An Unconventional Weekend In Sonoma County: More Than Wine Country
A Guy’s Guide to Getting Away
Words by Jerod Morales Photos by Eric Morales
While Sonoma is rightly venerated as wine country, it offers so much more—from an exclusive sporting club to charming hotels surrounded by redwoods to spirits tastings. There is a secret side to Sonoma County that might come as a surprise.
Day One
North on the Pacific Coast Highway, past the Golden Gate Bridge, where skyscrapers give way to towering redwoods, sits a little town called Guerneville, a popular getaway for San Franciscans looking to escape the city.
After a full remodel, The Stavrand, a quaint property along the Russian River, is nothing short of stunning. Rooms are generous in size with warm fireplaces and deep soaking tubs. The property boasts a heated pool, an orchard of 100 year old fruit trees, and a hillside meadow which is a great spot to pause for a moment, breathe fresh air, and enjoy a book from their lending library. With only 21 rooms on the property, the hotel staff curates an experience unique to each guest.
After settling in, enjoy an evening aperitif at the on-site Belden House, sampling the chef-prepared amuse bouche with complimentary local wine and drinks. Dinner itself is a special occasion at The Stavrand. Each meal is unique in that the chef conceives the menu based on what’s abundant in the onsite garden.
After a long day of travel, retire early in a select room with a personal cedar-soaking hot tub on the patio which is perfect for stargazing.
Day Two
Every stay at The Stavrand includes daily breakfast. Try the Sonoma Bowl with crispy patatas, honey lavender bacon, and cheddar scrambled eggs. After a hot breakfast, head south to Wing & Barrel Ranch, a prestigious club where members are committed to preserving the sporting way of life. The club provides opportunities for seasonal bird hunting, fly fishing lessons, and vintner member gatherings. Visitors can test their reflexes shooting clays. A personal favorite for our crew was the sporting clays being flung across view and the thrill of popping clays as they blasted into the open California sky.
Following a day outdoors, relax with an exquisite meal crafted by the on-site chefs while resting on the clubhouse patio overlooking the Mayacamas and Sonoma mountain ranges. Then retire to the smoking room where a selection of cigars is available and enjoy owner Darius Anderson’s personal collection of Cuban memorabilia. Committed to preserving the land, Darius and his team veritably created an experiential gathering place for those who enjoy sporting while connecting with the outdoors and passing these traditions on to the next generation.
Day Three
After breakfast, lace up those hiking shoes, because just north of The Stavrand is a majestic forest of ancient redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. These magnificent trees can live 1000 years and are the tallest living organisms on earth! Parson Jones Tree reaches more than 310 feet (longer than a football field), while Colonel Armstrong Tree is the oldest and estimated to be over 1,400 years old. Follow the trail for an easy hike through the reserve with these captivating giants.
After exploring the surrounding forests, head into the city of Sonoma where 4th generation vintner August Sebastiani founded 3 Badge Beverage. Though it’s set in the middle of wine country, 3 Badge Beverage is bringing well-known spirits to market like Uncle Val’s Gin (try their Botanical in a Gin & Tonic), and Kirk & Sweeney Dominican Rum, and his most recent passion, Bozal Mezcal, which comes in a margarita or negroni version for a fresh perspective on an old favorite.
After sampling an array of spirits, consider El Molino Central for some of the best fish tacos in the Bay area, house made chips and guac, or pork molé enchiladas.
