Where to go Wine Tasting in Guerneville, Sonoma County

Guides
by DEVIN PARR
on JULY 1, 2022

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This 150-year-old town in the heart of the Russian River Valley was originally a logging town, thanks to its proximity to the river which facilitated the transport of lumber. Today, Guerneville is a charming vacation spot with a distinctly fun, funky vibe that attracts travelers with its great food and wine scene, charming shops, and stunning natural setting for recreational activities.

While Guerneville proper isn’t home to very many wineries itself, there are plenty located within a short, redwood-shaded drive to neighboring areas of Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Windsor, and Santa Rosa, making this low-key town the perfect home base for a Wine Country getaway. Here are a few of our favorite places to go wine tasting in and around Guerneville.

1

Wineries / Sebastopol

Iron Horse Vineyards

Three generations live and work onsite at this family-owned estate winery located in the Russian River Valley’s Green Valley. Founded in 1976, Iron Horse produces world-class still and sparkling wines from chardonnay and pinot noir, which have been served at the White House for 35 years. Bask in this impressive history while you sip wine in the outdoor “tasting room,” and take in gorgeous views that stretch across Sonoma County all the way to Mount St. Helena.

Insider Tip

Feel good while you sip. Every bottle of Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blancs sold donates $4 to National Geographic’s Ocean Initiative, establishing marine protected areas and supporting sustainable fishing practices around the globe.

Image courtesy of Facebook: Iron Horse Vineyards

Details Visit Website

2

Wineries / Guerneville

Porter-Bass Vineyard and Winery

This small, earth-first winery, located a mere nine miles from the ocean, is centered on diligent biodynamic farming practices. Founded in 1980 on a neglected 100-year-old palomino and zinfandel vineyard, the property has been transformed to an idyllic wine haven by owners Dirck and Sue Bass, and winemaker Luke Bass. Visitors wax poetic about sipping cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel in the shade of the winery’s huge walnut tree.

Insider Tip

Wine tastings are $25 per person for groups of up to eight people, which is waived with purchase. The winery is also kid- and (well-behaved) dog-friendly.

Image courtesy of Porter-Bass

Details Visit Website

3

Wineries / Guerneville

Korbel Champagne Cellars

One of California’s best-known sparkling wine houses, Korbel has been making bubbly since 1882. From bone-dry to sweet, pale pink to deep red, there is a fizz for everyone in this Russian River Valley mainstay. Korbel is also known for some of the most reasonable tasting fees in the biz (the top tasting is a budget-friendly $15!), which should leave plenty left over to snag a few bottles to take home.

Insider Tip

The on-site Delicatessen & Market is the perfect spot to grab a bite and enjoy gorgeous vineyard views while you sip your favorite sparkler.

Image courtesy of Facebook: Korbel Winery

Details Visit Website

4

Wineries /

Equality Vines

What if a bottle of wine could be more than just something we enjoy to unwind? That’s what Equality Vines, located right in the heart of downtown Guerneville, seeks to answer. As the first wine portfolio dedicated to supporting and promoting equality for all people, founders Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell work with carefully-selected winemakers throughout Sonoma County who share a commitment to women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants’ rights, and other causes, and craft wines to benefit organizations centered on these principles.

Insider Tip

Make your wine consumption work for the greater good by signing up for one of Equality Vines’ three wine clubs, with inspirational names like “The Champion,” “The Defender,” and “The Founder.”

Image courtesy of Equality Vines

Details Visit Website

5

Wineries / Guerneville

Sophie's Cellars

This charming tasting room, just eight miles east of Guerneville in the historic town of Duncans Mills, is something out of a fairy tale. Tucked among enchanting gardens and wildflowers, the quaint wine bar specializes in small-production wines from Sonoma’s top appellations, including Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Rockpile. Sip dozens of selections from classic Sonoma grapes like chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as blends, rosés, offbeat whites, and more alongside local cheeses and small plates.

Insider Tip

Be sure to pop by for Locals Night (we hear they don’t check zip codes). Enjoy delicious wines paired with a hearty dose of community spirit every Friday from 5-7 PM.

Image courtesy of Duncans Mills Village

Details Visit Website

6

Wineries /

Chenoweth Wines

“Start with epic grapes and then don’t screw it up,” Amy Chenoweth, matriarch and winemaker of this small, family-owned winery in Sebastopol, says of her winemaking philosophy. Sip small-lot estate wines made from expertly tended pinot noir and chardonnay grapes in what the family lovingly refers to as the “Wine Shack,” nestled in the redwoods, for a magical Sonoma County wine experience.

Insider Tip

Adventurers will love the exhilarating UTV Tasting and Vineyard Tour, which offers guests a 360-degree, multi-sensory view of the property aboard a fun, open-air vehicle.

Image courtesy of Chenoweth Wines

Details Visit Website

7

Wineries / Healdsburg

J Vineyards & Winery

While technically in Healdsburg, this iconic winery is just a short drive from Guerneville, and worth the journey. Winemaker Nicole Hitchcock and her team coax the immense diversity of the Russian River Valley terroir out of each vine and grape into every bottle of elegant still and classic-method sparkling wines in the portfolio.

Insider Tip

Be sure to check out Shifting the Lens, the limited chefs-in-residence culinary series debuting this summer. Each featured chef will take guests on a tasting adventure that not only tells a story of ingredients and unique personal journeys, but also challenges our idea of the perfect food and wine pairing.

Image courtesy of J Vineyards & Winery

Details Visit Website

8

Wineries / Santa Rosa

Benovia Winery

The team at this family-owned winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley believes that “Hard work brings its own rewards.” This philosophy comes to life in each of the three meticulously maintained estate vineyards, as well as their partner vineyard sites, resulting in elegant pinot noir, chardonnay, grenache, zinfandel, and cabernet sauvignon that uniquely reflect the diverse terroir of the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Sonoma County.

Insider Tip

Book the Estate and Single Vineyard Tasting experience for an intimate, guided wine tasting that takes place at Benovia’s Ranch House Tasting Room, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding Marataella Estate Vineyard.

Image courtesy of Benovia Winery

Details Visit Website

9

Wineries /

Bricoleur Vineyards

This relative newcomer to the Sonoma County town of Windsor is pure Wine Country heaven on earth. Not only will you find a gorgeous farm-chic property surrounded by culinary gardens, fruit trees, olive groves, chickens, and honeybees, as well as a dramatic barn-turned-tasting-room with an open kitchen, but you will also delight in the winery’s fresh take on wine tasting and food and wine pairing experiences.

Insider Tip

Prefer a little friendly competition with your wine? Go for the Rosé in the Roses experience, where you and your guests will set up shop on one of Bricoleur’s private bocce ball courts nestled among the winery’s enchanting gardens of fruit trees, kiwi vines, and 85 varieties of roses, and enjoy a plated picnic lunch and a chilled magnum of rosé.

Image courtesy of Bricoleur Winery

Details Visit Website

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