-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KXwPmCHemB8ueeTdcpetJ6hX99mG3w6Kvl4cA243tGyCFMOKLrA3MQxJUHhjpEEK
 9OXPAUu+ZV5uz7c0klq3OQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-002988.txt : 20030801
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-002988.hdr.sgml : 20030801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030801150715
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-002988
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030730
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030801

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000102588
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LESSORS OF REAL PROPERTY, NEC [6519]
		IRS NUMBER:				941069729
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1448 INDUSTRIAL AVE
		CITY:			SEBASTOPOL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95472-4848
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7078242548

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2064 HIGHWAY 116 NORTH
		CITY:			SEBASTOPOL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95472

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACU DRY CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HESS GARY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204419

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-01912
		FILM NUMBER:		03817841

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2064 HIGHWAY 116
		CITY:			SEBASTOPOL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95472-2662
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000102588</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HESS GARY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2031 SAN ANTONIO PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA ROSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>5.05</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>0.00</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-07-30</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-07-29</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>19474</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Roger S. Mertz (Attorney-in-Fact for Gary L. Hess)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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