Sonoma County: 5 Unique Meetings Ideas

The opportunities in Sonoma County are as wide-ranging as the cities, towns and villages encompassed within it—more than 30 in all. Whether its wineries, unique event venues or a place for colleagues to spend the day and get to know each other better, Sonoma County may have what you’re looking for.

Eclectic Wineries

How many trips will it take to experience all the wine Sonoma County offers? Let us know when you get to the other side of the county more than 425 wineries. With so many options, you’re sure to find several you’ll love. And not only does the county offer delectable wines and bites for pairing but many of these wineries come with a view.

Geyserville’s Francis Ford Coppola Winery is the producer of more than 40 wines. Built almost like a hotel without the guest rooms, Francis Ford Coppola Winery features much more beyond wine and wine tasting, like Pool Cafe, which sits right next to pools and cabines; Perfect Your Pizza; and Rustic, which serves Francis Ford Coppola’s favorite Italian and other international dishes. The winery offers six indoor and outdoor venues for 30-300 attendees.

Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa features three spaces that can accommodate up to 250 guests outside and in. Paradise Ridge’s west-facing veranda space overlooks the Russian River Valley. Given its position, it’s a perfect venue to end the day on a high note while the sun gets low. The winery hosts tastings as well, spanning its lengthy list of different wines, including Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, zinfandels, sparkling wines and more.

Pinot noirs and chardonnays at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa are a definite home run but the vineyard is home to even more excitement beyond its wine. So the story goes: One day, the vineyard staff went to founder and owner John Balletto to ask if he would sponsor their baseball team. More than a “yes,” Balletto set aside four acres of land for a regulation-sized baseball field, called The Dream Field.

In addition to estate tour and team-building experiences, private events can be held at one of four of Balletto Vineyards’ venues, which accommodate between eight and 175 guests.

Barns

Given its position as one of California’s premier wine countries, hosting an event in one of Sonoma County’s barns would be a memorable choice. The county has several rustic event venues surrounded by forestry that offer an authentic Sonoma County experience.

Sonoma’s The Barn at Harrow Cellars features three venues: The Willow Lawn, The Barn and The Harrow Lawn, each of which can accommodate 200-plus guests for a sizable indoor-outdoor gathering. Its in-house caterer, Folktable Catering, can provide a creative menu for your attendees.

The Ranch at Lake Sonoma in Healdsburg provides an outdoor setting with views of Lake Sonoma for small gatherings of up to 100 attendees. Additionally, The Ranch offers horseback tours of several of its surrounding valleys, which can be paired with wine tastings and lunches.

Get Outdoors

Outdoor exploration is Sonoma County is a healthy blend of the incredibly scenic mixed with excitement-inducing fun. Not only is the county home to more than 60 regional and state parks and nearly 60,000 acres of redwood forests and abounding nature, there’s also plenty of opportunity for groups to engage with what’s out there, be it hiking, biking, ziplining, camping and more.

Locations like Sonoma Zipline Adventures takes visitors on an adrenaline-pumping trek through the redwoods. Between two courses, the facility features 14 zip lines, two spiral staircases, eight sky bridges and a rappel that travels to the first floor. You can even stay overnight in of the property’s six glamped-out treehouses.

Go Coastal

As if Sonoma County’s inland landscape wasn’t beautiful enough, as you reach the coast, the view gets even more unbelievable. The county is home to several historic parks, trails, restaurants and hotel properties that hug the coast, offering a pristine view whether getting business done or enjoying the fruits of having done so.

County visitors can stroll along Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail that runs 1 mile along Bodega Bay through Doran Regional Park. Lengthier treks are offered at Kortum Trail, a 4.5-mile bluff in Jenner that runs between Wright’s Beach and Blind Beach and gives a grand view of the two beaches below.

For a stay near the coast, consider The Lodge at Bodega Bay, the only Four Diamond hotel on Sonoma’s coast. Its modest 83 guest rooms sport a comfortable, home-like atmosphere that induce relaxation. Its more than 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space includes indoor and outdoor spaces that lend coastal backdrops that extend as far as the eye can see. Its two F&B options, Drakes Sonoma Coast and Fireside Lounge, offer the same view accompanied by coastal fare.

Charles M. Schulz Museum

Charles M. Schulz was a comic most known for his creation of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the entire world of Peanuts characters that have become so well-known since their creation in 1950. In 2002, two years after Schulz’s death, Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center opened in Santa Rosa, with a mission to create an understanding of cartoon art.

The museum is home to permanent, temporary and traveling exhibitions, the last of which is offered to museums, libraries and galleries in the United States and abroad that may not have the opportunity to display Schulz’s Peanuts creations otherwise. The museum offers several tours: Basic Schulz Museum Tour, a guided tour through the museum’s current and permanent exhibits; Day in the Life Tour, which takes visitors on an experience of Schulz’s daily routine; Research Center Tour, which explores the Schulz Museum collections; and Museum Director Tour, a group tour led by the museum director.