Sonoma Warnings and Dangers

It’s difficult to find any danger here at Sonoma but drinking several wines and then try to drive it’s kind of risky... hm, better say dangerous, not only for you but for the other drivers too. They told me the police makes several alcohol tests on the highways all day but I didn’t see any during our tour.

So, just drink responsibly or don’t drive! The pic shows a funny statue at Cline Cellars, some of us looked like him after some glasses of wine :)

Make sure that you have a designated driver or a rented limousine if you're planning a day of winetasting. All of those little tastes of wine add up in your body, and you can get drunk faster than you think.

The California Highway Patrol sometimes sets up driver's license/sobriety checkpoints on the roads surrounding Sonoma, where every car is stopped and the driver interviewed. It's an intimidating experience that looks like something on a TV show: flashing lights atop CHP cars and many officers with Smoky the Bear hats. It's nervewracking even when you know you're sober.

Be safe -- don't drink and drive!

There's a duck pond in Sonoma Plaza, and people love to bring bread to feed the ducks.

However, I just learned recently from an article in the local paper that bread is very bad for ducks. It expands in their stomachs so that they feel full, but it's not nutritious. If you would like to feed them, bring lettuce or cracked corn (available at feed stores) instead.

I know that it is wine country and everyone is drinking wine, but you really need to watch out for the cops around here. Sonoma Police, Sonoma County Sheriffs and California Highway Patrol all cruise the roads looking to pop people for drunk driving. Don't do it. Walk. Use a designated driver or take a cab (they're expensive) but better than a night in jail.

While it is all great fun to go and taste wines at all these great places, it is easy to quickly become quite intoxicated. It is of paramount importance to designate a driver. The roads are mostly winding, two lane and can be poorly lit at night.