Sonoma County Self Guided Bike and Wine Tour

“Sip, Sights and Cycle” rides are extremely popular in Sonoma County. If you stay at the Fairmount Sonoma Mission Inn, guests have the opportunity to take their own self-guided bike tour along paved bike paths, back-country roads, quaint towns, farm stands displaying just-picked produce, old train depots, and more than 30 wine tasting rooms, 25+ restaurants, and a variety of shopping choices.

Checking into the historic Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, I noticed ten black multi-gear bicycles at the entrance next to the valet. After I received by key card to a spacious Mission Suite, I inquired about the resort’s bicycles. I learned they are complimentary for guests to use as the valet handed me a map provided by Sonoma Adventures to follow the designated bike trails to the center of Sonoma Plaza and multiple wineries.

The next morning, I set out to see the historic town square and visit a couple wine tasting destinations after breakfast at the hotel’s Santé Kitchen. The Sonoma bike path is a 1.5 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail, and is good for all skill levels. The paved route took me along open fields, vineyard-laden valleys, residential neighborhoods and family parks.

To get to the path, I pedaled south on Hwy 12 to Verano. I rode past McDonalds and across the street at the cross walk to the entrance near the Sonoma Tire Shop. Other than crossing residential streets, the path is car-free all the way to the center of town.

The scenic bike path runs right into Sonoma Depot Park, home of the Depot Park Museum for train aficionados, and the historic Sonoma Plaza is just one block away. Sonoma Plaza was designed over 150 years ago by the Mexican Governor Mariano Vallejo. This area offers several important events in California’s history.

On July 4, 1824, the Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma was the last of the 21 missions to be built. In 1846, a party of settlers occupied the Sonoma Barracks, proclaiming a Republic of California, and raised their Bear Flag, the inspiration for the state flag of California. This area is now a historic park, where visitors can peek inside and take a step back in time.

I stopped to take a quick tour of the Toscano Hotel, originally a store, library and dwelling built in the 1850s. Toscano is furnished with period furniture and looks pretty much the way it did around the turn of the century. The kitchen and dining room are in a separate building behind the one facing the plaza. The two-story, wood-frame building that now houses the park headquarters and interpretive center, however at one time, it was a boarding house.

Next door is the Sonoma Cheese Factory, a good stop for cheese, sandwiches and beverages to fortify myself before wine tasting.

Also nearby is Vella Cheese, a handmade gourmet cheese shop that has been making a variety of cheese for over 89 years. Using only natural ingredients and milk from happy free-range California cows at the sustainable Mertens Dairy, this Sonoma family farm was the first solar powered business in Sonoma.

To enjoy wine with my cheese, I was ready to visit a winery or two for tasting or a bottle of wine to bring home. Here are the wineries along or near the bike path:

Sebastiani – Stop by to taste a flight of five wines outdoors on their historic courtyard. Tastings are $40 and the fee is waived with a two bottle purchase or a wine club membership. They make Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, and Merlot. Charcuterie and cheese boards are available for purchase to pair with your wine tasting.

Buena Vista Winery – Visit the Press House, completed in 1862 as the first gravity-flow winery in California. This dramatic tasting room is steeped in wine lore. Enjoy their Current Release tasting or experience their ultra-premium Private Reserve tasting flight for a 30-60 minutes experience. Tastings are $25 per guest for the Current Release tasting or $35 per guest for the Private Reserve tasting. Members it’s complimentary up to 4 guests to taste the wines they make including Bordeaux-style Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Port, Sparkling, Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel.

Bartholomew Estate Winery is located in Bartholomew Park and is considered the birthplace of California’s premium wine industry. They offer a flight of four wines from their certified organic estate vineyards or you can select wines by the glass. Tastings are conducted outside on Oak Knoll overlooking the 375 acres of vineyards, gardens and forest or nestled in a covered courtyard patio. View tasting menu here. Advanced reservation required for all seated options that are offered Wednesday through Monday for a $30 per person/flight. This winery makes Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Rosé, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Lock up your bike and splurge for $140 per person and take a Sonoma Valley Trail Rides horseback experience through the Bartholomew Estate historic vineyards. This 45-minute ride includes a bottle of Bartholomew Estate wine.

Gundlach-Bundschu Winery. Enjoy complimentary tastings for up to three guests and table service by wine educators. Make a reservation to guarantee a private table. They offer a variety of picnic snacks, cheese boards, charcuterie boards, antipasto boards, sandwiches, and salads for purchase. Take a vineyard and wine cave walking tour led by wine educators. Learn how this winery is a green business, see the fish friendly farming and sustainable vineyard practices. This $65 per person tour includes samples of five estate wines, several of which were sourced from the vines on property.

Riding back to the hotel, I stopped back at the center of Sonoma Plaza to admire their public art exhibition. It’s a partnership between Sonoma Valley Museum of Art and the City of Sonoma. There are eight large-scale sculptures by four major artists – Bruce Beasley, Catherine Daley, Peter Hassen, and Jun Kaneko. A Delicate Balance, explores the equilibrium between the fragile and the solid, nature and technology, and humankind and science.

Back at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, I donned our bathing suits and headed to the hotel’s world-class health spa. Soaking in a 92 degree Watsu pool and natural Artesian mineral water pool was the perfect activity for me after a day exploring Sonoma County by bicycle.

For special Luxe Beat VIP offers at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn call 888.212.6444 or go to classictravel.com/luxebeatvip.