Beyond the Wine: Discovering the Real Sonoma County
- Gerri O'Riordan
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
I recently had the pleasure of joining Nick Elliott — certified sommelier and host of the Pour & Explore podcast — for a chat about what makes Sonoma County so special, and why the best way to experience it is to slow down and get off the main road.
We talked about:
The magic of spring in Sonoma — mustard carpeting the vineyards, cherry blossoms, gnarly oaks coming alive, and that particular Irish green I grew up with
How I discover hidden gems — inland hamlets, quirky towns along the Russian River, and the artists, food makers and winemakers all creating in the same place
Why slow travel matters — two wineries done properly beats three done in a rush
How Sonoma Luxury Getaways works, from a self-guided PDF itinerary all the way to a fully customised, fully booked day
Why your palate is the only one that matters — and why a 97-point rating doesn't need to mean anything to you
And my unexpected food obsession: Liberty Duck, farmed right here in Sonoma
Watch the full episode below and if it inspires you to plan your own Sonoma day trip, I'd love to help.
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