I was celebrating my birthday and decided to go wine tasting, my favorite thing! Since I did not know the Santa Rosa area and had not made any reservations, I started calling around at 10am on a Saturday. I prefer smaller, less know wineries and even tough Kendall-Jackson and La Crema are in the area, I decided to call unknown places and found this gem! I prefer bubbly or white wines and this place had just started to offer a white flight! I was able to get a booking and the tasting was only $20 to celebrate them being in business for 20 years. Santa Rosa surprisingly has many, many wineries. While driving to Benovia, I must have passed at least 5 other places that were open and offered tastings. Benovia sits on 70 acres of which 20 acres are used to grow grapes, it was a beautiful drive through acres of grapes to get to the tasting room. This place is also conveniently located about 5-6 miles from central Santa Rosa. We were greeted with a glass of their rose, which was delicious. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and since the view was beautiful, we choose to sit outside. It was quiet, serene and altogether gorgeous. There are 5 pours in the tasting, starting off with a nice bubbly, followed by a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc (I really dislike the taste of this particular wine in general but this was unexpected and very drinkable), the rest of the pours are chardonnays with an extra surprise pour. All the wines were delicious but a bit pricey, I would highly recommend! read more

See all

We had a great time at this winery. Had a tasting and got to sit outside. There are beautiful views and comfortable nice furniture. Maddie led us though the tasting, she was very nice and informative. Lots of delicious wines. Would definitely recommend the Bella Una read more

I am so happy that I discovered this gem. This was my favorite winery of the day. They had an exceptional Chardonnay and some delicious Pinot Noirs. The drive there was stunning and there were a million birds. Take your time driving in and out to see them and some horses too. The inside was beautiful, warm and cozy on a very brisk day. I can't wait to go back and sit by the fire with some of their delicious wine. Madeleine made me feel very welcomed on my first visit. She was also very knowledgeable about the wine and vineyards. Thank you so much! read more

See all

Enjoyed a wonderful tasting at Benovia with our estate host, David, to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had a large party and they accommodated us with ease. We did have a reservation and I recommend you make one too. Our tasting menu had a great combination of chardonnays and pinot noirs that showcased their vineyards and passion for wine. Stop by to enjoy some beautiful wines in a gorgeous venue. read more

See all

Enjoyed a relaxing tasting of Benovia's Martaella Experience, which was 2019-2020 vertical of the estate Chardonnays and Pinots, preceded by a delightful sparkler and rose. Enjoying a comfortable seating on their deck, overlooking the vineyards with Mt Saint Helena in the background, enhanced the experience. (now, if they could only put mufflers on the aircraft from the Santa Rosa airport...) David, our host, provided interesting background on both the winery and the vineyards. In addition to the'official' tasting, we also sampled the Tilton Pinot and Sonoma Mountain Grenache. The wines here are consistently good, and Benovia is among the top Pinot producers we recommend when asked (which is why we're "Benovian" club members). read more

See all

The property was nice, but the wines were over-extracted and over-priced. Also, the guy presenting the wine tasting was arrogant and condescending. Would not recommend. read more

Lovely tasting room, lovely views, lovely wines! I went here the other day with some wine club members for an event that included 3 different kinds of oysters supplied by Drake's Bay Oysters as well as some shrimp. We were treated to tastes of several lovely Benovia wines: Blanc de Noir Sparkling, La Pommmeraie Chardonnay, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Martaella Estate Pinot Noir and Sonoma County Zinfandel. I must say I liked them all but especially the Martaella Pinot Noir - yum. The event was kept at a small attendance so it was intimate, quiet and elegant. I highly recommend you visit Benovia and taste and buy some of their fantastic wines. read more

Benovia Winery - Wineries Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

Beautiful place - nice drive up through the vineyards and buildings with floor to ceiling glass. The tasting room is a perfect space with loungie places to sit or an 8-Top table which was our choice. Our Server was newer to the industry yet could still answer more detailed questions about the wines, the story, and the many vineyards they own and source from. I did not love the wines and I'm aware enough to know that my palate isn't the same as yours. When I'm putting together a wine list I have to purchase wines that are good for other people that may not be my preferred style. They have to be Balanced and Structurally right without flaws. These wines were a more austere style which I sometimes like. She gave us the first Pinot Noir and said you want to bring this out for someone casual, not your best friend, client, (or anyone that likes wine) Haha - seriously I don't understand why you would have anyone taste this maybe not a guy that's in the industry. Then she said something like it can be your House wine hahahahahaha - for $42 DOLLA$$ I can buy a 6 pack of wine that's better or a case of OLD ENGLISH 800 Yeah Baby!! The higher end Pinot was nice enough but too much for my interest. Besides that ugly Pinot everything else was Balanced and Structured well. And more importantly I know people that like good wine (Dennis) and really enjoy Benovia. Sometimes it's your palate, sometimes it's not your style and sometimes it is the wine being flawed. Look at what reviewers write before trusting their experience. They make good wines - I may call them lean and you may call them D-LISH-US! read more

See all

This was our second visit to Benovia Winery. The winery is tucked back from the road and surrounded by vineyards. The tasting room is very nice, relaxed setting, and the deck provides views of the vines and mountains in the backdrop. Benovia is best known for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. These wines are well made, balanced with good structure. Our host for the day was David Hewitt. David has been in the wine industry for 20+ years. He is a walking encycopedia when it comes to wine and really knows his Pinots. We spent the better part of 2 hours enjoying many of the wineries portfolio of wines. David provided much information on the Pinot Noir grape which made for a much more enjoyable tasting. Benovia has a $30 per person tasting fee but that is waived for every 2 bottle purchase per person. Even if we were to not have purchased 4 wines the fee is very fair due to the large pours and the number of wines tasted. We enjoyed our afternoon at Benovia Winery and would recommend it to any that enjoy fine wine. Our visit to Benovia was nothing less than 5 stars. Yes, as good as it gets... read more

Benovia Winery - Our view while tasting on the deck. - Wineries Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

See all

Delicious wine on a lovely patio overlooking the vineyard Our fav was a Zin and Pinot read more

An Incredible find!One of my favorite tasting experiences ever! We luckily got in without a reservation (though we generally try to be organized- no guarantees if you don't) and we were well taken care of by Jen & Jeff, and Jeff's lovely canine sidekick, Dottie. Jeff is the perfect tasting room associate! He was funny and knowledgeable and down to earth. Great time- a bit off the beaten path but beautiful vistas and terrific wines! read more

Benovia Winery - Dottie, the tasting room doggo. - Wineries Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

See all

We visited Benovia for the second time this last weekend and we were just as pleased as we were the first time! I'm so glad we went back because the wine and our tasting host, David, were just as great as we remembered! We love all their wines (and always buy too much when we go) but we enjoy drinking them throughout the year until we can get back down there. It's a beautiful property, a little bit off the main road but worth the drive for sure! It's appointment only but don't let that intimidate you because both times we've been able to get right in and they were very accommodating. read more

Private wine tasting...perfect way to end our day of travel! We called when we were an hour away and Monica hosted us at their beautiful place. This time we saw the outdoors since it was a clear sunny day! Love Tilton Hill Pinot noir, and good to taste all the other delicious choices from Benovia. read more

Benovia Winery - Wineries Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

See all

Took a friend in finance to Benovia last minute, thinking it would be a good place to take clients for meetings or local (viti)culture. It was literally the end of a Tuesday, no appointment, last minute thought. We were welcomed, seated and grateful for the hospitality. David was generous with his knowledge and passionate about our mini tasting and the education about each harvest that was included in each bottle. Despite being an additional guest at the end of the work day, he split his time and attention with us and the other guests perfectly. Beautiful end of the day at this beautiful spot. I'm not a wine drinker myself but my friend and I got a great education about the terroir and a great sense of the locale. Wonderful atmosphere and experience. Benovia will be woven into work and holidays going forward. Can't wait to go again for the real tour/experience. read more

Beautiful tasting room with a beautiful outdoor area and a nice selection of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wine. David the host made the experience educational and fun explaining the subtle differences in blends and where the grapes were grown. read more

How do you convince the California Highway Patrol that my wine tasting appointment is an emergency and to let me through the barricade? This was my dilemma when visiting Benovia. We headed there with plenty of time to spare only to run into a road race with all of the roads to the winery closed off. Just after I had finally found a CHP officer that bought my story and moved the barricade, David called to apologize for the problems with the road race and suggestions on alternate ways to get there. Once we finally got to the winery, David was a delight. I'll admit I have never been a fan of pinot noirs, but have come around in the past few years and now I do appreciate them. David helped me understand the grape and wine more to further my appreciation. We pretty much bought every pinot and chardonnay we sampled along with their grenache. Do you know how when you do a tasting you get a few clunkers? Not the case here. We visited on a foggy morning so our tasting was inside as opposed to on their lovely patio. The inside is very cozy their with a fireplace and a lovely view of the vineyards. We never felt rushed and David sent us on our way with recommendations for other wineries and restaurants. It's worth making the appointment and trying this lovely off the beaten path stop. read more

See all

We went to this winery last year and I thought I had written a review but discovered I did not. This is beautiful winery and we really enjoyed our visit. The owners were so warm and inviting, we felt right at home. The wine is so good, we enjoyed everything we tasted. The view is very scenic and inviting, we enjoyed sitting on the patio sipping our wine with a beautiful view. We bought three bottles to enjoy at home. Cheers! read more

There is a term used by the locals in Sonoma called the Trifecta Of the Russian River Valley. It means visiting Paul Hobbs, Lynmar and the little known Benovia Winery. Hers is my take on the trifecta as it relates to Benovia. For starters you are sometimes greeted by Mr. David Hewitt, a man who has a great legacy outside of wine but you will have to visit to get him to explain. That is not the purpose of this review. Tucked Waaay down the road off Guerenville rd., is a connector road called Fulton Rd. Nice spot, Benovia sits in Santa Rosa and very peaceful. Sommelier David (not really but he knows his stuff) welcomes and interacts with you similar to a masterful waiter at a fabulous restaurant. He is there but you never know it. The 2018 spring release is less than 2,500 cases and they include my favorite and flagship 2015 Cohn Estate Pinot Noir. As Benovia describes this release and I couldn't agree more, " sensual texture .. ruby red color"(check put photo of this bad boy). Their larger volume pinot noir is their Russian River Valley and has more depth than I thought it would. And in Vino Geno's opinion, the rocket ship for growth going forward as it pertains to Milennials (they love box wines and screw caps but my first vinos back in the day were Lancer's and Boones Farm apple wine in a box so my palate got ruined at a very young age), will be rose made from pinot noir grapes. This will be embraced and Benovia has a great one. Look out Miraval Winery of Provence, France (wine owned by the pseudo snobs Angelina Joline and Brad Pitt) as anyone can buy grapes in Provence, a winery and capture the desired color.. but get some pinot noir grapes from Russian river valley and create the next BOM, and the color entices me as well with Benovia rose. You heard it from me and the dry Rose's are not your mother's wine she used to love to drink at parties.DRY! The Theee Sisters chardonnay from Fort Ross/Seaview, is really phenomenal Burgundian style & demonstrates the deliverable these grapes provide due to the cool climate they are grown in. Only 234 cases so better snag a few as I absolutely loved the total mouth feel/nose of this wine. Yes you can lay this down 5 + years in my opinion. Let's wrap this review up with a few facts that you may not know. * I did not stay at the cottage overnight but hear it is wonderfil* Benovia is named after Joe Anderson and his wife Mary Dewane (the proprietors and founders) and their respective fathers- Mary's father's name "Ben" with Joe's father's name "Novia(n)" * and the name of the estate vineyard "Martaella", is a combination of Joe's mother's name "Martha" and Mary's mother's name "Eleanor"* 2012 marked the year they released the first Martaella Vineyard and Tilton Hill Pinit Noirs wish I could still find some * Mary and Joe are striving for 100% estate grown products * the La Pommeraie Pinit Noir fruit is sourced from Zio Tony Vineyard of the Martinelli family* try the Tilton Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir for a different experience- vineyard is near the town of Freestone, very close to the Pacific and Benovia's coldest vineyard site. This is a keeper for the price* clone me please- they used Dijon clones for for Tilton and is a bit less than 12 acres/ love where this vineyard sits* there are 9 clones of pinot noir and 4 clones of Chardonnay, & when acquired in 2005 there were just 14 acres of pinot and now has grown to 42 acres. "That's All Folks" and get out there and watch Benovia become very well known & savored. "My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me." -Henry Ford, Ciao, Vino Geno read more

See all

Lovely tasting room and lovely staffs. But keep in mind that this winery is a lot smaller than the more popular ones in wine country. The tasting consisted of 6 fixed wines for a course of 3 hours. There is no food served so make sure you don't come with an empty stomach. You are free to explore the vineyard with your pet but since the building itself is quite small, the tour should take less than 20 mins. read more

We came here with a few wine judges during barrel tasting. They are not usually open without reservations so we were happy to get to check them out. We tried a number of wonderful pinots then bought a bottle and had a picnic in their small picnic area. (room for one or maybe two small groups to share). The view was lovely and so were the wines. We will definitely come back. read more

See all

Outstanding Pinot Noirs! Tastings at Benovia are by appointment only and it was a piece of cake making arrangements. After driving through what looked like acres upon acres of grape vines, my friends and I were met by Bob Cooley who guided us through our tasting. And what a tasting it was. Having been in the business for over 30 years, Bob most assuredly knew his stuff and had much to say about each wine starting from a Chardonnay and Rose of Pinot Noir to whet our palates to a mix of blended and single vineyard Pinots to a delicious Zinfandel to round out the lineup. Just as importantly though, he was a pleasure to chat with and made our experience here that much more intimate and memorable. Suffice it to say, I signed up on the mailing list in half a heartbeat and will pick up many more pinots in the future! read more

Well rounded winery. Quality of Wine, the atmosphere, and hospitality are second to none. I will be back!!

Awesome historical winery and amazing wines. Such gracious people, knowledgeable about the history and the wines. Beautiful outdoor seating. Went for a quick visit and ended up spending the day and joining their club. read more

Awesome place!!! Wonderful wine and a fantastic team. James was pouring our wines and it was a great experience. Big thanks to him. We are definitely coming here next time we are in the area! read more

Benovia Winery - Indoor sitting - Wineries Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

Wow - one of the best wineries in Santa Rosa. Some of the best pinot noirs in the region and the absolute best service you will find. Very personal experience with extremely knowledgable staff. My wife and I have become big wine lovers while living out in the Bay Area and to start David (tasting room manager) alone is a huge reason to come here. He is absolutely incredible, loves getting to know all our guests and genuinely cares about his customers. Not to mention has a tremendous wine knowledge. This is one of those places you want to bring guests to because they will be so entertained and impressed by how well they are taken care of. Top notch service! Also, super cute tasting room - small quaint cozy and personal - just how we like it! we absolutely love this place! Ask for David - you will regret not coming here!!! read more

This review is for DAVID! He was amazing... We booked a sit down tasting for me, my fiancé, and his mom on a Tuesday about a month or so ago and it was such a fun experience! David was so personable and was able to give us so much information about the wines and Benovia. After he poured for us he'd give us our privacy too and even let us try a couple wines not on the list. My favorite was definitely a Rose we had (that we ended up buying omg so good)...This was the first winery we went to and the best of the three we ended up going to in Sonoma! Thanks so much, David!! read more

This place is outstanding and one of my all time favorite wineries. I've been in the industry for about 15+ years and this is one of my go to wineries. Their location reminds me of a wine-version of field of dreams, the wine is exceptional without the over the top prices and the people that work there are stellar. Try the Rosé! read more

This was the first stop for the day of wine tasting with Tiffany H, Mabelle A, and our hubbies. Thanks, Mabelle A for planning the day! This place is by appointment only so make sure to schedule in advance. If you are a Pinot lover, then you will definitely enjoy this place. We were greeted by the friendly staff who guided us through the tasting. There were quite a bit of tastings including some barrel tasting. The staff was friendly and informative. Of the ones I've tasted, I enjoyed: - 2012 Rose of Pinot Noir - 2010 Bella Una Pinot Noir We ended up walking out with a bottle of the 2010 Bella Una Pinot Noir. read more

My wife and I stayed at the guest cottage on the property for a few days about a year ago. It was a perfect central location. There is just the one cottage, so you really feel like a special guest. They have a couple bottles of wine waiting for you upon arrival. There is room for at least 2 couples, so its a great place for a small group. There is a private hot tub surrounded by the vineyard! Pretty unique I think. While I'm no wine expert, I thought the Rose was spectacular and loved the Pinot Noir as well. read more

David gave us a great tasting experience out on the back porch of the tasting room. Beautiful setting. The Grenache is particularly stunning, but all of the wines are wonderful. Thanks David! read more

What a gem of a find! I happened upon Benovia via a recommendation from another winery. I found the wines to be a true find here. About as good as it gets. Beautiful property, great wines, and a tasting experience that was relaxed, informative, and loads of fun. I think we all will be hearing a lot about this winery in the years to come. For those who see these and are going to be in the area, I would highly recommend making an appointment for a visit. This place is now added to my "must visit" list. read more

This winery is an appointment only winery! There is a reason for this and it is because the wines are mostly sold out of the winery and they are very, very, very good. If you like Pinot Noir and you buy Pinot noir, then this is the place for you to go to. Make sure when you make the appointment that Roger will be hosting you. He's the best and a good hospitality friend. They have a rose that I really liked (I don't like rose too much), Chardonnay, one zin, and several pinots from various vineyards around the property. It is a great experience if you appreciate the environment you will be tasting in and the education you receive. I go twice a year to taste and buy the new releases! Check them out! read more

By far my favorite place visited during my tour of wine country. Very private tasting with the most beautiful view of the vineyard and mountains. Wines were delicious and the service by Monica was incredible. Made for our favorite stop on our honeymoon. read more

We scheduled an appointment only 24 hours in advance & were so fortunate to get a spot here!! The wine was so good and the staff so friendly, and attentive. I can't wait to go back again soon!! read more

Benovia was one of our midday stops on the 2nd day of The 31st Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. I really loved how open their setup was, and appreciated the fact that they had a band outside, surrounded by haystacks. All of the people helping (who I think were all volunteers, b/c they do not normally do tastings) were friendly, and willing to answer questions (if they could answer them). The prices are a bit past my range, but I understand how many are willing to purchase. I enjoyed the majority of the wines I tasted, and particularly loved the Rose. read more

Wonderful wines, great service/tasting staff, gorgeous views, lovely setting for a tasting. Called 5 min before stopping in and luckily they had room for an appointment. Go you won't be disappointed! read more

My sommelier husband and I loved their wines- amazing winemaker = amazing wines; but somehow they are also affordable... but I'd imagine not for long as I have a feeling others will catch on to this Sonoma gem. The winery used to be a house back in the day and it's beautiful! Breathtaking scenery as you wine taste- perfection! read more

If you're looking for a quick tasting with minimal information and average wine, Benovia is not for you. Make an appointment, be patient, ask questions and you will be rewarded with some of the best pinot noir in the region (that isn't in that crazy, waiting-list only upper echelon). The aromas waft out of the glasses long after you've finished and each of the three pinots offers something interesting and different than the one before (there is a fourth that is usually not poured). After you've reached pinot heaven, prepare to be wowed by a zinfandel and grenache that are unlike any you've tried before. Both seem to be ideally crafted for a pinot lover. I've now been twice and highly recommend setting up an appointment ASAP! read more

For barrel tasting it was lovely, big open room and a good mix of wines. The winemaker was around to answer questions and all the volunteers were very helpful and passionate about the wine. But, I wouldn't go back for a regular tasting. The wines were so-so and quite pricey. read more

Just enjoyed a phenomenal tasting at Benovia with Rosa. The wines were delicious- we bought a bunch. The setting is classic vineyard gorgeousity. As a bonus Rosa gave us great suggestions for both other wineries and restaurants. She made us feel like family. Great place! read more