Bike the Sonoma Wine Country

For a taste of California’s wine country, head to the picturesque town of Sonoma, where you can enjoy Mother Nature and her bounty with a bicycle tour of area wineries.

Just an hour north of San Francisco, Sonoma is considered the birthplace of the California wine industry and it remains one of the state’s major wine-producing regions today.

Several wineries are located within easy biking distance of the historic square and you can get maps and rent bikes, if you don’t have your own, at the local bike shop, Sonoma Valley Cyclery.

“It’s very popular and a great way to really see Sonoma and the wineries,” said owner Brad Sahs. “With the slower pace of a bike you can really take in the scenery, vineyards and quiet country roads. All while getting some exercise too.”

The loop he sends most folks on is an easy 13 miles that includes five local wineries – Gundlach Bundschu, Ravenswood, Buena Vista Carneros, Bartholomew Park, and Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery.

On a sunny Saturday in October, I had the chance to check out a few of them myself when I hooked up with a group of Bay Area residents for my first wine tasting, bicycle tour.

After meeting at a nearby park (where we would later return to picnic and sober up before driving home), we cruised an easy half mile to Sebastiani, located just three blocks east of the town square.

Founded in 1904 by Samuele Sebastiani, it is known for its Cherryblock Cabernet Sauvignon but has many excellent wines to choose from. They offer samples of seven of them for just $10. Since we were a large group with several wineries on the agenda, we found it more economical, however, to buy a couple bottles at each stop and split the cost later.

Sebastiani offers tours and hosts events, such as Late Night Fridays, with wine specials and live music. They have a large (but cozy) tasting room and a nice, outdoor courtyard with a fountain and sprawling, green lawn that’s great for picnicking.

Following Sebastiani, we hopped back on our bikes and headed to Buena Vista Carneros, where the fall colors coupled with the rich red and rose wines made for a beautiful setting. We sat outside under the trees, sipping our selections and munching on bread and cheese that was brought along.

Established in 1857 by Agoston Haraszthy, the Hungarian nobleman who planted some of the state’s first European varietals, Buena Vista Carneros is California’s oldest premium winery. And it is still going strong – the winery was awarded several gold medals from the 2009 Sonoma County Harvest Fair Wine Competition.

Also on land once belonging to Haraszthy is the more recently established Bartholomew Park Winery – the last stop on our wine tour.

Located just east of Sonoma’s plaza at the base of the Mayacamas Mountain range, Bartholomew Park produces a variety of single-vineyard, organic wines, which are only available at their tasting room and by ordering from their Web site.

The property is part of the 400-acre Bartholomew Memorial Park, and includes a museum, hiking trails, and a replica of Haraszthy’s villa.

The winery is open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week, but the villa is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan accordingly if you want to check it out.

Though we only made it to three of the five wineries on this trip, the others are worth checking out as well.

Gundlach Bundschu is California’s oldest family-owned winery, having been in business for over 150 years, and one of its greenest. In August 2009, they became one of only 12 wineries to earn the Green Business Certification from Sonoma County for their sustainable practices.

They produce several red, white, and rose wines, focusing on small lots of “ultra-premium” wines from their estate vineyard, located at the base of the Mayacamas Mountain Range.

Ravenswood Winery is where you will find “no wimpy wines,” according to their motto. Founded by winemaker Joel Peterson in 1976, Ravenswood is especially known for its Zinfandels and laid-back atmosphere. They offer several events throughout the year, including barbecues and Blending Seminars.

Of course, the options are endless with hundreds of wineries in this region, but a bicycle tour of Sonoma is a fun, affordable, no-fuss way to enjoy its world-class wineries and beautiful scenery.