Wine country is a beautiful vacation destination year-round, but there is a certain magic to autumn that is unmatched. During the fall, Sonoma Valley comes alive with vibrant fall foliage, vineyards hang with grapes ready to be harvested, and caramel apples are waiting to be served at pumpkin patches. Sonoma harvest season offers an opportunity for visitors to sip on some of the best wine in the country while enjoying picturesque views of the colorful vineyards and attending events that celebrate the season.
Harvest Festivals in Sonoma County
Join us for harvest season in Sonoma County by attending one of our local festivals. Whether you want to sample hundreds of Sonoma wines or help with the apple harvest at Fort Ross, there are several seasonal festivals to plan your vacation around.
- Sonoma Harvest Music Festival: This Glen Ellen music festival is hosted at the B.R. Cohn Winery and celebrates local wine, farm-to-table cuisine, and renowned musicians.
- Sonoma County Harvest Fair: Feast on innovative cuisine paired with drinks from over 100 Sonoma County wineries at the annual harvest fair.
- Fort Ross Harvest Festival: Pack a picnic and celebrate the harvest season at a National Historic Landmark. This festival welcomes visitors to help with the apple harvest and learn about fascinating local history.
Wine Tasting in the Vineyards
Whether you’re a connoisseur or just beginning to learn about wine, there’s no better way to get a feel for Sonoma Valley than to go on a guided tour of the area’s vineyards. You’ll get an insider’s look at some of the most beautiful parts of California as you visit local wineries and learn about how each one produces its own unique wines.
- Loxton Cellars: Spend the day with wine club membership perks when you visit Loxton Cellars as a guest of Woodfield Properties. You’ll tour their Glen Ellen vineyard and taste their incredible wines in the tasting room. Plus, you’ll get membership discounts on any wines you’d like to purchase.
- Bohemian Highway Travel Co.: Explore the vineyards in style with anything from ATV rides through the vineyards to catered lunches overlooking the grapes. Guests of Woodfield Properties receive exclusive perks, including a discount on all travel packages.
You’ll taste different kinds of wine from each region at many vineyards before moving on to other areas in the valley. The best part is that most tours include tastings at several different wineries. There, you can sample various wines while being shuttled from vineyard to vineyard.
Walk Through Vibrant Fall Foliage
It may surprise some, but Sonoma County offers a spectacular display of fall colors at our parks and vineyards. The warm hues of oranges, yellows, and reds create the perfect backdrop for exploring these trails:
- Spring Lake Regional Park: This 350-acre park in Santa Rosa is the ideal place for families to hike or kayak. The lake is surrounded by forested hills that erupt with vibrant foliage.
- Sonoma Overlook Trail: This three-mile trail offers some of the best views of fall colors and the Sonoma Valley and San Francisco Bay.
- Jack London State Historic Park: Autumn offers an idyllic time to explore the back-country trails of this historic park. There are over 29 miles of paths that wind through vibrant mixed forests.
- Explore the Redwoods: California’s wine country is a great place to see some old-growth forests that used to dominate the region. The redwoods in Sonoma County are definitely worth a visit during the fall months.
Sonoma County Fall Activities
There are endless ways to celebrate the Sonoma harvest season, including picking your own apples, solving corn mazes, and finding the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin. Here are a few of our favorite quintessential fall activities:
- Petaluma Pumpkin Patch: If you are looking for a destination with quintessential fall activities, stop at a local pumpkin patch. After finding the perfect pumpkin, go through the amazing corn maze, pet farm animals, and enjoy fall treats from food vendors.
- Apple a Day: Head to Sebastopol and pick your own Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome Apples.
- Blind Scream Haunted Houses: Ready for a good scare this Halloween season? Santa Rosa offers a terrifying haunted house attraction that is not for the faint-hearted!
Sonoma Valley Vacation Rentals
Sonoma harvest season is right around the corner, and Woodfield Properties invites you to spend autumn in the heart of wine country. Whether you are looking for a casual cottage or an elegant estate, we have the perfect home for your distinguished tastes!
Regardless of how you want to spend your time this autumn, Woodfield Properties offers the perfect Sonoma County vacation rentals for your fall getaway. Browse our short-term Sonoma vacation rentals and luxury wine country rental collection to find the ideal place to experience fall in California.