Wine Flies Free On Sonoma County's Newest Airport Carrier

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Delta Air Lines launched service between Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport and Salt Lake City with an offer that gives Utah wine lovers a reason to pack another bag: Their wine flies free.

The new route connects Sonoma County to Delta’s Utah hub, opening more than 90 onward connections and giving winery visitors a direct way to carry home bottles they cannot legally have shipped to their doorstep.

Utah allows individuals entering the state to bring up to nine liters of wine or other liquor purchased outside Utah for personal consumption, not resale.

That equals 12 standard wine bottles — one case. Shipping alcohol directly to individuals by mail or courier is illegal, according to Utah’s State Bureau of Investigation.

Alex and Abbie Danhauer arrived ready to put that distinction to use.

The Salt Lake City couple married Saturday and booked a honeymoon to Napa, choosing Sonoma County’s airport for their arrival.

They discovered they had seats on Delta’s inaugural flight only when they reached the airport that morning.

On the other end, Salt Lake City’s Delta send-off included sparkling grape juice, cider, and snacks.

The couple’s plans on the California side included wine tasting — and room for purchases.

“We actually brought an extra bag,” Alex said. “Just for that.”

Delta Flights to Sonoma County

Their extra luggage represented exactly the kind of trip Delta and local business leaders hope the route will encourage: Visitors fly in, explore Wine Country, spend money, and take bottles home.

Ananda Sweet, chief executive officer of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, said the connection would help attract and retain businesses and make the region more competitive. The benefits extend to Napa and Marin counties, she said.

For wineries, the service represents"new visitors and more people drinking wine at our wineries," Sweet said today during a launch event at the airport.

Delta developed its free wine transport promotion through discussions with the airport and the chamber of commerce, said Charisse Evans, Delta’s vice president of field operations.

People want to visit wineries and bring their purchases back, she said, but some destinations prohibit direct shipments.

Jon Stout, airport manager of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, said the airport pressed Delta to offer the benefit early in their discussions.

Delta sent teams to Sonoma County to meet with wineries and shippers and study how the process operated.

Two other carriers at the airport already offered free wine transport. Delta wanted to provide the same level of service, Stout said.

“They managed to make it happen,” he said.

Wine Country Airlines

Wine already moves through the airport in noticeable quantities. Although airlines do not report exact case counts, Stout said some flights carry upward of 20 cases.

However, Delta also introduced curbside check-in, giving passengers a place to drop off their wine cases before entering the terminal.

The launch celebration capped roughly two decades of pursuit.

Stout visited Delta’s Atlanta headquarters after starting work at the airport in 2002.

Bringing the airline to Santa Rosa required more than proving travelers wanted the service.

The first obstacle was the runway. Until the airport completed its extension to 6,000 feet in 2014, the aircraft Delta wanted to use could not operate there, Stout said.

Then Delta shifted its network priorities, focusing on other cities rather than Salt Lake City.

The airport kept making its case while Delta watched the local market. Completion of Salt Lake City’s terminal gave the airline more room to expand its hub, and the Sonoma County route finally fit.

“It just finally connected,” Stout said.

The resulting service reaches beyond travelers bound for Utah. Stout said passengers can connect through Salt Lake City to more than 90 destinations.

Evans pointed to trips across the United States and overseas, including New York, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Ethan Brown of the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative said the route would help businesses reach customers, suppliers, investors, and partners while making the county easier to reach for meetings, conferences, and vacations.

“Air service is more than travel or transportation, it’s economic infrastructure,” Brown said as departing flight announcements echoed through the terminal.

Incoming passengers spread their spending beyond the airport, he said, booking hotels, eating at restaurants, shopping, visiting attractions, and hiring local services.

Better connections also help employers recruit workers and businesses decide where to expand or invest.

The service also brought jobs to the airport. Prime Flight is adding 35 local hires for customer service and ramp work — and follows Sonoma County’s living wage ordinance, Vice President of Sales and Customer Support Stan Livingston said.

Prime Flight handles Delta’s ground operations, while SkyWest Airlines flies E175 aircraft under the Delta Connection partnership.

At the celebration, Snoopy joined the ribbon cutting, and Coppola Winery supplied bubbles. Brad Taylor poured a newly released Brut Cuvée rosé Pinot Noir.

“They wanted bubbles, so we brought bubbles,” Taylor said.

The Danhauers had their own plan for the return trip: Fill the extra bag.