Around 44 miles north of San Francisco, the historic city of Sonoma (locally referred to as "Sonoma proper") is the cultural anchor of one the world’s most famous wine regions — the Sonoma Valley ((generally referred to as "Sonoma"). A 17-mile stretch of unincorporated towns and vineyards between the Sonoma and Mayacamas Mountains, the Sonoma Valley is home to over 100 wineries specializing in Italian and French varietals. The region's wine scene, combined with Sonoma proper's small-town atmosphere and upscale commercial scene, have made it a beacon for tourism, retirees and remote workers. “Sonoma’s premium wine country,” explains Sonoma resident and Century 21 Realtor David Collins, “because it's a valley surrounded by hills and mountains that give it its own little microclimate. But Sonoma is also where we won California from Mexico and put the bear on the state flag. It feels very historic even it’s a bit of a hidden gem.”
Surrounded by mountains, hot springs and oak woodlands, Sonoma also offers access to plenty of open spaces, well rated schools and relatively affordable home prices in the costly North Bay area. “People move here for the Napa Valley feel without the Napa Valley price tag,” says Coldwell Banker Realtor Giovanni Ferdinand. “It’s still expensive, but much more affordable than its neighboring wine valley.”
Sonoma's history is unveiled at the Sonoma State Historic Park.
Traveling down Highway 12 through Sonoma reveals many wineries and beautiful views.
Enjoy people watching in the Sonoma Plaza area.
In Sonoma Plaza you can enjoy the duck ponds and with family and friends.
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Sonoma’s vintage city center
In the center of Sonoma proper, Sonoma Plaza is the city's hub for high-end shopping and dining, often buzzing with tourist traffic. Nineteenth-century Colonial Revival buildings are generally filled with wine bars and tasting rooms, farm-to-table restaurants and upscale gifts shops and fashion boutiques. In the Plaza's center, the Bear Flag Monument pays tribute to the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, when American rebels wrested control of the Sonoma settlement from Mexico; around the Plaza, centuries-old adobe buildings built under Mexican and Spanish rule still stand.
From May to December, the Plaza’s central park hosts Tuesday Night Markets that gather the community for live music, food vendors and farmers market stalls. Annual events held on and around the Plaza include Sonoma's Hometown 4th of July Parade and Fireworks, and in March, the increasingly popular Sonoma International Film Festival, hosted by The Sebastiani Theatre.
Just beyond the Plaza, there's a Whole Foods and a Safeway, as well as a handful of smaller-scale grocery markets. Big-box stores and national retailers are found around 14 miles east in Downtown Napa or west in Downtown Petaluma.
Sonoma's Tuesday Night Market takes over Sonoma Plaza.
Sebastiani Theatre is a hub for live music and movies in Sonoma.
Discover the origins of California at the Sonoma Plaza..
Sonoma grocery shopping options include the Sonoma Market.
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Sonoma Valley wine country and wildfires
Sonoma Valley is an internationally renowned wine-making region with over 100 wineries and tasting rooms. Opened in 1857, Buena Vista Winery is among California’s oldest vineyards, and the Benziger Family Winery is one of the few biodynamic farms in the region. The dry microclimate that makes Sonoma Valley so great for winemaking also leaves it vulnerable to wildfires, though. According to Permit Sonoma’s Wildland Fire Hazard Areas map, much of the land north of the city ranges between Moderate to Very High risk levels. Many insurance providers have stopped providing coverage in areas in Sonoma County due to the high wildfire risk. Sonoma locals should follow CAL FIRE warnings and evacuation notices.
Oak forests, public parks and bike trails
Surrounded by woodlands, and filled with parks and trails, Sonoma offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city manages nearly 80 acres of greenspace, including neighborhood parks, sports facilities and community gardens. Sonoma Plaza is the most popular park for its tree-shaded lawns and events spaces. South of the Plaza, the Tex Juen Park and Vineyard is a small, public winery maintained by volunteer groups. Around 4 miles of bike trails crisscross throughout the city, travelling through tree-shaded channels formed by arching oak trees.
There are also plenty of open spaces just outside the city limits. Around a mile north of Sonoma Plaza, the Montini Open Space Preserve features 98 acres of oak woodlands and rolling hills to explore. A little further north, the Archer Taylor Preserve offers guided hikes through redwood forests. Around 9 miles north, the Jack London State Historic Park was once the home and ranch of the famous naturalist author Jack London; visitors can take tours of where he once lived or ride on horseback through the area’s trails.
Sonoma visitors explore nearby Glen Ellen where famed writer Jack London lived.
Soak up the sun hiking at the trails of the Montini Open Space Preserve in Sonoma.
Serve up joy at the tennis courts of Maxwell Farms Regional Park.
Enjoy walking and biking along the Sonoma Valley Regional Trail.
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Growing home prices in Sonoma Valley
As of late 2024, Sonoma’s median home price is around $1 million, higher than the California median of $890,000 but lower than nearby Novato’s median of roughly $1.1 million. Home prices here surged after the 2020 COVID pandemic, as remote workers flocked from urban centers to enjoy Sonoma’s pastoral beauty and slower pace of life. This trend has continued since, and between late 2023 and 2024, Sonoma’s median home price rose 15%.
State Road 12 and Sonoma Plaza split the city into eastern and western halves. In the more historic eastside, Craftsman bungalows sit among Victorian and Colonial Revival homes, all from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Prices for all styles generally range between $1 million and $3 million, depending on size and quality of preservation. In the newer westside, midcentury ranch-style homes and farmhouses are more prevalent. These can range between $800,000 and $1.2 million, with newer, larger homes fetching higher prices.
Larger estates with land can be found in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma Valley. Prices for these homes range widely from $1.5 million to over $10 million, largely depending on home size, acreage and the quality of the land for winemaking.
Find a lovely farm house in Sonoma for your next home.
Single-story ranch homes are common for homeowners in Sonoma.
Modern homes in Sonoma are found near the city's center.
The Cedar Mansion is a beautiful example of a Victorian home in Sonoma.
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Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Sonoma Valley Unified School District earns a B-minus from Niche, receiving its highest marks for College Prep and Diversity; both of its high schools run Black Student Unions to foster and help educate students on Black culture. Serving under 4,000 students, the district has seen steadily declining attendance rates over the last several decades, and as of late 2024, its consolidation committee has agreed on plans to close some of its schools in the coming years.
Sonoma Valley High School
Montessori School of Sonoma, where every child is a star learner
A world of discovery awaits at Flowery Elementary School.
Creative learning at Adele Harrison Middle School
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Highways and bus routes to Santa Rosa and Petaluma
Perennially ranked as one of the most walkable cities in California, Sonoma is easy to get around on foot, especially near the Plaza. Sonoma County Transit offers an inner-city bus route, in addition to three routes between Sonoma, Petaluma and Santa Rosa. State Road 12 (known as Highway 12) leads 22 miles north to Santa Rosa. State Road 116 (known as Stage Gulch Road) runs 14 miles west to Petaluma. Highway 101 (known as the 101) is also around 19 miles south, and from there, it's 25 miles south to San Francisco. The regional Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS) is around 30 miles north, and the Oakland Airport (OAK) is 57 miles south. In case of medical emergencies, the Sonoma Valley Hospital is located in the heart of the city.
Relatively low crime rates in Sonoma
According to FBI data for 2023, Sonoma’s property crime rate was around 10 reported incidents per 1,000 people, lower than national and California averages. In the same year, Sonoma’s violent crime rate was around 2 reported incidents per 1,000 people, also lower than national and California averages. The small, 16-person Sonoma Police Department works in partnership with the Sonoma County Police Department to provide the utmost safety.
In February 2021, Josh became the Regional Director, Napa Valley for Vanguard Properties in Saint Helena. Josh worked closely with Vanguard ownership to open the company’s 15th office in Northern California, and first office in Napa Valley – providing the region with a boutique, luxury real estate service. Equipped with his extensive experience in real estate sales and marketing, Josh has been able to further grow Vanguard Properties’ reach in Northern California to another highly desirable landscape, the Napa Valley. In 2021 Josh closed $120MM in sales, bringing his career production to date to over $550MM.
Raised in Connecticut, Josh ventured west to the Silicon Valley after high school to attend Santa Clara University. Armed with a BS in Economics, and a keen interest in real estate, Josh launched his career in commercial real estate brokerage in Palo Alto in 2000. After two years in the brokerage business, a client hired him to help develop, build and sell 160 condominiums at The Boulders in Truckee, California. At The Boulders, Josh further honed his knowledge of construction, marketing and sales, and ultimately founded Boulders Realty to act as Broker of Record for the project.
During this period, Josh met his future life partner, Erin, and they married in 2007. With Josh’s background in real estate and Erin’s in marketing, they formed a strong team that appealed to the owners of Calistoga Ranch, and in 2008 they were hired as Director of Real Estate and Marketing Director, respectively. Six years later, with 140 fractional memberships and six residences sold, the real estate offering at Calistoga Ranch was complete, and Josh began applying his experience accrued over 13 years as Broker Associate at Coldwell Banker.
After 7 years at Coldwell Banker and over 20 years of experience in real estate sales, marketing, development and customer service, Josh was consistently recognized as a top performer. In addition to representing clients on in-town and country estate properties, Josh was retained by Four Seasons Napa Valley as the exclusive listing agent to sell all 20 Four Seasons branded residences. Sales were brisk and the project was sold at record pricing with $90MM in sales.
One of Josh’s passions is meeting new people. Inquisitive by nature, his demeanor is both analytical and approachable which, along with a strong work ethic, enables Josh to strike the perfect match between the clients and their dream properties. Josh has a deep love for Napa Valley, not just as a tourist destination, but as a warm, inclusive place to raise a family. Erin and Josh now have two young children, and are permanently settled in St. Helena where they are raising their family. When Josh isn’t working or being a Dad, you might find him on a surfboard, a snowboard, or a bike.
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