Parts of California often remind us of Europe, so when we heard that there were lavender fields in Sonoma, we decided to drive up to check them out. As it turns out, you don’t need to take a trip to Provence for lavender fields. They’re as close as Santa Rosa! There are several lavender farms in Sonoma, but we decided on Matanzas Creek Winery’s lavender gardens.
If you haven’t been to Matanzas Creek, it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s located in Bennett Valley, a part of Sonoma we have not explored much before. The valley is about a mile wide and surrounded by three mountain peaks, and the views from the winery reminded us of Italy in a lot of ways.
Matanzas Creek wines are widely distributed, and if you’ve tried their Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll know that it’s perfect for sipping on a hot summer day. If you plan to visit, know that lavender season is very busy. The winery has extra parking in a field to accommodate everyone who wants to experience the lavender, but you may have to wait for space at the tasting bar to open up, so plan accordingly.
The lavender fields are remarkable. The smell is heavenly, and if you saw our Instagram stories, the sounds of bees happily buzzing around the lavender blossoms is incredible. We left a foggy day in San Francisco (we couldn’t even see the Golden Gate Bridge), and escaped to hot, sunny lavender fields just an hour away. If you like lavender, check out our recipe for an amazing lavender ice cream. We’ll be busy trying to recreate the lavender cocktail we had at our favorite bar in Italy.