Back in July Drew planned a weekend trip to Sonoma for my birthday – I had told him previously I wanted to go somewhere warm for my birthday. Even though San Francisco is considered ‘mild weather’, I’m always chilly. Sonoma did not disappoint and during the day it was in the 90s, too hot dare I say.
We stayed at a charming Airbnb cottage, an old shed that the owners fixed up and had on their property. The owners also had chickens, cats & the sweetest doodle, Gilligan, who was happy to say hello to us. (Also really liking “Gilligan” for a dog’s name). It also had a hot tub, which was so nice to relax in after it cooled off in the evenings.
We’ve gone to Sonoma wineries before but have not spent much time in the downtown area. The Airbnb was a short bike ride from the square (bikes included with the rental). We rode to the downtown square our first afternoon, the neighborhood along the way has a lot of charming homes and is very peaceful. One difference you’ll notice visiting Sonoma vs Napa is that Sonoma is less commercialized than Napa. Napa downtown has tons to offer and likely more restaurants, which has its draws. But if you don’t want to feel like a tourist, then Sonoma is probably more for you.
The shops are great to explore and there was a variety. We stopped into one and did an olive oil tasting and purchased some red pepper oil which I’m excited to use to zhuzh up things like vegetables.
To Eat ~ Restaurants
Downtown Sonoma has some great restaurants and we were excited to try these two places.
Girl and the Fig – We really enjoyed this spot. I love figs and as the name alludes, they have many dishes that incorporate it. I got chicken thighs, which were very tasty but I wouldn’t say anything super special. My favorite course was naturally dessert, I got the butterscotch pudding. They also wrote me a little birthday card and brought out a candle with a cookie – definitely a thoughtful touch!
Tasca Tasca –We thought this Portuguese Tapas restaurant was just OK, even though it is highly reviewed. If you’re a big seafood person then you’ll probably enjoy it more than we did as the menu is heavily seafood focused. Drew doesn’t eat seafood at all, and I’ll go for salmon here and there. The food was tasty, just not anything that really blew us away.
To Drink ~ Wineries
Drew made a reservation at Saintsbury, our favorite winery that we have a membership to. They specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The last time we were there was right before we moved to Evanston – it was a little surreal to be back. It felt like no time had passed and yet so much! I’ve shared about Saintsbury before but it’s a favorite not just for the Pinot, but because of their garden that they have to sit in for the tasting. It’s not a huge tourist spot, very quaint and peaceful. I’m not much of a white wine person any more, but was pleasantly surprised with the first Chardonnay we tried, 2021 Our Lady of Guadalupe, it’s one I would actually enjoy if it’s too hot and I’m not in the mood for a red! My favorite Pinot we tried was their 2019 Pratt Vineyard Pinot Noir, Clone 23. Which by the way, reds can be served with a slight chill. Light to medium bodied reds are ideally served at Cellar temperature, which is usually between 55-60 °Fahrenheit.
We headed back to our Airbnb after Saintsbury and grabbed the bikes to check out some other nearby wineries. This is a perk of staying in the area we chose, you are able to bike to the wineries. We stopped to check out 3 different ones, but only actually tasted at the 3rd ~ Scribe.
As we were biking up the palm lined entry bath, I knew we would like this place. The exterior is a Spanish influenced home. We didn’t have a reservation but the hostess offered us each a glass of wine and allowed us to stroll around the property. Unlike many other wineries, they do have a full service restaurant. We definitely want to come back to eat and have a full tasting. However, upon doing some further research, I realize that only their wine club members can make a reservation to eat there, might be something I need to discuss with Drew!
On Sunday we did a nearby hike, it was a shorter one just over 3 miles which was a good way to start the morning before we drove home. There were a lot of hiking options nearby that were shorter or longer. And of course we hit Sol food on the way back. I’m so appreciative to be back with a ~50 minute drive of weekend escapes like Sonoma.
To Wear
Farm Rio Cashew Garden midi dress – Although this is a long dress, the fabric is super lightweight making it great for hot days.
Abercrombie Puff Sleeve Slim Poplin Midi Dress – I’ve had this for a little over a year and love an opportunity to wear it. This is sold out online, but you can likely find it on Poshmark using the name.
Nuuly rental – Lorelei Ruched-Bodice Dress from Anthropologie – Loved the bright color of this one
