Drink in the Views at Paradise Ridge

Paradise Ridge, the second stop on our self-made wine tour, is aptly named. If you like to look at pretty things, you simply have to add this winery to your Sonoma itinerary.
While a lot of Sonoma area wineries have tasting rooms separate from their vineyards (you could visit a dozen tasting rooms just in downtown Sonoma alone), Paradise Ridge is a one stop shop for both wine tasting and never-ending vineyard views.
Paradise Ridge is an extremely popular winery that holds weddings and other large events, but is also open to the public for tastings without appointment. Where Medlock Ames was small and intimate, Paradise Ridge is grand and expansive.
They have a cute indoor tasting room with a cozy fireplace, couches and tables but the real draw is the long outdoor terrace revealing some of the best scenery we saw during our time in Sonoma wine country.

I just couldn’t stop staring at that horizon. I wasn’t the only one, a lady next to us kept admonishing her husband for “taking a thousand photos that you’ll never use, of the exact same thing”. But how can you not?
We had very exciting lunch plans, otherwise I would have been tempted to order a glass (er, bottle) of wine and sit outside all day without ever tiring of my surroundings.
Happily, we did our tasting outside where we could peep as often as we wished. We shared this tasting, which I highly recommend doing if you plan to visit more than two wineries in a day. The wines were very good, especially the 2012 Convict Zinfandel but we enjoyed drinking in the views as much, if not more, than the wine.

Paradise Ridge indeed has a passion for beauty, both natural and manmade. A sculpture garden located at the bottom of their property features several art exhibits and life-size structures.

We especially enjoyed the Temple of Remembrance by David Best, Kris Perry and Doug Unkrey.
The Temple of Remembrance was created to be a “vessel for hopes and dreams, memories and wishes”.
Standing under its stunning dome with the sunshine streaming through like a kaleidoscope was a surreal experience.
Of course, we had to create our own memory, tied to the wish that we’ll always remember how lucky we are to have each other and these amazing travel adventures we take together.
This winery is definitely a great destination for anyone, even those who don’t enjoy wine. From nature enthusiasts to art lovers, you can find something to feast your eyes upon at Paradise Ridge.