Eric Ross tasting room is fantastic! Small, unassuming, wonderful people running the show, and good wines. The dark paneled wood and red brick signs matched the raining, cloudy day, and what a way to spend some time inside - wine tasting :-) Yes, it's small, but I prefer to think of it as "cozy" - they even have a couch in an adjacent room complete with art on the wall to contemplate with your generous pour of wine. I was a fan of the Zin myself, and the SS Chardonnay also got some smiles. All in all, I highly recommend keeping your eyes out for Eric Ross - enjoy yourself and enjoy the wine! read more

We stopped here based on a friend's recommendation and SO glad we did! I am a bit picky about my wines, and I literally loved all but one of their wines...enough that I left there with a CASE of wine. This winery is a family affair...dad, mom, and their two sons were all there in the tasting room and just a joy to talk to. Very friendly people. Make sure to try their port, too! Reservations required for 6 or more people. Check them out! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Their Pinot Noir...a must! - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

See all

It's all about Dennis and Diane (and some great wines). This is what wine-tasting Sonoma used be like! They even make the $20 tasting fee feel worth it, but you'll probably buy a couple of bottle to waive it anyway. read more

Stopped by per friend's recommendation, while the wine is not spetacular, it was mellow, and casual local place. $10 tasting fee that would be waive if you buy two bottles, that is 8 kinds of wine on the menu. Average price per bottle would be about $30-60. Since it was our last stop after many tasting, we didn't buy anything, but would pop in next time to see what's going on. read more

Eric Luse....you are one Kick Ass wine maker! Every visit is fun and every wine delicious. I'm a very satisfied wine club member for two years and going strong! Can't wait until we're out of lock down, and back in your town! (Hey...that kind of rhymes). Keep on Struttin'...you do it well! read more

This is a must stop if your doing a wine tour in the area. Eric Ross Winery is a small place with lots of atmosphere. Dennis and Dianne are usually the servers and are always great. They are super friendly and are what make the experience special. Both are knowledgeable about wine, their winery (ask about it - it's got interesting history) and will love to just talk with you. On top of being a good experience, the wine is good too. Tastings are either $5 (4 pours) or $10 (8 pours). I'll def be back! read more

In our first trip to the Sonoma/Napa wine country, how do you choose from 800 wineries...you get recommendaitons from locals! What a find at Eric Ross, which we were refered to by Mayo Winery. We got served by the wine maker himself! We had the whole place to ourselves being a Tuesday and pouring rain outside. This can be weird if the staff is not out going, but Eric kept us engaged and entertained. Wonderful wines, down to earth tasting room atmosphere and great wine photography on the walls (helps that the wine maker is also a pro photog). We were on our honeymoon and met the local massage therapist who works right next door, got a great tandem massage the next day. This will be on our list next time up to Sonoma/Kenwood area. Eric takes pride in his wines and it shows. Thanks Eric! read more

Wow. Eric is awesome, the wine is amazing & great local spot to visit. Recommend 100%.

Whenever, we go up to Sonoma, we always start off at Eric Ross. Not only are the wines always tasty, but the people who work there are so knowledgeable and easy to get along with. The last time we were there, they encouraged us to sit by there little fireplace and take a load off. From the outside you might think...what is this place? But once you go in, you too will fall in love with their selection of wines. read more

Lets get this out of the way, the wine was great! What made the entire experience was Dennis and Diane. It was my wife and I's first trip away from our 1.5 year old daughter so we stayed close to home, Glen Ellen is about 20 minutes away and we wound up at Eric Ross. We had a fabulous time drinking wine and sharing stories. You owe it to yourself to stop here. read more

This is an absolute gem! Diane took such great care of us. She was our favorite wine educator we had all week. She is so warm and friendly, and took lots of time to talk to us about the different wines. We loved every single wine we sampled: pinots, granache, cab, syrah, zinfandel, you name it. It was nearly impossible to pick just one favorite. We ended up buying the zinfandel but we could have easily left with one of each wine and been very happy. Their tastings are $20 which was the most reasonable price we saw all week for tastings. I agree with the other reviews- this place is not snobby at all. Just a warm, friendly place with absolutely fantastic wines. This is a must-see while you're in the Sonoma area. Enjoy! read more

Wine! 4,000 years of tradition. For years men and women have understood the pleasures and possibilities of Wine. WINE, Nectar of the Gods! um. whatever. Napa Valley is beautiful and romantic and if you're not dealing with the snobbery of "connoisseurs", wine tasting can be an enjoyable day or weekend getaway. Denis and his wife are really laid back and make the wine tasting experience fun for new and experienced tasters. Cool Facts about the Eric Ross Winery: 1. If your a student and cool, Denis just might refund your tasting fee. (I'm way past college, but my group included a student visiting from Japan and is attending an ESL school) Yes, score! 2. There's a spa next door in the shape of a wine barrel. It doesn't sound appealing but once your there it's pretty cool. 3. Denis' wife drinks milk out of a tall wine glass and answers all of his email. :) Excellent first stop for a day/ road trip. read more

I stopped in to see Diane and Dennis at Eric Ross Winery, only to find that they no longer work there. The owner said they "retired", which I later found out was not true. Dennis and Diane both made the wine tasting and buying of wine so enjoyable. Won't be back again. He lost 2 valuable employees, and one good customer. read more

Eric Ross Winery is hands-down my favorite winery in Sonoma. Great value and prices for high quality wine, great friendly staff. We've been members and visiting for years, and they have interesting European varietals. The tasting room is laid back and feels more like you're over at friends' house tasting wine with them and learning more about the wine you're drinking. read more

Our group of 8 were visiting wine country from Iowa. A coworker recommended a stop and we had one of the highlights of our tastings. In addition to great wine (the Zin and ports were our favorites) it was the amount of fun and laughing we had. Dennis and Diane were awesome! We didn't get a chance to meet Eric this time but we will be back. Unpretentious, fun and definitely not stuffy! Oh, and great wine, of course! read more

Eric Ross Winery - Fun in the tasting room! - Wineries Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

This review is an excerpt from blog article at: http://tinyurl.com/yls6js3 This was actually my first visit to the winery, but I had met Eric at the Family Wine Tasting in San Francisco earlier this summer, during the Industry tasting (I was pouring as a volunteer for Mounts Family Winery.)I had sought out Eric Ross because of their Marsanne-Roussanne white blend, and ended up having a very enjoyable, detailed discussion. That intial dialog was not just about his wines, but my sabbatical, my own interests in wine and the industry, and my hobby Syrah vineyard. Part way through the Holiday tasting, Eric came out, and to my surprise recognized me, AND actually remembered all of our conversation, including the vineyard, 5 months later. I have written many times, wine is far more than the product itself, it's a living entity, and an art form, and for me the enjoyment and experience is as much about the people and artisans, as their product, especially in a region with hundreds of wineries. Eric Luse owner and winemaker, was a photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle for years. I was fortunate enough he spent an hour with me on this busy day, and in addition to wine geeking, he shared a number of his photographs. His work is brilliant in my opinion, and he really should publish a book, as many have encouraged. Eric did the photography in the beautiful new mini book on "The Wineries in the Heart of Sonoma Valley." Besides being an amazing photographer, and a down to earth, genuinely nice guy, he is a talented, passionate wine maker, and of interesting varietals, which captures my attention even more, in our California tendency to make homogenous, over extracted, over the top wines. I did actually taste wine, although I think I chatted more! Tasting: * His previously mentioned Marsanne-Rousanne is one of my favorite whites. The remainder of his 2007 vintage was on sale, so I grabbed 6 bottles. This blend has a great floral nose, good acidity, balance and mouthfeel. You red wine drinkers looking to branch out, should start with similar Rhone whites; Marsanne, Rousanne, Viognier. But PLEASE do not drink overly chilled, as so many do. * The 2006 Old Vine Carignane was a treat. An easy drinking, comfort wine with bright, but not overpowering fruit. The Rauser Ranch vines in Lodi were planted in 1907! Grabbed one of these for home, $22 retail. * 2008 Pinot Noir, Saralee's Vineyard. Drinkable now, but I'd leave in bottle for 6 more months if can resist, a pinot with big color and fruit, good structure, from 30% new French Oak. * 2008 Old Vine Zin, Cody's Block. Technically in Dry Creek, but on the edge off the Russian River appelation,and with the characteristics of RRV ZIns, I am starting to find very appealing. Softer, less intense than many Zins, I don't buy many Zins, but one of these came home with me. * 2006 Syrah. Sorry was yakking so much with Eric, forgot tasting notes! RRV Syrah with 3% Viognier. Amanda cracked open a bottle last night she tells me, and raved. As a special treat, I also bought a bottle of the limited release 2007 Pinot Noir, Poule d'Or. It wasn't being poured, but it wasn't a big leap to trust Eric. "Russian River Valley vineyards of Pommard Clones dominating the Dijon Clones of Pinot Noir as they come together in this Reserve Wine, only made in the years deserving an extra look." Sold! What a great ending to the day. It had been a fun day of wine tasting and meeting people, but it was this final visit that was the experience that makes me glow like a bulb on a Christmas tree. I had recently dropped a wine club, as I like to rotate each year, and completed my experience by adding Eric Ross to my list. read more

Fell in love with Eric's Zinfandels years ago and looking forward to more. An excellent small producer and a great photographer. :-)

Just left Eric Ross winery--- he is an amazing host and photographer. There is a history behind every creation of his, and it gives his wines substantial meaning. He let us taste 14 wines and we ended up taking home 3. Highly recommend. Eric Ross grows and curates his grapes and takes you on a flavor filled journey. Worth visiting if you are in the area! read more

Walked in 30 minutes before they closed with a group of 9. The guy working said "we will never get to you and go check out x winery ". Well in that case we will go somewhere else and spend our money somewhere else. DO NOT GO HERE. Unbelievable. read more

A tiny little operation, but they make great wines. I was particularly fond of their chardonnay and their zinfandel. We bought a case, and they gave us a 20% discount, which was nice. read more

Definitely worth a stop on your wine tasting tour of Sonoma. DIane and Dennis at Eric Ross are absolutely wonderful, incredibly helpful and make the experience not only tasty, but memorable (and very funny). The winery has its own distinct feel and is a welcome change from some of the more corporate wineries in the area. Oh, and the wine - it's great. I loved the Viogner and their Zinfandels are fantastic. Pay them a visit! read more

Before we even fully walked in, we were told by a man "we will never get to you" because they were apparently too busy. It was very rude. I will not recommend this place to anyone especially since we called before going there. read more

Amazing wines, beautiful art, and wonderful people! Perfect place for a relaxing tasting.

We had a great time here. Dennis was pouring and he is so nice and really funny - a quirky kind of humor. They just moved across the street from their old spot. The new place is still a bit raw, but the tasting room proper is fine. They have a comfy couch and rocking chair in front of the wood burning stove. The best part for us - Dennis said "go sit on the couch. I'll bring the tastes to you when you're ready." It was great - we sat in front of the fire and just relaxed. We didn't want to leave! The wines were yummy too. We first discovered Eric Ross wines up at Locals Tasting Room in Geyserville. We were pleased to find their tasting room in Glen Ellen and will be back soon! read more

Dennis was great, but I think the quality of the wines do not match the prices. The wine is very new world and flamboyant without true structure. If that's your thing, hit this place up. I only found one wine I would even consider buying: the Marsanne-Rousanne. The albarino was flat ,as were the pinots and the Tempranillos were hot and oaky. read more

The Eric Ross is an unassuming tasting room off the main drag in Glen Ellen. We popped in by chance, but I'm so glad we did. There was no problem with not having reservations, although I think they are requested for groups of 6 or more. We were immediately warmly welcomed by Eric himself and then got to enjoy the very reasonably priced tasting - $15. Eric is a very interesting guy who is great to chat with. Besides that, every wine we tasted was even better than the last and they were all exceptional. I was sad we had spent most of the day at bigger wineries with flashier facilities and less impressive wines. Make sure Eric Ross is on your list if you're heading to Glen Ellen! read more

If you're looking for a crowded wine tasting experience, expensive tasting fees, or the luxury of sitting in a well manicured garden of a global branded winery, go to Napa and hang out with the people out there. Sonoma is the place to come if you generally want a more peaceful, personable, laid back environment. A place where meeting a wine maker isn't such a big deal... Eric Luse is the friendly winemaker and he's there frequently talking to customers. He used to photograph for the Chronicle, so he's got some pretty cool shots up in the tasting room. I've even taken one of his photography classes with my wife and friends and we enjoyed learning while sipping on their wine. Dennis and Diane are the two awesome wine experts that often frequent the back counter. They're hospitable and they take the time to know each customer. If you're a bachelorette party with 10 girls and can't understand why they aren't kind to you or perhaps won't return your call, then go to Napa and join the commercial mob. If you're a pet lover, know that they allow well-behaved dogs. As for their wine, it's one of my favorites. The only problem is that sometimes the wine they serve hasn't had the optimal time to age, so the flavors can be misleading. However, being a member of several other wineries, I can say that some of my favorite bottles have come from Eric Ross. Try their Pinot Noir. The prices are average when you consider them to other niche wineries in the area. Don't forget, running a winery is a tough business, so expect to pay a fair price for great tasting wine. I've been a member for several years now and I've always had a great experience with them. Become a member if you want to come back to a winery where you personally get to know the people that are actively involved in the winemaking and can share great stories about some mishaps, surprises, or successes. read more

Very friendly and small winery. Dennis was pouring our wines and he was very funny!!! Enjoyed our time there and would definitely come again! read more

We were fortunate to visit when Eric was pouring. He knows his wine and has a distinguished himself as a great winemaker with the right intentions. He was helpful and humble and was probably the best tasting of our day. read more

Go see Dennis and Dianne at Eric Ross. This place is friendly and warm, and the wine is pretty damn good. It puts the Sonoma "big box" wineries to shame. read more

Dennis is awesome! I couldn't stop smiling. Great prints to view for purchase. Enjoyable wines. A fun experience.

What a great winery! Where other wineries in Sonoma valley are short changing on pours and food Eric Ross is in a class of their own. Very friendly staff and an awesome little winery. If you haven't stopped here yet you need to! read more

This eclectic little spot was our favorite winery on our latest trip to wine country. Dennis was so entertaining and informative, full of interesting quips and stories that we felt right at home. And the wine! Wonderful wine, especially the zins. We will keep this on our list of places not to miss! read more

We had a fun time tasting at Eric Ross recently. They generously poured us a huge number of wines - some of which were great others that were just fine. They have some interesting blends and it's a nice, low-key tasting room. We were fine showning up in a limo with just calling ahead. read more

The wines at Eric Ross Winery were all a little too dry to our liking. But surprisingly we kind of like the Struttin' Red, a Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre blend which was not too tannic. Makes a good table wine. We also enjoyed the tasting experience. Only complaint is that they only waived the tasting fee with a two-bottle purchase. read more

We were recommended to this winery by some friends. We really liked the staff and the tasting options. I found the wines to be too heavy, and really felt that the only way to enjoy them would have been something very strong like a dark meat or stinky cheese. I think if you like dark peppery wine, this is the place for you. As for myself, I will be seeking out something else. read more

Came to Eric Ross as part of the Heart of Sonoma Valley Barrel Tasting Event. Eric Ross is one of the smaller wineries of Sonoma Valley and off the main strip of Highway 12 where a majority of the wineries are located. This is definitely a place that you have to be looking for to know that it exists. When we got here the parking lot of packed (only fits about 10 cars) so we parked across the street. The place seems a bit chaotic as a lot of people were coming and going and not a place to sit was to be found. What drew us here was they advertised that they were having mini-cheeseburgers as part of the tasting. Being a lover of all things burgers was excited to me, but atlas... No Cheeseburger. We even waited about 15 --- 20 minutes. Still No Cheeseburgers. But I know this wasn't about the cheeseburger but about the wine. So while we waited for the invisible cheeseburger we were able to walk around the Eric Ross and sample 2 of their reds and 2 of their whites. Both the reds and the whites were forgettable. So here is how I would rate Eric Ross: Tasting Room/Grounds: 4 Stars Food Pairing: 0 Stars (No food and waited for 20 minutes!) Wine: 2 Stars Extras: 3 Stars Maybe it was because it was busy, or maybe because I don't know what "good" wine is suppose to taste like, but overall for the 12 or so wineries we did that weekend, this one was the least impressive. Might adjust this rating if driving on Arnold again to get to Sonoma, but no cheeseburgers and forgettable wines gets Eric Ross 2.25 star. read more

A smaller winery somewhat off the beaten trail. I loved the staff, they were very helpful and even recommended a couple of other wineries for us to visit. They have 5 or 6 zins currently released, which are all very good. They range from fruity and jamy to peppery. They don't make any cabernet, so skip this one if you are chasing the cab. read more

Diane and Dennis were extremely nice and helpful. The wine was good but nothing special, we did buy a bottle of zinfandel.

The setting is not the amazing vineyard that some expect from a winery, but it is everything I want from a tasting room. Excellent wine, knowledgeable staff (Dennis and Diane are a treat to chat with), and a good location with lots of food and outing options around. I love their Viognier, the strutting red is a solid table red, the cab this year is fantastic.... this place is great. read more