Napa or Sonoma? Here’s What I’d Choose—And Why It Might Be Different for You
To be totally honest: when I first moved to California over 12 years ago, I knew next to nothing about wine. But that changed—fast. Since then, I’ve logged hundreds of hours exploring California’s wine regions, writing about Sonoma and Napa for a national magazine, and even wound up marrying a former winemaker. Living in San Francisco, Sonoma and Napa are the two wine region I visit most often, and I’ve experienced both as a total wine newbie and as a professional writing about wine and travel.
Over the years, I’ve come to enjoy Sonoma and Napa for different reasons. Though neighbors, both wine regions provide distinct experiences. Not sure which one is right for you? Let’s change that.
How far is Sonoma from Napa? Can I visit both in one trip?
Simple question, slightly complicated answer. Both Sonoma and Napa are the names of counties, wine regions, and towns, which can be a little confusing. Depending on where you’re headed in each region, it can take up to an hour or more on winding country roads to get between the two—so most visitors stick to one for a day trip.
If you’re visiting for a weekend, it’s more doable to visit both. I’d recommend basing yourself in Healdsburg (Sonoma) or Calistoga (Napa). These two small towns are connected by scenic Highway 128, with a handful of great wineries—like Stonestreet, Medlock Ames, and Spire Collection—along the 35-minute drive between them.
Alternatively, the Carneros AVA straddles both Sonoma and Napa on the southern end, just a short drive north of San Francisco, making it an easy base to explore the southern ends of both Napa and Sonoma. Carneros Resort and Spa is one of the main hotels here, and I’d highly recommend it. Carneros would be more of a resort getaway, whereas Healdsburg/Calistoga is more of a chance to stay in a cute, small town.
A quick comparison of Sonoma vs. Napa
In general, Sonoma is more laid-back and easier to find last-minute reservations or walk-ins for wine tastings—but it’s also more spread out. Although Sonoma has an extensive coastline with a number of vineyards there, most of the tasting rooms are concentrated more inland. Focus on the Russian River AVA if you want wine and nature. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the most popular grapes here.
Napa is a more luxurious and reservations are much more commonly required. It’s a more compact region, though, with all of its charming small towns lined up along a single stretch of Highway 29. Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of the region, though you’ll also find Chardonnay and plenty of other varietals like Merlot. The vibe tends to be a bit more chill the farther north you go, and Calistoga (the northernmost town) also happens to be a popular hot spring area.
Sonoma |
Napa |
|
|---|---|---|
Overall vibe |
Laid-back, less commercial, great for spontaneous trips | Luxurious, polished, more structured experience |
Affordability |
Generally more affordable for tastings, dining, and lodging | Tends to be more expensive across the board |
Ease of getting reservations |
Many places allow walk-ins or last-minute bookings | Most wineries require advance reservations |
Wine varietals |
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, some Merlot |
AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) |
19 AVAs, including Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Sonoma Coast | 16 AVAs, including Stags Leap, Rutherford, and Oakville |
Getting around |
More spread out—best explored by car or with a driver | More compact, with many wineries along Highway 29 |
Main towns |
Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Guerneville | Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Napa |
Napa also has a reputation for being more expensive than Sonoma. While both regions offer a range of hotels, tastings, and restaurants—from budget-friendly to high-end—I’d focus on Sonoma if cost is a concern.
Many wineries and tasting rooms serve wines from both regions, so when deciding between Sonoma and Napa, it’s more important to think about the kind of experience you want, how far you’re willing to drive, and what else you might want to do besides drink wine.
🚗 Which one’s closer? Well, it’s a bit of a tie. 🚗
Drive time from San Francisco varies based on your destination within Sonoma or Napa, and overall, both regions are about the same distance.
Where to go for a wine country day trip…
If you’re driving up from the San Francisco Bay Area for the day, I’d focus on one of these nearby areas in Napa or Sonoma, all of which are ~1 - 1.5 hours from the city, depending on traffic.
Carneros AVA
For a bit of Sonoma + Napa close to the Bay.
Drive time: ~1 hour
Wineries to visit: Donum, Hudson Napa Valley, Cline Family Cellars, Artesa, Kivelstadt Cellars & WineGarden
Where to eat: Bloom Carneros or Boon Fly Cafe
Undeniably, the Carneros AVA is one of the easiest areas to plan a day trip to, since it’s just about an hour north of the Bay Area. It straddles Sonoma and Napa, so you do get a bit of both. I’d start at Donum, a winery that also offers daily tours of their seriously impressive sculpture garden (see video). Grab lunch at Boon Fly Café, which is part of Carneros Resort and serves a mean burger and Southern fare. Or, get a bit closer to your next stop, Cline, with a meal at Bloom Carneros.
End with a leisurely afternoon at Cline Family Cellars. Their most basic wine tastings start at $25. However, since one of the highlights is their beautiful ranch property, I’d say it’s worth spending a little extra to sit outside, book a pond-side cabana, or opt for the picnic experience.
Napa (town)
Lunch with Laces + Limos
Napa’s main hub.
Drive time: ~1 hour
Take a tour: Laces + Limos tuk tuk wine tour or the Napa Valley Wine Train
Tasting with a pool pass: Ashes & Diamond
Where to eat: Mother’s Tacos
If you don’t want a long drive and prefer to ditch the car once you get there, the town of Napa offers plenty of flexibility. My personal favorite tour is Laces + Limos, a small business run by the lovely Michelle Helms and her partner, chef Dieter Pietsch. Choose a half- or full-day tour in their adorable electric tuk tuk, which includes a fresh, colorful lunch in the vineyards. One of the more underrated perks of this private tour is that Michelle can arrange tastings at lesser-known or hard-to-access wineries—a great option for collectors or anyone looking to avoid the more touristy spots.
Then, of course, there’s the Napa Valley Wine Train—an iconic experience, but kind of the opposite of Laces + Limos. It’s touristy and kitschy, and to be totally honest, I don’t love the wineries they stop at on some tours, like the full-day Legacy Experience. That said, the trains themselves are super fun, and the scenery from this vantage point is lovely, so I’d still recommend one of their Vista Dome experiences. (Pssst, probably not for a day trip, but they also have a murder mystery train ride 😉)
If you live in the area, Ashes & Diamond, just north of Napa, has a wine membership that includes pool passes and travel perks at partner hotels, making it a fun, summery day trip of wine + pool time.
After, Mother’s Tacos is one of my favorite, more casual places to get some food before heading back to the city.
Sonoma + Glen Ellen (town)
Drive time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Wineries to visit: Abbott’s Passage, Imagery Estate Winery, Hamel Family Wines, Benziger Family Winery
Where to eat: El Molino Central, Glen Ellen Star, Golden Bear Station
It’s a roughly 15-minute drive between the laid-back town of Sonoma and Glen Ellen, with a number of excellent wineries and places to eat along the way. It’s not too far from the Bay, and you get a great mix of charming small town and rural backroads.
Abbott’s Passage and Imagery Estate Winery are two of my favorite spots in the area. Both are relaxed and set on beautiful properties, with the option to sit inside or out in the gardens. Abbott’s also has a well-curated mercantile, while Imagery frequently hosts events like live music or dinners in the vineyard. I’ve also had my eye on Hamel Family Wines (reservations required), just across the road from Abbott’s, and Benziger, Imagery’s sister property, is also nearby.
A short drive away, you’ll find some excellent food. El Molino Central—known for its tamales—is hands down my favorite place to eat when I’m in the area. Glen Ellen Star is another great choice for wood-fired pizza and Cal-Italian fare. Both are Michelin Bib Gourmand winners.
If you’re a big foodie, Golden Bear Station up in Kenwood is worth the extra drive for dinner after a day of tasting.
Where to go for a weekend getaway…
Stop by The Prisoner Wine Company for a tasting on your way through St. Helena.
If you’re trying to make a weekend or overnight out of your adventure, it’s worth the drive to go a bit deeper into either wine region.
In Sonoma, Healdsburg is my absolute favorite place for a weekend getaway. You’re close to the Russian River and Dry Creek AVAs, both of which are incredibly scenic. Dry Creek is also popular for biking. The town itself has some excellent hotels (like Harmon Guest House and The Madrona), places to eat (don’t miss Little Saint or Troubadour), and tasting rooms (Marine Layer and Bloodroot are faves). It’s also a short drive—or medium bike ride—to wineries like Bricoleur, Flowers, Aperture, and Bella. Honorable mention to Preston Farm and Winery, whose wine is just fine—but their olive oil and picnic supplies at the casual, no-reservation-needed winery are worth going out of your way for.
On the Napa side, Calistoga makes a great overnight stop. You’ll pass through Yountville and St. Helena on the way up, so there are plenty of opportunities to stop for food or wine in any of the valley’s charming small towns. But ending the day in Calistoga—known for its natural hot springs and mud baths—is a relaxing way to unwind after a full day of eating and drinking.
Most of the hotels in the area offer mineral pools or spa amenities. On the more affordable end, there’s Dr. Wilkinson’s and the retro-chic Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa. If you’re splurging, look at the luxe Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection or Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley. All four hotels have soaking pools, but Solage and Four Seasons also have full-service spas. Although it doesn’t have hot springs or a spa, Brannan Cottage Inn is another charming favorite in downtown Calistoga.
Let me plan your perfect wine getaway
Whether it’s a day trip or weekend getaway, work with me to plan and book your perfect trip to Sonoma and/or Napa.
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✓ Personalized recommendations for restaurants, hotels, and wine tastings
✓ Day-by-day itinerary for your trip
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