Napa wine country is overrun by tourists, so people are abandoning it for Sonoma - we visited both to see who does it better
Melia Robinson/Business Insider
For many years, Sonoma County was the kid-brother of wine country. Napa County's elite wineries, trendy restaurants, and globally-known brand long overshadowed Sonoma's charms.
But Sonoma County, which stretches across nine cities and three times the land area of Napa County, is stealing visitors thanks to its laidback atmosphere and affordability. In 2016, travelers spent a total of $1.9 billion in Sonoma County, compared to $1.3 billion in Napa County, according to an annual economic impact report. The area attracts approximately double the three million visitors who come to Napa County every year.
Comparing the two is like apples and oranges - or Pinot Grigio and Merlot, if you prefer - because they vary so much in size. A wine blogger put it best when he said, "Napa Valley is a wine Disneyland, while Sonoma Valley is a wine region."
With the harvest season nearly upon us, I visited Sonoma and Napa to figure out which offers the best experience for first-timers in wine country. In both areas, I visited two to three wineries and tried a Chardonnay and a house specialty at each.
Here's how it went.
- I got a $40K raise using this 30-second strategy. It made me realize loud work, not hard work, always wins.
- Qatar Airways' new CEO explains why it's sticking with the Airbus A380 as other airlines retire the costly superjumbo
- Prince Harry and Meghan found out about Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis on TV like everyone else, report says
- Sustainable Event Planning
- Ambani, Adani collaborate: RIL picks 26% stake in Adani Power project
- As back-to-office avatars turn casual, comfy sneaker sales pick up pace
- Fresh photographs of Milky Way’s black hole Sgr A* reveal strong, twisted magnetic field similar to M87*
- 8 Lesser-known places to explore in Himachal Pradesh