What kind of wine taster are you? Are you looking to revel in gorgeous gardens, or do you relish a fine coastal Pinot Noir? Is it all about classic Sonoma history, or are you seeking family producers a bit off the beaten track?

Whatever the reason, we’ve put together a Sonoma tasting guide to end all tasting guides, with over 120 recommendations — and right now is the perfect time to head out to explore the best wineries in Sonoma.

Click through the above gallery for a peek at a few of our favorite places to taste wine in Sonoma County.

“I Want to Support Smaller, Family-Owned Wineries — Ones a Bit off the Beaten Path.”

Carol Shelton Wines: Set in an industrial district of Santa Rosa, this tiny tasting room can barely contain all the ribbons and awards that Shelton — known as the “Queen of Zin” — has won. $20. 3354-B Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa. 707-575-3441, carolshelton.com

Frick Winery: Bill Frick has been a one-man show for 49 years. Join him in the adorable Frick House for small-lot wines made from Rhône varieties grown on his 7.7-acre ranch. Free. 23072 Walling Road, Geyserville. 707-484-3950, frickwinery.com

Enriquez Estate Winery: Cecilia Enriquez and her parents, Ana and Eduardo, produce about 1,000 cases a year of Pinot Noir and Tempranillo on the family’s 8.5-acre vineyard. From $50. 5960 Eastside Road, Forestville. 707347-9719, enriquezwines.com

Inman Family Wines: Try Kathleen Inman’s balanced, food-friendly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparklers at this welcoming spot set in an organic vineyard. $30. 3900 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 707-293-9576. inmanfamilywines.com

Singer Wine at Baker Lane Estate: Stephen Singer ran the wine program at Berkeley’s Chez Panisse with his former spouse, Alice Waters. He welcomes a few guests each week for a light meal and tasting of biodynamically farmed Syrah and Viognier. From $85. 7361 Baker Lane, Sebastopol. singer.wine

Bruliam Wines: Physician-turned-winemaker Kerith Overstreet makes just 1,000 cases — mainly single-vineyard Pinot Noir — each year. 1200 American Way, Windsor. bruliamwines.com

AVA Spotlight: Russian River Valley

Home to some of Sonoma’s oldest, most-prized vineyards, the Russian River Valley is widely recognized for premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region is known for generously sunny days and cool, foggy nights, but given the diverse sub-regions, other varietals thrive here, too, like Zinfandel, Merlot and even cool-climate Syrah.

Favorite destinations include Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, where winemaker Theresa Heredia has been creating her own legacy of award-winning Pinot. Fellow pioneering labels like Merry Edwards, Williams Selyem, Rochioli and MacRostie Winery & Vineyards helped establish the Russian River Valley as an epicenter of premium Pinot Noir.

Sonoma-Cutrer and Balletto are ever-popular tasting spots and a crackling fireplace beckons at Benovia Winery. 

The Dutton family of Dutton Estate have been farming in the Russian River region for six generations. And David Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars is considered among the state’s most innovative winemakers. Tastings here overlook the production facility, for a glimpse of the magic in action.

Taste With a Pro: Leo Hansen, Leo Steen Wines

The Drink (53 Front St., Healdsburg), located in the 1800s-era Old Roma Station building, is a shared tasting room for two standout labels: Hansen’s Leo Steen Wines (leosteenwines.com) and his buddy Mike Lucia’s Rootdown Wine Cellars (rootdownwine.com).

“The space was built as a co-op for Italian immigrants to make wine, and later became a fruit-drying facility during Prohibition,” explains Hansen.

His pick is the vibrant, green apple-kissed Saini Farms Dry Creek Valley Chenin Blanc, from one of the oldest planted Chenin Blanc vineyards in Sonoma County. “I love creating food-friendly, low-alcohol wine from this sleek, silky variety,” he says.

And Hansen loves meeting his guests — he leads tastings of six wines seven days a week ($30). After tasting at The Drink, Hansen likes to recommend that folks walk just a few blocks along the Russian River to Arnot-Roberts (arnotroberts.com). “They make fantastic wines with fun varietals like Ribolla Gialla, Trousseau and Gamay Noir.”

3 Great Kid-Friendly Wineries

Belden Barns, Santa Rosa: Scavenger hunts, explorer backpacks to borrow and a special wishing tree. beldenbarns.com

Preston of Dry Creek, Healdsburg: Ultra laid-back, with rambling gardens to explore, kitties to pet and hearth-baked sourdough bread. prestonofdrycreek.com

Cline Cellars, Sonoma: A historic property with sprawling gardens. Picnicking is welcome, and there are cute donkeys, too. Be sure to ask for a coloring map of their property to keep the kiddos entertained. clinecellars.com

No Car Needed: Petaluma

Petaluma has a Norman Rockwell feel, but locals know aspects of the town are just as edgy as San Francisco, just 35 miles to the south. Several excellent tasting rooms beckon here.

Barber Cellars (barbercellars.com), in the Art Deco-style Hotel Petaluma, features standout Zinfandel, classic ’80s arcade games, and an interesting food pairing consisting of a Ukrainian-style zakuski platter of cheeses, salads and savory pastries.

The future Adobe Road Winery, from former race car driver Kevin Buckler (adoberoadwines.com) is under construction along the Petaluma waterfront. For now, Adobe Road tastings are held in the historic Great Petaluma Mill.

And nearby Brooks Note Winery & Tasting Room (brooksnotewinery.com) is in a 1920s-era building. The flagship here is Pinot, but don’t miss the food-friendly Blaufrankisch, paired with local cheese.

From award-winning winemaker Hardy Wallace, the most exuberant man in all of Wine Country, the Sonoma tasting room for Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! is a kaleidoscope of creativity and artistic intention. winecoyeah.com

‘‘Shifting the Lens” at sparkling wine specialist J Vineyards & Winery invites chefs from diverse backgrounds to take over the menu at their popular Bubble Room. In May, the honor went to James Beard semifinalist chef Michael Reed, of Poppy & Seed restaurant. jwine.com

2 Great Spots for Live Music

Muscardini Cellars, Kenwood: Italian varietals and live music every weekend May to October, with Simmer Down Saturdays. muscardinicellars.com

Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg: Beloved for their summer concert series, with major artists like Chris Isaak and Blues Traveler. Reserve a seat or bring a blanket and sit on the green. rodneystrong.com

“I’m a Total Foodie. Where Can I Have a Delicious Meal With My Tasting?”

Bricoleur Vineyards: The food program here is so meticulously handled that it takes three chefs to run it, including famed chef Charlie Palmer. The Rooted tasting ($150) impresses with a seasonal six-course meal with artistic dishes like handmade sweet shrimp siu mai dumplings with lemongrass and ginger. 7394 Starr Road, Windsor. 707-857-5700, bricoleurvineyards.com

Kivelstadt Cellars: Wine tasting at Kivelstadt’s bucolic tasting room in Sonoma gives you the opportunity to sample the exceptional food from Bloom Carneros restaurant. 22900 Broadway, Sonoma. 707-938-7001, kivelstadtcellars.com

Lynmar Estate: Chef David Frakes’ expensive-but-worth-it Collectors Lunch Pairing ($250) includes an exquisite, multi-course meal with dishes such as chile-Persian lime dusted watermelon with blistered stone fruit slaw. 3909 Frei Road, Sebastopol. 707-829-3374, lynmarestate.com

Jordan Vineyard & Winery: In April 2023, Jesse Mallgren left The Madrona, the Michelin-star restaurant he had run for nearly 25 years, and took his toque over to the glamorous Jordan, amping up an already upscale program. 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-5250, jordanwinery.com

Paul Hobbs Winery: Chef Timothy Kaulfers joined this luxury spot in April 2023 to lead the Vineyard Designate tasting experience ($250), offering six rare wines alongside delectable dishes like housemade chicken sausage with an onion and fennel soubise. 3355 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 707-824-9879, paulhobbswinery.com

Mayo Family Winery: Chef John Locher serves a delightfully inventive, meal with small-batch reserve wines in the Reserve Room ($90). 13101 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. 707-833-5504, mayofamilywinery.com

AVA Spotlight: Sonoma Valley

Stretched along the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and the Sonoma Mountains to the west, this beautiful area encompasses five distinct appellations and many microclimates ranging from brilliant sunshine to cool coastal fog. Given the climate, many types of grapes can thrive here.

Visit the 1,850-acre Kunde Family Winery for a mountaintop tasting, Chateau St. Jean for a garden stroll and tasting at the historic 1920s chateau, or VJB Cellars for Italian varietals and wood-fired pizzas on the Tuscan-style piazza.

Arrowood is famous for its warm-climate Cabernet Sauvignon and gracious tastings on its veranda, while Loxton Cellars and Hamilton Family Wines are boutique gems where you can see operations up-close, from grape to glass.

No Car Needed: Downtown Sonoma

Over 20 wineries have tasting rooms around downtown Sonoma’s shady plaza, making it an excellent destination for a day of tasting without the need for a designated driver.

Tom Darling of indie natural wine producer Darling Wines, down a pretty alleyway at the south end of the square, hit a home run with his very first vintage of cool-climate Syrah in 2017, which made the wine list at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon.

Pangloss Cellars (below) is a chic, airy tasting salon for Rhone varietals, with stone walls and wide windows out onto the park. Sosie Wines, right near Darling, makes three sparklers: red, white, and rosé, as well as an interesting Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

And Sojourn Cellars is the spot for single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the Petaluma Gap, Russian River and Sonoma Coast.

Founder Lloyd Davis has earned all kinds of recognition for his Corner 103 boutique tasting room in downtown Sonoma, including being named one of the top 10 tasting rooms in the country — twice. Davis credits the Black Lives Matter movement for making guests more aware of the importance of diversity in the wine industry and strives to make wine approachable to all. corner103.com

Free Tastings

At historic Korbel Winery in the Russian River Valley, the standard “marketplace” tasting is free, and a flight of three different wines is just $15 (korbel.com). And the super-friendly Locals Tasting Room in Geyserville offering tastings from 10 different local boutique producers, gratis (localstastingroom.com).

3 Great Spots to Play Bocce

Landmark Vineyards, Kenwood: Outdoor tastings by a lake and bocce for groups as large as 15. landmarkwine.com

Roth Estate, Healdsburg: Dedicated to powerful Cabernet from the Alexander Valley, Roth also hosts a bocce and barbecue tournament each spring. rothwinery.com

Dutcher Crossing, Geyserville: Play pétanque (another boules sport) on a court overlooking vineyards. Plus, get snuggles from cute golden retrievers. dutchercrossingwinery.com

Taste With a Pro: Monica Lopez, Bacchus Landing

At this winery collective just outside Healdsburg, general manager Monica Lopez knows a thing or two about tasting rooms. After all, seven different boutique wineries welcome guests to the 3-acre property, which also has wood-fired pizza, a bocce court, and live music.

“I love being outdoors, so we put a lot of work into making Bacchus Landing a place you could relax outside,” says Lopez, whose family winery, Aldina Vineyards (aldinavineyards.com), is one of the seven tasting rooms on-site (tastings from $25). “We really want to encourage guests to purchase a bottle of wine and just hang out.”

On the rare occasions when Lopez isn’t leading tours at Bacchus Landing, she has a penchant for tasting rooms with beautiful outdoor spaces, like Robert Young Estate in Geyserville (ryew.com).

Bacchus Landing. 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg. 707-395-0697, bacchuslanding.com

“It’s a Special Occasion, And I’m in the Mood To Splurge.”

Aperture Cellars: Modern luxury meets refined hospitality, where rockstar winemaker Jesse Katz continues to impress with his revered Bordeaux-style wines. There is plenty of eye candy here, including images from Katz’s father, photographer Andy Katz. Clearly, talent is a family affair. From $50. 12291 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. 707-200-7891, aperture-cellars.com

Silver Oak: Those who adore Cabernet will find much to fall in love with here. The winery produces an acclaimed expression of the Bordeaux varietal each year. From $50. 7300 Hwy. 128, Healdsburg. 707-942-7082, silveroak.com

Flowers Vineyards & Winery: There are few better ways to impress than a visit to Flowers Vineyards & Winery, where a short walk through the redwoods reveals a masterfully designed tasting room, California-inspired gardens, and acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. From $75. 4035 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 707-723-4800, flowerswinery.com

The Donum Estate: Spanning 220 idyllic acres in the Carneros, The Donum Estate is designed to dazzle, with more than 50 thought-provoking large-scale sculptures. The most exclusive tasting ($500) happens inside a kaleidoscopic pavilion of colored glass. From $150. 24500 Ramal Road, Sonoma. 707-732-2200, thedonumestate.com

Vérité Winery: Twenty minutes east of Healdsburg, Vérité seems to appear out of thin air, a dramatic, Abbey-inspired estate on a bucolic stretch of road. Father-daughter winemakers Pierre and Hélène Seillan have produced 17 hundred-point wines — all Bordeaux-style blends that reflect the region’s many micro-crus. From $200. 4611 Thomas Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-9000, veritewines.com

Hamel Family Wines: Impressive views of the biodynamically farmed vineyards, bespoke wine and food pairings, and small-production Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends all lure guests to this special spot in Sonoma Valley. From $95. 15401 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma. 707-996-5800, hamelfamilywines.com

AVA Spotlight: Petaluma Gap

Bursts of Pacific Ocean-driven wind and fog through a “gap” in coastal mountain ranges makes the region a prime spot for growing cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. It’s a huge AVA, spanning more than 200,000 acres from Bodega Bay to San Pablo Bay, but is mostly towns, vineyards and agriculture. Many well-known wines are made with fruit grown here, but actual tasting rooms located in the field are hard to come by.

To get the best sense of the wines made from the Petaluma Gap, head to Keller Estate, perched on a lushly landscaped hilltop with magical vineyard and valley views. Winemaker Ana Keller includes interesting varietals like a Syrah-Viognier blend, a Pinot Gris and sparkling wines (from $35, kellerestate.com).

Taste With a Pro: Ted Lemon, Littorai

There’s a lot to love at Littorai, but the coolest thing about visiting, says Lemon, is the private farm tour. “We’re a biodynamic wine farm, so you really get to see what’s involved in that,” he says. This includes seeing how Littorai makes biodynamic compost teas, which help nourish the vines, and walking through the vineyard blocks. “There’s a lovely view up top, so you can get a sense of the Sebastopol hills,” he says.

Lemon also likes taking friends to Freeman Winery for cave tastings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and to Arnot-Roberts for intriguing, site-specific wines. “The Freemans are lovely and they’re small and owner-run. They don’t make a lot of wine, so you’re really tasting the signature of the winemaker,” he says (freemanwinery.com).

At Arnot-Roberts (arnotroberts.com), Lemon says there are a range of wines on offer from all over, often including offbeat varieties. “It’s really a lot of fun.”

Littorai tastings from $65. 788 Gold Ridge Road, Sebastopol. 707-823-9586, littorai.com

3 Great Wineries to Bring Your Dog

Mutt Lynch Winery, Windsor: One of the most dog-friendly wineries around, with the motto “bark less, wag more.” Wine flights and wine club shipments come with special dog treats. muttlynchwinery.com

Smith Story Wine Cellars, Healdsburg: Lord Sandwich, the charismatic goldendoodle belonging to winery owners Alison Smith Story and Eric Story, helped make this charming family-owned tasting room Instagram-famous. smithstorywines.com

Kunde Family Winery, Kenwood: Fifth-generation winegrower Jordan Kunde welcomes dogs and their owners for a hike and romp through vineyards and native grasslands. kunde.com

3 Great Wineries with Olive Groves

DaVero Farms & Winery, Healdsburg: Cuttings from an ancient, 800-year-old olive grove in Tuscany helped establish the orchards. The fruit is gently handpicked, then pressed the same day for an extra-virgin elixir that’s rich, fruity and peppery.  davero.com

Trattore Farms, Geyserville: For $20, add a tasting of their excellent flavored oils to any tasting at their Dry Creek estate or in downtown Healdsburg. trattorefarms.com

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Sonoma: A large stone chateau anchors one of the area’s largest olive oil operations, with 45 acres of Italian and Spanish trees. In harvest season (usually October), visitors can see the pressing process up close. jacuzziwines.com

At Geyserville’s family-friendly Francis Ford Coppola Winery, reserve a cabine to hang out and swim for the day in one of two giant swimming pools surrounded by chic blue chaise lounges (from $250). Inside, film buffs will find a museum of Coppola’s movie memorabilia, including Academy Awards and a screeching red Tucker automobile. francisfordcoppolawinery.com

Taste With a Pro: Alice Sutro, Sutro Wine Co.

Visual artist, winemaker and mother of two Alice Sutro wants her guests to experience her family’s ranch in Chalk Hill, near the Russian River, in a very authentic way, so guests are led on a walk through the vineyard tasting.

“It’s like a 30-minute crash course in viticulture. Why does a trellis work that way, why do we maintain the canopy like this, what are our volcanic soils like — and here’s how that affects what’s in the glass,” explains Sutro. “I really want people to see the effort and value in grape-growing. It seems so necessary to me.”

When not walking the lands that inspire her painting and winemaking, Sutro’s hands-down favorite tasting room is Bannister Wines in Geyserville (bannisterwines.com), where Brook Bannister, a furniture craftsman turned winemaker, and Morgania Moore, a jewelry and lighting designer, have created a bohemian-styled art gallery and salon in a 104-year-old former bank.

Sutro Wine Co. hike and tasting, $65. 13301 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg. 707-509-9695, sutrowine.com

Owners Olga Fernandez and Martin Guerrero have poured their hearts into the homespun tasting room at Guerrero Fernandez Winery in Windsor, where guests can compare Zinfandel from Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Don’t miss the karaoke nights. gfwines.com

“I Love a Sense of History. What Are Some Classic Destinations?”

Martinelli Winery: For more than 135 years, the Martinelli family has farmed this land, including the famously steep Jackass Hill. Daredevil winegrower Giuseppe Martinelli planted Jackass Hill in 1889 and farmed it with a team of horses for 30 years. From $35. 3360 River Road, Windsor. 707-525-0570, martinelliwinery.com

Buena Vista Winery: California’s first premium winery was founded by Hungarian immigrant Count Agoston Haraszthy in 1857. Don’t miss the plush, Champagne-focused Bubble Lounge. From $35. 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma. 800-926-1266, buenavistawinery.com

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens: The late Jess Jackson bought his first vineyards in 1974. An unwitting mistake that produced a slightly sweet Chardonnay put the winery on the map. These days, a 4-acre organic garden produces rare veggies for in-house pairing menus. From $35. 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa. 707-571-8100, kj.com

Gundlach Bundschu Winery: The oldest family-owned winery in the state, GunBun’s Rhinefarm vineyards were first planted in 1858. The Bundschu family is known for coastal Chardonnay and reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, among a dozen different varietals — and for rollicking outdoor concerts in the old redwood barn. Metallica once performed a secret concert here. From $75. 2000 Denmark St., Sonoma. 707-938-5277, gunbun.com

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery: This downtown Sonoma winery, founded in 1904, was one of the few to operate through Prohibition, producing small amounts of sacramental and medicinal wines. From $50. 389 Fourth St. E., Sonoma. 707-933-3200, sebastiani.com

Iron Horse Vineyards: The family winery began with a vision in the pouring rain back in 1976. Audrey Sterling and her late husband Barry thought the 300 acres of gentle rolling Sebastopol hills looked like Camelot. Today, the small sparkling wine house produces stellar bubbly. From $35. 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol. 707-887-1507, ironhorsevineyards.com

AVA Spotlight: Alexander Valley

This is one of Sonoma County’s largest appellations in terms of acres planted, second only to the vast North Sonoma AVA. Located near Geyserville, Alexander Valley is known for fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon that is complex and full bodied, with silky tannins. This distinctive Cab comes courtesy of the region’s warm, dry climate, morning fog, and the moderating influence of the Russian River. Chardonnay, which tends to be on the rich, floral side, also shines here, along with old vine Zinfandel. Get a sense of the region’s best at Stonestreet Wines (below), Hawkes Wine, Hanna and Alexander Valley Vineyards.

Taste With a Pro: Katie Madigan, St. Francis Winery

In 2002, Madigan was a 21-year-old intern at St. Francis back when the proverbial light bulb went off and she realized winemaking was her calling.

Two decades later, Madigan is still just as excited about the work she does. She says the winery has a variety of fun tasting experiences, including a pedal trolley tour made famous by Al Roker and friends at a taping with NBC’s Today Show in April 2023. Estate pairings on the patio from chef Peter Janiak use produce from the 2-acre garden.

With out-of-town guests, Madigan also loves visiting Anaba Wines in Sonoma (anabawines.com). “The winery is super dog-friendly, which makes it easy to bring my pup along,” she says. She also enjoys rare Rhone and Italian varietals at Unti Vineyards in Healdsburg (untivineyards.com). “All of its wines are dynamite, and the intimate feel of its tasting room gives the perfect personal touch.”

St. Francis tastings from $35. 100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa. 888-675-9463, stfranciswinery.com

Top 3 Tastings in Caves

Bella Winery, Healdsburg: In sprawling caves set beneath the gorgeous, century-old Lily Hill vineyard, visitors gather among stacks of barrels as soft light filters in. Small-production lots of Zinfandel are the draw. From $30. 9711 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-473-9171, bellawinery.com

Deerfield Ranch Winery, Kenwood: Feel like part of the harvest action as you cross the outdoor crushpad to reach a quiet tasting room set inside 23,000 square feet of caves. From $35. 10200 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. 707-833-5215, deerfieldranch.com

Capo Creek Ranch, Healdsburg: Food pairings are led by Mary Roy, a former physician, now Capo’s hospitable winemaker, chef and owner. From $165. 7171 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-608-8448, capocreekranch.com

Pachyderm Station is what Primus guitarist Les Claypool calls his quirky Sebastopol tasting room decorated with concert posters and an old-timey bar. Homey? Yes. Weird in the best kind of way? Also, yes. Fridays through Sundays, pair the excellent site-specific Pinot Noirs with fancy hot dogs from Claypool’s own Whamola Wieners. purplepachyderm.com

At The Barlow in Sebastopol, Pax Winery & Tasting Room is like a clubhouse for likeminded indie winemakers, led by Syrah and Grenache specialist Pax Mahle. Take a quick peek around back at harvest time to glimpse the busy crush facility he shares with natural wine pioneer Martha Stoumen and rising stars Rosalind Reynolds and Patrick Cappiello. paxwine.com

Top 3 for a Great Picnic

Lambert Bridge Winery, Healdsburg: Shady tables await on an expansive picnic lawn, with gorgeous views of vineyards and surrounding forests. From $35. 4085 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707- 431-9600, lambertbridge.com

VML Winery, Healdsburg: Chill in the serene Butterfly Garden, a shaded sanctuary tucked next to Dry Creek, as you enjoy single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. From $50. 5610 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-4404, vmlwine.com

Bartholomew Estate Winery, Sonoma: Grab a bottle from the tasting room, then settle in at a picnic table overlooking the vineyard. After, hit the trail at 375-acre Bartholomew Park. From $45. 1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma. 707-509-0540, bartholomewestate.com

“Forget Instagram. I Want All the Prettiest Views in Real Life.”

Paradise Ridge: The second-story veranda is the place to drink in sweeping views of the Russian River Valley and the winery’s iconic “LOVE” sculpture as the sun sets over the vineyards. Paradise found, indeed. From $35. 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa. 707-528-9463, prwinery.com

Scribe Winery: Lush palms meet native ornamental grasses, succulents, roses, and a bountiful culinary garden at Scribe. The landscape’s wild splendor is a fitting accent to the restored hacienda’s “old California” vibe. Tastings for Scribe Viticultural Society members. 2100 Denmark St., Sonoma. 707-939-1858, scribewinery.com

Matanzas Creek Winery: Stunning lavender fields beckon at Matanzas Creek, especially in June, when row upon row of fragrant purple blossoms reach their peak. Book a reservation to visit the terraced gardens and tasting room. From $35. 6097 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 707-528-6464, matanzascreek.com

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery: The gardens are stunning any time of year, but for tulip lovers, early spring is the time to visit. Call the winery’s “tulip hotline” to find out when they’re at their colorful best. Tastings start at $40. 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-6700, ferraricarano.com

Arista Winery: With a winding gravel pathway, picturesque pond, and harmonious collection of trees, ferns and manicured greenery, the Japanese water garden at Arista is an oasis of serenity for seated sipping. From $30. 7015 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 707-473-0606, aristawinery.com

McEvoy Ranch: The 550-acre winery and olive oil operation is tucked away in a hidden, private valley on the Sonoma/ Marin county line near Petaluma. Graceful olive trees are surrounded by extensive plantings of lavender and herbs. 5935 Red Hill Road, Petaluma. 707778-2307, mcevoyranch.com

AVA Spotlight: Sonoma Coast

The Sonoma Coast appellation covers more than 750 square miles, stretching from the Mendocino County border to the San Pablo Bay. While the expansive AVA’s diverse microclimates, soils, elevations, and exposures allow many grape varieties to flourish, it’s best known for cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Set within the broader Sonoma Coast, the West Sonoma Coast AVA covers the farthest western sliver of the county along the Pacific coastline, as well as the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The region sets itself apart with a cool maritime climate, high elevations and extreme growing conditions. To sample the coast, visit Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery (below) — one of the few West Sonoma Coast wineries with a tasting room within the bounds of the remote region — plus Peay Vineyards, Cobb Wines, Red Car Wine and Hirsch Vineyards.

Taste With a Pro: Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, Birdhorse Wines

Rich and Rouse have day jobs as assistant winemakers at Scribe and Bedrock Wine Co., respectively, but the couple still finds time to run their own wine brand, crafting uncommon varietals like Valdiguie and Cinsault. The couple thrill to introducing people to favorites like their Portuguese-style, green pineapple-wet stone Contra Costa Verdelho.

“It’s such a special wine, with so much of the texture and weight of an Old World Chardonnay, but a flavor profile that’s authentically Californian.”

To taste, they invite guests to join their mailing list and attend their release parties, recently hosted at chic Luma Bar & Eatery in Petaluma. Or look for the couple at Preston Farm & Winery, one of their favorite stops, where they treasure bottlings of Barbera, Carignan and Nero d’Avola (prestonfarmandwinery.com). “Their wines are excellent, and the farm is such a beautiful, integrated ecosystem of grapes, animals, other crops, and the natural surroundings. It’s really a gold standard of what farming in Sonoma County can look like.”

Birdhorse Wines, birdhorsewines.com

Custom white papel picado banners flutter in the breeze at the beautifully preserved 1842 Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe in downtown Sonoma, home to Three Sticks Wines, vintner Bill Price’s award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay house. Not to be missed. threestickswines.com

Learn the art of sabrage — using the blunt edge of a sword to open a bottle of sparkling wine — at Healdsburg favorite Breathless Wines. After you learn to open the bottle, you get to drink it. breathlesswines.com

Top 3 for High-End Design

Ram’s Gate Winery, Sonoma: This hilltop destination in the Carneros gives off Belgian country vibes and was designed by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, a member of Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame. ramsgatewinery.com

Reeve Wines, Healdsburg: Noah and Kelly Dorrance cofounded Healdsburg’s Banshee Wines in 2009, and Reeve, named for their son, is one of the couple’s two spin-off projects after Banshee. Kelly also runs a Healdsburg antique shop, and the tasting lounge here is decorated with her gorgeous finds. Events hosted here benefit Everytown for Gun Safety. reevewines.com

Marine Layer, Healdsburg: As envisioned by standout local interior designers The Hommeboys, this is a Moroccan-inspired lounge for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. marinelayerwines.com

Taste With a Pro: William Allen, Two Shepherds

The Two Shepherds winery is low on glamour, says Allen, but rich in uncommon grape varieties. “You will often get to taste some really unusual things, like our Grenache Blanc, which we make as a normal white and as an orange wine,” he says. “Or we have a carbonic Carignan versus a regular Carignan, so we can show you the different expressions.”

When friends ask for winery recommendations, Allen often sends them to the wonderfully laid-back Ryme Cellars in Forestville (rymecellars.com). “I love Megan and Ryan Glaab,” he says. “They make unusual varieties and their wines are super-awesome. They just have really fun, clean, interesting things that you’re not going to find in a lot of places, and it’s super-upbeat.” Two Shepherds Winery, tastings from $20. 7763 Bell Road, Windsor. 415-613-5731, twoshepherds.com 

“I Want to Support Sustainable and Regenerative Farming.”

Medlock Ames Winery: Co-founder Ames Morison is an industry thought leader in sustainability planning and new trends in organic viticulture. A sound-immersion tour ($75) of their Bell Mountain Ranch property is an introduction to his approach. From $65. 13414 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-8845, medlockames.com

Hanzell Vineyards: Award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are created here in balance with organic vegetable gardens and orchards. Ducks and chickens wander the vineyards and a herd of fire-suppression pigs (yes, pigs!) loosen soils and tramp down overgrowth. $65. 18596 Lomita Ave., Sonoma. 707-996-3860, hanzell.com

Benziger Family: Winery Mike Benziger is a leader in biodynamic grapegrowing, a holistic method attuned to building the strength of the soil. On a tram tour into the vineyards ($35), learn about biodynamics and see the farm’s insectary gardens. From $75. 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 888-490-2739, benziger.com

Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs: The solar-powered winery is made of straw bales plastered over with vineyard clay, an insulated design that stays cool in summer and warm in winter. The estate Zinfandel vines are more than 115 years old and have thrived after the changeover to organic practices. From $30. 650 Lytton Springs Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-7721, ridgewine.com

DeLoach Vineyards: The estate has been farmed biodynamic ally since 2009, and tasting room guests are invited to tour the “Theater of Nature,” as they call it — a wander through 20 acres of culinary gardens and vineyards. From $35. 1791 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707-755-3300, deloachvineyards.com

Quivira Vineyards: Want to talk green? Ask about the epic 500-yard compost pile that nourishes the gardens and fields. Quivira is a model of integrated, diversified farming with organic vegetables, flowers, and livestock among the grapes. From $35. 4900 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-8333, quivirawine.com

AVA Spotlight: Dry Creek Valley

Zinfandel lovers make a pilgrimage to Dry Creek to taste this inky, feisty varietal, which thrives on the long, full days of abundant sunshine tempered by cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean. In addition to Zin, other varieties that grow well there include Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache.

The indomitable Dave Stare of Dry Creek Vineyard helped shape the course of the valley and establish it as an AVA. The Nalle family of Nalle Winery are Dry Creek pioneers who farm 100-year-old Zinfandel ines. Several families have wineries that go back generations here: A. Rafanelli Winery, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Rochioli Vineyards & Winery and Pedroncelli. And don’t miss the views from the tasting room at Cast Wines, which span nearly the entire valley.

Taste With a Pro: James McCeney, Patz & Hall Winery

The winemaker joined the P&H team in May 2023 and enjoys popping out of the cellar to greet guests and share what drew him to the storied winery, founded in 1988.

“One of the things that makes Patz & Hall so special is our deep relationship with our growers,” he says. “Throughout our tasting room, we proudly display images of these farming families.” He also gets a kick out of sharing secret treasure vineyards. “If you enjoy our Zio Tony Ranch Russian River Chardonnay, this makes you a true insider — it’s a New World mirror of a Premier Cru Chablis with a mouthwatering taught, crystalline acidity.”

If not hosting at the P&H Sonoma tasting room, he often takes friends to Domaine Cameras (domainecarneros.com). “I live just over the county line in Napa, off Old Sonoma Road, so it’s a great spot for sparkling wine made from Sonoma Carneros grapes.”

Patz & Hall Winery, 21200 Eighth St. E., Sonoma. 707-265-7700, patzhall.com

No Car Needed: Downtown Healdsburg

Healdsburg’s compact downtown, organized around a central plaza like several other local wine towns, is another spot to wander all day without starting up the car.

A tasting at Matt and Sara Licklider’s Lioco Winery is like a visit to your coolest friend’s even cooler house, with interesting light fixtures and art prints on the wall. Record player aside — yes, there’s that, too — they’re known for stellar Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Carignan with an emphasis on older vines, unique soil types and heritage clones.

On North Street, BloodRoot Wines hosts vinyl record spin sessions and pét-nat and pupusas nights. Alan Baker of Cartograph Wines worked in public radio production in Minnesota for decades before realizing his winemaking dream with wife Serena Lourie.

And Centennial Mountain (formerly Aeris, for the Latin word for air or climate), celebrates founder Kevin Harvey’s love of Piemontese varieties, including Carricante, an aromatic white grape that grows beautifully on Sonoma’s Centennial Mountain Vineyard. It’s believed to be one of the only plantings of the rare variety in the state.

The intrigue of Bedrock Wine Co. lies in complex, character-driven wines from historic vineyards over a century old. Winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson’s Sonoma tasting room occupies the 1852 home of Civil War general “Fighting Joe” Hooker — a coincidence given that Twain-Peterson also farms Hooker’s 130-year-old vineyard just outside town. From $45. 414 First St. E., Sonoma. 707-343-1478, bedrockwineco.com

Trail runners and mountain bikers can purchase a oneday pass to access vineyard trails with gorgeous views at Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards outside Windsor. A 350-acre wildlife preserve surrounds the vineyard blocks. notrevueestate.com

Top 3 for Trying Unusual Varietals

Idlewild Wines, Healdsburg: Owner Sam Bilbro loves Italian Piedmont wines, so that’s what he makes, in a rainbow array of single varietal masterpieces, including jasmine tea-white peach Arneis and tart strawberry-violet Freisa. idlewildwines.com

Old World Winery, Fulton: Celebrating natural, biodynamic wine, owner Darek Trowbridge adds nothing to his juice except a minimal amount of protective sulfur. Focusing on field blends from 120-year-old vineyards, he crafts very rare varietals such as Muscadelle, Trousseau Gris, Palomino and Mondeuse Noire. oldworldwinery.com

Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Santa Rosa: Owners Frane and Janae Franicevic cultivate a global snapshot of four dozen- plus wines, including rare Lagrein, Negroamaro, Rosa del Peru and Trincadeira varietals. suncewinery.com

By the team of Tina Caputo, Sarah Doyle, Imane Hanine, Heather Irwin, Peg Melnik, Abigail Peterson and Carey Sweet.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Sonoma Tasting Rooms appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

To taste wine while soaking in the autumn colors in the vineyards is a far more interesting — and delicious — form of leaf peeping. October is the ideal time to witness Sonoma County’s colorful transition from summer to fall in the field, so start making plans now.

Read on below for a few favorite Sonoma wineries for taking in the fall colors.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

In fall, the buttercup-colored Jordan chateau, covered in Boston ivy, is as iconic a place as any in Sonoma. The ivy morphs from vibrant green to red, then orange to pale yellow. Beyond those walls, the 1,200-acre Alexander Valley estate includes approximately 120 acres planted to Bordeaux red grape varieties.

1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg. 707-431-5250, jordanwinery.com

Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery

Hiking through vineyards is a fine way to see fall colors. But a ride on horseback offers a higher-level, ever-changing perspective. In conjunction with Sonoma Valley Trail Rides, the winery hosts 45-minute rides through the 375-acre estate and its vineyards, with a bottle of wine to take home ($150). There’s also a 3-mile hiking trail past oaks, madrones and vines.

1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma. 707-509-0540, bartholomewestate.com

Viansa

Long known for its Tuscan-style tasting room and marketplace, Viansa also affords an impressive 270-degree sweep that takes in the autumnal palette across the valley, as well as views of nearby wetlands that harbor migrating waterfowl. Wood-framed hillside outlooks — the winery describes them as grown-up tree houses — can be booked for groups of up to six and come with service of four wines, cheese and charcuterie ($75). The Summit Tasting ($40) has broad views from a hilltop terrace.

25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. 800-995-4740, viansa.com

Keller Estate

From this Petaluma Gap vineyard perched at 500 feet, the view to the south encompasses glowing grapevines, trees and fall foliage stretching across southern Sonoma and northern Marin. Tastings here include a walking tour of the stunning property.

5875 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma. 707-765-2117, kellerestate.com

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens

Kendall-Jackson’s four-acre culinary gardens provide fresh produce for tasting experiences as well as a feast for the eyes during harvest season. The best way to enjoy both is at the estate’s upcoming Come Over October Harvest Hangout from 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 19. The free event includes live music, garden tours and wine tastings paired with fall bites, featuring expert culinary gardener Tucker Taylor along with special winemaker appearances. If you can’t make the harvest hangout, the estate also offers a Garden Tour & Tasting ($55) April through October.

5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa. 707-571-8100, kj.com

Kunde Family Winery

There are few Sonoma wineries that show off autumn colors as gloriously as this Kenwood winery and vineyard estate. The 1,850-acre ranch, established in 1879, is enveloped by terraced vineyards and oak woodlands. The effect is one of a blanket of marigold, pumpkin and rust — especially when seen from 1,400 feet up during the Mountain Top Tasting ($100). Kunde’s vineyard views lend to it being among our favorite winery patios in the county.

9825 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. 707-833-5501, kunde.com

Bricoleur Vineyards

The estate at Bricoleur Vineyards is beautiful any time of year, and autumn is no exception. With Bricoleur’s Essentials Picnic ($75), guests can enjoy an alfresco picnic either on the pavilion lawn, under a trellis by the pond, or at the picnic tables in the culinary and rose gardens. The picnic package includes a chic red wagon to cart around while exploring the estate grounds as well as a chilled glass of wine and a wicker basket filled with gourmet picnic items.

7394 Starr Road, Windsor, 707-857-5700, bricoleurvineyards.com

Trattore Farms

The hillside tasting room at Trattore Farms (named for the Italian word for tractor) affords sweeping views of Dry Creek Valley to the west and Geyser Peak and Mount St. Helena to the east, all awash in fall color. Various experiences are offered, including wine and olive oil tastings and the Get Your Boots Dirty Tour ($95) — a drive through the vineyards and olive orchard in a Kawasaki utility vehicle, with a stop at the olive mill center and a tasting of wines and olive oils.

7878 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville. 707-431-7200, trattorefarms.com

Maci Martell contributed to this story.

The post The Best Wineries in Sonoma for Fall Tastings appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Challenging doesn’t come close to describing the year Sonoma grapegrowers and winemakers had in 2020.

The coronavirus first closed tasting rooms entirely and later limited service to outdoors. Employees were furloughed or laid off. The shuttering of restaurants was a further gut-punch. And twice this season, wildfire forced evacuations and burned homes: in northwestern Sonoma County in mid-August and in eastern Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley in late September. Both the Walbridge and the Glass fires spewed smoke that stung the lungs of vineyard workers and, once the harvest is over and assessments are made, likely will have had a negative impact on grape quality.

So if ever there were a time for our Top 100 Wines survey, this is it. Not so much in that wine can take the edge off of difficult times, but rather as an elixir of life, a beverage to share with family and bubble friends, a companion to takeout and home-cooked meals. Wine rewards those who overcome hardship and celebrates those with resilience.

And wine production is Sonoma’s economic lifeblood, accounting for 54,000 jobs – one in four in the county. Consumer support for the industry and its many tourism extensions is more important now than ever.

Our 2020 Top 100 Wines list points the way to the best bottles from throughout the county. The winners are a diverse group, covering various viticultural regions, grape varieties, and production quantities. Many picks are found in local grocery stores, others can be purchased only from wineries. Pinot Noir, arguably Sonoma’s most popular wine (in a supreme compliment, Napa Valley wineries seek out Sonomagrown Pinot), gets a lot of attention, and high-end Cabernet Sauvignon is coming on strong. The finest bottles are indeed expensive, although it’s more often a reflection of increasing costs in labor, health care, grape prices and packaging materials, than it is outright gouging (though some of that exists).

Excellent values are found throughout the Top 100, and we’ve highlighted those picks with a special ‘value’ button. Wines grown and produced by people of color, women, and younger makers just getting their bootstrapped starts are also important to us this year. Consider giving them your business, because the smaller and less powerful they are, the more they’ve struggled financially during the Covid-19 crisis. It’s the neighborly thing to do, and you’ll enjoy some of the finest wines of your life.

METHODOLOGY

Healdsburg-based wine critic Linda Murphy selected the Top 100 Wines of 2020 based on her yearlong tastings at wineries and of samples sent to her, as well as her blind tastings at wine competitions including The Press Democrat 2020 North Coast Wine Challenge. Only wines produced from Sonoma County-grown grapes, by wineries located in the county, are eligible for the Top 100. All wines were tasted in 2020.

A former managing editor of Sonoma magazine, Murphy earned two James Beard awards as the founding editor of the San Francisco Chronicle wine section. She’s evaluated Sonoma wines for 30 years, and always has the consumer in mind with her recommendations. Not all expensive wines are worth their price, and many value-priced wines deliver far more interest than their price would suggest.

Sparkling

Balletto Vineyards 2014 Russian River Valley Brut Rosé ($45) Dry, elegant, and precise, this blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay offers light cherry, raspberry, and baked pie-crust aromas and flavors, with touches of citrus and pear. There is a creaminess to the palate, and the finish is energetic and palate- cleansing.

Breathless Wines NV Sonoma County Brut ($27) VALUE Sisters Rebecca and Cynthia Faust and Sharon Cohn produce sparkling wines in Healdsburg, the brand name honoring their mother, Martha Jane Faust, who died from a rare respiratory condition. “Fourth sister” Penny Gadd-Coster produced this somewhat rich, beautifully balanced blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with red berry, citrus, and tropical fruit notes and a subtle yeastiness. It’s an excellent value in the highpriced world of serious California sparkling wines.

Flaunt Wine Co. NV Sonoma County Brut ($48) Dianna Novy spent more than two decades as co-owner and co-winemaker of Siduri Wines and Novy Family Wines in Santa Rosa. After selling those brands to Jackson Family Wines, she embarked on a sparkling wine project, Flaunt, using Champagne-making techniques to create this finessed bubbly with crisp green apple and citrus fruit, fresh-baked-bread yeastiness, and a long, mouthwatering finish.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards NV Carneros Blanc de Noirs ($22) VALUE Under new ownership, it’s uncertain how Carneros’ first sparkling wine house will evolve, yet one thing is for sure now: This light-pink, fermented-in-bottle bubbly is serious stuff at a terrific price (and discounted in supermarkets), with bright red-fruit flavors and citrus backbone.

Iron Horse Vineyards 2016 Ocean Reserve Green Valley of Russian River Valley Blanc de Blancs ($55) Feel good about drinking this all-Chardonnay sparkler, not only for its taut structure and keen balance, but also because $4 from each bottle sold goes to National Geographic’s Ocean Initiative, which supports marine protected areas and sustainable fishing practices around the globe.The green apple, Key lime, and Asian pear palate gains richness and complexity from notes of barrel spice and brioche, yet the wine finishes bright and crisp.

Iron Horse Vineyards 2015 Green Valley of Russian River Valley Classic Vintage Brut ($45) The winery’s flagship bubbly and a consistent Top 100 wine, it’s Pinot Noir-dominant, rich and supple. Yet the 23% portion of Chardonnay makes its presence known in the tart apple and Meyer lemon palate. It’s for those who appreciate the toasty, autolytic yeast character that comes from long aging in the bottle.

J Vineyards and Winery NV Russian River Valley Cuvée 20 ($38) This non-vintage blend should please all sparkling- wine palates, as it delivers a little bit of everything: honeysuckle, hazelnut, and baked-bread aromas, sunny white peach and apple fruit, gingery spice, and a finish that’s crisp and lingering.

Sauvignon Blanc

Beltane Ranch 2019 Drummond Block Estate Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($29) Lean and racy, this scintillating Sauvignon Blanc has green melon, quince, flint, and gooseberry notes and a brisk finish. Partial fermentation in neutral oak barrels adds some vanillin roundness to the mid-palate, and the finish pops with lemony zest.

The Dreaming Tree 2018 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc ($15) VALUE Rocker Dave Matthews partnered with Sonoma winemaker Sean McKenzie on The Dreaming Tree brand, named for one of the band’s songs. Matthews owns Blenheim Vineyards in Virginia and is a serious oenophile; this Sauvignon Blanc is seriously good and at a great price; it’s perfumed and juicy (lime cordial and tangerine), with a long, fresh finish.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2019 Sauvignon Blanc ($20) VALUE The runner-up Best White Wine winner of the 2020 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge shows Tim Bell’s talents for making Sauvignon Blanc. He added Sauvignons Musque and Gris to Sauvignon Blanc, and aged a portion in acacia, chestnut, and oak barrels. The result: a layered, luscious wine with unfolding aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon, lime zest, pineapple, passion fruit, and white peach. There is a gentle creaminess to the mid-palate, and the finish lasts forever.

Paradise Ridge 2019 Vineyard Selection Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($28) This highly drinkable wine combines juicy tropical fruit and zesty citrus in a yin-yang balance of pleasure. Winemaker Dan Barwick has a way with Sauvignon Blanc, and this particular bottling demonstrates his skill at producing delicious wines.

Pedroncelli Winery 2019 East Side Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($17) VALUE Straightforward, widely available, and utterly delicious, this wine offers green apple, lemon-lime, and light pear flavors, with a pleasant herbal, grassy character in the background, not aggressively front and center.

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2019 Dry Stack Vineyard Bennett Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($22) The vineyard is planted to a somewhat obscure (in California) Italian clone of Sauvignon Blanc, and it produces wines with more floral aromatics and tropical-fruit flavors than the citrus and herb-flecked styles more common in Sonoma. It’s generous in flavor, with crisp acidity balancing its forward-fruit nature — and an inviting representation of the grape variety.

Simi Winery 2019 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc ($15) VALUE Fifteen bucks (less in chain stores) buys a lot of wine from this landmark Healdsburg winery. Inviting aromas of pear and honeysuckle lead to a mouthful of lemon, pink grapefruit, and clementine flavor, with zesty freshness on the finish.

Sutro Wine Co. 2019 Warnecke Ranch Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($28) This wine from Alice Warnecke Sutro and her husband, Eliot Sutro, is crisp and sassy, without being overtly herbaceous, a common characteristic for the grape. Grapefruit, lemon-lime, green melon, white cherry, and texture-lending beeswax notes meld seamlessly, rounded nicely by partial fermentation in neutral oak barrels.

Chardonnay

Carol Shelton Wines 2018 Wild Thing Alexander Valley Chardonnay ($19) VALUE Zin master Carol Shelton purchased an Alexander Valley vineyard a few years ago, with the intent of building a winery there. Life changed that course, yet the Chardonnay from this site proved to be so good — particularly when she blended it with splashes of Marsanne and Viognier — that it’s become a fan favorite. It’s generous in pineapple, mango, and apple fruit, with oak spice and a creamy vanillin center.

Chalk Hill Estate 2017 Chalk Hill Chardonnay ($40) For lovers of rich, unctuous Chardonnays, this is your bottle. The wine has inviting aromas of honey and lemon curd, then a gush of ripe golden apple, pineapple, and Meyer lemon flavors on the palate, with baking spice and a buttery accent. For all its richness, it finishes with snappy acidity.

Dutton-Goldfield 2017 Rued Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($55) There is a nervy, minerally edge to this medium-full-bodied wine, plus hazelnut and caramel notes enhancing the green apple, Asian pear, and white peach fruit. Complete and complex, it finishes fresh and crunchy, lingering on the palate.

Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery 2017 Mother of Pearl Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay ($60) Winemaker Jeff Pisoni struck a lovely balance here, producing a crisp, bracing, florally aromatic wine from the chilly coastal vineyard, with judicious oaking adding spice while maintaining minerality. Lemon curd, green melon, and grilled white peach flavors finish long and succulent.

Gary Farrell Winery 2017 Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($60) Winemaker Theresa Heredia mined Kent Ritchie’s vineyard for this wine, which is as crisp as biting into a green apple, then having that apple burst with citrus and tropical fruit. Background notes of crème brûlée, Meyer lemon, pear, and white peach add interest to this complex, layered gem.

Gundlach Bundschu 2018 Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($27) Want a fresh, zingy, palate-awakening Chardonnay? This is it: flinty and refreshing, it offers peach, tangerine, and Asian pear flavors, with oak well in the background, showing itself as a shake of spice but not toast. Scintillating finish.

Hartford Court 2017 Jennifer’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($65) Winemaker Jeff Stewart makes several Chardonnays, but this is one is outstanding: A blend of freshness, mouthwatering acidity, gentle oak spice, unripe pear, and tangy citrus. It smells of peach blossoms, and lemongrass with a core of spiced apples, and poached pears. The palate delivers layer upon layer of savory, citrus, and stonefruit flavors, long and spicy.

La Crema 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($25) VALUE This wine is easy to find, easy to drink, and easy on the pocketbook, as it’s typically sold at discounted prices. It offers a little bit of everything: sweet, ripe pineapple, white peach, apple and Meyer lemon fruit, caramel spice, and a clean, mouthwatering finish.

Landmark Vineyards 2017 Overlook Sonoma County Chardonnay ($27) Intriguing for its mélange of tropical, melon, and citrus character — the result of blending across multiple vineyards. Crisp and with lively acidity, it boasts medium-full body and a tart, Granny apple note on the finish.

Lombardi Wines 2017 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($44) PR professional Tony Lombardi has worked with numerous Sonoma County wineries for years, and in 2013, launched his own brand, with his wife, Christine. Their winemaker, Cabell Coursey, produced this mouthwatering wine with green apple, white peach, and citrus flavors. A streak of perceived minerality runs from start to finish.

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards 2017 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($46) Dutton Ranch encompasses multiple vineyards, and winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen tapped three of them for this multi-layered wine. The honeyed nose leads to ripe golden apple, peach, and tropical fruit, and a Meyer lemon brightness balances the finish.

Ramey Wine Cellars 2017 Rochioli Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($70) Winegrower Joe Rochioli is a Russian River Valley legend, as is winemaker David Ramey. They combine their expertise in this has-it-all Chardonnay. It’s fresh and complex, with golden and green apple fruit and tangy citrus notes. Oak is there, but in the background, adding texture to the mouthfeel.

Ram’s Gate Winery 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($46) The style is lush, exotically tropical, with pineapple, papaya, pear, nectarine, and golden apple flavors. Brisk acidity keeps the palate fresh through the long finish, and hints of almond skin, oak spice, and crème brûlée add interest.

Sangiacomo Vineyards 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($55) This supremely balanced wine was chosen Best of the Best at the 2020 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, a testament to the winegrowing skills of the Sangiacomo family. Winemaker James MacPhail blended fruit from the family’s Green Acres and Robert Road vineyards, in the Carneros and Petaluma Gap regions, respectively. Spiced apple, citrus, and poached pear flavors mingle with notes of nutmeg and vanilla in this moderately rich and refreshing wine.

Sonoma-Cutrer 2018 Russian River Valley Late Harvest Chardonnay ($36) A dessert lover’s dream, this succulent sweetie is just short of syrupy, with vibrant acidity balancing the unctuous apricot, poached pear, caramel, and honey palate. If the meal-ender is a cheese plate, this wine pairs beautifully with dried fruit and nutty hard cheeses.

Three Sticks 2018 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($55) Three Sticks proprietor Bill Price also owns Gap’s Crown Vineyard, which has quickly become an iconic site for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from other producers. This wine offers a cornucopia of acacia blossom, honeysuckle, lime, peach, citrus, and earthy minerality essence, with snappy acidity keeping the bounty of goodness fresh and lively.

Other Whites

Abbot’s Passage Winery 2019 Rossi Ranch Vineyard Sunblink Sonoma Valley ($35) Proprietor Katie Bundschu blended Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc to achieve this bright, crisp wine. The Grenache Blanc adds a kiss of honey to the white nectarine, tangerine, and unripe pear flavors. The finish is mouthwatering, thanks to great acid structure.

Anaba Wines 2018 Landa Vineyard Sonoma Valley Viognier ($36) The expected honeysuckle, peach, and pear characteristics of Viognier are here, though this one has an extra yum factor, with inviting baking spice and tangerine notes, on a crisp, clean, refreshing finish.

Donelan 2018 Kobler Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Viognier ($34) An elegant style of Viognier, with delicate floral aromas and crisp, crunchy, high-acid citrus, light pear, and yellow peach fruit and whiff of honeysuckle. Whereas some Viogniers are viscous and high in alcohol, this one is laser-focused at just 13.4% alcohol.

Emeritus Vineyards 2018 Hallberg Blanc Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($40) Winemaker Dave Lattin gently pressed the juice from red Pinot Noir grapes before the skins added any color. The juice was fermented in neutral oak barrels and concrete fermenters, and the result is a revelation: A flat-out delicious wine with floral aromas, peach, and Meyer lemon flavors and mouth-filling texture, framed by brisk acidity.

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery 2019 Sonoma County Pinot Grigio ($16) VALUE Simply put, it’s yummy, and I hope it remains so under new owner Foley Family Wines. Forget the thin, neutral-tasting Italian Pinot Grigios that sell at this price point, and embrace the ambrosial peach, apricot, and pineapple fruit in this rewarding wine, which has the acidity to balance the lush flavors. Aperitif time.

Joseph Swan Vineyards 2017 Catie’s Corner Russian River Valley Grenache Blanc ($26) Light, crisp, and refreshing, it offers come-hither floral aromatics and a hint of honey to the Granny Smith apple, unripe pear, lime zest, and tangerine flavors. Rod Berglund also produces an intriguing “orange wine” version of this wine by leaving the Grenache Blanc skins in contact with the juice during fermentation.

Unti Vineyards 2018 Dry Creek Valley Cuvée Blanc ($35) Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, and Picpoul Blanc come together in this energetic wine with aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon, green apple, and honeydew melon, and a pleasantly saline aroma and finish. Mick Unti embraces palate-cleansing acidity in his white wines, and this is proof of that commitment.

Rosé

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2019 Alexander Valley Dry Rosé of Sangiovese ($16) VALUE AVV was well ahead of the rosé rage, first making this wine in 2006 from the Italian varietal Sangiovese. Affable and affordable, it boasts juicy raspberry, cherry, and watermelon aromas, finishing crisp and spicy.

Anaba Wines 2018 Sonoma Valley Rosé of Grenache ($30) Co-winemakers Katy Wilson and Ross Cobb produced a wine that’s juicy and substantial on the palate, yet also crisp and refreshing. It sports cherry, strawberry, and nectarine aromas and flavors, with hints of berry.

Angels & Cowboys Sonoma County Rosé ($15) VALUE This perennial bargain is Grenache-based, with smaller amounts of other grapes adding complexity to the blend. It’s lip-smackingly brisk and mouth-fillingly juicy, with red fruits accented by lime and white peach.

Capture 2019 Alexander Valley Rosé of Sangiovese ($25) The wine smells like a field of wild strawberries, with Queen Anne cherry and pink grapefruit joining the palate mix. It has a lovely balance of richness and freshness, and despite its light body, floods the mouth with flavor.

Gehricke Wines 2019 Los Carneros Sonoma Rosé ($29) Though it doesn’t say so on the label, this pink is 100% Pinot Noir. It packs a load of bright watermelon, cherry and cranberry fruit, kissed by gentle Meyer lemon and white nectarine notes. For all its generosity, it remains vibrant and refreshing, and at just 12.8% alcohol.

Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir ($25) Watermelon, wild strawberry, red raspberry, blood orange, and lime commingle in this tangy, refreshing wine. It has more complexity than many Pinot-based blush wines on the market, many of them selling for higher prices than this one.

Sonoma-Cutrer 2019 Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir ($25) Light and refreshing, it delivers strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon aromas and flavors, with hints of citrus zest and blood orange.

Pinot Noir

AldenAlli 2017 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($60) This brand is a partnership of Dan Kosta (formerly of Kosta Browne) and Alden Lagasse (wife of chef Emeril Lagasse). The Sonoma Coast blend comes from the Campbell Ranch, Sunchase, and Gap’s Crown vineyards, and is brambly and spicy, with a core of juicy blackberry and boysenberry and hints of graham cracker and modest toast in the racy finish.

Benovia Winery 2017 La Pommeraie Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($65) All of winemaker Mike Sullivan’s wines (sparklers, Chardonnays, Grenache, and Zinfandel) are marvelous, but from the 2017 vintage, La Pommeraie (apple orchard in French) stood out for its verve and balance of luscious black currant and boysenberry fruit and tight acid structure.

Blue Farm Wines 2017 Anne Katherina Estate Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir ($65) Anne Moller-Racke’s personal Pinot Noir project, Blue Farm, is an evolution of her previous work with Buena Vista Winery and Donum Estate. This wine’s highlights are its earthy truffle aroma, vibrant red and black cherry flavors, note of Asian spice, and crackling acidity, which counters the plush mid-palate.

Dutton-Goldfield 2017 Fox Den Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($62) Winemaker Dan Goldfield’s wines tend to be medium- full-bodied and moderately ripe. Fox Den pushes the ripeness envelope just a bit, flooding the mouth with voluptuous strawberry, Bing cherry, raspberry jam, and cranberry flavors, with background notes of cola, rose water, and allspice.

Emeritus Vineyards 2016 Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($44) COO Mari Jones and winemaker Dave Lattin have taken over for Emeritus founder Brice Jones, now retired — and the wines have never been better. Hallberg, an estate vineyard, produced this perfumed, medium-full-bodied wine showing bright black cherry fruit, savory spice, smooth tannins, and palate-cleansing acidity.

EnRoute 2017 Amber Ridge Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($85) Lush in style, it brims with black raspberry, kirsch, and pomegranate personality, with lovely lavender aromas. It’s full-bodied and “big” for a Pinot, yet there is grace and freshness on the long finish.

Freeman Vineyard & Winery 2018 Gloria Estate Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($68) Gloria is Akiko and Ken Freeman’s estate vineyard, which they planted to Pinot Noir on land they purchased in 2005. They named it after Hurricane Gloria, which brought them together in 1985 (it’s a long story). The wine is gloriously balanced, with silky tannins wrapped around vibrant black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry fruit, with hints of pipe tobacco and cola.

Gracianna Winery 2018 Westside Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($76) Trini and Lisa Amador’s top-tier Pinot Noir is all about ripe red fruits: cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, and red plum. The texture is soft and caressing, thanks to velvety tannins and a judicious use of oak during aging.

Hirsch Vineyards 2017 Sonoma Coast Reserve Pinot Noir ($85) David Hirsch pioneered cold-climate viticulture in what is now the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. His daughter, Jasmine, now runs the business, and the Pinots remain remarkably Burgundian in style, with elegance, low alcohol levels, and the natural acidity required for long aging; this bottling is near-perfect for the style, with minerality, pretty cranberry and other red fruits, forest-floor spice, and seamless texture.

Kanzler Vineyards 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($60) The Kanzler family planted a vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills in 1996. For years, it was a source of grapes for Kosta Browne and other wineries, but the family now keeps most of the grapes to themselves. Alex Kanzler is the winemaker, and this Pinot Noir, from the estate and three other vineyards, is a beauty: fragrant and precise in its cranberry, pomegranate, and tart cherry purity.

Keller Estate 2018 El Coro Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir ($55) This is the Petaluma estate’s most balanced Pinot Noir to date, made by Julien Teichmann. Aromas of rose petals, violets, and Asian spice lead to a palate of precise black cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, and vanilla cola flavors. The acidity structure is refreshingly firm, yet the tannins are supple and the finish lingering. Wonderful complexity.

Kendall-Jackson Estate 2018 Cloud’s Landing Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir ($55) The Petaluma Gap’s cool temperatures and wind help produce fruit with crunchy natural acidity. That comes into play with this vibrant and polished wine, where the acidity plumps up the blackberry and blueberry fruit character. Asian spice, sarsaparilla, and a hint of dark chocolate are also present, upping the complexity level.

Kutch Wines 2018 Bohan Vineyard Graveyard Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($54) Jamie Kutch seeks out the chilliest vineyards on the Sonoma Coast for his Pinots and hit, ahem, pay dirt in the Bohan Vineyard, just three miles from the Pacific Ocean. Kutch picks less ripe than many other winemakers, seeking flavor at low alcohol levels, and nailed it with this supple, long-finishing wine (13.1%) with dark cherry, pomegranate, forest floor, mint, and gentle vanillin characteristics. Worth a search.

Lynmar Estate 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($50) Pete Soergel makes a dozen remarkable Pinot Noirs for Lynmar, and this one is the flagship, a multisite, multi-clone blend that screams Russian River Valley style winemaking. Vibrant dark cherry and blueberry fruit is accented by cola, baking spice, and a hint of vanillin oak. The wine’s crisp acidity makes for a long, mouthwatering finish.

Papapietro Perry 2017 Leras Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($62) It’s light on its feet in texture and weight, yet full of vibrant red and black cherry and plum fruit, with touches of blueberry and cola. Pretty and appealing, it closes with mouthwatering acidity. Beautifully made. Also worth checking out is the Papapietro Perry 2017 777 Clones Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($72), chosen the best red at the 2020 North Coast Wine Challenge.

Red Car 2018 Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir ($75) A Sonoma Coast cool-climate wine with a piney, forest-floor nose and crisp acidity. There’s plenty of dark-berry fruit flavors here, with scintillating acidity and structure. Not plump, not juicy in its youth, it’s a stark wine that pairs beautifully now with red meats, yet should mellow with time in the bottle.

Ron Rubin Winery 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25) VALUE This wine delivers tons of deliciousness, with juicy dark cherry and berry fruit, creamy vanillin oak, and background notes of woodsy earth and forest floor. It’s both savory and fruity, a neat trick to pull off at this price.

Siduri 2018 Barbieri Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($55) A near-perfect Russian River Pinot, it delivers crowd-pleasing, vibrant black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry fruit. It’s hugely aromatic — violet and rose petal—supple and succulent, with a generous, brisk finish.

Three Sticks 2018 Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($65) Three Sticks, under winemakers Bob Cabral and Ryan Pritchard, produces several outstanding single-vineyard Pinot Noirs; this blend is a composite of them. Elegance and complexity are its hallmarks, with forest floor, black tea, and spice accenting the vibrant raspberry, dark cherry, and Santa Rosa plum fruit. It’s medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and harmonious.

Tongue Dancer 2017 The Sly One Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast ($59) Suave and seamless from start to finish, it has inviting aromas and vivid flavors of wild raspberry, boysenberry, vanilla, and leather, thanks to a low-oak influence. Winemaker James MacPhail sourced the Van Der Kamp Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain and the Placida Vineyard in Green Valley of Russian River Valley for this beautiful, low-production wine.

Trombetta Family Wines 2016 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir ($65) Blackberry, blueberry, and pomegranate are the primary flavors, but the wine also has floral aromas, hints of spice, and fresh-turned earth, and a bright, high-acid finish. A velvety mid-palate smoothness adds to the texture, with forest- floor and black-tea elements held in savory contrast.

J Vineyards & Winery 2017 Sonoma Coast Edition No. 2 Pinot Noir ($95) This is Gallo-owned J Winery’s finest Pinot Noir ever, though it comes at a hefty price. Winemaker Nicole Hitchcock harvested grapes from the Annapolis Ridge, Canfield, and Two Rock vineyards, which meld into a greater sum of the parts. It has an enticing violet perfume, vivid red, black, and blue fruit, and a long list of complexing notes, among them sarsaparilla, blackberry seed, anise, and brown spice.

Bordeaux Varietal Reds

Aperture Cellars 2017 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($70) Very young and slightly raw now, this Cab from Jesse Katz has the stuff to improve for years. From its saturated purple color, to the deep black currant and dark plum fruit, to the accents of sandalwood, black olive, and bay leaf, it’s a rich, modern wine just beginning to show its personality.

Benziger Family Winery 2017 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($20) VALUE Approachable and affordable, this wine offers soft tannins, juicy black cherry and dark plum fruit, along with hints of licorice, black olive, and toast. The finish is plush, countered by a pleasant bitterness of high-quality dark chocolate.

deLorimier Winery 2016 Rockpile Vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($68) There is lots of energy to this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, which leans toward dark-red fruits over black. It’s compact yet juicy, with smooth tannins and lively acidity, and expertly oaked, with mere hints of vanilla, mocha, and spice.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2017 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30) VALUE As prices rise for exceptional wines, Dry Creek Vineyard holds the line across its range. This youthful Cabernet Sauvignon delivers great value for money, with full-bodied richness, bright blackberry and black currant fruit, and shadings of mocha, sage, clove, and pipe tobacco. It’s lively and ready to enjoy now and over the next decade.

Aldina Vineyards 2016 Fountaingrove District Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) Al and Dina López planted Cabernet on their hilly Fountaingrove District property in 1998. They lost their home in the 2017 Tubbs fire, yet most of the vineyard survived. Now their daughter, co-owner Monica López, and winemaker Belén Ceja oversee production of this wine, which is a refreshing contrast to the rich, viscous Cabs made elsewhere. Hints of cedar, tar, tarragon, tobacco leaf, and green herbs accent the crisp, food-friendly palate of black cherry, tart red cherry, and cranberry. Toast and vanilla lurk in the background of this European- styled wine.

Goldschmidt Vineyard 2016 Yoeman Vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) Density and richness are the major attributes of this wine — “power and glory” is what winemaker Nick Goldschmidt says the Yoeman Vineyard gives to this Cab. It is indeed a mouthful of red and black fruit, but not overripe and with all the secondary characteristics one expects in fine Cabernet Sauvignon: cedar, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and sandalwood. It’s intense and complex.

Hamel Family Wines 2017 Sonoma Valley Isthmus ($85) From its saturated purple color to its viscous texture, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (71%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (12%), and Petit Verdot (2%) reminds me of opulent Napa Valley Bordeaux-style reds, though with the savory bits left in. Notes of cigar box, cedar, and green peppercorn add layers to the plump black cherry and blackberry fruit; the firm tannins suggest cellaring it for a few years, though fans of concentrated young wines will be rewarded for their impatience.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($58) Maggie Kruse was promoted to winemaker when Rob Davis retired in 2019 after 43 years as winemaker, a remarkable run. Kruse and Davis worked together on this Cab, and it continues the winery’s history of bottling elegant, restrained wines that don’t scream ripe fruit but rather seamless balance. Supple and polished, it likely will blossom with five years — or 15 — in the bottle.

Robert Young Estate Winery 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($56) All five Bordeaux red grapes are here, with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc joining Cabernet Sauvignon in this nicely balanced wine. There are ripe tannins and succulent, dark-fruit juiciness at its core, accented by hints of cigar box, semisweet chocolate, and red currant.

The post Your Guide to The Best Wines and Wineries in Sonoma, 2020 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Experiencing the wine grape harvest is a must-do for visitors to Sonoma County and an annual ritual for locals.

During harvest, intoxicating aromas of fermenting grapes welcome winery visitors; even pomace — the skins, seeds and stems leftover from fermentation — has its own inviting scent. Workers bustle up and down vineyard rows, cutting clusters from vines with jaw-dropping speed, reminding us that winemaking, at its heart, is agriculture and hard work. Trucks hauling bins of just-picked grapes delay impatient drivers along back roads. But they also suggest that the production of great wine takes time — so slow down, enjoy the scenery and the wafting fragrance of fermenting fruit.

These local wineries offer a taste of the harvest season. In all cases, appointments are required.

Benziger Family Winery

This iconic winery in Glen Ellen continues to excel at educating guests on how grapes are grown biodynamically and organically on its Sonoma Mountain estate. A seated tasting ($30 per person) is on the menu, with five wines poured on the patio for groups of up to six, Thursday through Monday.

The best way to view the estate at harvest time and experience its green-growing efforts, is the Tribute Estate Tour ($60 per person). It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the vineyards are farmed using eco-responsible practices, with estate wines served along the way. Also available Thursday through Monday, for small groups only.

883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 888-490-2739, benziger.com

Kamen Estate Wines

Screenwriter Robert Kamen (“The Karate Kid,” “Transporter”) has a tasting room in downtown Sonoma; his winery is on the outskirts of town. For a harvest-time vibe while tasting his ripe, rich, top-tier sauvignon blancs, Bordeaux-style reds and syrahs, take a drive to his Moon Mountain District vineyard. There, at an altitude of approximately 1,200 feet and with sweeping views of Sonoma Valley and San Francisco Bay, guests sample four wines, served with artisan cheeses, after a tour of the certified organic vineyard. It’s a calming, quiet site, though the hubbub of harvest in the valley below can be heard and seen. The address and directions are provided at the time reservations are made. $80 per person.

707-938-7292, kamenwines.com

Lynmar Estate

The Sebastopol winery has a long history of pairing its chardonnays, pinot noirs and rosés with lunches prepared by its estate chefs, currently David Frakes. The open-air tasting room and patio are surrounded by an amphitheater of grapevines, including Lynmar’s signature Quail Hill Vineyard, as well as a bountiful culinary garden.

With fall afoot, Frakes taps the garden for ingredients for the Lynmar on Your Own Lunch Pairing, a premade meal for two that includes a half bottle each of chardonnay and pinot noir ($225 for two people). It’s offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with a maximum group size of six.

Depending on the day of a visit, guests might see grapes being harvested and fruit from other vineyards being delivered, smell the fermentations and see grape leaves, once a vibrant green, turning to autumnal orange and brown.

3909 Frei Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-3374, x102, lynmarestate.com

McEvoy Ranch

Harvest time isn’t limited to grapes. At McEvoy Ranch in southern Petaluma, fruit picked for vino is grown alongside olive trees used to make McEvoy’s world-class olive oils. This sprawling ranch blends a Tuscan ambiance from the olive oil side with a Sonoma winegrowing flair, best seen from a public walkabout tour ($55) through vineyards and orchards and commencing with a tasting of olive oils.

The Patio Lunch ($35-$45) includes a choice of one of three lavosh flatbread wraps and a sampler flight of wines, which might include rosé, pinot noir, syrah and cabernet sauvignon. Add to the lunch a tasting of McEvoy’s several estate-grown olive oils ($25), extra virgin and made from certified organically grown trees, and a loaf of bread for dunking. Visitors might catch a glimpse of grape harvest activity; the olive harvest typically begins in November.

5935 Red Hill Road, Petaluma, 866-617-6779, mcevoyranch.com

The post 4 Sonoma Wineries for an Authentic Harvest Experience appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just any day of the year, keeping the spark alive in Wine Country is easy. Rolling hills, vineyard views and coastal scenery; world-class wine, gourmet food and luxe hotels — you’ll find more romantic elements here than in your favorite fairytale.

If you’re planning a special date or romantic getaway, we’ve got you covered with the best Sonoma County wineries to visit. While every local winery has its own charm, a few offer something a little extra when it comes to the ambiance.

Click through the above gallery for all the lovey-dovey details. 

The post The Most Romantic Wineries in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to visit more tasting rooms in 2020? Here’s a selection throughout the county to give you inspiration. The mid-winter months — typically minus crowds — are ideal for finding a new favorite place to sip and swirl.

Featured Winery — Amista Vineyards

New Year’s Eve celebrations may be over, but that’s no excuse to stop enjoying bubbly. Amista produces several types of sparklers, including the popular Blanc de Blanc, made from Chardonnay grapes from the estate vineyard, and a Syrah sparkler. Amista is also known for its still Rhône wines, such as Grenache and Syrah, along with Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Owners Mike and Vicky Farrow made their first Syrah in 2002. By 2005, the Amista label was born. (Amista roughly translates to “making friends.”) The dog-friendly tasting room opened in 2007, and the following year the Farrows introduced their first sparkler.

Three tastings are offered: the “Classic Flight” is $20; the “Signature Flight” consists of two sparklers and two estate-grown still wines for $25 (both available without reservations). Reserve ahead for a wine and food pairing ($50 for five wines), which might include such bites as a strawberry topped with fresh chèvre and lemon curd, eggplant caponata, and marinated mushroom caps.

Weather permitting, a free vineyard adventure walk is offered daily, or reserve the estate vineyard tour and tasting, a 90-minute excursion through vineyards and the fish habitat restoration project along Dry Creek. The $45 tour concludes with a flight of single-vineyard wines.

On Valentine’s Day weekend, Amista will be serving sparkling wine with chocolate-dipped strawberries. And Local’s Day, when food purveyors pair their goodies with Amista wines, resumes on February 21.

3320 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-431-9200, amistavineyards.com. Open daily 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The post Best Sonoma Wineries to Visit Right Now appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

During the holiday season, seeking out the delightful decorations at wineries can be part of the fun. Introducing family and friends to your favorite tasting rooms is also a time-honored tradition in Sonoma County. Click through the gallery for a few favorite wine destinations for holiday cheer and unique gift-giving opportunities.

Featured Winery — Anaba Wines

The winds that sweep over the Carneros region are called anabatic winds, so the Sweazey family chose Anaba as the name for its winery when it was founded here in 2006.

John Thomas Sweazey is proprietor, running the winery together with his son, John Michael Sweazey. Winemakers Ross Cobb and Katy Wilson coax rich flavors from their grapes, most notably Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, from locations that include the fog-kissed slopes of Wildcat Mountain Vineyard in the Carneros. Anaba is known for its Rhône varietals such as Viognier and Grenache and also produces white and red blends, Syrah, and a port.

Fun fact: In 2009, Anaba was the first Northern California winery to install a wind turbine for electricity. The single turbine generates enough power to run most operations throughout the winery property, including an electric car-charging station. For many years, tastings at Anaba took place in the 120-year-old Sweazey farmhouse.

Now, the family has unveiled the inviting new Vintners House, an elegant structure that offers views over estate vineyards and distant hills. The farmhouse remains part of Anaba’s hospitality center, but tastings now take place in the new facility.

The “Vintners House” seated tasting is a flight of five wines ($25), offered inside or outside in the garden courtyard, weather permitting. The premier tasting is a six-wine seated flight of single-vineyard wines, along with food bites ($35, reservations recommended). Two “Grand Cru” tastings are also offered, with flights of all-white or all-red, small-lot wines paired with light snacks ($55 to $65, reservations required).

60 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707-996-4188, anabawines.com. Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The post Best Sonoma Wineries to Visit This Holiday Season appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

SPARKLING

Flaunt Wine Co. NV Brut Sonoma County Sparkling Wine $48 This is Dianna Novy Lee’s personal project, following the sale of the Siduri Wines brand she founded with her husband, Adam Lee (now owned by Jackson Family Wines). Flaunt, an elegant blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, offers crisp green apple and citrus flavors enhanced by hints of brioche, almond skin, and toast.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards NV Carneros Blanc de Noirs $22 This moderately rich yet also racy wine scored 99 points and was voted best of class at the 2019 North Coast Wine Challenge (NCWC). It’s predominantly Pinot Noir with a splash of Chardonnay, and while its delicate pink color suggests a delicate wine, under that lacy veil lurks vibrant red berry, cherry, and strawberry aromas and flavors, and a gentle creaminess in the mid-palate. The finish is pert and persistent, the value excellent.

Inman Family Wines 2016 OGV Estate Russian River Valley Brut Rosé $68 Kathleen and Simon Inman’s OGV vineyard at the intersection of Piner and Olivet roads is the sole source for this fine, focused, 100% Pinot Noir sparkler. Delicate yeastiness and a hint of vanilla add interest to the crisp raspberry, citrus, and clementine personality.

Iron Horse Vineyards 2014 Green Valley of Russian River Valley Classic Vintage Brut $45 Vintage after vintage, Iron Horse’s flagship wine shines at an attractive price for refined fizz. The aroma is of fresh-baked bread, green apple, and citrus. The palate is compact and dry, with firm structure, tiny bubbles, and hints of Meyer lemon and Asian pear. It’s elegance in a glass, as Champagne-like as California sparkling wine can be, yet with sunny Sonoma fruit.

Kokomo Winery 2014 Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Blanc de Blancs $58 Grower and winery partner Randy Peters’ Chardonnay grapes from the cool Sonoma coast are the foundation of this wine. It spent some time in neutral oak barrels as a still wine and was fermented and aged on the spent yeast cells for two years. As a result, notes of brioche and hazelnut complement the Meyer lemon and white peach fruit, embraced by nervy acidity.

Longboard Vineyards NV Russian River Valley Brut Rosé $50 Fizz runs through the veins of Longboard owner and winemaker Oded Shakked. A former sparkling winemaker for J. Vineyards & Winery, he sells three bubblies at his Healdsburg cellar. This one is gorgeous in its strawberry color and fresh-fruit flavors. Fermentation of the grapes in neutral oak barrels help soften the crunchy natural acidity, and aging on the yeast cells add complexity and toasty mouthfeel.

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards 2014 Russian River Valley Winemaker’s Release Grand Cuvée $43 Vine Hill Ranch Chardonnay (60%) and Owsley Vineyard Pinot Noir meld beautifully in this dry, four-year-aged sparkler with Champagne structure and sunny green apple and citrus flavor. Accents of brioche, yeast, and macadamia nut add complexity to Sonoma-Cutrer’s first sparkling wine.

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Aperture Cellars 2018 Dry Stack Vineyard Bennett Valley Barrel-Fermented Sauvignon Blanc $40 On Old Redwood Highway south of Healdsburg, Jesse Katz is developing a winery and visitor center on land he purchased from the Ponzo family in 2016. Zinfandel was planted there in 1912, and it remains today alongside new plantings of Bordeaux red grapes. Yet when it comes to white Bordeaux — Sauvignon Blanc blended with Semillon — Katz looks to the cooler Bennett Valley east of Santa Rosa. This full-flavored, barrel-fermented wine delivers waves of green-flesh melon, white peach, and citrus, finishing with spice and tension.

Belden Barns 2018 Sonoma Mountain Estate Sauvignon Blanc $28 At once bold and crisp, this unfiltered wine from Nate and Lauren Belden is luscious and exotic, with white peach, ruby grapefruit, pineapple, and lemon-zest character. It finishes with lingering flavors and mouthwatering acidity.

Davis Bynum 2018 Virginia’s Block Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc $25 Gentle fresh-herb and freshgrass notes add interest to the succulent kiwi fruit, lime, and tropical flavors. Winemaker Greg Morthole aged approximately 60% of the wine in neutral oak and acacia barrels, which enhanced the mouthfeel without interfering with the wine’s vibrancy.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc $20 Sauvignon Musque and Sauvignon Gris join traditional Sauvignon Blanc grapes in this full-flavored wine with lemon- lime, tropical fruit, nectarine, and honeydew-melon aromas and flavors. A small portion of the wine was aged in chestnut, acacia, and French oak barrels, slightly softening the natural acidity of the grapes while adding a layer of complexity.

Geyser Peak Winery 2018 Winemaker Selection Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24 Styled very much like a Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, this wine has energetic acidity and vibrant grapefruit, passion fruit, fresh-cut grass, and lime aromas and flavors. A bit of Gewürztraminer adds floral and spice notes. Best of show white-wine winner at NCWC.

MacLeod Family Vineyards 2018 Indian Springs Ranch Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24 The MacLeod family’s Kenwood ranch delivers a crisp, classy Sauvignon Blanc year after year. The 2018 bottling is loaded with lemon, lime, white peach, and honeydew melon goodness, finishing long and juicy.

Saini Vineyards 2018 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc $23 Inviting aromas of jasmine, lemon verbena, and fresh-cut grass lead to a crisp palate of lemon-lime, grapefruit, and honeydew melon. It’s the sort of balanced, vibrant wine that works beautifully as a sipper and as a mate for shellfish, grilled fish, and roast chicken.

CHARDONNAY

Ferrari-Carano 2017 Sonoma County Chardonnay $23 Bargain alert. This Dry Creek Valley winery does great things with its reserve, site-specific, and mountain-grown wines, yet this county-appellation Chardonnay stands out as a wonder for its price (typically discounted at chain stores). A full-bodied yet elegant wine, it charms with aromas and flavors of citrus, pear, white peach, apple, graham cracker, and vanilla.

Flanagan Wines 2016 Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay $68 This is a textural wonder, made from grapes grown in Kent Ritchie’s vineyard, where plantings date to the early 1970s. The wine is elegant, multilayered, and mouth-filling in a beautifully subtle way, with green apple and Asian pear aromas and flavors enhanced by subtle oak spice. The crisp finish goes on and on.

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery 2016 Russian River Valley Olivet Lane Vineyard Chardonnay $45 The Pellegrini family planted this vineyard in 1976 on a benchland in the Santa Rosa Plain, and the grapes have been highly prized ever since. Gary Farrell winemaker Theresa Heredia’s version of Olivet Lane Chardonnay is crisp and complex, with nuances of apple, tangerine, curd, and brioche. It’s medium- full-bodied and gently oaked, and has a long, satisfying finish.

Hartford Family Wines 2016 Three Jacks Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Chardonnay $65 Here is a Chardonnay that has both power and purity. It’s full-bodied and rich, with peach, Meyer lemon, guava, and fresh-baked bread character, and a thread of minerality running from the aroma through the finish.

LaRue Wines 2017 Charles Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $60 Katy Wilson is a noted winemaking consultant and taps some of her favorite vineyards for her own brand, named for her great-grandmother, Veona LaRue Newell. From the Heintz Vineyard, located east of Occidental, Wilson achieved a fruit-filled, flavorful wine at just 12.5% alcohol. Striking minerality and acidity plump the Meyer lemon and green apple flavors.

MacRostie 2017 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $25 Multiple vineyards, including Sangiacomo, Dutton Ranch, and Steve MacRostie’s own Wildcat Mountain Vineyard, combine in an exceptional wine for the price and vineyard pedigree. A mélange of lemon meringue pie, pineapple, blood orange, and baked apple is supported by caramel and spice notes from oak aging.

Ramey Wine Cellars 2016 Westside Farms Estate Russian River Valley Chardonnay $65 Chardonnay master David Ramey and his wife, Carla, own just one vineyard and this is it: Westside Farms on Healdsburg’s Westside Road. This wine offers generous aromas and flavors of pear, Fuji apple, and citrus, plus a touch of flint. Oak fermentation and aging add spice and mouth-filling texture to this complex wine.

Sangiacomo Family Wines 2017 Home Ranch Carneros Chardonnay $65 The Sangiacomo family has farmed in Sonoma for more than 50 years, custom-grooming their vineyards for winery clients. Beginning in 2016, the Sangiacomos began producing their own wines — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon — with James MacPhail as their winemaker. This wine is representative of their style: vibrant citrus and green apple character, judicious use of oak as a seasoning to build texture, and palate-cleansing acidity.

Sojourn 2017 Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $48 This is a rich, juicy wine, powerful yet pure, with poached pear, pineapple, white peach, and citrus aromas and flavors. Fruit from Durell, an iconic Sonoma vineyard, is sold to several producers. At Sojourn, those grapes become a crowd-pleasing wine with toasty oak on the lingering finish.

Thirty-Seven Wines 2016 Sonoma Coast Reserve Chardonnay $36 This wine scored a whopping 98 points and was voted best of class at NCWC. There is some toasty oak on the aroma and finish, which brackets the scintillating lemon curd, green melon, and Granny Smith fruit. Brisk more than luscious, it’s a mouthwatering rendition of coastal Chardonnay.

Three Sticks 2017 Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $55 Three Sticks proprietor Bill Price purchased Durell Vineyard 20 years ago and takes grapes from the oldest blocks in the site, in the hills above Sonoma Valley, for his Chardonnay. Full-bodied and remarkably complex, it delivers a mouthful of green apple, Asian pear, white peach, and citrus flavors, finishing with a hint of oak and juicy acidity.

Trombetta Family Wines 2017 Gap’s Crown Petaluma Gap Chardonnay $60 Winemaker Erica Stancliff and her parents, Rickey and Roger Stancliff, are among the new rock stars in Sonoma winemaking — as evidenced by this exceptional Chardonnay, which combines vibrant lemon curd and tropical fruit with light-handed oak influence and sturdy structure. Delicious now, it’s also worthy of cellaring.

OTHER WHITES

Barber Cellars 2018 Rougissant Keller Estate Petaluma Gap Pinot Gris $26 Alsatian in style, this wine is invitingly aromatic, with acacia blossom, lemon, and mandarinorange scents. The palate is dry, nog sweet, with crisp pear and white peach flavors, and a hint of honey on the racy finish.

Cline Cellars 2018 Sonoma Coast Estate Pinot Gris $15 Spicy and fruity, this is a fun quaffer, particularly for its price. Light amber in color (typical of the varietal) and florally aromatic, it gushes with clementine, grapefruit, and green apple flavors, and finishes with a hint of honey and brisk acidity.

Comstock Wines 2017 Russian River Valley Viognier $42 Winemaker Chris Russi has a deft hand with Viognier, and it shows in this pretty wine with inviting honeysuckle aromas and juicy pear and white-peach flavors — and without the alcohol heat of some Viogniers. It’s both rich and refreshing, with wonderful balance and a lingering finish.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2018 Estate Carneros Pinot Blanc $25 Among the bold, generously flavored white wines in the sweepstakes round at NCWC, this Alsatian varietal stood out for its delicate balance, medium-light body, and spiced apple, Asian pear, and citrus zest palate. It’s incredibly crisp, refreshing, and a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.

J. Rickards Winery 2018 Salem Ranch Dry Creek Valley Viognier $28 This NCWC best-of-class winner was partially fermented in neutral oak, adding texture and body, without any toastiness to mask the honeysuckle and white-blossom aromas. Bright pear, apple, and white peach are the palate stars, with citrus notes on the clean finish.

Gundlach Bundschu 2018 Sonoma Valley Gewürztraminer $27 This exotic wine is a perennial on the Top 100 list, and one of the finest Gewürztraminers made in California. From the rose petal, ginger, and lychee aromas to the juicy mouthful of pear, apple, and citrus flavors, it has a sense of sweetness from the ripe fruit, yet is remarkably dry and crisp.

Leo Steen 2018 Saini Farms Dry Creek Valley Chenin Blanc $18 It took a Danish native, Leo Steen Hansen, to find one of the few plantings of premium Chenin Blanc in Northern California and bring it to glory in the bottle. The white flower and white pepper aromas and sunny peach, pear, and citrus flavors come from vines planted 40 years ago. The finish offers mouthwatering acidity and a hint of minerality.

Peterson Winery 2017 Bradford Mountain Estate Dry Creek Valley 3V White Wine Blend $28 The three Vs — Vermentino, Vernaccia, and Verdelho – combine in this lip-smacking wine. Crunchy apple, pear, and citrus dominate the palate, with background notes of pineapple, guava, and green apple. Proprietor Fred Peterson is known largely for his red wines, yet this brilliant white is a winner.

Ram’s Gate Winery 2018 Carneros Estate Pinot Blanc $38 Joe Nielsen, formerly of Donelan Family Wines, joined Ram’s Gate in summer 2018 as director of winemaking. Right out of the gate, he released this crisp, floral, and textured white wine. Aged in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak, it has laser-like acidity supporting the complex lemon, lime, peach, and grapefruit palate.

Thirty-Seven Wines 2017 Sonoma Coast Albarino $22 Al and Lisa Brayton own a vineyard on Highway 37. Winemaker Shane Finley produced this tangy, slightly mineral, medium-bodied wine that brims with peach, apricot, and cantaloupe flavor. Crackling acidity refreshes after each sip. A true crowd-pleaser.

ROSÉ

Balletto 2018 Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir $20 Winemaker Anthony Beckman says rosé should be fun to drink, and this one is. With its eye-catching salmon color, aromas and flavors of just-picked strawberry and watermelon, and mouth-cleansing acidity, what’s not to like? Simply delicious.

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2018 Alexander Valley Dry Rosé of Sangiovese $16 AVV was well ahead of the rosé surge, first making this wine in 2006 from the Italian variety Sangiovese. Affable and very affordable, it’s lush in watermelon, raspberry, and nectarine fruit, with a snappy, spicy finish.

Dutton-Goldfield 2018 Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir $30 Whole clusters of Pinot Noir were crushed by foot to gently extract the juice and retain vivid rose petal and red-fruit aromas. After fermentation, the resulting wine has a tangy quality, with pure red raspberry, Queen Anne cherry, and wild strawberry personality.

Imagery Estate Winery 2018 Serres Ranch Sonoma Valley Aleatico Rosé $27 Here’s something different in pink wine: A rose-petal-scented, spicy, red-cherry-inflected dry rosé made from the Italian red grape Aleatico. Winemaker Jamie Benziger has taken the winemaking reins from her father, Joe, and here she’s replicated a classic central-Italy Aleatico wine.

Inman Family Wines 2018 Russian River Valley Endless Crush Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard Rosé $38 One of Kathleen Inman’s three still Pinot Noir rosés from 2018, this one offers juicy watermelon, cherry aromas, and a flavorful yet elegant palate of crisp berry, cherry, red melon, and white-peach flavors. There is a minerally edge to this mouthwatering, classy wine.

J. Rickards Winery 2018 Alexander Valley Ava Rae Rosé of Grenache $26 This delicate-pink wine won the best of show rosé award (98 points) at NCWC. Some rosés try too hard to be fruity and rich, but this one more closely resembles the wines of Provence: dry and crisp. Named for winemaker Blaine Brazil’s daughter, it offers notes of watermelon, dried cherry, and wild strawberry, and an energetic finish.

Rodney Strong Vineyards 2018 Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir $25 Pretty, tangy, and tasty. That’s shorthand for this dry blush wine with watermelon, strawberry, and blood orange personality. It is juicy and crisp, ideal with lighter-bodied dishes — and with the mashup of a Thanksgiving feast.

The Grenachista 2018 Sonoma Valley Rosé of Grenache Noir $24 Peter Mathis’ vineyard in Sonoma Valley contributed the grapes to this wine, which has zippy acidity, bright red fruit, and an intriguing herbs-de-Provence edge. Winemaker Casey Graybehl goes by the name the Grenachista and produces several different bottlings.

Three Sticks Wines 2018 Sonoma Coast Casteñada Limited Release Rosé $40 Medium-bodied and the color of a just-sliced watermelon, this 14% alcohol, bold Rhône-style blend of Syrah, Grenache, and other grapes delivers bright strawberry, raspberry, blood orange, and cherry liqueur flavors, and finishes tangy and refreshing.

PINOT NOIR

Anthill Farms Winery 2016 Harmony Lane Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $50 Mates David Low, Anthony Filiberti, and Web Marquez are behind this small-production brand, focused on single-vineyard bottlings. They sourced the 3-acre Harmony Lane Vineyard, between Occidental and Graton, for this wine, which is floral in aroma and crisp on the palate. Vibrant red and black cherry, gentle oak spice, and suave tannins make for a gorgeous Pinot.

Balletto Vineyards 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $30 Bright and lively, this wine has aromas and flavors of violets, Asian spice, red cherry, raspberry, and cola. Generously flavored yet fresh — and at just 13.9% alcohol — it’s a medium-bodied, solid expression of Russian River Valley Pinot, at an easy-to-swallow price in a super-competitive field.

Benovia Winery 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $45 This producer’s Cohn Vineyard, La Pommeraie, and Tilton Hill Pinot Noirs are exceptional. And pricey ($75). And difficult to acquire, if you’re not a wine club member. For a taste of Benovia at a lower price and with a greater chance for finding it, check out this Russian River Valley blend. It delivers concentrated blackberry and red plum flavors, spice, crisp acidity, and a mouthful of pleasure.

Cartograph Wines 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $48 Alan Baker and Serena Lourie are the couple behind Cartograph, a passion project they started after careers in other fields. They own one Russian River Valley vineyard and purchase from others, including sites in Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Their Russian River Valley bottling is the star of the vintage, sporting lovely cherry and raspberry fruit, vivid Asian spice and savory herbs and cola. Textbook RRV Pinot Noir.

DeLoach Vineyards 2016 Russian River Valley OFS Pinot Noir $40 Here’s a wine that delivers everything a lover of Sonoma Pinot Noir could want: Mouth-filling cherry, raspberry, and black currant fruit, Asian spice, supple tannins, and a vibrantly clean finish.

Dutton-Goldfield 2016 Emerald Ridge Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $68 This seductive and remarkably fresh-tasting wine (13.5% alcohol) has supple tannins caressing the buoyant boysenberry, dark cherry, black raspberry, and baking-spice flavors. It’s a yin-yang contrast of savory aromas, juicy fruit flavors, and brisk acidity — a triumphant example of Sonoma County Pinot.

Emeritus Vineyards 2016 Russian River Valley Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir $44 Emeritus founder Brice Cutrer Jones (he also started Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards) brought in his daughter, Mari Jones, as partner and COO and hired winemaker Dave Lattin, formerly of Kuleto Estate. The pairing is simpatico and the wines have never been better. Hallberg, an estate vineyard, produced this perfumed, medium-full-bodied wine showing bright black cherry fruit, savory spice, smooth tannins, and palate- cleansing acidity.

Fulcrum Wines 2017 Carneros Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir $63 David Rossi commutes from New York to Sonoma multiple times a year to fulfill his desire to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. No absentee owner, Rossi makes the wines himself in Sonoma and has a tasting room downtown. This wine shows the dark-fruit side of Pinot (boysenberry and black cherry). It’s lush and spicy, with a long, rewarding finish.

Jacklyn Renee Wines 2016 Bacigalupi Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $54 Here is a winemaker to watch: Jackie van Sant Downes, a Texas transplant whose day job is assistant winemaker at Comstock Wines in Healdsburg. In her spare time, she produces Pinot and Chardonnay for her own label, and this effort is sleek and polished, with vibrant cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, and cola character.

J. Bucher Wines 2017 Russian River Valley Bucher Vineyard Pommard Clone Pinot Noir $55 Voluptuous and mouth-filling, this bold wine will win over a legion of fans for its bright, juicy red fruit and rewarding texture. Beyond its instant approachability, it’s a serious wine with the tannic and acid structure to age beautifully for another five years or more.

J. Cage Cellars 2017 Petaluma Gap El Coro Vineyard Pinot Noir $49 Roger and Donna Beery and their kids left Texas and Colorado behind to make wine in Healdsburg. Pinot Noir was their major attraction to Sonoma; without vineyards of their own, they purchased grapes and hit the jackpot with Pinot from Keller Estate. This wine has wonderful structure, juicy ripe cherry/berry fruit, low-profile oak, and snappy spice. Delicious.

Keller Estate Winery 2016 Petaluma Gap El Coro Vineyard Pinot Noir $55 El Coro (the chorus) is Keller Estate’s Pinot Noir vineyard, located east of Petaluma and in the recently established Petaluma Gap AVA. The 2016 is vivacious and aromatic, with forest floor and dried herbs accenting the nicely ripened red and black fruit. Supple and crisp at the same time.

Papapietro Perry Winery 2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $55 This Healdsburg winery produces several fine Pinot Noirs, including vineyard-designates, yet this multisite blend from the 2016 vintage is scintillating and succulent. Pomegranate and Bing cherry aromas and flavors stand out, as well as the keen balance of fruit, tannin, oak-derived texture, and lingering finish. It should please any Pinot crowd.

Tongue Dancer Wines 2017 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $39 After selling his eponymous wine brand to Hess Collection in 2011, James MacPhail launched Tongue Dancer in 2013 with his wife, Kerry, at their Healdsburg winery. The Placido, Putnam, and van der Kamp vineyards are the sources for this charming wine with luscious red and black cherry flavors, hints of cola and toast, silky tannins, and a super-fresh finish.

RHÔNE- STYLE REDS

Anaba Wines 2016 Bismark Vineyard Moon Mountain District Syrah $48 There is a Pinot Noir-like silkiness to the texture of this wine, yet it’s certainly Syrah in aroma and flavor. It’s loaded with classic blackberry, blueberry, herbes de Provence, white pepper, and roasted-meat notes.

Benovia 2016 Sonoma Mountain Grenache $42 Widely known as a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer, Benovia also flirts with Grenache and Zinfandel. Winemaker/partner Mike Sullivan grew up on Sonoma Mountain, and this wine comes from his family’s Four Brothers Vineyard there. It shows the polished side of Grenache, yet is layered and complex, with savory herbs and saddle leather notes accenting the bright red fruit.

Enkidu Wine 2017 Sonoma County E Cuvee JM $20 A best of class winner at NCWC, this wine delivers tremendous value. The “E” represents everyday- drinking wines at affordable prices, and this Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre blend fits the bill beautifully. Not nearly as powerful and rich as other wines on this list, it provides a refreshing counterpoint, with floral aromas and bright blueberry and dark cherry flavors.

Eric Kent Wine Cellars 2016 Las Madres Vineyard Carneros Syrah $44 Owners Kent Humphrey and Colleen Teitgen produce small lots of cool-climate-grown wines. This one has savory herbs and pepper sprinkled over the juicy blackberry and dark cherry fruit. It’s deep, concentrated, and built for aging in the cellar.

Flanagan Wines 2016 Bennett Valley Syrah $75 Fasten your seatbelts for this powerful, 15.5% alcohol wine that’s a mouthful of bold dark fruit. Typical of Rhône Valley Syrahs, it has accents of bacon fat, pepper, lavender, and dried herbs, and the acidity keeps it fresh-tasting.

Ledson Winery & Vineyards 2016 Sonoma Valley Estate Mes Trois Amours $48 Three of winery owner Steve Ledson’s vinous “loves” — Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre —comprise this southern Rhône-style blend. Luxurious mouthfeel, ripe dark cherry, plum flavors, and a spicy, peppery finish make it a complex and complete treat.

Leo Steen Wines 2017 Provisor Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Grenache $36 Leo Steen Hansen loves Grenache as much as he does Chenin Blanc. His devotion to the Rhône Valley red shows in this medium-fullbodied wine with juicy cherry and strawberry flavors and a vibrancy that can get lost in Grenache’s tendency to get overripe in the vineyard. It’s a crisp, juicy wine seasoned with white pepper and dried flowers.

Ridge Vineyards 2016 Lytton Estate Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah $40 Ridge’s Geyserville winery outpost is best known for Zinfandels, many of which have a splash of Petite Sirah in them. This 100 percent varietal wine deserves stand-alone status, for its savory character, well-mannered plum, blackberry, and blueberry fruit, and supple texture not often found in wines made from the notso- petite grape.

Rockpile Vineyards 2016 Buffalo Hollow Rockpile Petite Sirah $60 Named for a wood-carved buffalo that overlooks the vineyard, this best of class winner at NCWC is a big, brawny wine with voluptuously ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit and sturdy, earthy tannins. Hints of espresso and black pepper spice up the midpalate and finish.

MERLOT

Gundlach Bundschu 2015 Sonoma Valley Merlot $35 One of the pioneers of Sonoma Valley Merlot, GunBun continues its mastery of the grape with this understated wine. Medium- bodied and balanced, it has a dark-cherry base accented by licorice and raspberry liqueur. Supple but not soft tannins provide structure.

Kokomo Winery 2016 Pauline’s Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Merlot $38 The vineyard, across Dry Creek Road from the Kokomo winery, is farmed by Randy Peters. He was born on the property and named it after his late mother, Pauline. The wine is lush, spicy, and loaded with ripe plum and black cherry fruit. There’s enough tannic structure to keep it lively for five years or more.

La Storia by Trentadue 2016 Block 500 Alexander Valley Merlot $34 Merlot comprises 94% of this wine; the remainder is Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and unusually, Sangiovese and Syrah. No matter the mix, it’s a decadent wine with a dark-chocolate complement to juicy plum and black cherry fruit and suave tannins. A best of class selection at NCWC.

Medlock Ames 2015 Heritage Alexander Valley Merlot $60 Ames Morison, winemaker/partner at this Chalk Hill-area winery, produces wonderful Merlots every vintage. For the 2015, he blended in 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, which added tannic structure and body to Merlot’s juicy-plum profile. Delicious now, it also has the bones to improve with cellaring.

St. Francis Vineyards & Winery 2016 Sonoma Valley Reserve Merlot $40 Winery founder Joe Martin was one of the first to plant Merlot in Sonoma Valley. He died in 2015 , yet the legacy of making Merlot lives. Winemaker Chris Louton blended Malbec with Merlot in this generous wine, which delivers rich dark-fruit and espresso character, balanced by brisk acidity.

Sutro Wine Co. 2016 Warnecke Ranch Alexander Valley Merlot $35 Alice and Eliot Sutro produce wines from her family’s Warnecke Ranch, and this Merlot is a marvel in moderation and pleasure. Bright acidity supports the plump red plum and cherry fruit, the tannins are polished, and the finish is refreshingly vibrant. Merlot haters, take note: Try this wine.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

N Arbor Bench Vineyards 2016 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $48 Janet Hart has grown grapes in her Dry Creek Valley vineyard for more than three decades, and now produces her own wines from there. This full-bodied, dark-fruited Cab, which scored 96 points at NCWC, is rich yet refined, with silky tannins and a slight herbal shading for added interest.

Buena Vista Winery 2016 Sonoma County Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $75 Director of Winemaking Brian Maloney selected grapes grown throughout the county for this top-flight wine. It’s big-bodied and sumptuous, packed with black currant and plum fruit, dark chocolate, and dried-herb notes, and a refreshing finish.

Cannonball 2016 ELEVEN Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon $40 Healdsburg-based Cannonball’s flagship is a California-appellation Cabernet Sauvignon that has broad distribution and sells for around $15. Winemaker Ondine Chattan blended wine lots from the best barrels for this ultra-premium Cab, which offers rich dark cherry fruit and hints of chocolate, forest floor, and cedar. It’s a big-league effort.

Flambeaux Wine 2015 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $60 The Murray family, New Orleans natives, found a new home in Dry Creek Valley and named their wine brand after the Flambeaux torch bearers of Mardi Gras. Their Cabernet is firmly structured yet fleshy, with vibrant red cherry and boysenberry fruit inflected with dried herbs and cedar. Classic and classy, and with ideal ripeness and balance.

Garden Creek Vineyards 2012 Alexander Valley Tesserae $100 Owner/winemakers Karin and Justin Warnelius-Miller give their Cabernets three to four years more barrel and bottle aging than most California producers, believing the wines need time to settle and show their best stuff. This current-vintage 2012 is elegant and refined, Cabernet Sauvignondominant and blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Ready to drink now, it should remain fresh-tasting for another decade or so.

Legacy 2013 Alexander Valley Red Wine $100 From Jackson Family Wines, this Jess Jackson-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot was grown on the company’s Jimtown and Alexander Mountain vineyards, at elevations of up to 2,400 feet. Although it’s not labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon, it could be, with that variety comprising 87% of the blend. Layered and so seamless that no one characteristic sticks out from the others, its solid tannin and acid structure suggest cellar longevity.

Rodney Strong Vineyards 2015 Sonoma County Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $45 There’s a lot of wine here for the price, and it’s arguably the winery’s finest Reserve Cabernet ever. A relatively new addition to the blend is fruit from the mountainous Cooley Ranch north of Alexander Valley; astute matching of oak barrels to those intense grapes works beautifully. The wine is polished and structured, with succulent dark fruit and hints of fresh herbs and cocoa.

Sebastiani Vineyards 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $26 With a 96-point score at NCWC, this wine offers a ton of flavor for the buck. Concentrated, almost jammy red and black fruit is wrapped in velvety tannins and accented hints of fresh-turned earth (a positive trait for Cab), leafy herbs, and oak spice.

Simi Winery 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $26 Want an easy-drinking, easy-onthe- pocketbook Cab that’s still complex? Simi hits the mark with this 13.5% alcohol wine with a keen mix of juicy red and black fruit, vanillin oak, coffee bean, and cocoa elements. Mediumfull- bodied and lively.

ZINFANDEL

deLorimier 2016 Alexander Valley Primitivo $30 Primitivo is genetically similar to Zinfandel, with DNA fingerprinting showing the grapes are clones of the Croatian variety Crljenak. Whatever its provenance, this wine has rich oak notes framing the juicy, brambly black raspberry fruit. The tannins are smooth, the finish long and spicy.

Papapietro Perry Winery 2016 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel $45 Winery staff casually refer to this wine as “zino,” because it has a Zinfandel aroma and flavor profile and the supple, mouthwatering personality of Pinot Noir. It’s a pretty rather than potent wine, with racy acidity, juicy red and black cherry fruit, and hints of brown spice, cocoa, and vanilla. Zin haters, give it a try.

Rockpile Vineyards 2016 Sonoma County Rockpile Ranch Reserve Zinfandel $72 This wine gave St. Francis Tres Viejos Zinfandel a run for its money at NCWC, scoring 97 points. Deep ruby in color, it features black fruit — blackberry and black plum — with caramel, Indian spice, brown sugar, and toasty oak notes. The finish is satiny and lingering, the structure solid.

St. Francis Winery 2016 Sonoma County Tres Viejos Old Vines Zinfandel $48 This wine hit the jackpot at NCWC, scoring 99 points, and winning best of show red wine and best wine of the competition. Winemaker Katie Madigan blended grapes from three heritage vineyards (“three old ones”), in Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Valley. The result: a complete and polished wine with vibrant, brambly raspberry and dark cherry flavors, Asian spice, and a long finish.

Seghesio Family Vineyards 2017 Sonoma County Zinfandel $26 Seghesio produces myriad Zinfandels, across many sites and price points, yet this Sonoma County blend is the flagship, widely available and priced just right. It’s juicy and supple, with brambly raspberry and boysenberry fruit and hints of vanilla and cocoa. It goes down easy, thanks to its moderate (for Zinfandel) 14.8% alcohol.

Tom Mackey Cellars 2016 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel $30 Tom Mackey was the winemaker at St. Francis for 30 years, mentoring Katie Madigan, also a winner in this category, and co-winemaker Chris Louton. After retiring Mackey founded his own brand, with partner Clyde Galatine, focusing on red wines from Sonoma Valley. This one has wonderful acidity and tangy freshness accompanying the raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry aromas and flavors. Balanced and medium-bodied, it finishes with a hint of peppery spice.

Zialena Winery 2015 Alexander Valley Zinfandel $38 The winery is relatively new, yet the Mazzoni family has farmed in Alexander Valley for a century. Siblings Mike and Lisa Mazzoni own and operate Zialena, and their Zinfandels have been top-notch. The 2015 has an intense pepper quality, spicing up the rich dark cherry and raspberry fruit. Mouth-filling texture and a refreshing finish complete the complex package.

OTHER REDS

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2017 Alexander Valley Homestead Red Blend $23 Value lovers should seek out this blend of red varieties grown on AVV’s estate. Longtime winemaker Kevin Hall selected Merlot to anchor the blend, adding Zinfandel, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah to create a sum greater than its parts. It’s floral, juicy, and spicy, with good tannic grip. Drink up.

Aperture 2016 Alexander Valley Red Blend $55 This is a scintillating blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc from proprietor Jesse Katz. Aromas of violets and crushed rock are followed by vibrant, juicy flavors of dark cherry and boysenberry. The tannins are mature and supple, showing nary a hint of astringency, yet the structure is solid.

Arbor Bench Vineyards 2015 Dry Creek Valley Malbec $30 This best of class winner at NCWC has intense blackberry, blueberry, and spice cake aromas and flavors, plus traces of thyme, vanilla, and lavender. It’s an opulent style, balanced by palatewhisking acidity.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2016 Dry Creek Valley Red Meritage $30 It’s not often that a Meritage wine at this price has so much poise and complexity. With a supple Merlot base, it’s ready to enjoy now yet will still develop over the next five years. Mocha, cola, dark cherry, and plum paint the palate; the tannins are mouth-coating yet with a proper bite, and the finish is long and cleansing.

Imagery Estate Winery 2016 Sonoma County Sangiovese $42 This version of Tuscan Chianti has the classic Old World red cherry, tomato leaf, and high acidity of Italian Sangiovese, but also a New World generosity of ripe fruit. This one’s a youngster, delicious now and also likely to gain density and complexity with another year in the bottle.

Saini Vineyards 2017 Dry Creek Valley Estate Angelo’s Paint Brush $35 This wine is an homage to fieldblend red wines made in Sonoma’s early days. A blend of Carignane, Sangiovese, and Grenache, it’s rewarding in its lively cherry and berry fruit, hint of vanilla from oak aging, and mouth-filling texture. Medium-full-bodied, it closes with vibrant acidity.

Sassoferrato 2016 Alexander Valley Monte de Ferro $65 Named for winemaker Matt Smith’s ancestral home in Italy, this 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, was a best of class wine at NCWC. A New World version of a Super Tuscan, its Cabernet character shows in the cedar and black currant aromas and flavors. Rose-petal, spice, and herbal complexity come from Cab Franc and Sangiovese.

DESSERT WINES

Loxton Cellars 2008 Sonoma Valley Decada Tawny Syrah $40/375ml Every year, Chris Loxton produces one barrel of a Port-style wine and puts it away for 10 years, allowing the liquid to slowly oxidize and thus concentrate the flavors. Typical of an Australian Shiraz tawny port (Loxton is an Aussie), this one melds caramel, roasted nut, and baking spice elements into an amber-colored, medium-sweet, after-dinner treat.

Merry Edwards Winery 2014 Russian River Valley Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc $48/375ml In February 2019, Edwards sold her company to Louis Roederer. Whether the French Champagne company (with a Pinot Noir outpost in Anderson Valley) will continue to produce this dessert wine remains to be seen, but it would be a shame not to continue making this marvel. It’s rich in crème brûlée, grilled Meyer lemon, poached peach, and ginger character, with bracing acidity to balance the sweetness.

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards 2015 Late Harvest Russian River Valley Chardonnay $36/375 ml Australia-born winemaker Mick Schroeter knows a thing or two about “stickies,” as sweet wines are called Down Under. This rendition is from Chardonnay grapes that hang so long on the vines that the sugars concentrate into liquid gold. Lush in the mouth and with a mouthwatering finish, it’s rich with butterscotch, peach, pear, and apple pie à la mode personality.

The post Top 100 Sonoma Wines 2019 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

The post Best Sonoma Wineries to Visit Right Now, August 2019 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Winery preferences get personal in Sonoma County.

Do you want a place with a modern tasting room? Prefer something more rustic? Casual and off-the-beaten path or luxe with every need catered to? In Wine Country, it all depends on the weather, your mood and who’s joining you.

Locals all have their favorites, but when out-of-towners drop in for a visit, with little advance research to guide them, their first stop is likely customer review website Yelp. So where is it sending them? Click through our gallery to find out.

*We’ve only included wineries with 4.5 or 4-star ratings, and more than 200 reviews. 

The post Best Sonoma Wineries and Tasting Rooms, According to Yelp appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.