Four Faves for Food and Wine Pairings in Sonoma

In wine country, food pairings serve an important purpose - and, no, it’s not just for absorbing the alcohol! What you eat with wine can enhance the flavor of both the food and the drink. Pairing wine with food is an art form that takes into consideration the wine’s acidity, sweetness, and more, then finds the perfect complement to it.

With that in mind, here are four of my favorite wineries to visit in Sonoma when you’re looking for a top-notch food pairing menu.

Cāpo Creek Ranch (Dry Creek Valley)

Cāpo is warm, rustic, and feels distinctly California. Think: Dog-lovers, live music, and a down-to-earth vibe. The farmhouse is nestled in a lush landscape that feels very welcoming. This is the doing of Chef, Owner, and Winemaker Mary Roy who has a reputation for being personable and attentive. Past pairing menus at Cāpo have included Salmon Cones, Coconut Lime Chicken, Grenache with Harvest Raviolini, Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, and Lemon Curd Cheesecake. This is an intimate wine and food pairing experience good for small groups. For Viognier lovers, note that it isn’t always on menu, but Mary might let you try it if there’s any on hand!

Image from MayoFamilyWinery.com

Mayo Family Winery 

Mayo is a smaller winery with a friendly staff and unpretentious environment. I love the wonderful, big trees at their Reserve Room in Kenwood. (Their wine tasting room is in Glen Ellen). Pinot, Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Port are all sure bets here. Past pairing menus include such mouthwatering dishes as Dungeness Crab "California Roll" with Wasabi Aioli, Pickled Ginger & Scallion Vinaigrette, Heirloom Tomato Salad with Local Corn "Salsa", Ricotta Salata, & Fresh Herbs, and Bourbon Salted Caramel over Local Peaches, Buttermilk Biscuit, with Chantilly Cream.

Image from StFrancisWinery.com

St. Francis Winery 

St. Francis has the excellent “problem” of continually winning Best Restaurant awards despite not technically being a restaurant! Their 5-course pairing experience in the estate dining room is not to be missed. Chef Peter Janiak calls his food “rustic-chic.” Past menus include Chardonnay paired with parsnip bisque, Merlot paired with hand-rolled Gnudi, and Ruby Port paired with Warm bittersweet chocolate cake with pecan ice cream and a Port vanilla glacé. Zinfandel fans will be happy here, too. It’s a gorgeous place to relax, with views of sweeping landscaped grounds set against the backdrop of the Mayacamas mountains.

Image from KJ.com

Kendall Jackson Winery (Russian River Valley)

Though the winery is a household name and known for their Chardonnay, wine pairings here use reserve wines instead of typical table wines. Several chefs do the wonderful work of pairing coastal California wines with farm to table small bites, among them an award winning pastry chef.  KJ has 4-acres of culinary gardens to draw from. Past menus included Deviled Egg with Miso and Shallot, Smoked Trout Rillette, and Duck Sausage. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request. The vibe here is elegant and European with a striking chateau, gardens, bocce ball court, and more. Through May 25th they’re running a “Share and Pair Special." Folks can bring a friend for free when booking an Estate Tasting with the code SHAREANDPAIR.

Image from RussianRiverVineyards.com

BONUS SPOT

This is not a place that does food pairings, but since you’re already in Russian River, I recommend a side trip to Russian River Vineyards. They have a large outdoor tasting area and a yummy lunch menu. I really enjoy their funky, rustic architecture and ample shaded patio surrounded by trees. A great place to relax with some Pinot Noir!