Napa & Sonoma attractions

The oldest continually operating winery in the Napa Valley wine region, Beringer Vineyards was established in 1876 in St. Helena and sits on a regal estate listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Head to a tasting room to explore a flavorful selection of winery-exclusive wines and special reserve vintages produced by the winery’s prized vineyards.

There are plenty of ways to navigate California Wine Country, but few rival the charm of the Napa Valley Wine Train. Offering visitors the chance to travel on restored, vintage locomotives, the Wine Train has on-board kitchens serving gourmet meals of farm-fresh fare paired with local wine. Some routes also include a tasting at a Napa winery.

A brewpub in the heart of California wine country, the HopMonk Tavern is known for craft beers, live music, and a fun atmosphere—it’s a great place to get a taste of local brews in an area famous for its wine. Housed in a historic stone and timber farmhouse, it’s particularly lively on sunny days when the patio becomes a beer garden and fire pits keep you warm during the evenings.

Stretching between the Russian River to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, Alexander Valley is a key wine-growing region in Sonoma Valley, featuring over 40 wineries and about 15,000 acres (6,070 hectares) planted to grapevines. Stretching for 22 miles, it includes the towns of Healdsburg, Geyserville, and Cloverdale.

Old Faithful Geyser of California, in Napa Valley, is one of the most visited places in the American West. This isn’t Old Faithful, that’s in Yellowstone Park. But, this geyser erupts roughly every 10 to 45 minutes, sometimes more frequently. It has its own museum dedicated to geology, an animal farm and petting zoo, and bocce courts.

The world’s first entirely subterranean winery, Jarvis Estate stands out, even within the crowded Napa Valley scene. Housed in an architecturally striking, excavated cave, the winery was founded more than 35 years ago. Today, it’s celebrated for producing ultra-premium cabernet sauvignon– and chardonnay-based wines, although the property also grows small lots of merlot, petit verdot, cabernet franc, and tempranillo.

Fort Ross State Historic Park in Sonoma County is part fortress, part settlement. It was originally built in 1812 as part of the Russian-American Company, a commercial enterprise to supply goods to Russian outposts in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Most of the buildings date to 1836 and offer a well-preserved peek into an overlooked piece of California history.

Located a quick and easy 15 minutes north of Napa, the little city of Yountville is a fun addition to any wine country vacation must-do list. It’s the type of place where you don’t necessarily need to have a plan. Simply wander down Washington Street, which boasts plenty of award-winning tasting rooms and top-rated restaurants to consider.

Known as Napa Valley’s Main Street, the buzzing city of St. Helena is one of the most popular hubs for wine country visitors, and for good reason: it has its own American Viticultural Area (AVA designation, which comprises over 400 wineries. Beyond the vines, the city’s Michelin-starred eateries and appealing shops add to its charm.

Founded in 1977, Napa Valley’s Grgich Hills Estate produces wine with a focus on organic grapes and sustainable farming practices. Cofounder Mike Grgich is best known for winning the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting with his Château Montelena chardonnay, which helped put the Napa wine region on the map.

Set in California’s Napa Valley, the Silverado Trail is a historic country road that runs parallel to Highway 29. Between Napa in the south and Calistoga in the north, travelers will find roughly 40 vineyards dotting this 30-mile (48-kilometer) trek, with wineries famous for their big-bodied red wines and cabernet sauvignons.

Visitors looking for an unusual way to taste their way through California’s wine country can ride through the beautiful Sonoma Valley on an authentic replica of a late 1890s San Francisco cable car. No need for a designated driver or clambering in and out of a limousine; everyone has a window seat aboard the vintage, open-air Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley.

Indulge in a wine tasting and choose from a variety of tours at this family-owned winery in Rutherford. Located along the Silverado Trail, ZD Wines specializes in chardonnay, pinot noir, and cabernet sauvignon and is a certified organic winery.

Located in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA, which stretches across parts of Napa and Sonoma Counties, Larson Family Winery was founded in 1987. Since then, it has turned out consistently excellent wines, many of which have won prestigious awards. Its facilities are equipped for visitors of all ages.

With a prime location between the Pacific coast and Northern California wine country, the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol offers culinary and outdoor activities that represent the best of the region. Visitors enjoy the laid-back vibe of the town, which isn’t typically as crowded as wine country hotspots like Healdsburg and Sonoma.

For a coastal escape head to Jenner in northern California. Roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers southwest of Sonoma County, this tiny seaside town is situated along the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Russian River. It boasts uncrowded beaches and miles of trails in a serene setting. If you are looking to sit back, unplug, and recharge then Jenner is the place for you.

Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Andretti Winery was founded by legendary race car driver Mario Andretti. The 42-acre (17-hectare) Tuscan village–style winery is an idyllic setting to sample the variety of wines produced at the vineyard, including red, white, sparkling, dessert, and port.

Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County and best known for its Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley offers more than a century of grape-growing history and is one of the first California growing regions recognized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA. With more than 9,000 acres of vines and 70+ wineries to choose from, the Dry Creek Valley is an oenophile's paradise.