It's How You Roll!

Bike Ride to Wineries on Sonoma Valley's Backroads

Lush vineyards aren’t the only things rolling in Sonoma Valley these days. Casual cruiser biking is one of the best ways to see the sights and taste the wines! The key: Pedal the country roads and paved bike paths that start right from the historic plaza.

Rent a bike at one of the two local bike shops, ask for a map (or pick one up at the visitor center), then start your two-wheel winery roll. The roughly 10-mile route we recommend leaves from the plaza, cruises past vineyards large and small, and along oak- and eucalyptus-lined streets.

First up: family owned and run Gundlach Bundschu, which despite its popularity is still all mom-and-pop charm. This is a great place to picnic with your wine: Tables are located by a small lagoon and perched up on a hill with a view of the grounds. Continue on the most scenic (and hilly) part of the ride along narrow Thornsberry Road as it winds past country homes (there’s some whoopdeedoo downhill towards the end).

Buena Vista Winery is next, and you’ll want to spend some time here. As the oldest winery in California, it’s a registered landmark, with a Great Gatsby–style champagne lounge (yes, true champagne!), a wine cave filled with massive barrels, and a stellar two-level stone building tasting room that’s 100% unpretentious elegance.

When you’re ready, hop back on the bike; you’re only 2 miles from the plaza (with Ravenswood and Sebastiani wineries as tempting nearby detours), where you can grab a bite to eat and, yes, taste more wines. Way to freewheel!

BONUS: On Saturdays be sure to roll on up to the Harvest Market at Sonoma Garden Park (every Saturday through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 19996 7th Street East, Sonoma). Friendly people, fresh produce, olive oil, beautiful gardens, and free range chickens make this a delightful place to explore between wineries.

STAY: Sonoma Valley has plenty of great B&Bs and lodges. Romantics will like the modern and intimate Cottage Inn & Spa. Located a block from Sonoma’s plaza, the tranquil inn has a central fire-pit lounge with a glass roof to let in the starry nights, a garden courtyard for yoga or just kicking back with a glass, and bikes on-site to explore the area.

Rent bikes right in Sonoma at Sonoma Valley Bike Tours and Rentals or Wine Country Cyclery. Wineries are dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View