiting.
It cannot be emphasized enough: Secure your reservations in advance. “Due to high demand, particularly on weekends and during peak season, many restaurants and wineries require reservations,” Tillement says. “Booking in advance often leads to a more personalized and intimate visit.”
Given the sheer amount of options from lodging and wineries to dining and activities, deciding what to emphasize on a visit to Sonoma County can be super overwhelming. To mitigate that feeling, Caskey says, “Don’t look at this as your ‘one shot’ chance to visit Sonoma. It’s a place to be visited and revisited. Most people fall in love and want to return. It’s country life, with a rhythm that doesn’t get under your skin until you’re on your third day. Your body literally recalibrates to the clean air. You should enjoy that.”
Most importantly: Do not drink and drive. If you plan on tasting wine, appoint a travel buddy as your designated driver; alternately, hire a private driver to take you around Sonoma County. “Uber is available, but it can take a while and is unreliable outside of the immediate areas of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg,” Caskey says.
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