Sonoma County is having a particularly strong year on the awards circuit, with recognition arriving across museums, wine, restaurants and hotel bars.

The Charles M. Schulz Museum and the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County were named among the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 10 Bay Area Museums. Domaine de la Rivière’s 2021 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay was included in Robb Report’s 50 Greatest California Chardonnays of the 21st Century, while Mascarin Family Wines landed on the San Francisco Chronicle’s list of Top Wineries in Sonoma County for 2026. At Graton Resort & Casino, AYA earned Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for its wine program only two months after opening.

The recognition extends into hospitality, too. Andys Beeline Rooftop at Appellation Healdsburg was named the No. 4 hotel bar in the United States in USA TODAY 10Best’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Together, the honors paint a picture of a destination whose appeal is increasingly broad, from cultural institutions and serious wine to restaurants and places to linger over a drink.

The Curated Take: Awards don’t necessarily make a destination worth visiting, but they can be useful signposts when deciding where to spend limited vacation time. What’s notable about Sonoma County’s latest collection is its breadth. The recognition isn’t concentrated in one category. It touches the experiences travelers increasingly use to define a destination: what they eat, drink, see and where they stay.

Photo credit: Sonoma County Tourism

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