Purchasing and enjoying a bottle of wine at California wineries has long been a popular pastime – but it was not actually a legal one until last month, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that allows tasting rooms to sell wine by the glass or bottle.
Previous California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations limited tasting rooms to offering no more than one-ounce pours, and selling bottles to be consumed off site. This prompted State Sen. Patricia Wiggins and Assemblywoman Noreen Evans of Santa Rosa to sponsor AB 2004 to correct the problem. “Food and wine are a natural pairing,” said Evans in a press release. “It’s just plain silly that California law doesn’t allow picnickers to enjoy a glass of wine with their lunches in winery picnic grounds. This bill is just common sense and will legalize what many people have been doing all along.”
“It’s great the law was passed so people can enjoy their wine right there with friends and family,” said Grant Raeside, executive director of the Sonoma Vintners & Growers Alliance.
So now’s an even better time to ride your bike – with your picnic supplies – to a nearby winery. Ravenswood retail manager Kristen Wastell says many cyclists visit the winery. “They enjoy our wine while on the property.”
From Sonoma Plaza, Ravenswood is a mostly flat ride that takes about 15 minutes. You can pedal east on Spain Street to Lovall Valley Road (or take the bike path), then turn left on Gehricke Road to the winery, which has tables on a patio facing the hills and overlooking vineyards.
Ride another 15 minutes east on Lovall Valley to Castle Road and you’ll be climbing the hill in Bartholomew Park, which has several picnic areas from which to choose. One is in the wine garden next to the tasting room and another is next to the Haraszthy Villa, before you reach the tasting room.
A longer ride from the Plaza, about 30 minutes, takes you along East Napa Street, down Fifth Street East, then east on Denmark Street to Gundlach Bundschu, which welcomes picnickers in three areas, including one on Towle Hill that overlooks the vineyard.
If you haven’t prepared your own picnic, you could ride another 10 minutes beyond Gun-Bun on Denmark to Napa Road, then turn right to the Vineburg Deli at Eighth Street East. This part of Napa Road has reasonably wide shoulders, so bikers can stay safely away from traffic.
Vineburg offers a range of sandwiches starting at $6, such as turkey, roast beef, ham and chicken, with all the fixings. Specials are pulled pork on Monday, grilled chicken breast on Tuesday, burgers and hot dogs on Wednesday, Italian sausage with roasted peppers on Thursday, and barbecued tri-tip on Friday. Homemade desserts include brownies, chocolate chip cookies and bread pudding.
If you’d rather buy your picnic before departing the Plaza, the Sonoma Cheese Factory makes deli sandwiches ($6 and up), a range of salads, and hamburgers, veggie burgers and turkey burgers on the grill, plus cookies and cheesecake for dessert.
With a day’s notice, Basque Boulangerie makes box lunches that offer a choice of sandwich, salad and cookie for $11.50. The regular menu features sandwiches and other fare starting at $5.
Photos by Ryan Lely/Sonoma Valley Sun
With ample parking close by, Depot Park is a perfect place to start your biking journey.
The downhill ride from Ravenswood offers views of Sonoma Valley.
Ravenswood Winery
18701 Gehricke Road
707.933.2332
Open daily 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.ravenswood-wine.com
The Bartholomew Memorial Park, part of Bartholomew Park Winery, offers a short cut to Old Winery Road.
Bartholomew Park Winery
1000 Vineyard Lane
707.935.9511
Open daily 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.bartpark.com
Buena Vista Winery is the oldest premium winery in California.
Buena Vista Winery
18000 Old Winery Rd.
707.938.1266
Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
www.buenavistacarneros.com
The approach to Gundlach Bundschu offers a senic ride through their Rhinefarm Vineyards.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark St.
707.939.3015
Open daily 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.gunbun.com
Where to find picnic fare to go:
Vineburg Deli, 997 Napa Rd.,
707.938.3306 Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat.11 a.m.-3 p.m
Sonoma Cheese Factory, 2 W. Spain St.,
707.996.1931 / Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Basque Boulangerie, 460 First St. E.,
707.935.7687 / Daily 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Whole Foods, 201 W. Napa St.,
707.938.8500 / Daily 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunflower Caffe, 421 First St. W.,
707.996.6645 / Sun.-Wed. 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Sonoma Market, 500 W. Napa St.,
707.996.3411 / Daily 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Broadway Market, 20511 Broadway,
707.996.5797 / Daily 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
