Sonoma is often thought of as the "other" Wine Country, forever in the shadow of Napa Valley. Truth is, it's a very different experience. Sonoma still manages to maintain a backcountry ambience thanks to its much lower density of wineries, restaurants, and hotels; because it's far less traveled than its neighbor to the east, it offers a more genuine "escape from it all" experience. Small, family-owned wineries are its mainstay, just like in the old days of winemaking, when everyone started with the intention of going broke and loved every minute of it. Unlike the rigidly structured tours at many of Napa Valley's corporate-owned wineries, tastings and tours on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains are usually free and low-key, and come with plenty of friendly banter between the winemakers and their guests.