Napa vs Sonoma – which is better according to a local? (Hey, that’s me!)
I’m spoiled by living next door to Northern California wine country here in San Francisco and visit on wine tasting trips *probably* a little too much. I question I get asked all the time in my DMs is: “Kara, which is better? Napa Valley or Sonoma County?”
In this post I’ll be walking you through the vibes of Sonoma and Napa, along with travel tips like recommended wineries, restaurants and hotels in each area so you can plan a fantastic wine tasting trip. Let’s go!
Which Is Better? Napa or Sonoma, According To A Local
>> Got a question about wine country that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
Wine Regions 101 (Aka a Quick Geography Lesson)
Real quick — Sonoma County and Napa County are next door to each other but there’s a big mountain between them, so it takes a while to drive from one valley to the next. That’s why it’s not a good idea to book a morning tasting in Santa Rosa and then an afternoon tasting at a winery in Yountville.
You’ll just be spending the day in a car rushing and that’s so not the vibe for wine tasting. You gotta take it slow!
Also, it’s important to know that there is Napa Valley and the town of Napa. And there’s Sonoma Valley and – you guessed it – the town of Sonoma. It can get kinda confusing sometimes, especially for people who haven’t visited either before.
To keep things simple, use the term “Downtown Napa” and “Downtown Sonoma” to refer to the towns themselves, and just “Napa” and “Sonoma” to refer to the regions.
Which Is Better Napa Or Sonoma?
So you’re probably wondering: what’s my favorite of the two? Well, it kinda depends on who I’m traveling with, the time of year and our budget. In general, I tend to favor Sonoma. It’s more affordable and more laid back, without compromising style or good wine.
Want to go glamping and then take a tour in a wine cave before playing bocce ball at a local Italian restaurant? That’s Sonoma. Healdsburg is my FAVORITE wine-tasting town and my favorite varietal of wine just happens to be a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, so I love Sonoma wine country.
But Napa is simply stunning. Everything oozes glam and vineyard magic. It’s kinda like going to France and never visiting Paris – everyone should visit Napa Valley at least once if not many many times during their life.
Want to wake up at a stunning resort, have a spa treatment and then go tasting at famous wineries before dinner at award-winning restaurants? That’s Napa Valley. I tend to go to Napa with my husband more than my girlfriends (it’s just so dang romantic!)
- Tends to be more laid back
- Laid back can sometimes mean a less glamourous tasting room
- More affordable tastings
- Great for Pinot lovers
- More woods & forest views
- Gets better fall foliage
- Tends to be more upscale
- Wineries are luxe & beautiful (feels like Italy!)
- Tastings are $$$$
- Great for Cab lovers
- More vineyard & mountain views
- More luxury resorts & hotels
When deciding between Sonoma vs Napa Valley, it’s important to consider a few things:
- Your budget
- Your vibe (luxury vs more relaxed)
- Your favorite types of wine
- Your experience & knowledge of wine
- Time of year you are visiting
- If you plan on renting a car
Next I’ll be walking you through the basics of Napa and Sonoma and my favorite spots, addressing each of these things I bulleted to help you make an informed decision about which region is best for you. We’ll start with Napa Valley!
Napa Valley’s Vibe Is Upscale & Posh
I mean, it is a world-famous wine region after all. They get to be upscale, they have the money to do so. Napa Valley is home to the famous Silverado Trail and some of the biggest names in the wine world (like Robert Mondavi, Sterling Vineyards and Sutter Home even. Not exactly recommending that last one but it’s there.) Tasting rooms in Napa tend to be very Italian inspired, which posh interiors and sweeping views of vineyards.
Honestly, pretty much all the tasting rooms in Napa are beautiful, but these are my favorite Napa winery stunners if you want to pick based on that.
Though you can find vineyards growing grapes of all kinds, the most popular Napa Valley wines are usually a big bold cabernet sauvignon or a chardonnay. So if you love either of those varietals of wine, you’ll love the wine menu at almost every winery.
My Favorite Napa Valley Wineries
Ohh, I really hope I don’t accidentally leave anyone out. Here’s my favorites to visit:
- Clif Family (SUCH good food and wine, it’s our fave)
- Darioush (Do their Olive Oil tasting!)
- Frog’s Leap (Biodynamic & fantastic patio)
- Brasswood (stay for dinner, it’s amazing!)
- AXR (farmhouse vibes we love)
- Tank Garage (great for happy hour)
- Sterling (the gondola is so cool)
- Davis Estates (I recommend their food pairing)
- Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (STUNNING views)
- Domain Carneros (Great tour/lesson on sparkling wine)
- V. Sattui (only for lunch in the summer)
- Elizabeth Spencer (sit in the gardens!)
- Silverado Vineyards (the Disney winery)
- Newton Vineyards (They have a cool hedge maze)
- Round Pond (GORG patio with fireplace)
Napa Dining
Along with the famous wine region, you’ll also find world-famous restaurants by world-famous chefs, along with just general upscale dining. So, yes, meals will tend to run on pricy but they will be dang good meals. Some of the notable spots to eat here are:
- The French Laundry
- RH Yountville
- La Taberna
- Oxbox Market
- Bouchon
- Ad Hoc
- The Grove at CIA Copia
Where To Stay In Napa Valley (Our Favorite Hotels & Airbnbs!)
I think it’s important to pick a hotel near the region you’ll be wine tasting in so you aren’t stuck in a car for your entire trip. From romantic resorts to Airbnbs that can fit your whole bachelorette party, these are our favorite places to stay in Napa:
- Calistoga Bungalows
- North Block Hotel
- Solage Resort & Spa
- These stunning Airbnbs
- Calistoga Motor Lodge And Spa
Sonoma Valley Is More Relaxed And Rustic
The Sonoma scene feels very different compared to Napa in my experience. It’s more chill and down to earth. There’s more forest coverage here and it can feel like the rural countryside in some spots.
Yes, they still have huge wine family names and Michelin star restaurants but you’ll also find things like small lot vineyards tucked in a barn, whimsical German joints and riverfront activities.
Sonoma County is HUGE compared to Napa County. It stretches all the way to the ocean, though most of the wine tasting area is around Guerneville, Healdsburg and Sonoma. Santa Rose does have a few spots, but I find it’s a lot like a suburb vibe and not a great place to go wine tasting at the moment, so I’d advise to skip that area.
Sonoma Is Usually Cheaper
One reason I love visiting Sonoma Valley is that the wine tasting prices tend to be cheaper compared to Napa Valley. You still won’t find a $5 tasting here, and other than Korbel in Guerneville, I don’t know of any free tastings BUT, you’ll save a lot of coin over in Sonoma.
My Favorite Sonoma Valley Wineries
I think some of the best wines in Sonoma can be found in the Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley area and Chalk Hill regions. Sonoma wineries tend to focus more on Pinots while Napa is all about that cab.
When it comes to Napa vs Sonoma wines, both are award winning but I personally lean toward Sonoma being my faves.
My favorite Sonoma vineyards to visit are:
- Roth (we love their patio!)
- Iron Horse (VIEWS ON VIEWS)
- Lancaster (Ask for a wine cave tour)
- VML (the most unique wines I’ve ever tasted)
- Pangloss Cellars (Downtown Sonoma)
- Scribe Winery (Instagram perfect)
- Cartograph Wines (Great pinot)
- Benzinger (cool tram tour)
- Foley Sonoma (awesome fireplace + terrace)
- Cline (such pretty grounds)
- Matrix Winery (very chill)
- Patz and Hall (love their reds)
- Korbel (totally free!)
Where To Stay In Sonoma County
- Farmhouse Inn
- Kenwood Inn & Spa
- Best Western Dry Creek Inn (Top budget hotel!)
- Gaige House
- El Dorado Hotel
- This Chic Airbnb
- Boon Hotel + Spa
Sonoma Has The Ocean
A major perk of choosing to wine taste in Sonoma County is you have easy access to Hwy 1 along the Sonoma Coast. While the wineries are inlane, you can take a quick 25 min drive to Bodega Bay, Jenner or other iconic Sonoma Coast road trip stops for a day trip.
I love grabbing taffy at the famous Bodega Bay place, or even spending a few nights at Timber Cove. If you’re coming from out of state and want to see the rugged California coast and also wine taste, Sonoma is for you.
I hope this helps you decide if a trip to Sonoma or Napa Valley is best for you! If you still can’t decide, drop a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll try and help you figure it out! I love helping people plan trips.
Is your favorite hotel or winery not on the list? Leave a comment so everyone can see and head to it first. Happy wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa Valley! It’s a great experience.
13 comments
I can’t find the A-Frame Airbnb, could you please provide the exact link for it? Thank you!!
Napa or Sonoma for Pinot Grigio?
Hi! Me and my finance are having trouble deciding between Napa or Sonoma for our honeymoon. This article helps a lot but I still have some questions, here are the pros I see of each place.
Sonoma:
-i would LOVE an opportunity to see some redwoods while we’re there
-i think we prefer the more laid back and casual feel you mentioned in the article
-the gaige house seems absolutely perfect for a cheaper option that still gives honeymoon vibes
-in general it’s cheaper, and we don’t have a lot to spend
Napa:
-there are way more resources on where to go and what to do that make it easier to plan
-everything is closer together and it seems more accessible. For Napa valley the two main areas I’d focus on Napa and st Helena. There’s public transportation during the week that would allow us to get to st Helena and then Uber around there for the day. With Sonoma valley, I’d want to see Santa rosa, and heldsburg , but have found the best places to stay closer to Kenwood and Sonoma. There only seems to be public transportation by Santa rosa.
We would really like to avoid renting a car as my finance will only just be 25 and we don’t want either of us to become the DD. We’d also like to avoid group tours as we very much want to slow and relax, and not feel like we need to meet a schedule.
Am I just being unrealistic? Is it impossible to try using just public transportation and Uber? Are there other ways I could get around? Should I just focus on one area and only stay there?
Offta, I would not willingly sign up for a wine weekend using just the public transport. It may help you in the major cities of Napa or Santa Rosa but absolutely will not take you to wineries directly. If you are keen on not using a car, renting a bike would be much easier. Ubers are possible, but also very expensive and take foreverrrr to connect with a driver since there aren’t many up there. Last time the girls and I did an uber to a winery it cost $60 to drive back to town and 1 hour for the driver to come out to the winery.
Also, Santa Rosa is a suburb feeling town with tons of malls, targets and fast food restaurants. Focus instead on Healdsburg, Geurneville (redwoods!), Kenwood, Sonoma, etc.
As blogger says you don’t want to go to Santa Rosa nor rely on public transportation. I suggest Sonoma county is more up your line and then concentrate on only Healdsburg or Sonoma town both have more than enough wineries within an 8 mile radius to keep you busy for days. Sonoma Valley has far more history and a “town” feel. If you want redwoods that would be a day trip from either though Healdsburg a little closer. Both counties in my view are too sprawling to try to do them all without a week.
As blogger says you don’t want to go to Santa Rosa nor rely on public transportation. I suggest Sonoma county is more up your line and then concentrate on only Healdsburg or Sonoma town both have more than enough wineries within an 8 mile radius to keep you busy for days. Sonoma Valley has far more history and a “town” feel. If you want redwoods that would be a day trip from either though Healdsburg a little closer. Both counties in my view are too sprawling to try to do them all without a week.
Your blog gives great info but I’m still not sure where to stay for our very first trip to the wine country. My husband and I prefer red wines mostly. We will arrive in the area mid afternoon on a Saturday and we will leave the area (to drive to Carmel) mid afternoon on Tuesday. We really want to see Napa and Sonoma. So, thinking of scheduling one full day in Napa and one full day in Sonoma and then do things closer to where we are staying on the first and last day. Is that feasible? Im thinking we would prefer to stay in Sonoma. I plan to look at some of the links you listed for places to stay. Also, is it feasible to schedule 3 tours in one day at Sonoma and 3 tours in one day at Napa?
Thanks so much h for any info you can give!
Hi! My husband and I are planning a first trip to San Francisco and wine country. Don’t know how I stumbled onto your site, but it has been great.
We arrive at San Francisco airport on Weds. Nov. 2 at 1 pm. We are renting a car and heading for The Hilton Garden in Santa Rosa. We would like to stop at one possibly two wineries in Sonoma that are fairly close before dinner. We love views, fall color, and hope to see a redwood.
I love chard and my husband like cab and merlot. Like Kendall, but you said to avoid that. Reservations at hilton can be cancelled. Picked it due to low price and strategic location of Santa Rosa. Advice?
We would like to hire a driver to wineries so we can both enjoy them. How do you do that?
On Nov 3 we would like to experience the poshness of Napa- maybe Stag’s Leap and Duckhorn for great merlot. Kind of on a budget so we would only buy bottles in Sonoma.
On Nov 4 we are headed back to airport hotel. Would like to see Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard, and eat dinner in Chinatown. Where are the $6. potstickers? Is public transport best to San Francisco from airport? Is there a place to park by the golden gate when driving by in the afternoon? Thanks so much for your help. It is a bit overwhelming.
Sarah
Hi! I tried to send you a DM on Instagram. It said you might not receive it so I am trying again here.My husband and I are planning a first trip to San Francisco and wine country. Don’t know how I stumbled onto your site, but it has been great.
We arrive at San Francisco airport on Weds. Nov. 2 at 1 pm. We are renting a car and heading for The Hilton Garden in Santa Rosa. We would like to stop at one possibly two wineries in Sonoma that are fairly close before dinner. We love views, fall color, and hope to see a redwood.
I love chard and my husband like cab and merlot. Like Kendall, but you said to avoid that. Reservations at hilton can be cancelled. Picked it due to low price and strategic location of Santa Rosa. Advice?
We would like to hire a driver to wineries so we can both enjoy them. How do you do that?
On Nov 3 we would like to experience the poshness of Napa- maybe Stag’s Leap and Duckhorn for great merlot. Kind of on a budget so we would only buy bottles in Sonoma.
On Nov 4 we are headed back to airport hotel. Would like to see Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard, and eat dinner in Chinatown. Where are the $6. potstickers? Is public transport best to San Francisco from airport? Is there a place to park by the golden gate when driving by in the afternoon? Thanks so much for your help. It is a bit overwhelming.
Sarah
Thanks for this informative info on Napa vs Sonoma! My daughter and I are visiting in Mid-February to celebrate her 25th birthday. Do you have any suggestions on what to avoid or be aware of at that time of year? TIA
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