"Best of" Sonoma wineries.

Several people commented on the June 21 posting on Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in the Napa Valley. One reader is planning a July 4^th vacation and wanted favorite picks from the Sonoma Valley –especially the Russian River, Alexander Valley, and Healdsburg areas.

We’ve spent several July 4^th vacations in Napa and Sonoma. It is a great place to be that time of year. The fireworks in Healdsburg are terrific.

As it turns out, we had dinner last night with the two couples we’ve traveled the Napa and

Sonoma areas with over the years. (In fact, our little group was featured in an issue dedicated to wine country vacations in Sun Country magazine a couple of years ago. We weren’t cute enough for the cover, but we owned the story.)

So, I put the “best of” question to the group and here’s the combined list of places we love in Sonoma. They range from bigger operations to mom and pop places. Each place represents a great story that keeps getting better each time we tell it.

Presented in alpha order because otherwise we’d fight about which one was the best.

Bella (There’s a Minnesota connection. Ask about Cedric Adams and WCCO Radio.)

Château Sovereign (Fabulous patio for lunch or dinner.)

Château St. Jean (Wins awards all the time.)

Hanna (Perfect lunch stop. See information below on JimTown.)

Iron Horse (Sparkling to still. Whites to reds. Perfect views.)

Loxton (Next to Wellington. Don’t miss it.)

Meeker (Join the Meeker Tribe. Tell them Drinking Bear sent you.)

Mill Creek (There’s a Minnesota connection. Find it.)

Rochioli (Fabulous Sauvignon Blanc.)

Wellington (Lovely people. Terrific wine. Full range of options.)

Yoakim Bridge (Reds only. Great tasting. Ask about the meatball sauce with chocolate.)

And, one place we agreed you have to stop is JimTown, just outside Healdsburg. Grab a picnic lunch and head to Hanna. Get a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Grab a table on the deck. It is a ritual for our group. I expect it will become one for you, too.