10 Most Beautiful Wineries in Sonoma County

Everyone can probably agree that a trip to Sonoma Wine Country isn’t just a feast for the palate, it’s also a feast for the eyes. With stunning vistas everywhere you look (including those gorgeous glasses of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the region is so famous for), it’s hard to not pinch yourself at every turn. But the beauty isn’t limited to the vineyard-striped countryside.

While Sonoma County in general is a place to behold, there are certain wineries that take the stunning natural settings in which they are located, and create incredible wine havens at their properties. From the historic to farm-centric to modern, we have rounded up a list of the top ten most beautiful wineries in Sonoma County.

J Vineyards & Winery

Courtesy of J Vineyards & Winery

11447 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 431-3646

Located in the beautiful Russian River Valley, J Vineyards and Winery has become known as the destination for sparkling wine, and for good reason. J Winery takes special care in and out of the vineyard to produce the most exceptional sparkling wines, and the tasting experiences on offer are also high quality. Enjoy luxurious experiences like the Legacy Lounge, which includes a flight of five exclusive wines, or the J Bubble Room, a five-course tasting menu paired with J’s award-winning wines.

Insider Tip:

In May and September, J Winery will host a Chef series, Shifting the Lens. Esteemed guest chefs will be in residency in the Bubble Room for weekend tastings and two special dinners featuring a five-course pairing menu and the opportunity to speak with the chef.

Benziger Family Winery

Courtesy of Benziger Family Winery

1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, (707) 935-3000

Founded in 1980, Benziger Family Winery has always been about three things: family, great wine, and healthy vineyards. Every wine in the Benziger portfolio carries a third-party certification of green farming practices. Whether the vineyard is certified sustainable, organic, or Biodynamic, it’s carefully tended to with the most eco-responsible methods available. In addition to producing top-notch sustainable wines, the winery is home to sweeping views of Sonoma Mountain and the surrounding area.

Insider Tip:

Book the Biodynamic Tractor Tram Tour for an interactive experience aboard a tram that takes you through the vineyards and around the estate. During the tour, keep an eye out for Benziger’s flock of sheep, who are not only adorable, but also play a vital role in the winery’s sustainable farming practices.

Medlock Ames

Courtesy of Medlock Ames

13414 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 431-8845

Medlock Ames Winery was formed in 1998 by college best friends, Ames Morison and Chris Medlock James, whose passion for wine led them across the country to produce award-winning wines from Sonoma’s Bell Mountain Ranch. Ames Morison is a vocal supporter of organic, light-touch agricultural practices and gentle winemaking techniques that reflect the purest representations of the terroir as demonstrated in the latest experience offered at the picturesque property.

Insider Tip:

Be sure to check out the 90-minute Immersive Sound Experience. Designed by local artist Hugh Livingston and inspired by the winery’s collective desire to spend more time outside, this unique offering features a guided walking tour through the expansive property, narrated by the natural sounds of Bell Mountain, and concludes with a seated wine tasting.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Courtesy of Jordan Winery

1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 431-5250

Nestled in the undulating hills of Alexander Valley in Healdsburg, Jordan is a must-see winery not only for lovers of truly exceptional Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but also of historic architecture and design. With French elegance and California style, no architectural or aesthetic detail is overlooked, from the Tasting Library to the Bacchus Courtyard to the on-site, recently renovated suites, which overlook barrels upon barrels of Jordan wine aging in the cellar. Known as an industry leader in sustainability, Jordan’s commitment to being eco-friendly is the real deal, with more than three quarters of the estate preserved as natural habitat, including the nation’s largest pollinator sanctuary.

Insider Tip:

Jordan offers culinary events throughout the year, featuring multi-course lunches and themed dinner parties. Some of the events are members only but others are open to all who join their mailing list.

Imagery Estate Winery

Courtesy of Imagery Estate Winery

14335 Highway 12, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, (707) 935-3000

Founded in the early 1980s by Joe Benziger, Imagery Estate Winery was inspired by a curiosity to experiment with lesser-known varietals like Lagrein, Tempranillo, and Malbec in single-varietal bottlings and blends. Imagery infuses art throughout every aspect of its experience, from unique artwork replicated on every label to the tasting room and dedicated on-site art gallery, featuring label artwork commissioned from some of the world’s most notable contemporary artists. The entire collection has over 600 artworks by over 400 artists, with around 60 pieces displayed in the gallery.

Insider Tip:

Worth the splurge is the Collections Tasting, which features an in-depth exploration of rare Imagery wines and the unique stories behind each label, along with a guided art gallery tour.

Ledson Winery

Courtesy of Ledson Winery

7335 Highway 12, Kenwood, CA 95409, (707) 537-3810

Ledson Winery, appropriately known as “The Castle,” is a sight to behold. Designed by Steve Ledson himself, this 16,000-square-foot French Normandy architectural marvel offers all the fixings of an actual castle—dramatic staircases, marble fireplaces, cathedral-style windows, and over five miles of wood inlays and mosaics hand-cut by Steve’s son, Mike. Ledson offers a range of tasting experiences—all worthy of royalty—conducted in one of the winery’s lavish private tasting suites or up at one of the ornate tasting bars.

Insider Tip:

Be sure to level up your private tasting experience with a gourmet cheese and charcuterie plate to accompany your wines for only $15 per guest. Her Majesty would approve.

Chateau St. Jean

Courtesy of Chateau St. Jean

8555 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA 95452, (707) 708-8171

One step on to the property at Chateau St. Jean and you feel as though you have been transported to the most romantic parts of Italy or the South of France. Originally built in the 1920s as a summer home for Ernest and Maude Goff, the property was restored in 1973 and has since been listed in the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The grounds are lush with water features, gardens, picnic areas, bocce courts, a redwood grove, and a members-only terrace, providing plenty of opportunities to sip Chateau St. Jean’s wide range of award-winning wines.

Insider Tip:

Book the Bocce, Bordeaux & Burgundy Experience, and enjoy wines by the bottle in your private bocce court, complete with lounge furniture and picnic tables, not to mention gorgeous Sonoma Valley views.

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery

Courtesy of Ferrari-Carano

8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 433-6700

This picturesque, family-owned winery located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley is home to delicious wines from sustainable vineyards, including the well-known Fumé Blanc, classics like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and both red and Rosé wines made from Sangiovese in a nod to the family’s Italian heritage. Whether on the outdoor terrace—“Il Terrazzo”—or indoors in the breathtaking underground cellar for the Enoteca Reserve tasting, every corner of this stunning property is worth exploring.

Insider Tip:

Don’t miss the weekly Sunday Wine & Brunch series. This popular reservation includes a tasting of Ferrari-Carano’s reserve wines, along with a seasonal, Italian-inspired menu featuring ingredients from the estate gardens. Nibble on savory dishes like prosciutto benedict, brunch pizza, and croque madame, and sweet treats like dark chocolate panna cotta on the winery’s idyllic Sycamore Grove terraces looking out on gardens and vineyards.

Hamel Family Wines

Courtesy of Hamel Family Wines

15401 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 996-5800

This family-owned and operated winery creates wines expressive of the distinctive characteristics of each of their vineyard sites, emphasizing biodynamic farming practices and minimal-intervention winemaking techniques. Quality and family are at the forefront of everything the Hamel Family does, whether in the vineyards, the winery, or the Estate House, where guests can enjoy a variety of personally curated experiences that promote education and exploration.

Insider Tip:

For an extra indulgent treat, book the Reserve Experience, a unique and personalized wine and food journey. Enjoy a privately guided tour of the winery and adjacent cave followed by a tasting of four reserve wines each paired with a canape.

Dutcher Crossing

Courtesy of Dutcher Crossing

8533 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville, CA 95441, (707) 431-2700

Located on 35 acres in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, Dutcher Crossing charms with classic 1900s farmhouse architecture. Named for the intersection of the Dry and Dutcher Creeks, Dutcher Crossing Winery boasts stunning vineyard views in an upscale, bucolic setting. The winery’s many single vineyard-designated wines demonstrate winemaker Nick Briggs’ attention to detail in the cellar and to vineyard management. Vintner owner, Debra Mathy, often personally welcomes guests who come to the tasting room for delicious wines and to enjoy the gorgeous Dry Creek Valley.

Insider Tip:

While you’re there, pick up a bottle of the Winemakers’ Cellar Testa Reserve Carignane, an offbeat grape variety which hails from Spain but shines in the hands of Dutcher Crossing’s winemaking team.

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– Sonoma County Wineries with Beautiful Views –

– Best Wine Tasting Rooms in Sonoma County –

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Author

Devin Parr

Devin Parr is a San Diego-based freelance writer and consultant specializing in wine, travel and lifestyle. In addition to covering the global wine industry, she is the resident expert in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, serving as the region’s ambassador on behalf of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association. She holds a certification in wine expertise from the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy, as well as the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma. In 2017, she was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers. Follow her adventures at @thesocalwinegal and www.devinparr.com.