About Us

There is so much to explore along Wine Road that you could easily spend a lifetime in Northern Sonoma County and never see it all.

Northern Sonoma County, framed by its forests of towering redwoods and vineyard-studded hills ad valleys, is as rich in its history as its world-renowned wines. With the exception of prohibition (1920 - 1933), wine has been made in Sonoma County for over 135 years. The Wine Road is home to some of California's oldest wineries. At the turn of the century many immigrants found in Northern Sonoma County, with rolling hills and moderate climate, a place that resembled their homeland. As a result, many of the wine making families along the Wine Road still operate their generations-old wineries.

Founded over thirty years ago, the Wine Road is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valley AVA's of Northern Sonoma County. Wine Road, which started as an organization of nine wineries, today has a spirited membership of 180 wineries, and 50 lodgings.

The Russian River, which blends the three AVA's, meanders near Cloverdale and Healdsburg then out to the Sonoma Coast. Northern Sonoma County is the most picturesque grape-growing region in California and stands out as one of the ultra-premium growing regions of the world. The Wine Road has created a myriad of programs, events and services that make it easier for visitors to find and visit the area including a map and a website.

Half a million user-friendly Wine Road maps are produced every year as a complete resource for anyone visiting Northern Sonoma County and there is no charge for the map. In addition to the map, Wine Road sponsors three major events each year; Winter Wineland, Barrel Tasting and A Wine & Food Affair. All this valuable information including maps of Wine Road AVA's can be found on our comprehensive website, www.wineroad.com.

The wineries and lodgings of Wine Road are well known for their friendly hospitality and relaxed atmosphere. Wine Road travelers can expect to spend a leisurely day meandering down picturesque, un-crowded country roads that lead them to many of the area's wineries and attractions. The wineries vary from large producers to small estates; from Italian-style villas and French-style chateaux - to small garagiste wineries (a name coined because many of these people started off making wine in their garage). Many wineries offer their patios, decks, and gardens for picnics; winery and vineyard tours are offered at others, and some even have facilities to accommodate a wine country wedding! Wine Road lodgings can also be found to suit any taste, from quaint cottages and Victorian bed and breakfast inns, to luxurious, contemporary hotels and spas.