Let's take a walk through the vineyards! Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Sonoma County is one of the most magical places to go wine tasting thanks to its award-winning wines, stunning views, and fantastic dining options. And while sipping wines in a tasting room is a great way to explore the different varietals available in the Sonoma region, if you’re looking for a more unique and in-depth tasting experience, these ten wineries all provide memorable grape to glass adventures that take wine tasting to the next level.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery offers several delightful ways to taste its top-rated French-inspired wines, but if you want to really get a sense of the stunning property and take in the views, the Estate Tour & Tasting (offered May 1st through October 31st) is a must. The day begins with breakfast and fresh orange juice in the courtyard and is followed by a journey around Jordan’s 1,200-acre estate in a Mercedes Sprinter. The van will stop at different vineyards where you’ll sip Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon with paired light bites, followed by a wine-pairing lunch atop a hill. There’s also an olive oil tasting and a chance to see the winery’s pollinator sanctuaries. It all adds up to an epic day in Wine Country.
Visit: 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 431-5250
Founded in 1972, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery is a picturesque winery set amongst 1,300 acres of vineyards, forests, and gardens outside of Healdsburg. The best way to experience this spectacular property is by booking the immersive Estate & Garden Hummer Tour. Combining wine, food, and nature, this experience starts with a terrace tasting of white wines, including their flagship Chardonnay, followed by a Hummer tour through the estate’s sustainable vineyards and oak woodlands. Along the way, you’ll stop to peruse the organic culinary gardens, taste the season’s bounty, and enjoy garden-to-table bites paired with estate wines.
Visit: 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Contact: (707) 657-1809
Situated on a picturesque hill outside Healdsburg overlooking the Russian River Valley, Gary Farrell is well-known for its cool-climate Burgundian wines, highlighting the nuance of Sonoma’s terroir. The Behind the Cellar Door Tasting & Tour is a chance to dive deeper into this renowned estate, starting with a guided tour of the cellar. You’ll learn about the winemaking techniques and philosophies before sitting down for a tasting of single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
Visit: 10701 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 473-2909
DeLoach Vineyards is a pioneer of Pinot Noir winegrowing in the Russian River Valley and prides itself on being one of a handful of Demeter-certified Biodynamic estates in California. If this is something that interests you, the Taste and Tour of the Estate is the best way to learn about its sustainable farming and winemaking practices. This weekend-only experience starts with a splash of wine before embarking on a leisurely walk through the estate, during which time you’ll also learn about the history and philosophy of the winery. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a seated tasting of estate-grown wines with an artisanal cheese plate.
Visit: 1791 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Contact: (707) 755-3300
Inspired by all things France, family-owned Coursey Graves is dedicated to making high quality Sonoma wines, with an emphasis on Rhône and Bordeaux-style varietals. You’ll only find one tasting experience here—so you know it’s something special! The Private Vista Experience reveals their stunning estate with a guided tour of the Monet-style gardens and boutique winery, all with the backdrop of sweeping mountain vistas, but the star of the show is the vino. Guests will sip a variety of wines, like their Estate Syrah and Chardonnay, perfectly paired with a charcuterie board.
Visit: 6860 Serenity Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95404,
Contact: (707) 867-1888
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Experience Sonoma’s beauty on a pedal trolley, with wine tastings amid lush vineyard landscapes.
Benziger Family Winery offers several ways to tour its distinct vineyards that are tended to using Biodynamic, organic, and sustainable farming methods. The 60-minute Biodynamic Tractor Tram Tour is a great way to get a close-up look at its beautiful Sonoma Valley vineyards while also learning about the farming practices. The one-and-a-half-hour Tribute Estate Tour goes slightly more in depth with a behind-the-scenes look at the estate, winery, and wine cave, and includes wine and barrel tastings along the way, as well as a seated tasting in a private room inside of the cave.
Visit: 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Contact: (707) 953-3000
The 100% Certified Sustainable, family-owned St. Francis Winery & Vineyards is invested in preserving Sonoma County’s natural resources. Known for its award-winning wines, St. Francis is also noted for its mission-style tasting room with a bell tower that houses a 1,000-pound bronze bell cast by the Marinelli Foundry in Italy—which can be heard throughout the valley when it chimes on the hour. There are several tasting experiences where you can enjoy the wines, but as far as wine tours go, the one you’ll remember for years to come is the Tour de St. Francis Pedal Trolley Vineyard Tour & Tasting. During this tour, you’ll climb aboard a pedal-powered trolley (fully sustainable, of course), where you’ll rove through the vineyards while learning about this long-standing winery and its winemaking practices, all while sipping wines along the way.
Visit: 100 Pythian Road at Hwy 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95409,
Contact: (707) 833-0242
California’s oldest family-owned winery, Gundlach Bundschu has a tour that’s perfect for folks who like their wine tours with a side of adventure. On the Cave & Vineyard Tour, you’ll go into the cave for a guided tour before venturing outdoors to explore the regenerative organic vineyard, historic vines, and resident wildlife. Wines will be enjoyed along the way, bringing the story of GunBun to life with each stop.
Visit: 2000 Denmark Street, Sonoma, CA 95476,
Contact: (707) 938-5277
At the historic Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, book the Barrel Tasting & Winery Tour for a good overview of this storied winery. It starts with a tour of the grounds, moves to the Champagne Cellar where you’ll enjoy a flight of current releases, and ends in the wine caves where you’ll sample wine directly from the barrel. You’ll also hear about the life of Buena Vista’s eccentric founder, the “Count of Buena Vista,” who is widely known as the Father of California Viticulture.
Visit: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: (800) 926-1266
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