We had a fantastic experience at Hess Persson Winery--easily one of the best in Napa. We sampled…read morethe release wines, including the Moon Mountain Cab, and everything was exceptional. The cheese plate paired perfectly and elevated the tasting even more. The estate itself is peaceful, beautiful, and set high up on Mt. Veeder with stunning views--it's the perfect place to relax and really enjoy the moment. The wines are outstanding across the board, and the reserve pours were a real highlight. What truly sets this winery apart is the people. Alicia, the manager, was excellent--welcoming, attentive, and incredibly accommodating. Jason and another top manager also stopped by, made us feel right at home, and even treated us to extra pours of their high-quality reserve wines, which was a great touch. We will be back for another great experience if they will have us again

Absolutely unbelievably fantastic time! Our wine educator Lance, was the BEST!! If you are lucky…read moreenough to do a tasting with him, you are guaranteed a experience that is equally educational as it is fun! He went above and beyond for our bachelorette trip and this tasting was a highlight of the weekend. The space is beautiful and be sure to check out the art gallery. I'd recommend this winery a million times over.

Just off of the bike path and in Depot park, this quaint museum offers local history, rotating…read morehistorical exhibitions, and a side room completely dedicated to Sonoma railroad history. Books and postcards on Sonoma history are available for sale on premises. I've immensely enjoyed the exhibitions. (Especially the one on the history of the Springs) Highly recommend!

The Sonoma Depot Park Museum is a hidden gem. Despite its close proximity to the Plaza, with the…read moremission&the presidio, it's relatively uncrowded. It's open only from Friday to Sunday. The volunteer docents are very friendly, and there's plenty of history on railroads in Northern California, the Bear Flag Revolt, the local Miwok/Pomo Indians, and a current exhibit on the Sonoma Valley hot springs as a tourist attraction until Prohibition. The Depot Museum also has 3 dioramas with creepy mannequins depicting the Bear Flag Revolt, an 1860s schoolhouse, and a typical children's nursery from the Victorian era.They're not that different from the ones at the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga, or the Bl. Junipero Serra one at the nearby California Missions Museum behind Cline Cellars. The Depot Museum is a fascinating, fun little destination. Educational and interesting.

Happened to be in town on the first Thursday of the month and checked out the Sonoma Art walk…read more Great turnout and great pours across all the stops. Arts Guild was the host of this months walk great event and friendly staff. What a great event!

When I'm in a new Town, if there's a local Arts Guild Shop, I'm there. Some of my best gifts or…read morehome artistic flourishes have come from such Cooperatives, with notable places including Barcelona, Edmonton, and Spirit Lake Iowa. And no matter where I go, I find the selection to be varied and unique, the quality high, the prices reasonable, and the background to a particular piece to be fascinating. I also feel good about supporting local artists and truly feel that such places are the best gift shops in Town. This time around, I bought a beautiful ceramic table piece. It has a distinct shape, stunning red colouring, good heft, and a nice feel to the touch. It was designed and crafted by Beverly Prevost, who I had chance to meet a few minutes later at La Haye Are Center next door. The Guild member working the Gallery was friendly and informative, and I didn't mind helping her figure out how to work the credit card machine. After all, Right Brain Creativity doesn't always translate to an immediate grasp of Left Brain Details.

Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 ©…read moreLife takes you places. Figuratively speaking and literally, too. It took me to Sonoma downtown this Saturday in May! Sonoma Court Shops is a courtyard across the street from historic Sonoma Plaza, an outdoor space full of shops, wine tasting rooms and galleries. Never knew it was there, a truly surprise find! Wine county treasure. Fountains, arches covered in greenery, retail shops, little oasis of pleasure and joy. Gastronomically satisfied belly, after delicious brunch in San Francisco, called for relaxation with a good bottle of wine. It's time for the soul. Over the Golden Gate I go! And back into yelping, after a month-long break, taken for full immersion in work. Life's been busy, my friends! That's how I do things - I dive in! With everything I have! Drove to wine country and ended up in Sonoma Court Shops walkways. It's a Vine Alley, come explore! A welcoming European detour is sure to please. You'll thank me later! I landed at Sosie tasting room. Had an amazing time. Buonissimo! Hope you're finding simple joys in everyday life. A wish ambitious enough? :-) *I love you, baby, and if it's quite all right I need you, baby, to warm these lonely nights I love you, baby Trust in me when I say I love you, baby... I love you, baby... Cheers! Missed E v e r y o n e !!! Happy Mother's Day! [ Review #700 & FTR posted with 9 pictures on May 8, 2022 ] Fountain @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 Vine Alley @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 Beautiful Saturday! @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 Please Come Back Soon! @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 Sosie Wines @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22 Fulcrum Wine Tasting @Sonoma Court Shops CA Sat 5/7/22

So fun! I love Sonoma. One of my favorite shops was Tiddle E. Winks…read more They have lots of vintage candy and games. The staff was Super friendly and very helpful!

Beautiful curation! Lovely space. Really great to visit. Nice selection. Lovely curator.read more

If you are looking for exquisite art which is fairly priced you will be thrilled with Aerena…read moreGalleries. I've been working with Eddie DeLeon for a year now. He took the time to get to know my style and curated numerous pieces that look stunning in my new home. Eddy brought art into my home with no obligation to purchase. In addition to pieces I selected to view in my home, Eddy brought some of his own ideas. The result was just beautiful. I recently spent a weekend in Carmel going to numerous galleries. Not once did I see anything that matches the sophistication and beauty that Aerena brings as well as the fair price they put on the art. I look forward to finding more treasures at Aerena Galleries & Gardens.

What an absolute hidden gem! I've been dying to come here for some time and I'm so glad we finally…read moremade it out. It's simple: go to the market, purchase a prepaid tasting card (we did $25 split between 2 people), and enjoy a rotation of 24 wines ranging from 2oz to a full glass. Each wine is priced differently and range from $2 a taste, to $20 a glass; which is an INCREDIBLY great deal for Napa! Try wines anywhere from Napa & Calistoga to France & South Africa. The person who helped us at the Marketplace (where you buy the card) was so helpful and nice. She even let us know you can grab a glass and walk around the premise. We ventured to the culinary museum upstairs and observed some students prepping for a big event coming up. I can only imagine taking a glass outside to the garden during the summer! Just bring back your glass! If you're looking for a do-it-yourself kind of wine tasting, look no further! Love it here and can't wait to come back!

Here's why you'll want to go to Wine Bar at Copia:…read more * You have no interest in seeing or interacting with anyone; * You want to sample wines not just from the Napa Valley but from regions as far away as, say, Israel as well; * You don't need anyone trying to sell you more than just a glass of wine nor do you wish to hear anyone wine-speak; and finally * You have a good board game/card game/novel to write and you'd like to undertake that venture in a quiet, nice environment while drinking wine. Sitting across the parking lot from the uber-popular Oxbow Market, Copia is a wholly different experience. What it started as didn't work out, then the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) moved in, and what's there now is evolving at a snail's pace. This might be the most low-key place in the whole of Napa Valley. Literally, there is a ton of space, indoor, outdoor, and upstairs and now there's a self-serve wine bar featuring upwards of 20 wines. The drill goes like this: go to the gift shop at Copia and purchase your wine card ($25 or $50) then walk over to the Wine Bar at Copia (15 seconds away) and use that card to select and pour wines of your choice. There's nobody here checking up on you or checking in on you and, if your experience is like mine, you will have to yourself (if you choose to stay in this space) a very nicely appointed space in which to do pretty much whatever you desire. I had just come from a winery wine tasting before landing here so I failed to use up my $25 credit but now that I know it's here I'll be back to do so. Sometimes avoiding the crowds is desirable and if that's the mood you're in, this is the perfect place for that.

The Napa lighted art festival is a fun way to walk around downtown Napa and be in awe of the…read morecreativity and the beauty of art. It is free you can bring your kids and dog. You can walk around downtown, go to dinner and continue on your journey, enjoying the sites. Everything's within walking distance. I recommend going in January because a lot of the lighted buildings are on display. We walked around Friday, 9 February. The lighted buildings were no longer but they're still a lot to see. The event continues over to the Oxbow. It's a great way to spend time.

Have been three years in a row. Love walking around and looking at the art work, people watching…read moreand grabbing a drink and a bite every so often. Great way to spend a winter evening.

Small fire museum right in downtown Benicia. Interesting and items are well presented. You can…read morealso see the Benicia historic museum for no additional charge