On a recent day trip to Sonoma, CA, we were informed that the town of Sonoma was the capital of California eons ago, which lasted for only 25 days! We also learned that in Sonoma Plaza Park in the town square, wine could be publicly consumed. Just another good reason to visit Sonoma! Ha!
One of the reasons for our day trip was to experience some of the wineries. Of course, eating and shopping were on the list, too! We landed at the loungey Pangloss Cellars on the Plaza. It’s a great spot to sit on comfy couches and learn about their Bordeaux varietals. They also make a great Pinot and an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc that are reasonably priced. This Voltaire venue is a room for purely wine tasting as their wines are produced on Moon Mountain, located up in the hills outside of the city of Sonoma. Hence, no winery tours are available at this location but it’s worth the trip for the tastings and the fine food pairings. We were educated by a Sonoma native, Ivan Arredondo and I highly recommend asking for him when you make a reservation. I was so optimistic about the wines that I even joined their wine membership called The Optimist Society. Clink!
Food was next on the agenda. So, we sauntered through the park to Sunflower cafe. I had one of the tastiest grilled cheese sandwiches ever! It was made with the best quality baked bread and delicious cheeses. An arugula salad is placed aside this cheesy wonder, so I simply added the greens to the sandwich. Amazing combo! The décor is nothing to rave about, but the food? O.M.G. And, yes, they serve great wine, too!
Our next stop was shopping! We pulled into the Cornerstone Sonoma, a place filled with shops and more wine tasting rooms. Since it was during the holidays, there was a splendid snowmen exhibition for us to marvel at. Very cute! The gardens are exquisite and a perfect venue for an event. Just Ask me if you’d like my assistance with planning an event there. My favorite store at Cornerstone is Chateau Sonoma. This French vintage inspired boutique has everything from tea towels to home furnishings such as a vintage full bar with sink and faucets in pewter priced in the thousands $$$!
If you’d like to know more about what to do in Sonoma, Just Ask me! I know of a wonderful champagne house and several neighboring wine cellars to suggest.
Cheers!
