Char Vale is a hidden gem! Totally worth stopping by to try their amazing Pinot Noir and other white varieties while gazing out on their vineyard. Had a wonderful experience and will be coming back! read more

Lovely winery with a couple of small parking lots. We were here for the Wine Road barrel tasting weekend and they had a few nice wines for the tasting. We got to try the barrel wines and the finished wines. read more

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***3.5 Stars*** A very relaxing atmosphere with some wonderful Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs to boot. I tasted here with a friend a few months ago during the Route 116 club member appreciation weekend, and we enjoyed our very peaceful tasting. Char Vale is a small but quaint winery that's located off the beaten path in Sebastopol. If you're a lover of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, then you will definitely enjoy the wines here. The majority of their wines are single vineyard and small production, so you'll really be able to taste the difference in quality. We enjoyed a tasting of 5 of their wines; Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rose of Pinot Noir, and 2 of their Pinot Noirs. My absolute favorites were their Single Vineyard Chardonnay and both of their Estate Pinot Noirs. Their Pinots are simply amazing here. Smooth, silky, and easy drinking. These are the types of Pinots that can be enjoyed on a warm day alongside your favorite white wines. Their estate is quite charming. Parking is extremely tight, but they have a nice bocce ball court in the front and a really beautiful garden area near the entrance. Their indoor tasting space is small but still very inviting and bright. From the front, it doesn't look like they'd have much of a back patio. But once you walk through the tasting room and onto their patio deck, those vineyard views will hit you like a ton of bricks! They have some gorgeous views tucked back there on their patio! The best part about tasting here is that it's not crazy crowded like some of the other nearby tasting rooms. It's a super peaceful experience even with other parties around. The patio tables are nicely spread out, and each one gives you an incredible view of their vineyards right below. The tables are shaded too, so no need to burn up in the sun. Although the wine and atmosphere were enjoyable, the service was lacking. Valerie was really sweet and did explain a few details about the wines, but we felt like she could have done a lot more. She was the only one manning the tasting room, but there were only 2 other parties there during our visit. We just wished that she would have been a little more present during our tasting. Aside from this, we still had a nice time. This is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a more peaceful and relaxing tasting experience. read more

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Char Vale is fantastic! Amazing wines and a wonderful tasting experience! The service was excellent and we joined the wine club.

Nice place, check it out! Wow. Great service. Lovely lovely. Highly recommend. Trying new places is fun!

I cannot say enough good things about this place and the people who own and operate this winery. I am so lucky to live right around the corner! Nicholas will most likely be doing your wine tasting and he is fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable about the wine and process of wine making. His humor and warmth are just a few of the perks you'll be enjoying in your tasting. The owners will also be lingering around throughout your visit, and are just the sweetest humans. Definitely get yourself and extra pour of the 2019 Pinot Noir private select! Come out to support your local small winery, you won't regret it. read more

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Wonderful experience, the employees were so kind and provided helpful information. Definitely recommend!

The sweetest little vineyard I've ever been to. It was my bachelorette weekend so we decided to go wine tasting and found this gem. They have a great patio overlooking the gorgeous land and luckily it was a beautiful sunny day. The owners were both there which made our experience amazing because they got to tell us a lot about the wines and the winery. I'm not a huge wine person but I loved quite a few of the ones I tasted! read more

Char Vale - Wineries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

The wine is solid but the ownership ruined the experience. We visited Char Vale about a month ago and enjoyed nearly all of the wines served. This is rare in my experience. The tasting room host at the tasting was friendly and informative. We liked it enough to join the wine club. At that point most vineyards would wave the two tasting fees, Char Vale did not, but hey it's pretty good wine and we were assured our membership would cover future tastings for the two of us. Two weeks later we returned and decided to invite two local friends. The man who had hosted us before seemed to recognize us and welcomed us back. One of the owners introduced herself to us and then seated us. Shortly after seating she brought out a form for our membership, she apparently could not find any record of our membership. This seemed distasteful in front of our friends but again she returned having found out her membership list (I'm assuming paper) was out of date. We enjoyed the wine and the friendly host (Nick I think), though one of our guests had to leave after the first glass. At the end of the tasting the host came as it was closing time and charged us for the two guest tasting. Though it would have been nice to waive one since he only had a single glass, it was still fair, and we paid and tipped 20%. Shortly after paying, the owner comes out with another POs machine to charge us again for the tastings. She insists that there is no record of payment, in front of our guest, and asks for payment again. I show her proof of my transaction in my credit card app, and she still seems to insist we pay. After a somewhat heated argument she leaves it with a threat to charge the card on file with the wine club after doing some more research. To say the least, this is the worst hospitality I have received from a winery ever. We will fulfill our initial wine club order and then never return to this winery again.... Our email is on file and the owner could have apologized for the misunderstanding at anytime in the week I waited to post a review. read more

Definitely recommend! Beautiful location with a patio right alongside the vines, very cautious and COVID safe, and delicious wines! This winery feels homey, small and comfortable, while still delivering quality wines - particularly if you like chardonnay and pinot noir! read more

Char Vale - Wineries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

I belong to a couple of other wineries in the area and received notification of the 116 event. I browsed through the list, checked reviews and chose my 4 wineries. We arrived at Char Vale and were the only people there. We were greeted by a man, Nicholas I think, who asked if we had reservations. I told him we were part of the 116, had selected their winery, so should be accounted for. He said no, the winery wasn't online and reservations were made by phone. He seemed put out and ran through the covid questions and had us follow him to the further most picnic table. We asked a couple of questions about the winery, and the man went a got some glasses and the first tasting. We were not given information about the wine, which usually accompanies a pour to new guests. We tasted it, it was fine, maybe a Chardonnay?! He then came back a plunked down 2 small bottles of red, rattled off the year and took off. Two groups of people came in, and this gentleman was charming and gave them lots of winery information and ignored us. We left. I have never been treated so rudely at any establishment. I am always looking for a new favorite wine, but after this, I will not stop at this place again. The gentleman was one of 4 employees, according to him. read more

Just came from Iron Horse which was packed to Char Vale which was empty, why? Wine is better at Char Vale in my opinion, tasting is less expensive and hosts more hospitable (Nicholas particularly). Check out Char Vale, let me know if you disagree. read more

It's small. It's off the beaten path. It's beautiful. It produces great, award-winning wines. It's got wine club options that are affordable and simple. And it's likely even some of the most plugged-in wine folk you know haven't even heard of it. Yet. Pinot noirs are the house specialty. If you think you like pinot noirs now, you will love them after a visit to Char Vale. If you think you don't care for pinot noir, this fan of old vine zinfandels and fruit-forward merlots says Char Vale just might change your mind. Go. Spend an hour. Or two. Let Nick Dougherty, the tasting room manager and a consummate host, tell you about the land, the vintners, the history, and the wines while you sip, stare, relax, and enjoy. Then take home a couple of bottles of magic memories. Maybe a couple of cases. read more

Look around! I did and there is plenty of great wineries to choose from. BUT wanted to taste the and experience the unique flavor and culture of Sonoma and holy hell did I score with Char Vale and Nick!!!!! Dig into the region the passion and the character of Sonoma. The wines sing to the area and the people. Literally you'll taste it and love it. You won't regret a visit, actually you'll consider the investment one of the best you've made in years. read more

Char Vale winery is a delightful place for a pleasant wine tasting experience in Sonoma county. The 2018 Chardonnay and 2017 Pinot Noir were particular standouts. Tastings were particularly generous, for two people a single tasting is quite adequate. Nicholas and Valerie made it a pleasant experience. Another plus is Char Vale winery is like having a pleasant afternoon on your backyard deck rather than many over the top tasting rooms. read more

Our first west coast winery visit together, and Nicholas delivered. We came to find something personal, with a selection of quality pinot noirs. Nicholas' engaging, thoughtful style made us lose track of time. We left with some good bottles in tow. Thank you! We've been to other wineries and this still ranks as our favorite one of the week. read more

Never going back, don't waste your time/money!!! Tasting manager (Nicholas) was a complete creep!!!! Some attempt at being SLICK making advances on me and my girlfriends visiting from out of town, NOT at all concerned with our wine tasting experience (or lack thereof). Will NOT be going back and will surely be warning everyone I know. Vile trash. read more

This place came as a surprise to me and I fully didn't know what to expect. We went during the COVID-19 period when wineries can open up again if they have food so my experience will be a small difference than others who might go in the future. We were greeted by the host Nick who showed us to our table and started asking us what brought us here, talked to us about the land, the history, etc. He poured us the first drink which was their Pinot Gris. Let me tell you something: I am not a white wine lady. I love a good red wine. But let me tell you something... Their Pinot Gris was fantastic! Their Chardonnay (which was the second drink) was just has fantastic. I was floored especially since with the Chardonnay came out delicious boxed lunches (my best friend and I got a nice veggie sandwich and my roommate got a chicken sandwich. The sandwich were huge and came with delicious sides) During this time, one of the owners of Char Vale came and talked to use during the tasting and she really gave us some fantastic information about the land. She was very welcoming and incredibly kind. We then moved on to their fantastic Rosé of Pinot Noir. My god.... Ladies and gents, 10/10 honestly. Wow. My roommate bought one bottle and my best friend bought two. Then came their Pinot Noirs and just like the ones before, these Pinot Noirs (2016 estate and 2016 vineyard select estate) were fantastic. I couldn't stop myself from drinking it quickly because it was so good. Ask anyone and I am the type of person who, if I don't like a wine, I'll take my time and see how long I can keep it there. I am super picky. But Char Vale and all of their wines blew me away. I instantly signed up and became a member immediately. I have been going to many wineries and I haven't signed up for one because I don't love all of their wines but I am so happy that this is the first place I signed up for. In the end, I took home 1 bottle of 2014 Pinot Noir Estate, 2016 Pinot Noir Estate, and 2016 Pinot Noir Vineyard Select Estate. Overall, please visit. It's a small winery but you won't be disappointed. The atmosphere is incredible, Nick is incredible, Char Vale's wines are incredible! Please visit! I'll be back before the summer end :) read more

Great visit last Thursday. Greet by the owner. Nicholas served each tasting with sharing of his expertise. Really enjoyed the wines. 5 stars to service and experience! read more

Generous pours, fun wines. Nick is a wry and very knowledgeable guide. Be prepared for a long COVID check-in; is what it is. The price points are a little high, but I guess that's understandable with small wineries. The 2017 Estate Pinot is special as is the 2015 Chard. Enjoy! read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE. The "tasting manager" (or so he called himself) NICHOLAS, knows LITTLE TO NOTHING ABOUT WINES, just a huge PHONY, LIAR going through the motions, looked like he was itchin' to get himself a stiff drink (or more) rather than serve our party , the owner knows even less and the whole lot of 'em should get out of the business!! read more

Nicholas is the bomb, this winery was great. He really showed us all the different kinds of wines and how they were made and I would really recommend coming here. read more

Lovely almost magical spot, perfect Russian River Pinot, a very good Chardonnay, and remarkable Rose' made from Pinot Noir grapes. I couldn't recommend this place more highly. Relaxing on the deck looking out at the vineyard with a glass of pinot is as good as it gets. read more

Fantastic winery nestled into the RRV area. Modern "artdeco" style tasting room with comfortable seating and lots of open space. We arrived on a sunny day so the patio panorama was open to the vineyard, which provided a nice backdrop for the tasting. The wines themselves are balanced and good for the type of porch sitting you'll do here. Chards and Pinos are the staple, and both fit the bill in terms of quality. The chards had a nice oak characteristic but balanced with the fruit forward flavors you would expect from the region. They are brand new and currently offer a 2/1 for those who check in. Great spot! read more

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We were a little reluctant to try a winery that's only been around for a year, but were met with a pleasant surprise as we pulled up to a dog greeting us and friendly staff. The winery tasting room is no frills. The patio closely overlooked the vineyards and afforded a relaxing tasting environment. Such an inviting place. Don't miss the Pinot Noir of the Green Valley. You'll want several bottles!!! If anything can improve, the staff could sit with the guests and tell the story of the wines, while noting the differences in the selections. See photo of the wine we loved most and sent home! read more

Char Vale - Wineries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

Our group made reservations and we had an infant with the new parents in our group. We called in ahead of time and asked whether the infant would an issue. The staff seemed not to have made the connection. When we showed up, the male older staff there was very rude to us about the infant even though we had asked ahead. All 8 members of our group were vaccinated except for the infant who isn't eligible for any vaccination for Covid-19 but they wouldn't budge. Their policy is not clear on the website and it is frankly absurd, then add the rude behavior by the staff we are not likely to ever go there again. read more

This place.... this place is absolutely amazing! Nick is the life and breath of this establishment! My party of three were looking for a tasting room that did not require a booked in advance reservation and we stumbled into char vale and they excepted us with open arms. Nick immediately made us feel welcome and to be honest i learned more about wine at char then I've learned at any other robotic pre memorized script any other vinyard has regurgitated to me. I 100% will be frequenting this place despite the fact that I dont live near here. Its that good! In telling you yelpers, come her and ask for Nick!!!!!! read more

Great wine all around and the owner was nice enough to show us around the property. Very peaceful and luckily we had the place to ourselves. Would definitely come back here. read more

Wonderful small winery. This is "boutique" without the snobbery. You can almost miss this place when you drive by. I really enjoyed the flight of Pinots. If you like wines from this side of the mountain, Char Vale is definitely worth a stop. They also have a Chardonnay and Pinot Gris to taste. The Pinto Gris was wonderful. The Chardonnay was a bit sweet for me, but I might use it with dessert. We were there during covid, so tasting was out on the terrace which overlooks the vineyard. Wonderful ! Hosts (including the owner) were super friendly and eager to answer all our questions. During covid you are encouraged to make appointments, but I have the feeling you can stop by this place unscheduled otherwise. read more

My boyfriend and I visited Char Vale on a whim and wow, am I happy we did. The wines are 10/10 and the host/manager, Nicholas, was incredible. He was very hospitable, shared a lot of detail behind the story of each wine and the winery itself, and was all around fun to be around. Char Vale specializes in Pinot Noir (which were so delicious), but it's safe to say their Rosé, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are just as delicious. I recommend making a reservation for an exceptional tasting while enjoying the beautiful views from their patio, you won't regret it! read more

Char Vale - Wineries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

My husband and I visited Char Vale on Labor Day and had a great experience. One of the owners, Valerie, greeted us at the parking area, and welcomed us in. Nicholas walked us through the wines, the winery, some history, and provided us a lot of interesting information. I think Nicholas would happily answer your novice question, or provide some very detailed background on any wine. We especially liked the Pinot Gris, Rose of Pinot Noir, and Pinot Noirs. This would be an especially good stop for people with mobility issues, as there were a couple handicap parking spots, a nice ramp up to the tasting room, accessible restrooms, and plenty of room to move around on the deck. We really enjoyed it, and joined the wine club. Our tasting fees were waived, we were invited back to complimentry tastings. We were encouraged to bring friends for complimentary tastings, or picnic. We did not have a reservation, but this did not seem to be a problem at all. This small family winery was a great find for us, and we are excited to bring friends and family back to enjoy the wine and the natural beauty of this place. read more

This place had pluses and minuses. On the plus side. Atmosphere is lovely. Wines were nice. Mostly pinots. On the minus side, the Covid rules were absurd. It is September 2021. We are both double vaxed. We have been wine tasting loads of places since Covid. This was the only place that wanted our names, phone numbers and addresses for "contact tracing." Our host was wearing rubber gloves in 85 degree heat outdoors. He insisted on reading us a full page of Covid warnings before we entered a back patio. Absurd. Memorable, but absurd. read more

Met Nick at the Char Vale tasting room yesterday, October 20, 2018, and had a tremendous time. He was friendly, informative, and full of laughs. It became very apparent with the wines we tasted why they have recently been awarded Gold Medal's. I couldn't leave without purchasing a case of wine. I highly recommend traveling to Char Vale Vineyards and greet Nick with a big hello and taste their great selection of wines. Jay from New York read more

nick was very knowledgeable and kind. I loved the wines and they had a pinot gris, which was a nice change from the traditional pinot noir/chardonnay tastings in sonoma read more

This wine is spectacular! We drive by all the time but never had a chance to pop in until yesterday. Nick, the tasting room manager was fantastic, funny, and very knowledgeable. We tasted several wines and all were delicious. Rose, Chardonnay, Pinot - all great. I would highly recommend anyone and everyone go check out Char Vale. read more

Best Tasting Experience So Far! Tucked away in the tiny town of Sebastopol, the Char Vale winery was a delightful discovery. Nicholas, the Tasting Room Manager is knowledgeable, passionate and friendly. We were initially intrigued with the sign out front that said, 'Rosé of Pinot Noir' and knew we had to stop in and try it. And we are so happy that we did. Our tasting started with this wonderful rosé and it was fabulous. We then tasted two delicious Chardonnays, and finished up with three different Pinot Noirs. Nicholas then took us out into the vineyard and explained just why these wines are so good. He has a depth and breadth of knowledge without being uptight or stuffy (you've been to those wine tastings where you feel like an idiot? Not here!). This is a small winery off the beaten path, and if you are anywhere near the area, you need to do yourself a big favor and stop in. Tastings (and they're generous) are $15 per person, and the tasting fee is waived if you buy 2 bottles...which we did...of that awesome rosé! The next time we're in the area, you can bet that a visit to Char Vale will be on our must-do list. Thanks for a great experience, Nicholas! read more

Just concerned about the unexplained wind turbine fire at the winery two days ago. Would be helpful if you could explain that to your neighbors and customers. read more

The people are the best there! I loved every piece of the place. The place is stunning and so are the views. Best ever!!

Wonderful place to stop. Nick was so helpful and informative and took the time to walk us around the vineyard and explain their special and unique method of wine making! read more

Lovely winery. They were easy going with making reservations the day before and Nicholas was great with us and gave us great wine education and overall great information about the winery and local community. I've only been to a few wineries before this visit and they've always been crazy busy and the workers never take the time to educate or give great wine facts so I appreciated Nicholas and had a great experience. read more