If you want to experience some truly unique Sonoma adventure travel, we’ve reviewed about everything Sonoma County has to offer.

ADVENTURE SONOMA STYLE
Sonoma County offers experiences you'd never find anywhere else--that's why so many people visit each year. Unfortunately most of them miss the truly unique things that can make a visit really memorable. After reviewing hundreds of choices, here are our picks for the best of the best. Use this section along with your California Wine Country guide to get the most out of your wine country vacation.


WINE EDUCATION

Chateau St. Jean Winery
8555 Sonoma Highway (Highway 12)
Kenwood, CA
In Kenwood wine education means Chateau St. Jean. The Wine Education Program is an innovative addition to their offerings at the winery. Destined for anyone from the novice to the connoisseur, the program offers courses ranging from an introduction to the basic tools and techniques of wine appreciation to the interactive dynamics of balancing food and wine. Here's a sample of their programs: Wine 101 - $10 per person, Come to your Senses - $15 per person, Dynamics of Food & Wine - $25 per person, Pinot Noir Blending - $35 per person. For a complete list of their programs go to www.chateaustjean.com

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Hospitality Visitor's Center
389 Fourth Street East
Sonoma, California 95476
www.sebastiani.com
With over 100 years of grape growing and wine making experience in Sonoma, Sebastiani definitely has the edge on wine education. For an in depth experience try these two seminars.

Wine Component Tasting Seminar
This hands-on, interactive tasting is designed for the novice wine customer to introduce the basic flavor components in wine and how they contribute to its overall balance and harmony. Six or more. (800) 888-5532 x3230 1 hour $25.00 per person

Soil To Bottle Seminar
This seminar includes an in-depth tour of the winery and the fermentation cellars, as well as a private tasting of our Appellation Selection wines. Learn why they plant different varietals in the various microclimates within Sonoma County and about vineyard planning, vine care, the growing season, harvest, crush, fermentation and finally, the barrel aging and bottling. The class culminates with a tasting session that will fortify. Daily with appointment of six or more. (800) 888-5532 x 3230 1 hour $25.00 per person Visit web site: www.sebastiani.com

Ravenswood Winery
18701 Gehricke Road
(707) 933-2332
3210 – 4:30 Daily
Hands-on Blending Lab
Here's a chance to create your own Zinfandel by attending a blending seminar at Ravenswood. You'll take three varietals, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane and transform them into your own luscious blend. Then bottle it up in a 375 ml bottle to take home and put in your cellar. Reservations required, A great value at $25 per person. 888-669-4679 or 707-933-2332 www.ravenswood-wine.com

COOKING CLASSES AND WINEMAKER DINNERS

St. Francis Winery and Vineyards
100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa CA 95409
800-543-7713
St. Francis Winery is known for it's outstanding culinary program along with daily Wine and Food Pairings. All tasting options can be found at www.stfranciswinery.com/visit. Chef Todd Muir brings to life St. Francis' mission of creating a wine country destination that is a true showcase for their outstanding wines as well as Sonoma County's incredible agriculture. For a complete list of winery events and dinners go to www.stfranciswinery.com/events.

CULINARY SCHOOL
Ramekins, Sonoma Valley Culinary School,
450 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476
707-933-0450x3
Learn to cook wine country style. This amazing cooking school has a full roster of classes from Italian to Thai. Visiting chefs provide you the opportunity to learn with the best. Check out the calendar of classes at www.ramekins.com

BIKE TOURS 
Goodtime Touring Company
www.goodtimetouring.com
888-525-0453
The best of all the bike tours, Doug and Penny McKesson provide 18 speed padded seat bikes for rental and they give a wonderful tour of Sonoma's boutique wineries plus a delicious gourmet lunch. Doug is impressive in his knowledge of Sonoma history and winemaking and Penny is a wonderful cook. Plus they have a van that follows you so you can buy wine at the wineries you visit.

WETLAND TOURS
Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace
25200 Arnold Dr. Sonoma
800-995-4740
www.viansa.com
Viansa's romantic Tuscan Villa sits on a hilltop surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, overlooking Viansa's 90-acre waterfowl preserve. Tours of the their restored wetlands are offered every other Sunday through the end of May, weather permitting. These two hour tours, beginning at 8:30am, are available at $15 per person. Over 13,000 birds feed and refuel each day during peak migratory periods. This seasonal home to over one million ducks, shorebirds, and golden eagles is worth the early morning wake up call. After the walk, step inside the marketplace and explore the wide array of wines, specialty foods and unique gift items. Savor delicious Cal-Ital fare for picnics on the hilltop terrace and enjoy live music and Tuscan barbecue on the weekends.

YOGA
Yoga Company
577 Fifth Street West
Sonoma. Phone 707-935-8600.
All level classes offered to the public.
www.sonomayoga.com

PETANQUE
Valley of the Moon Petanque Club
707-258-3450
Located in Depot Park, Sonomans are mad for this national French pastime. There's usually a game going on in the summers on weekdays starting around five ‘til dark, weekends around the clock. To watch the game, (and maybe even join in) and be a part of the Sonoma "petanque scene" simply wander over to the courts behind the Cheese Factory on the North side of the plaza www.sonomapetanque.com.

2008 ONGOING SONOMA SUMMER EVENTS
There's an amazing list of ongoing activities for Sonoma's summer visitors.  For a complete list....click.