Learn more about Sonoma County
The first thing to know about Sonoma County is that the fishing village of Bodega Bay sits at its southern edge. Film buffs among you will recognize the name as the location of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic “The Birds.”
Beyond that, you’ll find redwood forests, winding rivers, fertile valleys, mountains, rolling hills and miles of Pacific coastline. And wineries. Lots of wineries.
Sonoma County is, in fact, home to well over 400 wineries, including the oldest in California. The Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857, is recognized as the first premium commercial winery in California and is a registered California Historical Landmark.
Wine is the county’s signature economic force. Sonoma County is the largest wine producer in Northern California, and it ranks among the most prolific and diverse wine regions in the United States.
Agriculture and tourism round out the economy. The county is home to a thriving artisan cheese culture, specialty crops and farm-to-table restaurants. The wineries and organic produce attract visitors seeking a quieter alternative to neighboring Napa County, according to National Geographic. Santa Rosa, the county seat, provides the commercial spine, offering healthcare, retail and professional services.
All of this comes at a price. The overall cost of living runs about 51.8% higher than the U.S. average, according to BestPlaces. The countywide median home sale price in January 2026 was $775,000, up 1.1% compared to the prior year, according to Redfin. And location matters. In the city of Sonoma, for example, the median sale price reached $1.4 million in January 2026.