Winemaker Eric Ross is personable and fun to chat with. When visiting Glen Ellen, be sure to stop in and say "hello". Take a walk down memory lane when going to the restroom. Eric was a photographer for SF Chronicle back in the day. He welcomes lots of questions. Ask to try the port. I learned quite a bit from him. Nice and cozy tasting room with comfy couch and seating, makes you feel right at home. Hubby and I stayed up here after Grape Escape, and I booked him a long massage next door, so I can continue wine tasting - clever I know. Eric was at the counter when I walked in. I totally lucked out having the winemaker himself pour me wines and talk about all things vino! I purchased a tasty bottle and off we went to explore more of Glen Ellen. Highly recommended, come on a weekday. 'Til we meet again ~ cheers! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eric-ross-winery-glen-ellen?select=lZ6rdJ91m01gSaATlAAxBg read more

Came here with a reservation for my family of four and our pup. Love that this is a small business so we came to support during our short getaway in Glen Ellen. The owner runs his own shop and ran everything safely and amazingly. He wore a mask and had seatings outdoor spaces apart from one another. He was a fun person to chat with and appreciated his recommendations. A tasting is $20 per person, but if you purchase two bottles, it is waived. We ended up with our favorite, his Port wine mixed with a bit of whiskey! It was surprisingly sweet and delicious! A huge fan of it and definitely recommend :) he even brought out fresh water for my pup during the warm day. Great service and good wine :) read more

Eric Ross Winery - a group of people sitting at a table under an umbrella - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

5 stars for the refined, smooth & easy drinking wines. Mid-range prices of $20 - $30 per bottle are fair for wine of this high quality. I've had several local wines that are harsh, tannic and completely not enjoyable that cost double the money. Bambie & I are already members at 7 local wineries. We don't need another wine club membership, BUT after a tasting session @ Eric Ross we were sold! And without a single syllable of sales pitch from Dennis. We tasted 9 wines on the menu. We bought 6 bottles plus a giclee vineyard scene painting for our living room. The tasting room is medium small. Located across the street from the Glen Ellen mill a.k.a.: Jack London shopping barn. read more

The playfulness of the owners comes through in their wines. This was the last winery we visited after a weekend of tasting, so were probably a little extra tired (and a little extra tipsy). The staff put up with us and made us feel welcome. The tasting room is spacious and playfully decorated with toy cars and tanks, a rooster figurine, and a slingshot flying monkey. They have some comfy couches and chairs to relax in while you try the wine. Tasting costs $10 and is reimbursed with a 2 bottle purchase (a tad different from most wineries which reimburse with a 1 bottle purchase). read more

Stumbled upon this little gem on our way to another winery. We were greeted and served by Eric himself. It took a few minutes but he eventually warmed up to us. He was very pleasant very knowledgeable, and very humble bin fact, I had no idea he was the owner until I asked him. He's a Navy veteran and superb guy. Very small scale winery and I would love for everyone to check him out. We went on a weekday so not super busy. I would definitely recommend to stop by. He's also a former photographer and you can see his work around his place. It was great to get to know him and his wine. read more

Eric Ross Winery - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

I think of Eric Ross as the Cheers of tasting rooms; Dennis and Diane always know our name and I've never met a person I didn't like among my fellow tasters. Oh and the wines are good too! You'll be surprised by the number and variety of bottles open for tasting. Given the variety, you are sure to find something you like. My personal favorites are the Albarino and the Tempranillo. They also feature a late harvest port that is great, and this is coming from a self proclaimed port hater! For more insights and photos check out my full review: http://www.tripimize.com/2015/08/09/eric-ross-winery-sonoma-ca/ read more

See all

One of my favorites to stop by! Love the artwork and the easy conversation. Love that I can come in and talk to the actual winemaker and get a mini lesson on what's going on in the wine world. I pick up a few bottles every time I stop by! Check out the struttin wines- great for a party or a little fire time. My New Years raclette party will be amazing this year thanks to them! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Festive chickens! - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

This is a really tough review for me to write. Honestly, I found the wines to be either boring or way too intense. There was something just not right or unbalanced about every one of them. I just didn't like the wine. But the staff was FANTASTIC and really helpful. "This is why you came to wine country... to try new things. You don't have to like *everything* you try!" is what they said. And then they went on to tell us about other great places (including wineries) that we should try during our visit. So... five stars for the fabulous and friendly staff. One star for the wine I didn't like. But since everyone's taste is different... it's definitely worth a stop. Maybe I just have really poor taste in wine! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

Came in with my Sommelier friend and went to Eric Ross, Eric is here and poured for us. What a sweet and informative man. Lots of choices to taste and I personally loved the Zinfandel. Fun day! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Eric pouring at Eric Ross - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

See all

I first found Eric Ross over 6 years ago on a trip up to Glen Ellen and I fell in love with the wine and the staff. Dennis and Diane have always been extremely nice and I always enjoying staying for a glass of wine. I recently became a Wine Club member and Eric has been generous enough to help deliver wine locally during these unprecedented times. I look forward to my next bottle of Tempranillo and my next visit up north! read more

I love this wine so much that I have been part of the wine club for over 15 years. Every time I share a bottle with a friend they are as blown away as I continue to be by the wine's quality, uniqueness, and deliciousness. If you have the opportunity to visit the winery, the rustic barn is delightful. Cannot say enough wonderful things about this winery. My favorite in all the world. read more

I've been a wine club member at Eric Ross since a visit to Sonoma in 2013. We visited again when we were married in Sonoma in 2014. I've recently upped my membership to the twelve bottles. My favorites are the Pinot Noir and the SilverImage. Give them a try! read more

Completely mind blowing! My husband and I have been club members as Eric Ross for several years now and honestly I have NEVER met an Eric Ross Wine I didn't like.. I most definitely have at other wineries! Eric keeps his wines dynamic, flavorful and ALWAYS delicious! Eric takes pride in winemaking and keeping his tasting room top notch. Big thanks to Eric, Diane and Dennis for always treating us like family and keeping us well stocked on this spectacular wine! CHEERS!!! read more

We stopped by the tasting room on a Friday afternoon and are so happy that we did! Eric walked us through a tasting of 5 wines. He could not have been nicer and we enjoyed the intimate experience of hearing about making wine straight from him. We visited 6 other wineries during our trip to Napa/Sonoma and at the end agreed that Eric's Pinot Noir was the best we had. It is clear that he understands wine, so it was an easy decision to join the wine club. You will not regret stopping by for a tasting, and we will definitely be back next time we visit! read more

Just starting to prepare dinner...opened this Rosé from Eric Ross to sip while I cook. It is quite nice! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Just starting to prepare dinner...opened this Eric Ross Rosé to sip while I cook. It is quite nice! - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

Winner of the oddest tasting room encounter we've had in 20 years. We were referred to Eric Ross by another winery in Glen Ellen (where we just picked up two cases), who called ahead on our behalf to say we were coming over for a taste. Upon entering the tasting room, which was very busy, we were almost immediately met by a harried gentleman who stepped out from behind the counter to say, "We will never get to you, and we are out of clean glasses". He then suggested we go to the tasting room across the street. Essentially asking us to leave...at 3:15 on a Saturday. Out of clean glasses? In a tasting room? How about offering a comp taste at a later date (we are local) versus simply suggesting we leave. Bad form Eric Ross. read more

This is pretty much exactly what I look for in a winery. Small, completely unpretentious and run by truly fabulous people. They have a nice variety of wines and will poor you pretty much any thing you'd like to try. Tasting is five dollars and refundable upon purchase of a bottle (or, you know, two or three). The wines were solid across the board, I came away with a really nice syrah, my friends also came away with a bottle or two each. I think this was the only place all weekend long where we all bought something. The best part though, was the folks behind the counter. They laughed and joked with us and didn't rush us out the door at all, we ended up staying and talking with them well past the time they were officially closed. Their price point was really reasonable, I just may break down and join their wine club. read more

So aside from the fact that Glen Ellen has, 1) Our favorite hotel to stay in when in wine country, The Jack London 2) Our favorite bar attached to our favorite hotel which is stumbling distance (trust me, been there, stumbled there) the Jack London Saloon. 3) The greatest morning after buffet breakfast & deli, The Jack London Market. I'd look at buying property here but would probably end up spending too much time with Dennis & Dianne & their Pinot's, Marsanne-Rousanne, Syrah's & Zins. Utterly tasty, unique stuff. Their pinot's range from a light, fruity, new-world style with their Saralee vineyard to a nice dry, earthy, dirty Burgundian style in their Ivywood. The Zin is a typically massive, dry, old vine zin but with surprisingly only 14.8% alc. The Marsanne-Rousanne is one of my favorites & only Wellington (right up the street btw.) & a few others in the state produces these two lesser known Rhone varietals, much less blend them. Dry, dirty, nice fruit, quaffable stuff. read more

Eric personally led our tasting during a Sonoma County visit, and we couldn't have been more impressed. He was engaging, knowledgeable, and a true joy to interact with. The wines were high quality and diverse. We joined his wine club and have no regrets about doing so. You will not be disappointed in the product or service. read more

If you want to find some of the best wines anywhere, look no further. Every time we are I. The area, we visit Eric Ross (near Glenn Ellen) Say hi to Diane and Dennis and enjoy some fantastic reds, great whites, and charming people. We joined their club and look forward to our delivery and the wonderful experience of tasting each new vintage!! read more

Eric Ross Winery (Glen Ellen, CA) has the BEST VALUED premium wines in the Sonoma & Napa area! They have YUMMY California wines made from Spanish & Portuguese varietals (Albarino, Tempranillo & Grenache), as well as other European varietals. Their 2 port wines (fortified with St. George Spirits Brandy) are the Best of the Best! Eric Ross Winery (ERW) has crafted my 2 most favorite and affordable Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The ERW 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) is crafted from gentlely hand-picked grapes grown on 40-year-old vines, with compelling notes of dark berry, stone and tea leaves. A lush drinkable "Cab" with subtle tannins. The ERW 2013 Chuy's Block Cabernet Sauvignon (named "The Immigrant") is created from grapes of a 50-year-old vineyard high in the Mayacamas Mountains. This Best-of-the-Best Full-bodied "Cab" has well-integrated tannins with layers of deep rich blackberry and espresso. Both of these California Cabernet Sauvignons are beautiful expressions of the land: "TASTE THE VINEYARD!" I am a member of the Eric Ross Rooster Wine Club, with a 20% discount and included shipping costs for 6+ bottle orders. Ship Direct and Save! Then, "TREASURE THE MOMENTS!" Cheers, Frank Pesce of Hanover, MD * read more

Flash back to a couple years ago during Holiday Open House in Sonoma Valley. We stopped here because of the chicken outside. I was hesitating, but my fiancé is usually right. Dennis and Dianne both poured for us and they were so welcoming. Eric their winemaker will also sit with you for hours. They are the type of people that all of a sudden you feel like best friends....talking and talking. This winery stood out as my favorite for the day. Multiple visits later and it still shines every time. They make small lots of Vigonier, Chardonnay, Marsanne-Roussanne, Pinot Noir, Old Vine Carignane, Syrah, Red Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Zin Port. The Pinot's always stand out for me, from the Ivywood Vineyard to Sarahlee's. Their wines are well balanced and juicy. I always go back every few months! They need a SIXTH star! read more

Eric Ross came recommended by a friend who just moved to the area to work in 'the biz.' It was our first stop, and we were all impressed by each of the 7-8 wines he tasted for us. We visited a number of other wineries of varying price points/quality as the day progressed. And after completing a taste, we'd often catch each other in the eye and say, "Yo, this ain't no 'Ric Ross." But we were wary of the fact Ross was, after all, our first taste of the day, when our pallets were at their best. We visited Eric again to buy [another] bottle on our way back to SF. He poured another taste or two, and we can happily confirm that even after a full day of tasting, it was *still* that good. read more

Props to Yelpers who led me to this great tasting room! It's a spacious, warm room adorned with lots of adorable roosters, the winery's signature. We were greeted promptly by a very friendly woman who easily put up with my friends' antics and was so knowledgeable. I loved the wines offered here, they have a great selection available for tasting. There weren't any pamphlets or wine club propaganda shoved on us and they let us take as much time as we needed. I can't wait to stop by here again! read more

This was the first of 4 wineries that some friends and I hit on a wine tasting tour awhile back. I loved that we were able to split our tastings, so a friend and I shared a tasting between the two of us (and if we bought a bottle, I believe that our tasting fee of $10 was waived). For a tasting of 9 wines, it's not a bad price to pay! The people behind the counter were very knowledgeable (though I don't know much about wine, so it's not like I could run a fact check) and very friendly, not even blinking an eye when our group of 10 breezed through the door. Prices also weren't too bad in terms of bottles, ranging between $25-50, depending on what you wanted. read more

Hard to find the town of Glen Ellen because of poor signage. The tasting room was cool...Run by a delightful couple. Wish I liked the wines. Except for the port ,the wines were what I call "wimpy". read more

I visited Eric Ross for the first time yesterday with an old friend after hearing many positive comments about the winery. We both work at wineries in CA so we had high expectations and I am happy to say that we both were very impressed. The winemaker, Eric, happened to be the one pouring for us and he did a great job explaining each wine and all of his wines were unique, complex, and enjoyable. I also really appreciate the hard work that was put into such a small space and all of the wines. I look forward to visiting Eric Ross in the future. read more

Eric Ross has a wide range of wines to offer ... from white Rhones & Chardonnay to Pinot to Zins and Cab. I'm a sucker for white Rhones and theirs were quite good. I left with a bottle of the Marsanne-Roussanne. It was a toss-up between that and the Viognier but I was a good boy and forced myself to choose one. I found some of their reds to be a bit overripe. But, that was totally overshadowed by Diane. She is utterly charming and we chatted constantly through my tasting. We probably could have chatted all day. read more

I loved this place! After being nonplused by the big B winery on the hill top, we stopped by this unassuming tasting room on the road side. Dennis and Diane are the absolute best! They were informative, funny, and Dennis made our day bringing the wine to us outside while we rested our legs from touring around on our bikes. We left wishing they would adopt us. Oh, and the wines- really tasty. Had to take a few home with me, of course. OK, so if you are going for a grandiose view and some fake plastic castle-type of experience - then maybe this isn't your spot- but I'm giving it 5 stars because I like the wine, atmosphere, and the real character of the place. read more

What a great find! Hubby and I hit up Eric Ross as our last winery stop while staying in Glen Ellen. Dennis poured some pretty tasty wine and thoroughly entertained us for an hour. We especially loved their Syrah. Imagine... a wine they describe as having blueberry notes and when you drink it, it actually tastes like real blueberries! So delicious. The tasting room is really laid back. Everyone is friendly with everyone else. It's totally a no pressure zone. Loved it and will definitely stop in here again! read more

This was a quality wine tasting experience in the middle of the mountains (a bit of a drive to get here, but well worth it!). The wines were very good and we had A LOT of fun at the tasting room. Everyone was very friendly and informative about what we were drinking, where it was from, and what the wine would go well with (although sometimes it was everything!). The walls are covered in photographs of their vineyard workers and idyllic views. Something interesting to look at while you sip some delicious wine. While Eric Ross is a bit of the "beaten trek" I think it is well worth the trip out here. Quality wines and a highly enjoyable tasting experience. read more

Found this small, yet fine winery on my recent trip to sonoma with my girls. After 2 wineries, 1 long champagne lunch and a recommendation from the other winery to check out Eric Ross' Pinot Noir, off we go.. The winery/tasting room is small..very small compared to typical wineries like V.Sattui or Domaine Carneros. It looks very country and organic with the rooster logo and statue in front of the shop. We got in pretty late..almost closing time at 5 PM, but the lady who works there that day is super super nice and friendly. It's almost like going to a friend's house where you can just relax, try some wines, swap some stories. Plus after all the vinos we had before, all 3 girls were just jabbering non-stop..heheh... For $5-$6, they give you 6 different wine to taste; my favourite are the 2 Pinot Noir; the Saralee Vineyard and Ivywood Vineyard. They taste really good and unique with its strawberry note. Yumm.. I promised myself not to get any bottle of wine anymore since I still have 6 bottle stored in my sister's garage. Living in Hawaii, it's hard to carry those bottles.. :( Anyhoo, I broke my own promise for Eric Ross' Pinot and bought myself a bottle of the Saralee Vineyard Pinot Noir and couldn't be happier with the decision. The owner, Eric Ross, is a retired photographer for SF Chronicle, so there are some amazing, gorgeous pictures inside the store that you can enjoy. And some of his works also on the label of his wines. Definetely a place to return on my next wine country trip.. :) read more

Eric Ross is one of our favorite wineries. Contained in every bottle is a liquid picture of the vineyard and Eric. While so many winemakers are slaves to the palettes Parker and Spectator, Eric's wines are refreshingly different and bursting with flavor. It's always fun to visit with Dennis and Diane in the tasting room. Their hospitality is without equal in the valley. We've been lucky enough to spend two afternoons in the tasting room with Eric. He's a wonderful host and a walking encyclopedia on wine. I always learn something when chatting with him. read more

Loved it, as I'm a fan of aromatic white wines. These great folks have an Albarino and Viognier available and after a long walk on a hot day at nearby Jack London State Historic Park a glass of Viognier - yes you can buy by the glass and sit outside - was just perfect. We bought 2 bottles to take with us and one of them is already gone! read more

Stumbled upon this winery after a massage next door. Wow! Great surprise! The wine is fantastic, Eric himself pours for you and he is the sweetest guy! I signed up for the wine club immediately and it was the first winery of the day... Not even a drunk purchase. This is the first and only wine club I have signed up for... Now that's saying something! If you're in the area, I highly recommend you stop by and see Eric! read more

Very friendly service, good wines, small but rustic tasting room right off the main drag.

Lots of fun. Lovely setting near Glen Ellen with the old mill across the street offering plenty of food options. Tasting room is run by Dennis and Diane Mitchell who are aces. Running joke: that's a huge cock you have outside! Love their Pinots but the Zin is good too. Try the Sara Lee '07 Pinot when released in October. Serioulsy, good juice! I'm special so we got an early taste. *smile* read more

Tasting fee: $10 for about 6-9ish tastings (waived if you buy 2 bottles) Reservations not required unless you have a large party. We came here on a whim after eating lunch at Yeti Restaurant, which by the way is delicious! If you'd like a personal wine tasting experience where you can actually talk to the people behind the counter and banter back and forth while tasting some lovely wines then do stop by Eric Ross Winery. We started our tasting with Diane and ended up finishing it with Dennis. Dennis is a hoot! He has a dry and fun sense of humor and we really enjoyed talking with him throughout our tasting. We ended up buying two bottles of red and I believe my husband's tasting fee was waived. Honestly I don't remember which two bottles we bought, but they were between $30-45 each. We will be back the next time we are in Glen Ellen. read more

I've waited about 6 weeks to post this to see if my disappointment would fade but it hasn't. Mid May my daughter and I had a lovely tasting here and Diane gave me a free tasting. I ended up purchasing two bottles of wine for my daughter. After returning home I noticed I was charged twice on my card (simple error with card reader it happens) when I called to notify them, the man that answered rudely told me she should have charged me for my tasting and wanted my card number to charge me for it. I refused since it was offered by Diane at no cost and was then treated like I stole a glass of wine from them! Diane is lovely and inviting and a very nice person to talk with, this man I spoke with told me I know nothing about running a business he has rent to pay on the building and has to pay Diane's wages and the tasting should have been paid for. I will never go back, all of my family and friends in Santa Rosa will also never go there. He has no customer service skills whatsoever. Very very rude man, sorry I spent my hard earned money there at all. read more

Amazing tasting --- Dennis made us laugh, knew his business. It's non rushed experience. The sign on the door explains 6 or more need to book ahead. A place with great wine, that will tell you that they are to busy to waste your time, or rush others through a wonderful experience. That's what Sonoma is about .... Why would you complain about that? read more