Photo courtesy of Seghesio Family Vineyards
Take your Sonoma County wine tasting up a notch with unique outdoor experiences to surprise and delight the senses. With open-air tasting rooms, incredible picnic areas, bocce ball courts, and more, these picturesque vineyards and renowned estates are among Sonoma Wine Country’s best for tasting all your favorite Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs the way nature intended.
With its impeccably maintained grounds, entertaining lawn games, and award-winning wines, it’s easy to spend an entire afternoon sipping and socializing under the umbrella-shaded picnic tables at Imagery Estate Winery. Bring your entire crew for a tasting followed by an outdoor game of corn hole or al fresco fun at Imagery’s full-sized bocce ball court and horseshoe pits. Imagery also offers a seasonal Wine Country Picnic Package for Two, which includes a great outdoor experience with premium seating and charcuterie.
Insider Tip: Book a private Bocce & Bottle Service experience for your group’s next Sonoma Wine Country outing—hosted by an Imagery wine specialist, you’ll get personalized insights and generous pours for memories that will last a lifetime.
Visit: 14335 Highway 12, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Contact: (707) 935-3000
Any tasting trip to Sonoma County warrants a visit to Jordan Winery, a 1,200-acre estate with sustainable vineyards and iconic ivy-covered chateau. While you’re there, don’t skip their award-winning, and appropriately named outdoor experience: The Ultimate Healdsburg Wine Tour. This al fresco wine tasting begins with a continental breakfast in their charming Bacchus Courtyard, followed by a stylish ride in a Mercedes Sprinter through the Sonoma vineyards, and culminating with a wine-paired seasonal lunch hosted on their highest hilltop, Vista Point.
Insider Tip: Jordan Winery offers seasonal, guided wine hiking and tasting adventures on their private Sonoma trails. Bring your boots—after an estate breakfast, you’ll depart by foot through woods, open space, and vineyards before descending into Jordan’s olive orchards and ending at the chef’s garden and apiary.
Visit: 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 431-5250
Italian charm never goes out of style at the long-standing Ferrari-Carano, but their new Aperitivo Pergola experience adds an extra layer of la dolce vita. Nestled beneath a private pergola surrounded by lush gardens, olive trees, vineyards, and tranquil fountains, you and up to seven guests can enjoy a curated flight of Ferrari-Carano’s sustainably-grown Dry Creek Valley wines paired with seasonal, house-prepared bites. It’s a leisurely, luxurious way to savor the spirit of Wine Country—Italian style.
Insider Tip: For a similar al fresco experience, the Fontana Pergola offers a more casual take featuring a delightful charcuterie board in place of seasonal bites—perfect for lighter appetites.
Visit: 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 433-6700
Photos courtesy of St. Francis Winery and Vineyards
St. Francis Winery, situated in a beautiful stretch of the Sonoma Valley, offers a variety of outdoor experiences that cater to both the adventurous and leisurely wine enthusiast. For a fun way to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings, book the seasonal Pedal Trolley Vineyard Tour & Tasting. You’ll pedal around the scenic grounds on a guided trolley tour, making stops along the way to taste exceptional wines amidst the vines. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, the seated outdoor Estate Pairing is a must. As you take in the unobstructed vineyard and mountain views, you’ll savor a guided tasting of wines, each thoughtfully paired with a selection of gourmet bites prepared by St. Francis’ renowned culinary team.
Insider Tip: The Estate Pairing may be offered daily, but the menu changes frequently to align with what’s in season. Be on the lookout for special menus coinciding with different times of year, too, such as a plant-forward menu in honor of Earth Day.
Visit: 100 Pythian Road at Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Contact: (888) 675-9463
Make yourself at home at Iron Horse Vineyards—a laid-back, family-owned winery in Sonoma, comprising clustered redwood barn–style buildings and a gorgeous al fresco tasting room. From the hilltop, you can see across the entire Sonoma County to Mount St. Helena and sample some of Wine Country’s most celebrated sparkling wines, estate Chardonnays, as well as up-and-coming Pinot Noirs.
Insider Tip: Three generations of Iron Horse family members live and work at this Sonoma vineyard. Join their extended family as a part of the Iron Horse Wine Club—named Best Sparkling Wine Subscription by Forbes Vetted.
Visit: 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Contact: (707) 887-1507
Photos courtesy of Dry Creek Vineyard
Get ready for an unforgettable Sonoma Valley experience with Dry Creek Vineyard’s thrilling Off-Road Vineyard Tour and tasting, a guided journey through the gorgeous Healdsburg vineyards on board an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Prefer something a little more low-key? This Sonoma winery also offers a Wine Flight & Picnic Lunch on the vineyard grounds or the Bocce Experience, complete with outdoor seating and informal sport for up to eight guests.
Insider Tip: Pack a picnic and bring a bottle of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir to Dry Creek’s secret garden—a picturesque, private “tasting room” in the great outdoors that you’ll want to add to your Sonoma Valley bucket list.
Visit: 3770 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 433-1000
Chalk Hill Estate has been a mainstay in Sonoma’s wine scene since 1972. Explore the natural beauty of this expansive Healdsburg property with the elevated Estate & Garden Hummer Tour and Tasting experience. Designed for those seeking a deeper connection to the land, this immersive outing features a curated selection of estate wines, fresh bites from the organic culinary garden, and sweeping views that showcase the serene diversity of the Chalk Hill AVA.
Insider Tip: Chalk Hill’s Vineyard Overlook Tasting is a less adventurous outdoor experience, should you prefer to take in your wine and vineyard views from a seat on the terrace.
Visit: 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 657-1809
Take your next Sonoma County wine tasting in a colorful, fragrant English rose garden with year-round bocce ball court at the base of the mountains. Landmark Vineyards’ well-manicured lawn, picturesque pond, and stone water fountain epitomize Wine Country elegance. Here, you can sip on stellar Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs on outdoor picnic tables overlooking the Sonoma vineyards.
Insider Tip: If hunger strikes, then The Exclusive Wine Tasting Experience is for you, featuring several wines paired with a selection of culinary delights, including cheese, gourmet popcorn, and chocolate.
Visit: 101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, CA 95452
Contact: (707) 833-0053
Make your way to Seghesio Family Vineyards’ outdoor Grove in downtown Healdsburg for a laid back wine tasting experience in the heart of Sonoma County—no reservations required. There you can grab a bottle or a glass of their signature Zinfandel and post up at one of the picnic tables for sensational tasting and prime Sonoma Valley people watching. Sip and savor, or reserve a Bocce & Bottles recreational wine experience at Seghesio’s outdoor courts.
Insider Tip: Explore one of Sonoma’s best cellar explorations with Seghesio’s Behind-the-Scenes Tour and Tasting. Here you can tour the winery crush pad, fermentation hall, and barrel cellar before finishing with a seated wine tasting.
Visit: 700 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 433-3579
With four sprawling acres of gorgeous culinary gardens in stunning Sonoma County, it’s easy to spend the entire day outdoors at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate. Explore on your own or book the delightful Garden Tour & Tasting, a 90-minute experience that begins with a guided educational stroll and ends with a seated selection of the day’s garden harvest and the estate’s family-grown, sustainable wines.
Insider Tip: Pack your basket and snag an outdoor Picnic + Bocce reservation with scenic Sonoma views. Enjoy your afternoon with some Camelot Highlands Chardonnay and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir—your reservation fee is fully refundable with purchase of three or more bottles from the Jackson Estate Collection.
Visit: 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Contact: (800) 769-3649
Modeled after Copenhagen’s beautiful Tivoli Gardens, Francis Ford Coppola Winery is a haven for outdoor lovers. While its two swimming pools (totaling 3,600 square feet!) and private cabines (complete with hot showers, lounge chairs, and a deck of playing cards) are enough to get anyone excited, visitors will also love the Wine and Bocce Private Experience. It’s located right next to the pool with jaw-dropping views of the Mayacamas mountains in the distance, and wine and bocce balls are, of course, included. All you have to do is bring your ‘A’ game!
Insider Tip: The pool and cabines are open from May 3rd through September 28th. Snag one of these coveted reservations while you can for an unparalleled day of Sonoma sunshine, sips, and swims!
Visit: 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441
Contact: (707) 857-1471
