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.
Insider Tip: If you don’t have time for the three-hour Estate Tour, spending an afternoon on the outdoor patio for the Chef’s Terrace Tasting (1.5 hours) is an excellent option.
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.
Insider Tip: If you can, plan to visit during the warmer months when the gardens and vineyards are at their most vibrant, and the estate’s natural beauty is on full display. Just don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes for the garden walk.
Visit: 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Contact: (707) 657-1809
Dry Creek Vineyard is known for its commitment to sustainability, and you can get an up-close look at the way the winery maximizes biodiversity and vineyard longevity by booking the Off-Road Vineyard Tour. During the tour, your group of up to four people will take a ride in the winery’s utility task vehicle (basically an oversized ATV) and get a chance to learn about the farming practices, take in the gorgeous views, and sip wines made from the grapes in the different vineyards you visit.
Insider Tip: This wine tasting and tour experience takes around 2.5 hours and is only available at 11 a.m. Thursday through Sunday from March through October, so be sure to plan ahead.
Visit: 3770 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: (707) 433-1000
Step inside the world of a legendary filmmaker at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. A haven created to conjure up the magical Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, visitors can get up close and personal with Coppola’s vision on the Coppola Property Tour. You’ll have the chance to stroll the winery grounds, see the bottling line, and admire their incredible collection of memorabilia, all while getting the 411 on secrets and facts from both the winery and films. Movie buffs won’t be able to resist!
Insider Tip: Even guests who don’t splurge on a property tour can see iconic props, cars, and even get up close and personal with Coppola’s Academy Awards on the self-guided Memorabilia Tour.
Visit: 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441
Contact: (707) 857-1471
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.
Insider Tip: Coursey Graves lies 1,500 feet above the valley, offering exceptional views of the surrounding region, but the stunning gardens are a real treat. Simply put: get ready to take some photos in between sips.
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.
Insider Tip: Grab everything you’ll need for a picnic lunch at the nearby Glen Ellen Village Market and enjoy it in the picturesque (and shaded) picnic area.
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.
Insider Tip: The Tour de St. Francis is a seasonal experience available from May to October on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. It can accommodate up to 15 guests, so it’s the perfect wine tour for a celebratory occasion with a group.
Visit: 100 Pythian Road at Hwy 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95409,
Contact: (707) 833-0242
Sparkling wine takes center stage at Gloria Ferrer Winery in Sonoma, where visitors can get a behind the scenes look at the bubbly process. It all takes place during the Behind the Scenes Production Tour—a 90-minute walking tour led by the winery’s Director of Operations. You and a group of likeminded bubbly fans will explore the production space firsthand, including the crush pad and riddling area, gaining insights into what it takes to make great sparkling wine. It’s an educational, eye-opening way to spend time in Wine Country.
Insider Tip: All that walking and exploring may work up an appetite. To keep the good times going, book the Culinary Journey. You’ll sip estate grown wines alongside five bites of seasonal delicacies from the beautiful setting of the Terrace overlooking the vines.
Visit: 23555 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: (866) 845-6742
California’s oldest family-owned winery has a tour that’s perfect for folks who like their wine tours with a side of adventure. On the Pinz Excursion, you’ll go off the beaten path in a 10-person, six-wheeled, and Austrian-made all-terrain vehicle. You’ll stop throughout the historic property to taste wine, learn about the winemaking process, and take in the views, including a stop to enjoy a cheese and charcuterie plate.
Insider tip: For those who would like something a little less bumpy, “Gun Bun” also offers a cave tour that will take you underground for a tour and tasting in their cave.
Visit: 2000 Denmark Street, Sonoma, CA 95476,
Contact: (707) 938-5277
At the historic Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, book the Barrel Tour & Tasting 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.
Insider tip: There’s a short walk along a shaded and paved trail from the parking lot to the winery. Stop and read the banners along the way to learn more about the history of Buena Vista, and be sure to explore the small hedge maze that has hidden private spaces with signposts that describe the life and journey of Count Agoston Haraszthy, who founded the winery in 1857.
Visit: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: (800) 926-1266
McEvoy Ranch, which started as an olive oil farm and is now one of the leaders in Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, expanded to add wine to its portfolio in 2010. The dog-friendly private and group ranch tours allow you to learn about (and taste) both during a walk through the olive orchards and vineyards. There’s also a visit to the olive mill, where you’ll learn about the oil-extracting process. The group tour lasts 75 minutes, while the private tour, which includes a few additional stops at locations around the ranch, is about two hours.
Insider Tip: Would you really visit Sonoma Wine Country and not come back with a special gift or two? The gift shop sells olive oil, tapenades, honey, and more, and is the perfect place to stock up on farm-to-table goodies and hostess gifts.
Visit: 5935 Red Hill Road, Petaluma, CA 94952
Contact: (707) 778-2307
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