You don’t have to wait until Cinco de Mayo to enjoy the sweet, sour, salty, boozy taste of a well-made margarita.

Often hailed as the quintessential Mexican cocktail, the origins of the margarita remain debated — some claim it was invented in Tijuana in the 1930s while others say the first margarita was concocted by a Dallas socialite at her Acapulco vacation home in 1948.

No matter where it came from or how you like yours — frozen or on the rocks, with or without salt, flavor-infused or classic — Sonoma County serves up some marvelous margaritas. Here are our top picks.

La Rosa Tequileria & Grille, Santa Rosa: La Rosa’s La Diabla is a favorite margarita made with lime, strawberry (or other fruits, your choice) and muddled serrano chiles, served on the rocks. A little spicy, a little naughty. If heat isn’t your thing, try one of their 12 other margaritas, or keep it simple with a sip of tequila from the expansive bar, which features over 180 artisan tequilas and mezcals. 500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3663, larosasantarosa.com

Paradise Sushi, Santa Rosa: Ignore the fact that they’re not made with real tequila, because this sweet little flight of margs is every bit as tasty. Pair with a couple of California rolls, and you’re in for a brilliant evening. 119 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, paradisesushi.net

Lazeaway Club at the Flamingo Resort, Santa Rosa: Grab a poolside table and a fresh margarita and enjoy the “ode to idleness” vibe at the renovated resort. 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-510-4533, lazeawayclub.com

Sweet T’s, Santa Rosa: The secret to the Texas Margarita? Pineapple and a kick of cayenne pepper. But oh, how sweet it is. 9098 Brooks Road South, Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com

Ricardo’s Bar & Grill, Santa Rosa: A popular hangout for Bennett Valley residents, Ricardo’s serves up tasty martinis and a delicious house margarita that uses Sauza Blue tequila and is served on the rocks in a tall, skinny glass. Or go big with their top shelf — it’s worth the upgrade. Pair it with shrimp tacos from the secret menu and you’ll be more than satisfied. 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-7696, ricardosbarandgrillca.com

Cascabel, Santa Rosa: Originally a tequila lounge based out of San Rafael, Cascabel opened a second location in Montgomery Village. They offer up plenty of delicious tequila-focused cocktails, with the Margarita de la Casa as number one on the list. 909 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9444, cascabelbayarea.com

El Gallo Negro, Windsor: This Windsor restaurant and mezcaleria serves up Oaxacan-influenced dishes and a margarita for everyone with 11 festive options, including their house margarita, La Margarita, a Mezcal margarita, skinny margarita and the Mucho Caliente. 8465 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-838-9511, elgallonegro.net

Agave, Healdsburg: Agave offers one of the largest tequila selections in the county and hosts regular tastings. Order a house margarita or go big with La Reyna del Sur, which is made with Herradura silver tequila, fresh squeezed lime and Grand Marnier. Enjoy your margarita al fresco with chef Octavio Diaz’s mother’s speciality, traditional molé from Oaxaca. 1063 Vine St., Healdsburg, 707-433-2411, agavehealdsburg.com

Roof 106, Healdsburg: The Modern Margarita is a wonder of modern alchemy. This classic cocktail is crystal-clear, making for a sneaky drink that’s every bit as good as the original. Maybe better. 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-723-1106, thematheson.com

Maya Restaurant, Sonoma: Maya serves up contemporary Yucatan cuisine and the largest tequila selection in town. All of their margaritas use 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila and their house margarita is no joke — it packs a punch with silver tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon and lime juice. For something a bit more fruity, try their pomegranate margarita. 101 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-935-3500, mayarestaurant.com

La Casa Restaurant, Sonoma: One of the oldest restaurants in Sonoma knows how to throw down the margaritas — they offer six types — many use recipes that date back to the restaurant’s 1967 opening. Try the Coat Rack, which uses Cazadores Reposado tequila, Cointreau and fresh squeezed lime, or order a house margarita during happy hour. 121 E. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-996-3406, lacasarestaurants.com

Taqueria La Hacienda, Sonoma: Sonoma locals flock to La Hacienda, not just for their hearty portions of Mexican food, which includes the best homemade molé in town, but also for their gigantic margaritas. Skip the house margarita and go top shelf with a blend of their famous margarita mix and El Jimador Tequila Blanco Triple Sec, topped with floats of Grand Marnier and Cointreau. They also serve a margarita using organic tequila. 17960 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-939-8226, lahaciendasonomabarandgrill.com

Oso Sonoma, Sonoma: Oso’s food is great and so are their cocktails. Pair Oso’s shrimp tacos with a blood orange margarita, which uses Sabé Teq, blood orange puree, lime, agave and salt. 9 E. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-931-6926, ososonoma.com

Mi Pueblo, Petaluma: Mi Pueblo, located in the heart Petaluma’s historic downtown, hosts a popular happy hour, with speciality margaritas, such as their jalapeño margarita. Local fans describe Mi Pueblo’s margaritas as being “the size of a mixing bowl” and therefore shareable for two — but would you really want to share your margarita? 108 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-769-9066, eatmipueblopetaluma.com

Plaza Tequila, Petaluma: Popular with happy hour enthusiasts, Plaza Tequila offers margarita lovers plenty of options to pair with their expansive menu. Treat yourself to a top shelf margarita, which is topped off with a float of Cointreau, and sit back and relax on their shaded patio. 600 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-776-4949, plazatequila.com

Mi Ranchito, Cotati: Mi Ranchito loves tequila so much they have their own tequila club. Their specialty margaritas run the gamut of colors, tastes and sizes. Try La Borracha, which is topped off with a mini-Corona beer or a refreshing cucumber margarita that uses Milagro silver tequila. 7600 Commerce Blvd., Cotati, 707-795-7600, miranchitocotati.com

El Barrio, Guerneville: One of the hottest spots in Guerneville, El Barrio pairs tequila and mezcal craft cocktails with small Mexican plates. USA Today calls their La Adelita margarita — made with Cebeza tequila, Cointreau, hibiscus, and lime — “sultry.” They also offer mezcal margaritas, like the El Barrio, which uses just a few simple ingredients: Fidencio mezcal, agave and lime juice. Order some Mexican deviled eggs and chill on the patio. 16230 Main St., Guerneville, 707-604-7601, elbarriobar.com

Underwood Bar and Grill, Graton: A popular hangout for locals, including winemakers and artists, Underwood offers a top notch craft cocktail program, which of course includes a margarita. Their Mercury Margarita uses Herradura Blanco tequila, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, house-made sweet & sour, and fresh orange juice. It’s a perfect match with their signature grilled hamburger. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com

El Coronel Mexican Restaurant, Sebastopol: This family-friendly establishment, with an outdoor patio, makes for a great spot to enjoy one of nine speciality margaritas — especially if you love a more fruity twist. Their Pink Cadillac margarita stars Chambord, giving it a distinct raspberry flavor, and the Georgia Peach features peach Schnapps. 1015 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-829-7010, elcoronelrestaurant.com

Rocker Oysterfeller’s, Valley Ford: This Valley Ford saloon offers contemporary twists on classics, including the margarita, which comprises fresh lime, Arette tequila, Patron Citronage and agave. Enjoy it with their beer-battered fish tacos, served with apple-fennel slaw and a spicy remoulade sauce. Too many margaritas? Sleep it off at their onsite hotel. 14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-1983, rockeroysterfellers.com

Heather Irwin and Sarah Stierch contributed to this article.

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Yearning for a new sparkler? “Pét-nat” or pétillant naturel wines are light, playful sparklers generally produced via a single fermentation in the bottle. “It is a freshly fermented wine, bottled with still-active yeast present, giving the wine its natural sparkle,” says La Prenda Wines winemaker Mike Cox. Cox explains that traditional sparkling wines age for 12 to 24 months, which is great for the complexity of the wine, but means it can lose a bit of that snappy, fresh feel. Pét-nats have that crisp character in spades.

Pét-nat styles also bring out fruity, aromatic flavors, so winemakers often like to experiment with grapes other than traditional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Cindy Cosco, owner and winemaker of Passaggio Wines, made her 2019 pét-nat with Grenache Blanc. “These varieties have high acid, nice flavors, perfect for a sparkling base,” she says.

Because each bottle undergoes its own separate fermentation process, each bottle of pét-nat is unique, explains Cosco. And pét-nats often have an extra-big rush of bubbles upon opening. “I tell people who buy a bottle, stand back when you’re opening it. That thing—it can gush out pretty quickly,” she says.

Though this method of winemaking dates back to the early days of French wine production, there are no set rules about how exactly the wine style is produced. That’s lucky for Two Shepherds owner and winemaker William Allen. In the fall of 2020, he had to take a different route to create his popular canned pét-nat, Natty Pets. “We were planning to pick our Picpoul, had lined up a canning date—and then the firestorms happened. We had to do about half our harvesting in two days. There was no way we could stop and do the canning.”

To save the harvest, Allen froze the juice. Once things settled, he defrosted it, fermented it, then did a forced carbonation before canning the wine. “Our biggest driver is a consistent positive wine experience,” he says. “A lot of people think that this is the best of our three sparkling wines.”

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Sonoma County may be a mecca for lovers of wine, beer, cider and spirits, but there’s plenty more local craft beverages to enjoy — minus the hangover. According to those in the know, no- and low-alcohol drinks are having a moment right now. In Sonoma County, more and more restaurants and bars are staying on trend with mocktails and no-booze beer. In addition to these alternatives, there are also the classics: like herbal tea and plain ol’ milk; drinks that stand out in their own right, without trying to be something that they’re not. Click through the above gallery for some of our favorite Sonoma-made, non-alcoholic beverages.

The post 12 Non-Alcoholic Sonoma Drinks That Don’t Need Booze to Taste Great appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Kick back with a tall one at one of these unsung watering holes. 

This article is part of a series called “Hidden Sonoma.” To see the full list of 80+ things to do in Sonoma County, click here.

Cool Climate, Cool View: Iron Horse Vineyards
Isn’t it enough to make some of the best sparkling wines in America? Iron Horse Vineyards near Sebastopol is doubly blessed in that it also has one of the best tasting room views in the country. Sip in front of a lovely hillside vista of grapes overlooking the Green Valley of Russian River Valley. The sparklers deliver nuanced flavors and brisk freshness; also try the lesser-known but just-as-good Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, 707-887-1507, ironhorsevineyards.com

Secret Side of Alexander Valley: Robert Young Estate Winery & Garden Creek Winery
While most visitors to the Alexander Valley stick to Highway 128 as they visit wineries and vineyards, the quieter northeast corner of the valley is home to producers with deep winegrowing roots, tucked beneath Alexander Mountain.
The bucolic, manicured grounds of Robert Young Estate Winery are open to the public daily. Visitors can enjoy the picnic area and cave tours, on request, and taste the winery’s famous Clone 17 (also called the Robert Young clone) Chardonnays and its Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting is $10, refundable with purchase.

4960 Red Winery Road, Geyserville, 707-431-4811, ryew.com

Just around the corner from Red Winery Road on Geysers Road, Garden Creek Winery is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday. The small estate run by Justin Miller and Karen Warnelius-Miller grows Chardonnay and Bordeaux grape varieties for its red blend, Garden Creek Tesserae. The two-hour tour includes a candlelit tasting in the barrel room, a cheese and charcuterie pairing, and a walk through the vineyard. $30 a person.

2335 Geysers Road, Geyserville, 707-433-8345, gardencreekvineyards.com

Sound of Music: Spirit Works Distillery
Spirit Works Distillery in The Barlow center in Sebastopol is hidden in plain sight. If you haven’t visited, you haven’t experienced where Sonoma’s finest gin is produced, as well as excellent vodka, whiskey and sloe gin. The distillery tour and tasting details how these spirits are made. Take a peek into the barrel room, where spirits age in casks to the sound of tunes emitted from iPods. It’s a vibration thing.

6790 McKinley Street, No. 100, Sebastopol, 707-634-4793, spiritworksdistillery.com

Wine Whisperers: Hamel Family Wines
Inside the immaculate wine caves of Hamel Family Wines near Glen Ellen is a beautifully appointed private tasting room that looks like it was created as a corporate board room. The ceiling is coffered so that if two people stand at opposite corners of the room, they can whisper sweet nothings and be the only ones to hear them. Better still is the outdoor deck overlooking the Valley of the Moon, within spitting distance of historic Zinfandel vineyards belonging to the estate.

15401 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-996-5800, hamelfamilywines.com

The Sun Also Sets: Redwood Bar at River’s End Restaurant
Do we seek out bars with pretty views to soften the need for conversation? Or after days on end staring at screens, are we humanly in need of some natural beauty? Either way, the Redwood Bar at River’s End Restaurant & Inn is a choice spot for a drink, presided over by a French Culinary Institute-trained bar chef, with room to sit on the outdoor patio as the sun touches down. The wine list is good, too.

11048 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-865-2484, ilovesunsets.com

On the Rocks in Roseland: Whiskey Tip
One particular block of Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa, near Stony Point Road, is a destination mostly for souls seeking motor oil, a garden-hose bib or a laundromat. Yet here also flourishes a newish tavern that ably pairs two of life’s greatest gifts. The place is called Whiskey Tip Bourbon & BBQ, and it has a spacious patio with games out back and sports on the telly inside. Just add a glass of distilled artistry and one single, great cube of diamond-clear ice.
Sit back and relax.

1910 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707 843-5535, whiskeytipsr.com

Arts & Craft-Cocktails: Gallery Bar at Barndiva
Barndiva is beloved for the substantial torch it carries for garden-sourced cocktails, but now it’s taken things to a whole other level with its Gallery Bar next door, open Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until closing. An art gallery during the day, the space invites late-afternoon art-minded drinkers to mingle, chat and dine from the farm-to-table bar menu.

237 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-7404, barndiva.com/studio

Brewpub in a Grocery Store: Tap Room at Whole Foods Coddingtown
Why didn’t someone think of this before? The Tap Room at Whole Foods Market in Santa Rosa is a respite from the chore that can be grocery shopping, thanks to its island of beer-a-tude. Craft brews on tap, appetizers and pizzas are served, and dozens more bottled beers are in the cooler. Would-be home brewers will be inspired by the beer-making kits and fresh hops for sale.

390 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, 707-542-7411, wholefoodsmarket.com

Lug a Jug: VJB Cellars 
Before Prohibition, it was common for folks to take empty jugs to wineries and have them refilled. Not only did the practice reduce the use of glass, corks and labels, the wine was cheaper by the ounce. After Repeal, jug-filling largely disappeared, but it’s slowly coming back. At VJB Cellars in Kenwood, a 1-liter (33-ounce) logo bottle of Family Blend red wine costs $24. Bring the empty back (clean, of course) and
a refill is just $12, about 36 cents per ounce.

60 Shaw Ave., Kenwood, 707-833-2300, vjbcellars.com

865 Watering Hole: The Washoe House
Credit the Washoe House with preventing what might have been California’s only Civil War battle. In 1865, a group of Petaluma militiamen set off for Santa Rosa intent, the story goes, on trashing the offices of the southern-sympathizing Santa Rosa Democrat newspaper. But thirst overcame them on the stagecoach route now known as Stony Point Road and they never made it to Santa Rosa. And the Washoe roadhouse, just as it has since 1859, continues to beckon with adult libations and hearty comfort food. Over the decades, patrons have left cards, photos, notes and bills covering every square inch of the ceiling.

2840 Stony Point Road, Petaluma, 707-795-4544, visit on Facebook

Happy Hour Revival: The Villa Restaurant
Perched atop a hill overlooking eastern Santa Rosa, the Villa Restaurant & Bar is a traditional Italian eatery that has long been a favorite hangout of the older bocce set. But it’s quickly gaining traction as a kitschy happy-hour haunt by a new generation. With special drinks and apps available from 3 to 6:30 p.m. daily, selected beers and wines are just $2; value-priced tummy busters include $2 fried zucchini, fried polenta and hot dogs, $4.50 steamed clams, small pizzas for $5 and a petite plate of spaghetti and meatball for $4.

3901 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-7755, the villarestaurant.com

Old-School Italian: Volpi’s Ristorante & Bar
During Prohibition, ranchers bringing their eggs and milk to town would stop at a little Italian grocery, hand over their shopping lists and then head to the back room for a bit of lubrication. That the dining room was once a speakeasy speaks to the appeal of Volpi’s Ristorante & Bar in downtown Petaluma. With old-fashioned Italian food served on red-checked tablecloths, the occasional accordion serenade by owners John and Sylvia Volpi, and strong drinks, it remains a comfy place for conviviality.

124 Washington St., Petaluma, 707-765-0695, visit on Facebook

Soup, Sandwich and Syrah: Ancient Oak Cellars
Downtown Santa Rosa isn’t known for winery tasting rooms, so it might come as a surprise to wine lovers that there is an excellent one, Ancient Oak Cellars. The winery is joined by seven other drinks producers, giving tasters the rare opportunity to sample wine, cider and mead at one location. In March, Ancient Oak relocated from Corrick’s Stationery Store on Fourth Street to the former Downtown Deli space down the block, taking advantage of the outdoor patio and kitchen, from which sandwiches spring forth daily and small plates are served by night, Friday through Sunday.

621 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-536-1546, ancientoakcellars.com

Oenophile’s Paradise: Sonoma County Wine Library
One of the nation’s deepest collections of wine-related books, oral histories, magazines, journals, photographs, maps, labels, posters and videos is right here, at the Sonoma County Wine Library. Taking up one-third of the Healdsburg Regional Library, this enological treasure trove is open to the public and overseen by Wine Librarian Jon Haupt. (Who knew such a title existed?) Oldest among the 6,000 books: “Libri de re Rustica,” published in 1514. The library also hosts speakers, authors and tastings.

139 Piper St., Healdsburg, 707-433-3772, sonomalibrary.org

The post Best Hidden Bars, Breweries and Wineries in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Looking for a local urban-feel dance party to avoid the nighttime commute to the city, the extreme San Francisco hills and the competitive parking? Super Saturday, an event at outdoor bar-meets-Italian restaurant venue Campo Fina in Healdsburg, serves up killer cocktails to DJ beats — with a side of bocce ball to break the ice.

Last Saturday, Campo Fina DJs kept the crowd happy by bringing a mix of dance-disco nostalgia and contemporary electronica-hip hop to the deck. First time Super Saturday attendee and Healdsburg resident Kelsey Walsh enjoyed the atmosphere. “It’s a really fun thing for the community,” she said.

Although the Super Saturday crowd consisted of mostly locals, Marline Trevino, in town visiting friends, said she enjoyed the friendly environment. “So far, just being here in the last 15 minutes, it seems really cool…I love the atmosphere,” she said.

Part of Super Saturday’s appeal is that it offers a little something-for-everyone — a relaxed California-backyard-vibe, but with an urban edge. And the something-for-everyone extends to the drink menu: for a little sophistication in your shaker, try Campo Fina’s Moscow Mule — a pink vodka cocktail with angostura bitters and Fever Tree ginger beer, served in a tall glass — and for the down-to-earth brew crowd, its the $4 Pabst Blue Ribbon.

For more information about upcoming Campo Fina events, visit: facebook.com/campofinahealdsburg. 

Check out the weekend vibe at Campo Fina in the gallery below… 

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Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats.

Cocktail-whisperer Scott Beattie has created a drink menu for Ramen Gaijin inspired by his passion for Japan and, well, booze.

Tea-infused whiskeys, along with cocktails that showcase pickled plums and even mushrooms are beyond incredible. Also look for shrub cocktails with seasonal fruit from Bar Manager Gillian Tyrnauaer.

We’re a little bit in love, and a whole lot ready for happy hour.

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