Visiting Sonoma County – A Culinary Adventure

Disclosure: Discounts and comps were received throughout the Sonoma Valley road trip. All opinions are my own.

After our amazing morning at Jack London State Historic Park it was time to enjoy Sonoma’s biggest bounty. And what better place to do that than the famous Benziger Family Winery.

Seriously, can this place get any more beautiful?

Benziger is a family owned company in the town of Glen Ellen. It’s also one of the few certified organic AND biodynamic wineries in the country.  Clearly the family has a love of the land and the beautiful grapes they grow on it.

When we first arrived we hopped aboard the tram tour and were whisked about the property where we saw the grape vines up close. We learned these vines are handpicked so only the best grapes are used for the wine.

We also made a stop in the wine cave. A few years back this huge vault was built right into a hill on the property. Today it holds seemingly countless barrels of wine.

The tram tour was a fun and information introduction to the winery but after seeing those vast barrels we were itching to start sampling. Luckily, the tour ends at the tasting room where we enjoyed a wine flight included in the tour. Also, on the property is the Library Room where you can taste the estate wines.

The library is housed in a historic ranch house and is a great spot to sample wine. No lining up at the bar here. Instead you sit at individual tables and are served a variety of Benziger’s finest wines.

It’s quiet and peaceful and the service is superb. The staff is very knowledgeable in the products offered and make every effort to find you your perfect wine. It was a lovely way to wrap up our visit.

Soon, we were headed to our next adventure when we spotted this along the road.

Chocolate tasting??? Faster than the screech of my tires we inside ready to sample some Wine Country Chocolates.

Oh, YUM. Since it was fall they were offering a handmade pumpkin chocolate truffle. To.Die.For. We couldn’t help but stock up. You know, for souvenirs (wink, wink).

Before we knew it, it was almost time for our dinner reservations. We managed to squeeze a quick stroll through the quaint town of Sonoma before grabbing a table at the girl and the fig.

The girl and the fig has been a hotspot in Sonoma for 17 years and with good reason. The ambiance is warm, the service is spot on and the food is absolutely delicious.

The majority of the ingredients are locally sourced and many are grown by the staff. On our visit they were enjoying the last of their home grown heirloom tomatoes which were served with bleu cheese, potato crisps, and a balsamic drizzle.

Ok. Remember that scene in Ratatouille where Anton Ego bites into the dish and is instantly transported back to his childhood? I experienced that here. Instead of my childhood I was transported to a trip to Hawaii where I stopped by a local cafe and had the best tomato I’d ever had in my life. Well…until this moment. Words cannot express how incredibly delicious this dish was. We all had to hold ourselves back from licking the plate.

For dinner we diverged and ordered steak frites, a pork chop, and chicken thighs.

I chose the chicken thighs and loved them. Tender and juicy served over sweet potatoes, pomegranate seeds and butternut squash puree they were absolutely delicious.

For dessert we went with an apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. It was the perfect finale to memorable meal. Not just a memorable meal but a memorable day. All those wonderful things you hear about Sonoma? They’re all true.