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by Rick VanSickle

If you're travelling to either Sonoma County or Napa Valley, you'll want to taste the best each region has to offer in terms of wine. On a recent trip to both regions this writer had the opportunity to enjoy a wide selection of extraordinary wines, many of which are only available at the wineries or in limited supply at local wine stores.

While Napa Valley's big, rich and very expensive cabernet sauvignons are world renowned, Sonoma County offers up a wider selection of varietals. The pinot noirs are wonderful due to the cooling trends from the ocean breezes while zinfandel, chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon also do well in this huge region.

Here are three wines from Sonoma County and three from Napa that you must try if you visit.

Sonoma:

Rodney Strong Symmetry Alexander Valley Meritage 2005 ($55 US) — This meritage blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and other classic Bordeaux varieties displays a powerful nose of rich, dark fruits, minty herbs and firm oak spice. In the mouth it shows juicy blackberry and currant fruits backed by the raw power of 100% new French oak.

Hartford Court Land's Edge Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006 ($45 US) — A perfumed nose of cherries, violets, cinnamon and allspice. It's gorgeous in the mouth with toasty, cedar-kissed plum and cherry fruits and sweet spices — everything you want in a bold pinot noir.

Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2006 ($70 Cdn) — A wonderfully balanced chardonnay that has aromas of pear and tropical fruits with a note of minerality. In the mouth that minerality shows itself with wet stone flavours to go with pear, citrus notes and balanced, elegant oak spice. A really nice chard.

Napa:

Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2002 ($150 US) — From one of my favourite wineries in the entire world, this is the stuff of legends. It's one of those big Napa cabs that you put down in the cellar and don't even think about for 10 years or beyond. In its youth, this top cuvee from the famous Martha's Vineyard, shows signature eucalypt aromas, currants, mocha and other sweet spices. One sip and you feel the weight and magnitude of the fruit, tannins and oak spice that need years to come into perfect balance. And when it does — wow, a monumental beauty.

Sonoma

Napa winery

Napa

Shafer Stags Leap District Napa Valley Hillside Select 2004 ($215 US) — One of the finest 100% cabernet sauvignons on the planet made from carefully selected grapes from this estate's hillside vineyards. The power of this wine, the concentration of fruit and extensive aging in French oak barrels, make it a candidate for long-term cellaring. The nose is stunning with jammy black fruits, chocolate, plum, mocha and cinnamon toast. On the palate, this massive red delivers amazing sweet spice to go with currants, black cherry, vanilla and a wall of tannin that will harmonize with time. Big, heady stuff. What Napa's all about.

Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006 ($65 US) — This is by no means a shy cabernet but it does show a bit more restraint than the two reds above. It's loaded with blackberry-cassis aromas and good oak spice that is amplified on the palate. Black fruits and powerful spice tones are the hallmarks in this extracted and powerful cab.