Cruising Sonoma Valley in a Vintage VW Bus with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours

About this episode

Tim talks with Ronnie Cotter about exploring Sonoma Valley in a vintage Volkswagen bus and the unique experiences offered by West Wine Tours.

In this episode of The Sonoma Spiel, Tim talks with Ronnie Cotter of West Wine Tours about one of the most memorable ways to explore Sonoma Valley: riding through wine country in a vintage Volkswagen bus. Ronnie shares what makes West Wine Tours special, from its fleet of colorful classic VW buses to its focus on family-owned wineries, boutique tasting experiences, and a more laid-back, off-the-beaten-path feel. They talk about some of the stops guests might enjoy, including Bartholomew Estate Winery, Winery Sixteen 600, and Anaba, along with the stories, scenery, and local flavor that make the ride part of the experience. The conversation also covers Ronnie’s path into hospitality, growing up in Sonoma, learning to drive stick, working as a farmer before becoming a tour guide, and why he enjoys helping visitors see what Sonoma Valley is really all about. Along the way there are detours into deli sandwiches, music playlists, local golf, pizza memories, and visitor questions about burgers, hostels, mashed potatoes, and hot springs. It’s a warm, funny, local episode about classic vehicles, Sonoma hospitality, and the joy of taking the scenic route. In this episode: Vintage VW bus…

People in this episode

Host: Tim

Guest: Ronnie Cotter

Topics covered

• vintage VW bus tours
• Sonoma Valley
• family-owned wineries
• boutique tasting experiences
• hospitality
• local stories

Keywords

• Sonoma Valley
• vintage VW bus
• West Wine Tours
• family-owned wineries
• boutique tasting
• hospitality
• local stories

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: West Wine Tours

Places: Sonoma Valley, Bartholomew Estate Winery, Winery Sixteen 600, Anaba

More episodes of The Sonoma Spiel

• Temptations Under the Stars: Broadway Bash in Sonoma with Mama Mia, Radio Recall & Ain't Too Proud · June 10, 2026 · 47 min
• Cat Smith on the Sonoma Community Center, Scream, Pride, Art, and the Secret Garden · May 20, 2026 · 59 min
• Bears, Bald Mountain, and Big Views at Sugarloaf State Park - John Roney Comes Down the Mountain · May 6, 2026 · 58 min
• Justin Wilson of MacArthur Place on Luxury Hospitality in Sonoma Valley · April 28, 2026 · 50 min
• Spring Blooms, Spirit Guides, and Sonoma Botanical Garden with Jeannie Perales · April 22, 2026 · 51 min
• Kim Jones and Aaron Brown on The Future Collective, Arable, and Sonoma Valley’s Future · April 22, 2026 · 58 min