16 Jan 2026
What's New in Sonoma County – Winter 2026
Winter sets a different rhythm in Sonoma County. The pace softens, and the landscape exhales as valleys and vineyards grow quiet, and vines rest, gathering strength for the season ahead. Rain showers move through our region, followed by clear days and wide-open blue skies. The slower season leaves room for unhurried conversations and genuine moments of connection, inviting you to be present and experience our region at its most reflective. This is winter in Sonoma County, where “Life Opens Up.”
New in Hotels
Madeira House is a new boutique stay on the Sonoma Coast, set where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean in the town of Jenner. The intimate property spans 11 rooms across three restored houses, pairing coastal restraint with warm, residential design. Many rooms offer river or ocean views, private decks, fireplaces, and select kitchenettes, while the overall experience is intentionally quiet and unplugged. With gardens, waterfront seating, and immediate access to coastal trails and beaches, Madeira House offers visitors a fresh lens on Sonoma County lodging beyond Wine Country, rooted in landscape, calm, and a strong sense of place.
Hyatt Place Sonoma Wine Country
A new Hyatt Place is under construction in Sonoma County near Charles Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS). The 165-room Hyatt Place Sonoma Wine Country is expected to open for guests in late 2026. The hotel will offer brand-style rooms, meeting spaces, a pool, a gym, outdoor areas, and a rooftop restaurant and bar with views of flights arriving and departing at STS. The lobby will include a bar serving local wines, beer, spirits, and Starbucks coffee, along with a 24/7 To-Go corner. A breakfast space and social areas are designed to appeal to business and leisure travelers alike. The project reflects growing investment in hospitality infrastructure supporting Sonoma County Wine Country tourism.
New in Wineries
Sol Rei Wines, a boutique, women-owned producer known for low-histamine, low-sulfite wines that are lab-tested to be free of detectable pesticides and other residues, has opened a new tasting room in downtown Sonoma. The space is designed as a light, nature-inspired retreat that reflects the brand's focus on purity, sustainability, and connection to the land and the craft of winemaking. Artistic touches include a mural of local wine grapes and a grapevine embedded in the bar, tying the tasting experience to the vineyards that supply the wines. Founder Katherine Kitzmiller created Sol Rei after a personal health journey led her to prioritize clean, intentional winemaking; the winery has quickly earned national honors for its 2023 vintage wines.
Marietta Cellars has opened its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg after 47 years as a Sonoma County staple known for its Old Vine Red and other approachable wines. The space, in a former police station near the Healdsburg Plaza, highlights the winery's small-lot, artisanal selections rather than its widely distributed labels. Designed by co-owner and designer Lisa Steinkamp with a contemporary feel, the tasting room offers flights, glasses, and bottles of single-estate and experimental wines in a relaxed setting with indoor seating and a leafy patio.
A new tasting room focused exclusively on sparkling wines has opened in Glen Ellen, adding a unique stop for Sonoma County Wine Country travelers. Wolves Lovers + Thieves brings a curated selection of bubbles to Sonoma Valley's tasting scene, giving visitors a reason to schedule a dedicated sparkling wine stop on their itineraries. The launch reflects broader confidence in Sonoma County's tasting room growth this year, with several new wine destinations debuting across the destination.
Sonoma County Winegrowers and Reservoir launched Reservoir Farms, Sonoma, the first on-farm robotics and automation hub for vineyards and the flagship of SCW's Farm of the Future initiative. The site includes fabrication space, an engineering workshop, and 14 acres of vineyard test blocks where startups and AgTech partners develop and test new tools with grower input. The hub addresses labor shortages, rising costs, and production pressures while supporting job growth and local innovation. Reservoir expects to bring six startups into the incubator by late 2025, strengthening Sonoma County's leadership in sustainable, tech-driven viticulture.
New in Restaurants
Petaluma's newest breakfast spot, Bubbles & Delights Café, is drawing attention for its lively take on morning meals. Locals are calling it a “truly unique breakfast place” with a menu of scratch-made classics and bubbly drinks, including mimosas alongside farm-fresh eggs and hearty plates served with care. The cafe opens early for daily breakfast and brunch and adds a fresh, community-oriented voice to Petaluma's food scene.
Aroma de Café, located in the heart of Railroad Square, one of Downtown Santa Rosa's most historic districts, has opened, signaling a fresh chapter in Santa Rosa's dining scene. Owners Luis Rodriguez and Alejandra Bravo have relocated their well-loved brunch cafe from Fifth Street to the larger Railroad Square location, where they will continue serving Latin and American brunch favorites. The expanded space allows the cafe to grow while staying connected to the neighborhood's historic character and steady flow of locals and visitors. Adding to its appeal, chef Carlos Mojica of Guiso Latin Fusion has introduced a dinner-only Latin-Italian menu, broadening the restaurant's reach from a daytime brunch favorite into an all-day and evening destination.
Pick's Roadside in the far northern Sonoma County town of Cloverdale has reopened with fresh energy while honoring its century-old roots. The drive-in first opened in 1923 and has become a local landmark known for burgers, milkshakes and root beer. After a complete renovation and menu reboot, the reimagined Pick's features premium Wagyu beef burgers, classic shakes and a curated Sonoma County wine list, blending old-school charm with modern tastes. New owners Anidel Hospitality led the revival to preserve the site's historic spirit and create a community gathering place with a Sonoma County Wine Country twist. The original neon sign and nostalgic feel remain, drawing longtime fans and newcomers alike. This relaunch places Pick's back at the heart of downtown Cloverdale and positions it as a must-visit stop for travelers exploring Wine Country and Northern Sonoma County.
Longtime caterer and chef Lisa Boisset of The Cook and The Drummer has opened The Porch Kitchen in the former Goatlandia Kitchen space in Sebastopol. The Laguna Parkway restaurant behind The Barlow previously served as the animal rescue's catering kitchen and, briefly, a vegan cafe. Boisset has revamped the patio into an upscale grab-and-go space that's quickly gaining buzz as a place to linger and dine.
New in Airlines
Southwest Airlines has decided to add more flights between Denver and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa before its new service even begins. The airline will start flying from Sonoma County to Denver in April 2026, with trips available for sale now. The early expansion will add more departures than originally planned. This move responds to strong demand for nonstop Denver service from inbound and outbound travelers. The expanded schedule will offer travelers more weekend and weekday options to fly between Sonoma County and Denver when the route launches this spring.
New in Experiences
Jack London State Historic Park
Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen is marking the 150th anniversary of the novelist's birth with a full year of public programming and special events. Planned events through 2026 include a quarterly speaker series featuring scholars and London's great-granddaughter, a “Call of the Wild Day” family celebration with art, music, and guided walks, and gala events. The program also introduces new offerings such as an online “Around the World on the Jack London Trail” guide and themed trail challenges to highlight London's global travels and local legacy. This yearlong initiative aims to blend heritage interpretation with immersive tourism experiences in a beautiful, hike-friendly setting at a California state park.
New in Wellness
Forest Therapy, also known as Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, continues to gain attention for its proven health and well-being benefits. Originating in Japan, this guided walking practice focuses on slowing down, reducing stress, and engaging the senses to support mental and physical restoration. In Sonoma County, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers a recurring Forest Therapy Series as part of its Park Rx Program, held on the fourth Sunday of each month from March through November. Led by certified Association of Nature and Forest Therapy practitioners, the experience introduces participants to simple techniques designed to deepen presence and enhance the restorative impact of time spent in nature. The program highlights Sonoma County's commitment to accessible, science-backed wellness experiences set within protected natural landscapes.
A new wellness destination is opening in Sonoma with the launch of Elevate Sonoma, a clinic offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy and red-light therapy. The facility features hyperbaric sessions that increase oxygen delivery in a pressurized environment to support healing, recovery, and overall well-being, while complementary red-light therapy aims to enhance results. The clinic brings a modern health and recovery option to Sonoma County's wellness landscape, positioning the region as a lifestyle travel destination for visitors seeking restorative experiences beyond traditional wine and outdoor offerings.
For the Good of the Cause
Russian River Brewing Company, the Sonoma County brewery behind Pliny the Elder, the globally acclaimed craft beer repeatedly named among the best beers in the world, is pairing purpose with production in 2026. The brewery has introduced Russian River 110, a West Coast–style pilsner created to support Russian Riverkeeper, the nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the Russian River watershed. A portion of net proceeds from expanded production, and the beer's first bottled release will fund local conservation efforts. The release underscores how one of America's most influential craft breweries continues to connect its beer, its place, and its environmental stewardship, giving visitors another reason to experience Sonoma County's craft beer scene firsthand.
Media Story Ideas 2026
Sonoma County Story Ideas for 2026
Explore a wide range of travel trends and compelling story ideas found in Sonoma County. These curated thought starters provide our media partners with clear, timely angles worth covering.
Recent Accolades
- Single Thread was named one of 10 restaurants sharing the No. 1 position in the 2026 edition of La Liste's Top 1,000 Restaurants.
- Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars was named Wine Enthusiast's 2025 Winemaker of the Year, a top industry honor recognizing exceptional quality, innovation, and influence. Katz earned attention for elevating Sonoma County's reputation for cool-climate Bordeaux varietals, including earning the publication's first 100-point score for a Sonoma Cabernet.
- Two Sonoma County wineries, Jordan Vineyard & Winery and Aperture Cellars, earned the #13 and #14 spots on the 2025 World's 50 Best Vineyards
- Forbes Travel Guide has included the town of Sonoma in its Top Destinations for 2026.
- Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has designated the San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA Resort in Sonoma County as the winner of its 2026 Campground of the Year
- Sonoma County has been named a 2026 award winner by U.S. News & World Report's Best Vacations rankings.
- SingleThread was included on OpenTable's list of “2025's Top 100 Restaurants,” which highlights neighborhood gems and iconic eateries across the United States based on over 10 million user reviews.
- Guerneville has earned a spot on the SF Chronicle's list of top places to visit in California in 2026.
About Sonoma County Tourism
Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) is the official organization responsible for destination stewardship in California's Sonoma County. Committed to cultivating a vibrant economy through inclusivity, sustainability, and community connections, SCT promotes the area as a welcoming destination for all. Learn more about the organization's innovative efforts to support the local economy responsibly at sonomacounty.com/partners/about-sonoma-county-tourism/.
Media Contacts:
Birgitt Vaughan, Director, Public Relations
Chris Vomvolakis, Senior Manager, Consumer Public Relations
publicrelations@sonomacounty.com
