8 Must Visit Wineries in Sonoma
Kistler Vineyards Trenton Roadhouse, Forestville California, Russian River AVA
Varietals: Focus on Chardonnay
Experience: If you love Chardonnay, this is the tasting for you. One of the best wineries in Sonoma! Welcomed with a large format pour and a short walking tour of the home. Jimmy Hayes imagery balances the minimalist interior decor. With a 1:1 private guide to walk you through their wines they focus on single vineyard Chardonnays from sites throughout Sonoma Wine Country. Enjoy 4 Chardonnays, and 1 Pinot Noir accompanied by their signature local snacks. A serene tasting experience with vineyard views through each window. By reservation, and can be difficult to get into to so plan ahead.
Tastings: $150 per person
The Donum Estate Carneros, Sonoma, Los Carneros AVA
Varietals: Focus on Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Experience: Art & Wine lovers, this is the place in Sonoma Wine Country for you! With one of the Worlds largest private art collections, Donum wows you upon entering the gates with a giant head sculpture! They welcome you with a glass of wine before seating you in a private room. Offering two experiences. The first their Discover Experience, great for first time visitors! A private tasting featuring wines from their Carneros Estate perfectly paired with canapés crafted from ingredients from their estate gardens. After the tasting, enjoy a walking tour of their art sculpture collection. Their second offering is their explore experience, with an all-terrain vehicle tour of their art sculpture collection, post tour enjoy a private tasting with a paired wine & food experience.
Tastings: Discover $125 per person | Explore $175 per person | Art Experiences $95-500
Donum Estate Art Sculpture - Carneros, Sonoma
Three Sticks Winery, Downtown Sonoma, off the Sonoma Plaza
Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Experience: Taste in the Vallejo-Castenada Adobe House built in 1842 and restored as a Sonoma landmark right in downtown Sonoma, located just one block off the main plaza! Enjoy a splash of wine and a walking tour of the home before sitting down for a private tasting of their Chardonnay & Pinot Noirs. With well decorated rooms and nooks throughout the property you are sure to enjoy. Bonus they have a great members area to hang out when in the areas with friends. Make sure to make a reservation as they are busy!
Tastings: $75 per person | $110 for food pairing flight
Three Sticks Tasting Room - Downtown Sonoma Plaza
Kosta Browne Winery, Sebastopol California, Russian River AVA
Varietals: Focus on Pinot Noir
Experience: Located in the Barlow within Sebastopol. Kosta Browne welcomes you with a splash of Sparkling wine before talking a short walking tour. With two experiences to choose from I tried their Appellation Series Tasting which included a 1:1 private, seated tasting flight of wines from our Appellation Series. They offer a second elevated experience called their observation flight which focuses on their small production (300 cases or less) wines
Tastings: $55 per person | $135 per person for the Observation Flight
Flowers Vineyard & Winery, Healdsburg California, Russian River AVA
Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir with a focus on Sonoma Coast Vineyards
Experience: Experience the house of Flowers, greeted with wine, before exploring the perfectly decorated tasting space and outdoor gardens. With two tasting experiences, choose between a more casual experience with a local provisions food platter, or an elevated experience with a private guide & food pairings. One of the most impactful tasting spaces and the wines are delicious.
Tastings: $75 per person | food pairing $125 per person
Gary Farrell, Healdsburg California, Russian River AVA
Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Experience: Welcomed with a splash of Chardonnay, Gary Farrell has a stunning tasting space and patio overlooking the Russian River. With a private guide to walk you through their flight. They focus on side by side comparisons of the Chardonnays and then moving onto Pinot Noirs. Each perfectly paired with local cheeses. Gary Farrell also offers additional experiences including winery tours and seasonally offered experiences.
Tastings: $55 per person
Gary Farrell - Russian River, Sonoma
Marine Layer Wines, Downtown Healdsburg California
Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Experience: A interior designers dream tasting, located right on the Healdsburg downtown park. A casual experience, open daily. The Marine Layer flight includes five limited production cool climate wines, with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. Bonus, a local Healdsburg restaurant, the Little Saint created a gorgeous mezze plate with seasonal ingredients from their farms just down the road. Reservations recommended.
Tastings: $35 per person
Skipstone Wines, Geyserville Califorrnia, Alexander Valley AVA
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Viognier
Experience: A private visit, by appointment only, offered daily to groups up to 10 guests. The tasting includes a lineup of their flagship estate wines, cheese & charcuterie, and a short walking tour. The entire experience lasts about 90 minutes. They are also in the midst of building a brand new state of the art winery and tasting facility, opening later 2023!
Tastings: $125 per person
10 other wineries to visit while in Sonoma
Sonoma Wineries List below:
1. Ceritas, known for cult followed Chardonnay in downtown Healdsburg, CA
2. Talisman, known for "all Pinot all the time" in Glen Ellen, CA
3. Hamel, Cabernet & Zinfandel, in Sonoma, CA
4. Scribe, known for tastings at their Hacienda, Sonoma, CA
5. Bueno Vista, historic Buena Vista tasting room, which dates back to 1857, Sonoma, CA
6. Hanzell, known for their historic Ambassador's Vineyard, Sonoma, CA
7. Iron Horse, known for their California Sparkling in the Russian River (Sebastopol), CA
8. Littorai, known for being one of the original vineyards to go bio-dynamic (Sebastopol), CA
9. Occidental, one of my favorite Pinot producers (Occidental), CA
10. Blue Farm, the most darling mother-daughter duo, epic Chardonnays & Pinots Sonoma, CA
Want more Sonoma Wine Country wine tasting tips? Check out my article on "Top 5 Downtown Sonoma Tasting Rooms"