When it rains, it pours. But even if it rains, it's a good time to drink wine. The first weekend in December we took a trip to the famous wine country to taste some wines and explore a bit. Sonoma, located a 1 h drive north from San Francisco, is not only famous for its wines but also because it's the location of the last of the 21 Catholic missions established in the first half of the XIX century by Spanish Franciscan missionaries. The mission was built with Native American hands and vineyards were planted soon after to provide sacramental wine for the church.
With its square plaza/park in the middle, its city hall and street layout, Sonoma reminds me of a typical polish town. There must be some connection: the town was built by the Mexicans, who based their architectural styles on spanish designs who probably were influenced by the French and Germans. And most polish cities were built according to German ( i.e. Magdeburg) law. Unlike many other american towns the original buildings are well preserved and you can feel that small town provincial atmosphere.
Hope to be back in Sonoma and the wine country to taste more wine and admire small towns and the landscape.
