Please recommend 2-3 wineries for day trip

Husband and I will be taking a day trip to Sonoma from San Fran in May. We will be coming in on a Friday. We would like to visit 2-3 wineries or whatever you think we would have time for. And then possibly lunch in Sonoma or a neighboring town. If anyone has recommendations it would be appreciated. We are Pinot Noir drinkers mostly, but love all wine.

Please recommend 2-3 wineries for day trip

For Pinot Noir lovers THE location in Sonoma County to visit wineries is the Russian River Valley area. However, the wineries are more spread out than in the Sonoma Valley and the rural backroads are a bit harder to navigate around. If you choose this area for your day trip, some good stops to consider would be: Martinelli Winery (River Rd.), Joseph Swan (Laguna Rd.), Lynmar (Frei Rd.), Dutton Estate (Hwy. 116) and Merry Edwards (Hwy. 116)--at Merry Edwards, try to reserve a tasting time for the best experience altho鈥?they do allow drop-in鈥檚. Check on days/times each will be open as some of the smaller wineries offer tastings only on the weekend (usually inc. Fridays). Other wineries with outstanding Pinots in the area: Gary Farrell, Rochioli and Arista (all along Westside Rd). Go to www.wineroad.com for more info. You could have lunch in Healdsburg at either Bistro Ralph or Willi鈥檚 Seafood and Raw Bar. If Manzanita is back to offering lunch, they also would be good place to go.

If you opt for a day in the Sonoma Valley, there are still some excellent wineries to visit which should be pouring Pinot Noirs. Gloria Ferrer (they have a Carneros Pinot in addition to some great sparkling wines), Gundlach Bundschu, Buena Vista, Sebastiani and Chateau St. Jean would all be possible stops for you. For more info. go to www.sonomavalleywine.com Have lunch or dinner at the all-time favorite spot in Sonoma: girl and the fig (www.thegirlandthefig.com) at 110 W. Spain St.

Please recommend 2-3 wineries for day trip

Thank you so much for your advice!

If you leave the city around 7 or 8am you can spend the day and go to 4-5 wineries, have dinner, and make it back by 8 or 9pm. Or you can leave early and be done wine tasting by 5pm (which is when most wineries close) and have dinner in SF. My hubby and I do day trips all the time! DOn%26#39;t forget $5 for toll

Imagery- lovely ground, has bocce ball court where you can bring out a glass, art gallery inside

The Wine Room- Unassuming but extremely charming. It%26#39;s a co-op and the wine makers are often there pouring. Excellent wines and inexpensive.

Eric Ross is tucked away (by Jack London Park) but they have the BEST pinot ever! If you end up there, down the road is a grocery store and the deli in the back has wonderful picnic food. Paninis, hot food, everything!

Chateau St. Jean is beautiful but I would only go to the reserve room

St. Francis is about as far down and I would go, getting back can take awhile. Mayo is good and so is Valley of the Moon.

Hope it all works for you! Have a blast

In nearby Napa, Domaine Carneros has some excellent Pinot Noir. girl and the fig in Sonoma would be a nice choice for lunch. :)

It will take you about an hour to drive to Sonoma Valley from SF (depending on where you are staying in the city). Wineries open around 10am for the most part, if you get up to the town of Sonoma before then, grab a coffee and pastry at the Basque Boulangerie or the Sunflower Caffe. If you arrive at the South end of the Valley, you will be in what is known as the Carneros Region. It is a government designated viticulture area, particularly well known for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Here are a few to consider (some are repeats of previous recommendations)

Gloria Ferrer, known for their sparkling wines (made from Chardonnay %26amp; Pinot grapes) but also have nice still pinot as well www.gloriaferrer.com

Schug, has been recognized for his Chardonnay, also makes Pinot, great small tasting room (and I mean small!) www.schugwinery.com

Buena Vista, the first winery established in California, has a great historic feel. If I remember correctly, they had a couple of award winning Pinots, and a cool weather Syrah which I love! www.buenavistacarneros.com

Imagery Estate Winery - No Pinot on the menu BUT they are making wines that you won%26#39;t see everywhere (Barbara, Cab Franc, Lagrein, Petite Syrah, etc) and might be fun to expand your pallate - also has a great Bocce court they welcome you to use www.imagerywinery.com

The first 3 are on the way or very nearby the downtown Sonoma Plaza where you could lunch or pick up a picnic to enjoy at Buena Vista. Then you could go to Imagery Estate near Glen Ellen and maybe have dinner in Glen Ellen, the fig cafe (same owner as the girl %26amp; the fig mentioned earlier) - never takes reservations, doesn%26#39;t charge corkage www.thegirlandthefig.com

Have a great trip! You can download a winery map and dining map from www.sonomavalley.com