Wine caves, redwood groves, and organic farms not only bring in more attendees, but add to the meeting experience. Imagine just 30 miles north of San Francisco is America's premier wine, spa, and coastal destination, where meetings are held in vineyards, off-sites take place in wine caves, and afternoon breaks include walks among redwoods.

Plus, planners can qualify for up to $4,000 in incentive money for meetings.

The place? "Sonoma Country," more commonly called Sonoma County and the birthplace of California's wine country.

Sonoma Country has what many other destinations have, including more than 6,400 full- and limited-service hotel rooms, direct flights, and easy access from major airports, golf courses, spas, and restaurants.

What sets Sonoma Country apart are the things that make the place special: 250 wineries, miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, rivers and redwoods, quaint wine country towns, and California cuisine with wine country flourishes: fresh from the farm to the table.

The Sonoma Country experience greets meeting and retreat attendees in unexpected ways. Winemaker dinners pair local foods with wine, while the winemaker and the chef explain the pairing and answer questions about their craft.

Golfers hone their game at links along the rugged coast. Biking, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, kayaking, and whale watching are favorite activities for groups.

The Infineon Raceway offers racing classes on its professional NASCAR track. And an African wildlife preserve is a unique venue for meetings, dinners, and special events.

Of course, attendees can unwind at one of the many spas. Spa treatments use local ingredients like lavender and crushed grape seeds, and Sonoma Country is a leader in the organic spa movement.

As for the incentive? The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau's incentive program kicks off with a series of cheeky postcards illustrating how a wine-country meeting would look with an extra $4,000. The program offers a cash payment to the hotel master account for planners who plan a meeting in Sonoma Country (based on the size of the meeting). Bring in 50 to 100 actualized rooms, and the hotel master account gets credited for $1,000. For 101 to 200 rooms, get $2,000; and $3,000 for 201 to 300 rooms. More than 300 rooms nets $4,000.

Eligibility is based upon new proposals, originated by the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau distributed to multiple properties booked for one or more nights Sunday through Thursday.

Sonoma County At a Glance
Meeting Space: Sonoma County features unique meeting venues, ranging from luxury resorts and retreats, to mid-range and economy properties, located in vineyards, along the Pacific Ocean, and in quaint city and quiet country settings.

Number of Rooms: 6,400 full- and limited-service hotel rooms with meeting space

Attractions/Activities: More than 250 wineries, 40-plus spas, 21 golf courses, bike tours, 120 farms, 700 restaurants, culinary tours/classes, Infineon Raceway, Safari West Wildlife Preserve, Charles M. Schulz Museum, 11 California State Parks, 35 regional parks, 20 beaches, Russian River, Lake Sonoma, Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, Luther Burbank Gardens

For More Information: Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, 420 Aviation Blvd., Suite 106, Santa Rosa, CA 95403; phone: (800) 576-6662; fax: (707) 539-7252; e-mail: sales@sonomacounty.com; Web site: www.sonomacounty.com