Cornerstone Sonoma

Cornerstone Sonoma is the easiest first stop on the way into Sonoma Valley and one of the few places in wine country where the main attraction is free. It sits on Arnold Drive in Carneros, at the southern gateway to the valley, about ten minutes from Sonoma Plaza and a short drive from Napa, and it combines a collection of walk-through gardens with shops, tasting rooms and places to eat. The gardens are the reason to come. They were originally inspired by the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire in France, where designers create conceptual gardens as works of art, and each plot at Cornerstone was created by a different landscape architect or designer, from international names to local talent. The result is a sequence of small, surprising outdoor rooms rather than a traditional botanical garden: some are formal, some playful, some closer to sculpture, and they reward a slow wander with a camera. Large metal sculptures by Bryan Tedrick, including pieces with roots in Burning Man, add drama to the grounds. Around the gardens, a cluster of tasting rooms, home-and-garden boutiques and casual food outlets makes it easy to spend an unhurried hour or two, and there is plenty of parking. Admission to the gardens is free and open to the public. Tenants change over time, so check what is open before planning lunch there, and do not expect a destination restaurant. As a stretch-the-legs stop between Napa and Sonoma, or a gentle start before tasting appointments, it is excellent value.

How to enjoy it. Walk the gardens first, while you are fresh and the light is good, then browse the shops and decide whether to taste or eat on site. The installations vary in style, so take time with each rather than walking straight through: look for the way designers use color, repetition, water and planting to create a mood in a small space. Children tend to enjoy the more playful gardens and the sculptures, and the open lawns give them room to move. Photography is encouraged, and the gardens change with the seasons, with spring and early summer the most colorful.

Tasting and shopping. Cornerstone hosts tasting rooms and wine bars, which suit visitors who want to sample without booking a winery appointment, and several design and garden shops that are good for gifts. Cooking classes and private events sometimes take place on site. Because tenants rotate, check the current directory on the official website if you are counting on a particular shop or tasting room.

Pairing it. Cornerstone sits on the route between Napa and Sonoma, close to the Carneros wineries including Domaine Carneros, and about ten minutes south of Sonoma Plaza, the Mission and the town's restaurants. A good half-day: sparkling wine at Domaine Carneros in the morning, the Cornerstone gardens, then lunch on the Plaza. Keep tasting moderate if you are driving between the valleys, as Highway 121 and Highway 12 carry fast traffic.