Three Ways to Relish 24 Hours in Carneros

Begin the morning with a walk around Sonoma Plaza. The historic square is where California briefly declared independence in 1846 and is home to the most northern mission in California. Drop into Château Sonoma on First Street West when it opens at 10:30. The most French shop in wine country, it is stocked with antiques sourced directly from France and artisan home goods that feel lifted from a Provençal marché. If you're hungry, stop for brunch at Valley, the Michelin-recommended restaurant on the plaza. Try their Parisian breakfast, a croissant with ham, a soft-cooked egg, pickles, and cheese, and let the morning slow to a continental pace.

From Sonoma, enjoy your short, scenic drive south to Carneros along the Sonoma Highway, through a corridor of open vineyard land. Head to the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, just across the street from Domaine Carneros. Explore the foremost collection of Northern California art in the world, roaming di Rosa’s 217-acre campus to include a gallery, a sprawling sculpture garden, a serene lake, and vineyard-lined trails. View the Château in the distance as excitement builds for what's to come.

Then, arrive at the Château for your reservation. Opt for a touch of Napoleonic flair with our Art of Sabrage experience, a demonstration of the centuries-old technique of opening a bottle with the stroke of a sword. Or settle into something more contemplative with Scent & Savor: A Tour of Aromas & Taste Transformations, where you'll be led through our sparkling cellar to learn the art of Méthode Traditionnelle winemaking before arriving at our elegant Salon de Rêves for a tasting of Le Rêve, the pinnacle of our portfolio, and The Famous Gate, an exemplary Pinot Noir named for our stately iron entrance gate, a gift from our founding family, the Taittingers of Champagne.

When it's time to bid adieu, descend our grand staircase and return to Sonoma to check into the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a mission-style retreat where Château Society members receive exclusive discounts. Settle in for a delicious nap.

When hunger returns, you're just a two-minute drive from El Molino Central, the beloved Oaxacan-style kitchen with cult-favorite Mexican food and a patio made for lingering. Or, if you'd like to keep the French mood intact, head up valley to Glen Ellen Star for a French-inspired dinner, or opt for their more casual sister restaurant, Stella, for home-style Italian.

If you're arriving from the Napa side of Carneros, perhaps after a night at one of our partner hotels, like the Silverado Resort or Archer Hotel, begin your day unhurried.

For coffee, head to Gavel, the cafe at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Collection resort on working Carneros vineyard land. Their pastries are baked fresh each morning, and the specialty roasts are sourced from Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco. Arrive early for their Lavender Bun that inevitably sells out.

After coffee, stroll along the Stanly Ranch Eucalyptus trails through the surrounding vineyards. If you're there on a Saturday, use the Mindbody app to book a 12:30 Sound Bath at Stanly Ranch's Halehouse with Nicole Hall. Nicole is one of Napa Valley's finest yoga teachers and a friend of our Vineyard Director – and yoga instructor – Allison Wilson. Let the soothing vibrations of Nicole’s crystal bowls wash over you. If you don’t want the relaxation to end, day passes for the spa and pool are also available.

Chakras aligned, make the short drive to your reservation at Domaine Carneros. Sit back and savor our latest limited-edition Bubbles & Bites menu, taking you on a journey through the Colors of the Caribbean – a mosaic of islands, cultures, and centuries of culinary exchange, each shaped by Indigenous heritage, African tradition, and European influence. Drawing from the bold flavors of Jamaica and the heartwarming home cooking of Puerto Rico, every dish celebrates those rich, layered stories, told through food and paired with sparkling wine. The menu includes four savory bites and one sweet, each designed to accompany four critically acclaimed Carneros sparkling wines: Ultra Brut, Estate Brut Cuvée, Brut Rosé, and Vermeil Demi-Sec. Island time.

As the day eases into night, board the Napa Valley Wine Train in downtown Napa, a beautifully restored vintage railcar rolling at a gentle pace through the valley. Château Society members receive an exclusive discount on the journey. The train departs from McKinstry Street and returns the same evening with dinner served onboard. Sip wine and watch the sun set over the valley as the vines pass by. It’s the perfect end to your leisurely day.

The perfect proposal, milestone birthday, or anniversary deserves something more than an occasion; it deserves a world unto itself. We recommend planning your celebration for a Tuesday. Yes, really.

On Monday, check into the Carneros Resort and Spa, a collection of private cottages nestled in the vineyards – just down the road from us. Château Society members enjoy exclusive discounts here, which makes the decision to stay an extra night feel less like an indulgence and more like good planning.

Wake slowly. Walk over to Boon Fly Café, one of the resort’s award-winning restaurants, where the donuts are famous and the Crab Eggs Benedict is, in the considered opinion of our winemakers, divine with sparkling wine.

From there, head over to our friends at Sonoma Valley Trail Rides for a morning exploring Sonoma vineyards on horsebacks. The trails take you through working wine country, close enough to the vines to smell the earth between the rows, high enough on the hillsides to see morning fog still settled in pockets of the valley. Be sure to book ahead. Château Society members ride at an exclusive discount.

If riding isn't your cup of tea, the resort offers worthy alternatives: a leisurely morning by the pool or a few friendly rounds of pickleball with expert coaching available on-site.

By midday, make your way to Domaine Carneros for our most lavish experience, available Monday through Friday only: Your Ultimate Carneros. Begin with a glass of our finest sparkling wine paired with Tsar Nicoulai caviar and a curated array of local cheeses and charcuterie. For the next course, our wine educators guide you through Bubbles & Bites: Colors of the Caribbean, four sparkling wines paired with five internationally inspired bites. End with a flourish as you learn sabrage, the dramatic, centuries-old art of opening a bottle with a single stroke of a sword.

Return to your cottage for a well-earned siesta.

When you're ready for more, point northwest to Sonoma. The Valley of the Moon Farmers Market is held every Tuesday from 5 to 8 pm in the Sonoma Plaza through late November, with local produce, live music, and food artisans showcasing cuisines from around the world. Spread a blanket on the lush green lawn, and pop open that favorite bottle you brought back from the Château (the Sonoma Plaza is one of the only places in California where you can enjoy wine in a public setting). Laugh, dance, toast, and linger well past the last song.