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There are exciting things happening year round in Sonoma and Napa.
Please check out the following links for recommendations and a calendar of events.
 Wineries
While there are too many wonderful wineries in Sonoma Valley to list, below are a few of our favorites located just minutes from Brambleberry. For a complete list, check out the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers’ informative website www.sonomavalleywines.com and www.heartofsonomavalley.com for a summary of wineries in Kenwood, Glen Ellen and Santa Rosa. For touring wineries throughout the larger Sonoma County area, please see Sonoma County Vintners www.sonomawine.com
Napa Valley is less than a half-hour away. Check out www.napavintners.com for a list of all Napa wineries and events.
Kenwood
Chateau St. Jean www.chateaustjean.com
Breathtakingly-beautiful castle and grounds reminiscent of Tuscany set against picturesque mountains. Wonderful wine and my favorite winery gift shop. Two minutes from Brambleberry.
Deerfield Ranch www.deerfieldranch.com
Specializing in hand-crafted and cleanly made wines. Award-winning: 32 gold, 48 silver and two bronze medals in 41 national and regional competitions! Don’t miss the tasting room deep in the mountain side – it’s quite memorable! Five minutes from Brambleberry.
Kaz Vineyards & Winery www.kazwinery.com
Rated best boutique winery in all of Napa and Sonoma by the Wall Street Journal. The barn houses the smallest tasting room in Sonoma County. Meet the colorful owners and taste some unusual organic wines. The owner guarantees that you can’t get a headache or hangover from his wine! It’s always a fun visit and child-friendly. Two minutes from Brambleberry.
Kenwood Vineyards www.kenwoodvineyards.com
Good value wines; many locals shop here for everyday wines. Tasting room is in a charming barn. Five minutes
from Brambleberry.
Kunde Family Estate www.kunde.com
Family-owned for five generations and situated in a stunning setting. Don’t miss the cave tour. In addition to spectacular wine, Kunde is a pioneer in eco-farming. Six minutes from Brambleberry.
Landmark Vineyards www.landmarkwine.com
Landmark, owned by the John Deere family, epitomizes the rustic charm of Sonoma. Sample fine wines in an elegant tasting room. Two minutes from Brambleberry. Horse-drawn wagon rides through the vineyards on Saturdays in summer and fall.
Glen Ellen
Benziger Family Winery www.benziger.com
Best winery tour according to Wall Street Journal. Take a tractor-pulled tram through the glorious vineyards and complete the tour in the wine cave. Sample world-class wines at affordable prices in the vast tasting room. Ten minutes from Brambleberry on scenic backroads.
B.R. Cohn www.brcohn.com
Ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and other award-winning reds. Produces high-end California olive oil and vinegars. Magnificent grounds. Ten minutes from Brambleberry.
Imagery www.imagerywinery.com
Great wine-label art collection! Play bocce ball after tasting spectacular and rare varietals. Ten minutes from Brambleberry.
Wellington www.wellingtonvineyards.com
A very small, family-owned winery that makes awesome wines. The Wall Street Journal termed it “one of Sonoma County’s best wineries”.
Santa Rosa
Ledson Winery & Vineyards www.ledson.com
Visit a dramatic castle set in vineyards against stunning mountains – only five minutes from Brambleberry. Enjoy a picnic on the impeccable grounds with gourmet fare from their well-stocked market. The wines are award-winning, you can sample them in the beautiful tasting bars.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards www.stfranciswine.com
Nationally renowned and worth visiting for wine and food pairings while enjoying stunning vineyard and mountain vistas.
Restaurants
Caffe Citti 9049 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-2690
A must visit! Charming, cozy and reasonably-priced Italian restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Bring a local wine and there’s no corkage fee! Dine by the stone fireplace in fall or winter and sit outside in the patio during the season. Homemade pasta, desserts from scratch, daily specials, noted for roast chicken and fantastic Caesar salad of all time. Very kid-friendly and good for take-out. Two minutes from Brambleberry.
Doce Lunas www.docelunasrestaurant.com 8910 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-4000
An interesting and varied bistro menu including fresh fish, chicken, ribs and steak. Some dishes boast an Asian flair. For a modest additional charge, soup, salad and dessert can be added to an entree. Great wine bar with local labels. The dining room is warm and inviting. The loft, doubling as an antique gallery, is an option for private parties of up to 24. The charming owners clearly demonstrate pride of ownership and want to please diners. Less than two minutes from Brambleberry.
fig café and wine bar www.thegirlandthefig.com 13690 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen (707) 938-2130 A local favorite and there’s no corkage! A value-priced spinoff of the famous girl and fig restaurant in the town of Sonoma, it serves rustic, country French fare with wonderful daily specials including pizza and “comfort food”. Ten minutes from Brambleberry on beautiful backroads.
Kenwood Restaurant www.kenwoodrestaurant.com 9900 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-6326
A landmark restaurant in the Sonoma Valley with an elegant menu. The locals like the spectacular vineyard views from the porch and patio. Six minutes from Brambleberry.
The Vineyards Inn www.vineyardsinn.com 8445 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-4500
A colorful restaurant and bar which specializes in bio-organic food with a Spanish flair. Less than two minutes from Brambleberry.
Grocery Stores
Kenwood Market and Deli, 9592 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-4801 1-½ miles from the house!
Great for light and high-end grocery shopping, outstanding wine selection, meats and fabulous deli offerings ranging from homemade banana nut bread, fresh sandwiches to lasagna and baked salmon. Great take-out options for picnic, lunch or dinner.
Oakmont Market and Deli, 6550 Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa (707) 539-2434
Also featuring upscale food and amazing deli with take-out options for picnic or dinner.
The Glen Ellen Village Market www.sonoma-glenellenmkt.com 13751 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442 (707) 996-6728 Six miles from the house! For serious foodies – beautiful food and deli has phenomenal selection for picnics and take-out. Coffee bar, food service, specialty food, smoothies…a must visit! Ten scenic minutes from Brambleberry.
Safeway 100 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa (707) 539-1711 While a mere six miles distance, why not order ahead on www.safeway.com and have groceries delivered to the country house? Open 24 hours.
Shopping
Swede’s Feeds 9140 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-5050
This colorful roadside store is a must visit! It is rare for us to go to Kenwood without a pilgrimage to Swede’s Feeds - my children, or our guests, would never forgive me. No matter how hard I try to resist, I always find something interesting to buy. It’s the hub of local Kenwood social life and you can find almost anything here: livestock and pet supplies, plants, vegetables, garden supplies, garden fountains and furniture, cards, books, interesting gift items - even local specialty foods and baby chicks. The owners and staff are friendly and helpful with advice ranging from taking care of your pets to gardening tips. Be sure to visit the animals in the back – a stunning assortment of colorful chickens, bunnies and goats. Look for the unique and dramatic metal garden sculptures hanging over the fence on Highway 12. You’ll get a kick out of the huge dinosaurs.
Kenwood Farmhouse 9255 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood (707) 833-1212
Reasonably priced and lovely assortment of specialty gifts, local crafts, clothing, interesting and educational children’s toys, beautiful baby clothes and baby gifts, wine country furniture and decorations and flower shop. Another “must stop”, conveniently located across the road from Swede’s Feeds. Like their neighbors, the shop owners and staff are also warm and helpful.
Culinary Adventures
Sonoma Farmers Market on the Historic Sonoma Square Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to dusk April through October. Local produce, fancy food, local crafts and entertainment. Plan a picnic dinner or buy the irresistible food there and enjoy music on the square.
Historic Jack London Village, 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen
This village featuring a food lover’s paradise, housed in an old mill with a working water wheel to boot, has the. following selection of shops:
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Figone Olive Oil of California www.figoneoliveoil.com (707) 938-3164
Tired of wine tasting? Visit Figone and enjoy “the new wine” – olive oil made from a secret family recipe. The owner, Frank, from a family that pioneered and helped launch California olive oil many generations ago, will entertain and educate you about olive oil. To meet strict virgin olive oil standards, all oil is blended and bottled on site. Come watch this interesting process late fall through early winter. Ask to sample his divine hand-crafted Zinfadel wine. Need a boost? Have a splash at his coffee bar.
Wine Country Chocolates www.winecountrychocolates.com (707) 996-1050
Take a trip to heaven and sample this amazing chocolate…custom wine truffles and other elegant chocolates make it well worth the visit.
Raymond & Company Cheesemongers www.raymondcheesemongers.com (707) 938-9911
For a fun and interesting adventure learning about “the other new wine”, schedule a private tasting tour or enjoy a group tasting. Purchase handmade cheeses to go with your wine and chocolate.
Olive and Vine Wine Bar and Café www.oliveandvine.com (707)996-9150
The perfect stop for your wine country picnic. Creative sandwiches from local fare, tantalizing salads and homemade desserts. Enjoy the wine bar and gift shop while you’re waiting for your food. Dine in or take out. |
Culinary Field Trips www.fromfarmtotable.com
Their motto is “A little dirt on your boots and a party in your mouth”. This delightful business offers a collection of culinary adventures and field trips ranging from spending a day with a Sonoma winemaker to working in a vineyard, a culinary weekend in Sonoma, a Sonoma farm field trip or spending a day shopping with a private chef and inviting him to Brambleberry to cook for you! You’ll experience a behind-the-scenes look at the best of Sonoma seasonal products.
Ramekins www.ramekins.com 450 West Spain, Sonoma, (707) 933-0450
The wine country’s premier cooking school for the home chef.
Oak Hill Farm www.oakhillfarm.net
The Red Barn Store and Farm Stand, 15101 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen (707) 996-6643. On your way up scenic Highway 12 to Kenwood, stop in a hundred year old dairy barn for some organic fruits and vegetables, flowers or handmade wreaths.
Caterers
Olive and Vine www.oliveandvine.com (707) 996-1050 Their reputation is stellar for catering Sonoma Valley events.
Parks and Recreation www.parks.sonoma.net
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park www.parks.ca.gov
Minutes away from Brambleberry by car on Adobe Road off Sonoma Highway; gorgeous scenery, great hiking trails, waterfalls, horseback riding and incredibly cool Robert Fergusson Observatory www.rfo.org
Annadel State Park www.parks.ca.gov
Trailhead for hiking, biking and horses just around the corner from Brambleberry. Great Ledson Marsh hike, among many others.
Hood Mountain Regional Park www.sonoma-county.org
Also minutes away by car from Brambleberry on Los Alamos off Sonoma Highway.
Jack London State Parkn www.parks.ca.gov
Come see the remains of Jack London’s dream house – The Wolf House, and visit the museum honoring this beloved author and former Sonoma resident. Extensive hiking trails and horseback riding.
Sonoma Valley Regional Park www.sonoma-county.org
Maxwell Farm Regional Park www.sonoma-county.org
Kenwood has two lovely parks in the village; be sure to admire the historic Kenwood Depot while strolling around the village.
Spas
The Spa at the Kenwood Inn www.kenwoodinn.com
Seven minutes away and you can enjoy a world-class spa treatment. Rated the best resort in the USA by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, named the #1 spa escape by GenLux magazine, ranked sixth out of 50 best-loved spas by Luxury Spa Finder magazine and Food & Wine magazine ranked it within the ten best wine retreats in the world! It’s just down the road from Brambleberry…
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn www.fairmont.com
An enchanting Sonoma spa escape with the most overwhelming selection of treatments and baths that you could find. Conveniently located fifteen minutes from Brambleberry.
Golf
Oakmont Golf Course www.oakmontgc.com
Featuring two 18-hole golf courses with lots of special deals located minutes from Brambleberry.
Horseback Riding
Triple Creek Horse Outfit www.triplecreekhorseoutfit.com
Horseback riding in the following parks:
• Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
• Jack London State Park
• Bothe – Napa Valley State Park
Polo
Wine Country Polo Club www.winecountrypolo.com 560 White Oak Drive, Santa Rosa (707) 538-POLO
For a thrill, check the schedule and watch practice or attend a polo match. It’s minutes away from Brambleberry.
Bicycle Tours and Rentals
Goodtime Touring Company www.goodtimetouring.com (707) 938-0453
Sonoma Valley Cyclery www.sonomavalleycyclery.com 20093 Broadway, Sonoma (707) 935-3377
Family Fun
Charles M. Schulz Museum www.charlesmschulzmuseum.org 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa 95403 (707) 579-4452 Visit Snoopy and friends at this well-loved museum dedicated to the lifetime works of Charles M. Schulz. Nearby is the Snoopy Ice Skating Rink for a winter experience year round.
Sonoma Train Town www.traintown.com 20264 Broadway, Sonoma
Your children will love you (even more) when you take them to visit the best developed scale railroad in the United States. Take a train tour on ten wooded acres over trestles and bridges and through villages and past waterfalls. Other rides as well.
Sonoma Square A favorite activity is children feeding the ducks at Duck Pond on the square. Two wonderful play areas cater to different age groups – over and under five years old.
Historical sites around the Sonoma Square Take a stroll around the square with its old adobe structures, the beautiful Sonoma Mission and other well-preserved historic structures. If time permits, visit the home of General Vallejo, a state historical monument.
Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp http www.safariwest.com 3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa (707) 579-4452, (800) 616-2695
Jack London Park (under Parks) to see the Beauty Ranch.
Robert Ferguson Observatory www.rfo.org
For a very cool experience, take your children on a beautiful ride up Adobe Canyon to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. There is even daytime solar viewing with special telescopes. Night time viewing is simply awesome! Go at dusk and bring a picnic.
Swede’s Feeds (see under shopping) Children delight in visiting the rabbits, goats and chickens in back. There are a lot of fun and colorful things to enjoy - oversized animal sculptures, fountains, barn owl boxes and friendly dogs and cats.
Benziger Family Winery (see under wineries) This child-friendly winery offers a good opportunity for children to learn about vineyards. Children enjoy the tram tour through the vineyards with a stop in the vast cave. There is a self-guided walk to the “Insectory” for managing a chemical-free vineyard. Be sure to have the children look out for the winery’s boxes that attract barn owls, bats and birds to keep the vineyard free of unwanted critters.
Horse-drawn wagon vineyard tours on Saturday mornings in summer and fall at Landmark Winery in Kenwood. Owned by the John Deere family, the gift shop has some great tractor toys for your little one.
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