SONOMA COUNTY, CALIF. — Visitors love Sonoma Wine Country and, to illustrate that point, some 294 hospitality businesses in Sonoma County were awarded certificates of excellence by TripAdvisor.

Only the top 10 percent of businesses listed on the website receive the award. The award is given only to hospitality businesses that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. In Sonoma County, 77 lodging establishments, 78 attractions (includes wineries), and 139 eateries received the coveted award.

A complete list of businesses honored is at the end of this article, or found online at www.sonomacounty.com/2013-excellence-awards.

The award program is in its third year and it “celebrates excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews …” stated press information from TripAdvisor.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Sonoma, was honored for the hotel and for each of the resort's two restaurants.

“The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is honored to receive Trip Advisor's prestigious certificate of excellence for the hotel, as well as the Michelin-rated restaurant Santé and locals' favorite Big 3 Diner,” said Rick Corcoran, general manager. “We are proud to be amongst a group of like-minded, dedicated businesses who are committed to providing unique, experiential travel opportunities to discerning Wine Country travelers.”

Farmhouse Inn owner Catherine Bartolomei said about the honor, “ We are always thrilled to get recognition from any source but such recognition stemming from our guests — those that have actually stayed with us and loved us enough to share their experience to the world on TripAdvisor — their feedback and appreciation is most valued of all.”

Mark Stark, executive chef and co-proprietor with his wife Terri of four TripAdvisor-honored restaurants, Willi's Wine Bar, Willi's Seafood and Raw Bar, Stark's Steakhouse, and Monti's Rotisserie, said, “Sonoma County is ideal from a food and wine lover's perspective. It's a great experience to share with folks who come to visit us. You're very likely to be sitting next to the winemaker of that great Pinot you're drinking, or the person who made the cheese you're eating or the farmer who harvested the honey that's drizzled on it. I don't think that you see that connection in a lot of places.”

An attraction with the name Safari West African Wildlife Preserve & African Tent Camp doesn't seem like it belongs in Wine Country, but it's a popular attraction with visitors.

“We are so fortunate to have the privilege to work amongst such glorious animals and truly appreciate the support of our guests,” said founder Peter Lang. “Indeed sharing this experience with our guests is priceless.”

Many visitors have hopped aboard the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley to experience Wine Country. Craig Haskell, sales manager, said, ““We are thrilled to receive this wonderful award for doing what we love. Our Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley provides a fun and unique way for visitors to experience local wineries and take in the gorgeous scenery that we love to call home.”

Discover Sonoma County's more than 370 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific Ocean coastline, 40-plus spas, and hundreds of farm-to-table eateries. Accommodations range from luxurious hotels to historic inns, romantic B&Bs, and modern campgrounds. Stay along the winding Pacific coast, among the redwoods, on a vineyard-lined lane, or in a casual urban setting.

Start planning your trip today. This authentic Wine Country starts just 45 minutes north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and encompasses the diversity of wine regions the world over. Sonoma County features more than 370 wineries and 55 miles/89 kilometers of stunning Pacific coast.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call + 1-707-522-5800.

Complete list of Sonoma County's certificate of excellence winners:

Accommodations
Listed alphabetically by city. For more information, visit www.sonomacounty.com/hotels-lodging.

Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay Lodge, Bodega Harbor Inn

Cloverdale
Auberge On The Vineyard, English Tea Garden Inn, Old Crocker Inn, Vintage Towers Bed And Breakfast Inn

Forestville
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant

Geyserville
Geyserville Inn

Glen Ellen
Beltane Ranch, Gaige House – A Four Sisters Inn, Glen Ellen Inn, Jack London Lodge, Olea Hotel

Guerneville
Applewood Inn, Cottages On River Road, Creekside Inn & Resort, Fern Grove Cottages, Highlands Resort, Santa Nella House Bed And Breakfast, Sonoma Orchid Inn, West Sonoma Inn & Spa

Healdsburg
Bella Luna Inn, Bella Villa Messina, Belle De Jour Inn, Best Western Plus Dry Creek Inn, Calderwood Inn, Camellia Inn, Grape Leaf Inn, H2 Hotel, Haydon Street Inn B & B, Healdsburg Inn – A Four Sisters Inn, Honor Mansion, A Wine Country Resort, Hotel Healdsburg, Hotel Les Mars, Relais & Chateaux, Irish Rose Inn, L & M Motel, Madrona Manor Wine Country Inn And Restaurant, The Raford Inn Bed And Breakfast

Jenner
Timber Cove Inn

Kenwood
Birmingham Bed And Breakfast, Kenwood Inn And Spa, Kenwood Oaks Guest House

Occidental
Inn At Occidental

Petaluma
Best Western Petaluma Inn, Metro Hotel And Cafe, Quality Inn, Sheraton Sonoma County – Petaluma

Rohnert Park
 Best Western Inn, Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, Hampton Inn & Suites

Santa Rosa
Best Western Plus Garden Inn, Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites, Fountaingrove Inn, Hilton Garden Inn Sonoma County Airport, Hotel La Rose, Melitta Station Inn, Safari West, Sandman Motel, The Gables Wine Country Inn, Vintners Inn

Sebastopol
Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Rosa Sebastopol

Sonoma
An Inn 2 Remember, Best Western Plus Sonoma Valley Inn & Krug Event Center, Bungalows 313, Cinnamon Bear Creekside Inn, El Pueblo Inn, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Hidden Oak Inn, Inn At Sonoma - A Four Sisters Inn, Ledson Hotel & Centre Du Vin, Macarthur Place – Sonoma's Historic Inn & Spa, Sonoma Creek Inn, The Cottage Inn & Spa, The Lodge At Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa

The Sea Ranch
Sea Ranch Lodge

Windsor
Hampton Inn & Suites Windsor – Sonoma Wine Country, Worldmark Windsor

Attractions
Wineries are included in this category. Listed alphabetically by city. For more information, visit www.sonomacounty.com/things-to-do.

Bodega Bay
Bodega Harbour Golf Links, Sonoma Coast State Beach

Freestone
Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, Fulton, Kendall-Jackson Winery

Geyserville
Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Glen Ellen
B.R. Cohn Winery, Imagery Estate Winery & Art Gallery, Jack London State Historic Park, Loxton Winery, The Benziger Family Winery

Guerneville
Armstrong Redwood State Reserve, Korbel Champagne Cellars

Healdsburg
A. Rafanelli Winery, Bella Vineyards, Dry Creek Vineyard, Dutcher Crossing Winery, Ferrari-Carano Winery, Gary Farrell Winery, Healdsburg Wine Tour, HKG Estate Wines, J Vineyards & Winery, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Lambert Bridge Winery, Lancaster Estate Winery, Mauritson Wines, Mazzocco Sonoma, Preston Vineyards, Quivira Vineyards, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Simi Winery, Truett Hurst Winery, Unti Vineyards, Williams Selyem Winery, Williamson Wines Tasting Room, Wine Country Bikes, Wine Country Journeys LLC

Jenner
Fort Ross State Historic Park, Salt Point State Park

Kenwood
Chateau St. Jean, Kunde Family Estate, Ledson Winery & Vineyard, VJB Vineyards & Cellars

Occidental
Sonoma Canopy Tours

Petaluma
Terrific Tours

Santa Rosa
Ace It Bike Tours, Annadel State Park, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Getaway Adventures, Matanzas Creek Winery, Paradise Ridge Winery, Safari West, St. Francis Vineyards and Winery, Up & Away Ballooning, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, Iron Horse Vineyards, Merry Edwards Winery

Sonoma
Bartholomew Park Winery, Beau Wine Tours - Sonoma, Buena Vista Carneros Winery, Cline Cellars, Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Nicholson Ranch, Ram's Gate Winery, Ravenswood Winery, Robert Hunter Winery, Sebastiani Vineyards Winery, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, Sonoma Wine Tours, The Olive Press, Valet of the Moon Private Wine Tours, Valley Wine Tours, Vella Cheese Company, Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace

Windsor
Da Vine Wine Private Tours

Eateries
Listed alphabetically by city. For more information, visit www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-listings/restaurants.

Bodega Bay
Duck Club Restaurant, Spud Point Crab Company, Terrapin Creek Café

Cloverdale
Hamburger Ranch & Pasta Farm, Piacere

Duncans Mills
Cape Fear Café

Forestville
Corks Restaurant at Russian River Vineyards, Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Freestone
Wild Flour Bread

Geyserville
Catelli's, Diavola, Hoffman House, Rustic at Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Glen Ellen
Glen Ellen Inn, Glen Ellen Village Market & Deli, Olive & Vine, The Fig Cafe, The Saloon at Jack London Lodge, Yeti

Graton
Underwood Bar & Bistro, Willow Wood Market Café

Guerneville
Applewood Inn Restaurant, Big Bottom Market, boon eat + drink, Chef Patrick's, Garden Grill, Stumptown Brewery, Taqueria La Tapatia

Healdsburg
Adel's, Agave, Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, Barndiva, Bistro Ralph, Center Street Cafe & Deli, Costeaux French Bakery, Cyrus Restaurant, Downtown Bakery & Creamery, Dry Creek Kitchen, Flying Goat Coffee, Healdsburg Bar & Grill, Madrona Manor Restaurant, Mateo's Cocina Latina, Oakville Grocery Company, Restaurant Charcuterie, Scopa, Spoonbar, The Wurst, Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar, Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar

Jenner
Cafe Aquatica, River's End Restaurant

Kenwood
Cafe Citti, Doce Lunas, Kenwood Restaurant and Bar

Occidental
Bistro Des Copains, Howard's Cafe Bakery & Juice Bar, Union Hotel

Petaluma
Caffe Giostra, Central Market, Cucina Paradiso, Della Fattoria Downtown, Dempsey's Restaurant & Brewery, Graffiti, Graziano's Ristorante & Lounge, Lagunitas Brewing Co., Lily Kai Chinese Cuisine, Old Chicago, Risibisi, Sugo, Water Street Bistro, Wild Goat Bistro

Rohnert Park
Hana Japanese Restaurant, Mary's Pizza Shack

Santa Rosa
Bistro 29, Ca Bianca Restaurant, Cattlemens Restaurant, Chloe's, Dierks Parkside Cafe, Don Taylor's Omelette Express, El Coqui, Equus at the Fountain Grove Inn, Flavor Bistro, Fresh by Lisa Hemenway, Hank's Creekside Cafe, Jack and Tony's, Jackson's Bar and Oven, Jeffreys Hillside Cafe, John Ash & Co Restaurant, La Gare, La Rosa Taquileria and Grille, LoCoco's Cucina Rustica, Monti's Rotisserie and Bar, Nectar – Hilton Sonoma Wine Country, Riviera Restaurant, Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Russian River Brewing Company, Sam's For Play Cafe & Catering, Sazon, SEA Thai Bistro, Stark's Steakhouse, Sweet T's Restaurant & Bar, Syrah Bistro, The Brasserie - Hyatt Santa Rosa, Third Street Aleworks, Willie Bird's Restaurant, Willi's Wine Bar, Zazu

Sebastopol
Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House, Hole in the Wall, Hopmonk Tavern, K & L Bistro, Peter Lowell's

Sonoma
Basque Boulangerie Cafe, Black Bear Diner, Cafe La Haye, Carneros Bistro, Della Santina's Trattoria, El Dorado Kitchen, Harvest Moon Cafe, Hopmonk Tavern - Sonoma, Hot Box Grill, La Casa Restaurant, LaSalette Restaurant, Marys Pizza Shack- Sonoma, Maya, Meritage, Murphy's Irish Pub, Plaza Bistro, Red Grape Pizzeria, Saddles Steakhouse - MacArthur Place, Sante at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Sunflower Caffe Espresso & Wine Bar, The Big 3 Diner, The Fremont Diner, the girl & the fig, The Sonoma Cheese Factory

Windsor
Chinois Asian Bistro, Johnny Garlic's, KC's Downtown Grill

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Editors: General photos of Sonoma County can be found at http://flickr.com/gp/sonomacountytourism/3y3P5N.

Media Contact:
Birgitt Vaughan
bvaughan@sonomacounty.com
707-522-5826