(LuxuryTravel) - Sonoma: Northern California's Most Seductive Wine Region

The word is out: Sonoma County charms visitors.

This beautiful agricultural region on the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco no longer takes a back seat to neighboring Napa Valley in any aspect of tourism.

• Prices for accommodations, meals, wine and more are gentler than Napa's
• And the mood is slower, less commercial, and more authentic
• Why I think Sonoma County is such a hot California destination, & 9 great places to stay

Here's Why Visiting Sonoma County Wineries Is So Much Fun

Sonoma County is rich in world-class winemaking. The county houses over 450 wineries.

• Sonoma County wineries tend to be small-production, non-factory, small-batch wineries -- an earthier scene than Napa wineries
• Increasingly, Sonoma County wineries are organic or biodynamic

Sonoma County wineries tend to be very visitor-friendly.

• Most wineries feature tours, tasting rooms, wine clubs, and event spaces
• Tasting rooms are good places to buy the wines at competitive prices
• Some wineries offer overnight accommodations right on the estate

What Kind of Wine Grows in Sonoma?

• Sonoma County has 16 AVA (American Viticultural Areas) wine appellations, or wine-growing regions
• Sonoma's topography is more diverse than Napa's, with a Pacific coastline, rolling hills,  extensive forests, and a fog like San Francisco's
• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are Sonoma County's top grapes

How to Do Sonoma Wineries Right

• Sonoma County is big -- over 1500 square miles -- so it makes sense to focus on one AVA
• A reasonable tasting-room plan: one or two winery visits in the morning, and another two or three in the afternoon
• Learn more and check out wine-tasting routes and events at Sonoma Wines