Exhibit 32.1

                                  Certification

            Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
       (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18,
                              United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350), the
undersigned officer of SonomaWest Holdings, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company"), does hereby certify that to his knowledge:

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (the
"Form 10-Q") of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section
13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that
the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

                                Dated: November 12, 2004

                                /s/ Roger S. Mertz
                                --------------------------------------------
                                Roger S. Mertz
                                Chairman of the Board

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to SonomaWest Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by SonomaWest
Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.