For travelers who love food and wine, Sonoma Valley is the land of milk and honey. Despite having some fire damage from 2017, Sonoma Valley is open, at work and has lots of exciting new happenings and creators to explore this spring.
Image courtesy of Experience Sonoma Valley, California
From new restaurants and wine releases, to author festivals and art exhibits, Sonoma Valley – a 17-mile long valley within Sonoma County that encompasses the city of Sonoma and the villages of The Springs, Glen Ellen, Carneros, Bennett Valley and Kenwood – is bursting with new activity. 
“On the heels of the Northern California wine country wildfires in October 2017, all of the small businesses in Sonoma Valley are looking forward to a successful 2018,” said Gary Saperstein, interim executive director of Experience Sonoma Valley, California. “While Sonoma Valley is always a great place to visit, we’ll be celebrating some exciting festivals, new restaurants and wine releases and anniversaries in 2018, making this a great year to come and visit California’s beautiful wine country.”
Image from Abbot’s Passage
Abbot’s Passage & Abbot’s Passage Supply Co.
For more than 150 years, the Bundschu family has farmed their estate vineyard and sixth-generation vintner, Katie Bundschu, just released Abbot’s Passage, a collection of small-lot, co-fermented field blends sourced from vineyards within Sonoma. Having just opened in February in downtown Sonoma, Abbot’s Passage Supply Co is a new retail space showcasing apparel and home goods alongside Abbot’s Passage tastings and workshops.
Newly Opened: Sugar Loaf State Park
Nearly three quarters of this state park ended up being damaged by the 2017 wildfires and the park was forced to close. This February, Sugar Loaf State Park reopened and is once again home to 25 miles of hiking trails, beautiful vistas showcasing views to San Francisco and camping grounds, and a public observatory with a new 40-inch telescope.
Image from Chateau St Jean
New Sparkling Wines at Chateau St Jean
Founded in 1973, Chateau St Jean was the very first winery in all of Sonoma to win the prestigious “Wine of the Year” award from Wine Spectator. Today, the winery, which narrowly escaped last October’s wildfires, has just released its first bottles of sparkling wines in 23 years! Have a taste of their Brut Cuvee Sparkling Wine and Brut Rose Sparkling Wine.
Image from The Rhône Room
New Wine Bar: The Rhône Room
The Rhône Room is Sonoma’s newest Wine Bar. What is better than a cozy lounge where you can sip over 85 wines from France and California?! Bonus, they have a super great patio.
Image from TIPS
New Comfort Food: TIPS Roadside
Starting with a food truck, Tri-Tip Trolley, the owners of TIPS are proud to now be serving wine country comfort food with a southern twist and a side of local wines and craft cocktails.
