-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EB5C4sNWUD0rO9Xl0RWce/3L9XxIuGvKLWBB37lKwRSkk9JPWmVLHbHt4rj/9oow
 XdcLLU2J1/y5kQUuEd9cqQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-06-048631.txt : 20061116
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-06-048631.hdr.sgml : 20061116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061116173240
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-06-048631
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061116

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:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2064 HIGHWAY 116 NORTH
		CITY:			SEBASTOPOL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95472
		BUSINESS PHONE:		707-824-2534

	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:			STAPLETON CRAIG R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207106

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-01912
		FILM NUMBER:		061224296

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		440 NORTH FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			CHAMBERSBURG
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-622-1382

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 E. PUTNAM AVE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06870
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v058223_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000102588</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207106</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STAPLETON CRAIG R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>135 E. PUTNAM AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>319930</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>294830</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the total 294,830 shares listed, the reporting person disclaims ownership of 26,693 shares which are owned by the
 reporting person's wife, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner
 of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig R. Stapleton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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