Sonoma Food Tour is a walking food, wine and history tour of the Sonoma Plaza, running since 2015: a 3-hour, 1.25-mile guided journey through locally-owned restaurants, tasting rooms, cheese and olive oil shops, chocolate makers, and the historic landmarks of one of California's oldest town squares. The tour stops include Figone's Olive Oil for olive oil and balsamic tastings, La Casa for California Mexican dishes (including the Avocado Relleno that the tour company helped develop with the restaurant), a local cheese shop, an ice cream stop, and a wine tasting room. The format covers approximately a full lunch's worth of food across multiple seated tastings.
What distinguishes Sonoma Food Tour from a self-guided Plaza walk is the historical and cultural context the local guides weave through every stop: Mission San Francisco Solano's Spanish and Mexican heritage, Sonoma's Bear Flag rebellion, the architectural evolution of the Plaza, and the multi-generational Italian families who built the regional wine industry. The tour ends in the Plaza itself, with insider recommendations for the rest of the visitor's stay. Group size is small (up to 10 guests), tastings are sit-down rather than grab-and-go, and the pace allows for genuine conversation with shop owners and restaurant staff. The most accessible single-purchase introduction to Sonoma Plaza for first-time visitors.
