We went to to Napa and the hot destination people are ditching it for — and the winner is clear

The author hard at work at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma, California.Melia Robinson/Business Insider

For many years, Sonoma County was the kid brother of wine country. Napa County’s elite wineries, trendy restaurants, and globally known brand long overshadowed Sonoma’s charms.

But Sonoma County, which stretches across nine cities and three times the land area of Napa County, is stealing visitors thanks to its laid-back atmosphere and affordability. In 2016, travelers spent $1.9 billion in Sonoma County, compared with $1.3 billion in Napa County, according to an annual economic impact report. The area attracts approximately double the 3 million visitors who visit Napa County every year.

Comparing the two is like apples and oranges — or pinot grigio and merlot, if you prefer — because they vary so much in size. A wine blogger put it best when he said, “Napa Valley is a wine Disneyland, while Sonoma Valley is a wine region.”

With the harvest season nearly upon us, I visited Sonoma and Napa to figure out which offers the best experience for first-timers in wine country. In both areas, I visited two to three wineries and tried a chardonnay and a house specialty at each.

Here’s how it went.