Today I want to share my guide to how to visit Napa and Sonoma in one day. These neighboring counties in Northern California are two of the best and most well-known places to go wine tasting in the Golden State. The beautiful areas have everything from world-famous wines to award-winning restaurants and awe-inspiring landscapes. Taking a day trip to Napa and Sonoma is a great way to see a range of what each one has to offer. Read on for my itinerary. I’ve included a map, too.
Napa and Sonoma in One Day
I’m heading to wine country to visit Napa and Sonoma in one day with my other half, two of our friends, and three adorable dogs. From tastings to restaurants and markets, we’re planning to do a lot of the things this part of Northern California is famous for.
We start our drive up from San Francisco at 9:15am on a Sunday. We enjoy a traffic-free journey and soak up the views from the Golden Gate Bridge as we make our way north to the sun-kissed hills of Sonoma County.
It takes us 45 minutes to get to the first stop on our itinerary, and we arrive excited to see what our expedition has in store for us. This is one of our favorite day trips from San Francisco, and we know we’re going to have a great time.
Breakfast in Petaluma
We pull into Petaluma as the sweet sunshine welcomes us to wine country. We’re here to have breakfast at Grand Central Petaluma, a riverfront coffee shop with a big outdoor area featuring everything from picnic tables to hammocks.
Grand Central Petaluma is known for everything from its espresso drinks to its hot chocolate and empanadas. It offers a range of breakfast pastries alongside shelves of handicrafts from local makers and South American artisans.
After ordering coffee and breakfast inside, we settle into Adirondack chairs overlooking the water. We sip and savor as we take in views of the Great Petaluma Mill and the kayakers gliding along the river. The sun is shining and there’s music playing, and we can’t think of a better way to start our day trip.
Wine Tasting in Sonoma County
From Petaluma it’s a 30-minute drive to the next stop on our itinerary. We’re going for an 11am tasting at our favorite winery in Healdsburg, Convene by Dan Costa. Located in the Bacchus Landing complex in Dry Creek Valley, it’s one of several wineries arranged around a sunny central courtyard.
Convene is not only a great spot for wine tasting in Sonoma County, but also a fun place for dog lovers. The winery welcomes four-legged friends like the ones we’ve brought with us.
We settle in at an outdoor table and enjoy everything from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Founder Dan Costa is one of Sonoma’s most decorated vintners, so there are a lot of great wines to try here.
Lunch in Yountville
After buying bottles of our favorites, we continue our itinerary for Napa and Sonoma in one day with a drive to Yountville in Napa County. It takes an hour, and we arrive in town ready for lunch at Bouchon Bistro at 1pm. Right down the street from iconic restaurant The French Laundry, this place is also part of chef Thomas Keller’s culinary empire.
When we arrive we’re seated at an outdoor table on the patio. It’s buzzing with the lunch crowd, and it’s the perfect setting for an al fresco meal on a sunny day.
We’ve all been here before, and the food is every bit as good as it was on our last trip. It’s a great midday meal in wine country.
Wine Tasting in Yountville
After lunch we continue our day trip to Napa and Sonoma with a walk around Yountville. First we pass Bouchon Bakery, another of Thomas Keller’s culinary outlets. It’s beloved for its French pastries and fresh bread. The line is out the door (it always is), but we’re still tempted to queue up for dessert.
Across the street we spot the luxurious buildings of The Estate Yountville hotel, and down the road we find ourselves in front of Hestan. This is the Yountville tasting room of a Napa Valley winery that produces everything from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon.
We pop in for an impromptu tasting, standing at the bar to enjoy a few sips as we take in the beautiful cookware for sale. When we’re done, we pick up a couple bottles to take home before heading to our next stop.
Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
Our itinerary for Napa and Sonoma in one day continues with a 10-minute drive to Matthiasson Wines. This family-owned outfit is run by husband-and-wife team Steve and Jill Matthiasson. They grow and blend everything from widely-recognized varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon to lesser-known ones like Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano.
We’ve pre-booked a tasting at 3pm, and we’re seated at an outdoor table right next to the Phoenix Vineyard. Our friendly host welcomes us and gives us an overview of the winery. He then brings out test tube vials with everything from Petite Sirah to Cabernet Sauvignon in them. It’s a creative take on the traditional pour, and we love it.
We spend the next 90 minutes sipping and savoring as our host comes by to talk us through each wine and explain where the vineyards are. It’s amazing to sip right at the source, and fun to learn about new-to-us blends.
Downtown Napa
At the end of the tour we purchase wine and get back in our cars to drive to the final stop on our itinerary for Napa and Sonoma in one day. It’s a 15-minute drive to downtown Napa, where we cruise past the boutiques and restaurants on 1st Street to get to Oxbow Public Market.
This indoor food emporium is my favorite place in Napa. The mouth-watering variety of stalls and shops under its roof tempts my taste buds every on every visit, and this one is no exception. We take a walk around the market, browsing the goods and soaking up the atmosphere as the pups wait patiently outside with one of our group.
There’s everything from oysters to bread, cupcakes, and spices here, and we could spend all evening letting our noses guide us around.
Dinner in Napa
The market piques our appetites, so we head next door to Gott’s Roadside for dinner. This famous place serves California-inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The big menu on the wall features everything from mahi mahi tacos to kimchi burgers and root beer floats.
Gott’s is popular, and it’s a 30-minute wait from the time we order at the counter to the time our food is ready. We settle in at a picnic table on the restaurant’s outdoor patio, enjoying the last of the day’s sun as we wait.
Soon a feast of sweet potato fries, ahi burgers, and other classics occupies the space, and we’re grateful for the filling meal after a big day of wine tasting. My other half’s burger is overcooked, but otherwise it’s the perfect dinner stop on our itinerary.
Napa and Sonoma in One Day
When dinner is done, our day trip to Napa and Sonoma comes to an end. We make the 75-minute journey back to San Francisco, enjoying golden hour views over the vineyard-studded hills as we drive. It’s a beautiful send-off, and the perfect end to our time in wine country.
Napa and Sonoma Day Trip Map
If you’re wondering how to visit Napa and Sonoma in one day, you can find an interactive map of the places we visited in the counties here. I hope it helps you follow in our footsteps and have a great time in Northern California.
More Napa and Sonoma Itineraries
If you want more inspiration, you can check out my Napa itineraries and my Sonoma itineraries for additional ideas. From day trips to multi-day adventures, they’re full of things to do and see in this part of the Golden State.
If you’d like to take a guided tour, there are plenty to choose from. They’re great ways to see Napa and Sonoma with an experienced local (and to avoid driving). You can see options and book one here.
You can also check out my videos on YouTube. From my video about one day in Napa to my video of downtown Healdsburg, there are plenty to watch. Happy travels!
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