It is not remarkable that California's Sonoma County, a premier wine-producing region, has almost 64,000 acres of land devoted to grapes for the production of wine. What is remarkable, however, is that this leaves more than 930,000 acres of land for more than 100 small organic farms, redwood forests, rivers, wetlands, oak-studded hills, lakes, and miles of ocean coastline. There is also space for meetings. Located in Northern California, just 30 miles from San Francisco, "Sonoma Country" as it is called, encompasses a lifestyle of devotion to the land and recognition of the importance of a sustainable green ethic.

Noted winemaker Benziger Family Winery offers visitors daily tours of its land, which uses "biodynamic" principles for growing grapes. Biodynamics is akin to organic methods but goes even further beyond the elimination of chemicals, promoting a self-sustaining ecosystem that nourishes agriculture and nature alike.

Sonoma Country is home to Osmosis Day Spa, a founding business member of the "Green Spa Network," a non-profit trade organization bringing sustainability practices to the spa industry. Hotels like the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn lead by example, having replaced 4,440 incandescents with energy-efficient lighting, and saving more than 203,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. The famed hotel also saves energy for heating the pool and spa by tapping into natural geothermal waters under the property. Smaller properties also follow green business practices: the Melitta Station Inn, an historic rail hotel, gets its power completely from a new solar panel array.

Before there was "ecotourism" there was Sonoma County's outdoors: kayaking the Russian River past fog-shrouded Redwoods, foraging for mushrooms on a guided walk, ambling along bluffs over the Pacific Ocean as gray whales migrate offshore. As more visitors have shown an interest in these activities, more businesses have responded with guides and rentals.

For groups and meetings interested in doing something for the environment, a local environmental group called EcoRing matches groups with activities, whether it is trail restoration, helping in a community garden, or learning about wetlands restoration.

Residents of Sonoma County have shown their commitment to the environment by embracing urban-growth boundaries to control pollution and sprawl, aiming to reduce carbon emissions 25 percent, and requesting codes for green building practices. Local towns are using "new-urbanism" methods for housing, putting living quarters above retail and restaurants on the first level, and fronting a common green. Not only does this cut down on sprawl, but creates a town square perfect for a community.

More than 100 small and organic family farms are open for visits with Farm Trails, where visitors can see how devotion to the land and animals yields Sonoma County's famous artisan cheeses, bounteous fruits, and fresh vegetables. With more than 250 wineries, world-class restaurants, shopping, cycling, hiking and more, it is easy to forget that Sonoma County is one million acres of farms and forests, wineries, and wetlands.

More information about Sonoma County is available at www.sonomacounty.com or (800) 576-6662.

FROM WINE TO SPA: Benziger Winery, uses "biodynamic" growing principles; Cedar Enzyme Bath relaxes using sustainable elements.