Wow what an incredible experience this was. The vineyard currently offers small sized production Natural winemaking. The wine, but especially the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are excellent - not too oaky and are at a very reasonable price points. The winery itself is full of character, the building has remained largely unchanged with all original equipment onsite since it was built, this was pretty cool and unique. The main building also offers breathtaking views over their Chardonnay vineyards, perhaps even the best views of vineyards in Sonoma going! You can also enjoy the occasional sound of woodpeckers and glimpses of vultures circling the vineyards. We had a Tour & Tasting scheduled and were hosted by Ursula who was super friendly, knowledgable and passionate about Hanzell and winemaking. She showed us the wine caves and talked us through our tasting, a credit to the winery and the industry if you ask me. read more

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Beautiful property and quality wines. Booked a tour and tasting for $90 per person. Not cheap, but these are private tours for only your party and includes 4 wines. The drive was not too bad, some very narrow roads, but not too far from town. Tour started when we arrived and lasted about 1.5 hrs. Our guide was excellent. Very friendly, informative, and took fantastic pictures of us. No wine pours during the tour, but you end with a seated tasting of 4 wines with a great view. Normal size pours and they allow revisits. The wine menu is very small, the 4 wines you tasted is all that is available but their all high quality. It's a small production winery that specializes in chardonnay and pinot noir. No outside food and they don't serve food either read more

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Could not have better things to say about Hanzell Vineyard! My husband and I were hosted by Ursula to tour the grounds, see their production equipment, hear about their wine making process, see their wine cellar, and enjoy a tasting of their wines overlooking the vines. Hanzell is a boutique winery with a unique process to keep their wines natural and the best quality. We loved that they take pride in showing guests every stage of their process. We tasted some of their Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Cab as well as heard about their different label types. Ursula went above and beyond in taking care of us which made our time at Hanzell that much better. read more

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This is one of the most beautiful vineyards we have toured. If you like history, this place is for you. The tour was excellent. Ursula was extremely knowledgeable. Loved going into the caves. Their wines are fabulous!! We are taking/sending several selections home. Don't miss this vineyard! read more

Hanzell Vineyards - Garden - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Reserved an 11:00 AM tasting on a Saturday morning for my partner and myself. It was not busy at all, so I recommend going in the morning vs afternoon. The weather was perfect -- it wasn't too hot and the view from our table was stunning! Our host, Ursula, was extremely kind and very knowledgeable about the winery and its history. What was most interesting to me was that Hanzell is entirely organic and does not use any machinery in their wine making process. They utilize their many farm animals to do a lot of the work. I am usually not a fan of whites, especially Chardonnay, but I actually enjoyed theirs so much that we ended up bringing two bottles home! They also had a cat named Ed who joined us for a little lounging at napping at our table. He was so sweet and social -- make sure to say hi if you spot him. Overall such a peaceful wine tasting experience with amazing ambiance. It's kind of a trek from the main road, so definitely plan to drive or Uber up the mountain. Once you reach the top, you feel like you're in a private oasis away from the busy city. It is definitely my new favorite spot for wine tasting. Highly recommend! read more

Hanzell Vineyards - Ed, the Hanzell cat, lounging in the shade - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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We loved touring the grounds - the gardens, the animals and vineyards. Linda explained the process of wine-making from vine to bottle to glass. We highly recommend visiting this small organic Sonoma Valley winery! read more

Came for a tasting, and although we arrived early they were kind enough to seat us. We had the upper floor to ourselves where we had the chance to look out at the expanse of the vines and the mountains. The wine was really exceptional. My husband, who's not a huge wine fan, even insisted the wine was great and that we buy a bottle. Come here! read more

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I came here with a group 5 to celebrate my birthday and this was my favorite winery out of the whole trip! The scenery was amazing where we got to sit right next to the vineyards and enjoy our wine while getting sun kissed as it was in the high 80s that day. Our host was super knowledgeable in detailing the history of the wine and also patiently answered any questions we had. It was truly a very enjoyable experience as we learned about the history of the vineyard. Our host was also friendly enough to help us take some group photos to document our happy times during COVID ! I really enjoy the Chardonnay as I am a huge fan of white wine. If you like Chardonnay and a lighter Pinot, then this tasting is for you! read more

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Beautiful views and wines! I loved learning about how the farm the property and how the wines are made.

Best. Easily, the best. I'm not a huge wine fan (toured at my colleagues request), but bought $1k worth of wine. The natural process, fantastic tasting wine, and genuine concern and enthusiasm the staff show make this a lifetime memory for me. Nicole, a sommelier, was wonderful. Already booking my return in August. read more

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Four of us on a reserved tasting. The drive up to the vineyard is quite an experience, as it is off the beaten path. The setting of the old tasting building overlooking the Sonoma Valley is impressive. Our host was casual yet very knowledgeable. We tasted several wines and ended up buying a few bottles to bring back to Florida. Love this place! read more

Super cute winery! It is quite far off the main road. They have reservations for intimate tastings. There are approximately 5 or 6 outdoor tables overlooking the winery. The tables are ready with glasses so your group can immediately get started. We got to meet the winemaker Jason upon arrival. The sommelier Tony was very knowledgeable and friendly. The winery is big on chardonnay and other varietals. Overall we enjoyed our visit. Please note that the bathrooms are outdoors. read more

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Super informative experience, beautiful property and views, and amazing wine. Definitely recommend adding this to your list if you're trying to decide where to go on your Sonoma trip. read more

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All the wines were great, obviously the most important thing! The setting itself was beautiful and the lower room we had was conceptually very neat. They clearly try to keep it very exclusive by limited tastings and each group of tasters has their own space BUT I'm just not sure that's my personal style. It was a perfect sunny day and we were "stuck" in this colder cask room (albeit with a beautiful view of the vineyard). Maybe better for a larger group but there were just two of us so it was a little boring. read more

Very intimate and peaceful vineyard. Not your typical busy winery were it is crowded and you wander around the vicinity. Appointment only Founded in the 1950s 4 acres of grapes Stunning view Caves (dope) Tour guide Alaina was very informal and made our experience wonderful. Tasting of wines?? Fruitful robust flavors Thank you again Hanzell!! read more

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Absolutely. Stunning. I will never forget this experience. Cannot recommend the $65pp full tour and tasting option. Nicole, a sommelier who guided us on our basically private tour and tasting (no other party was joining us during out time slot), was so knowledgeable about the winery's history and the wines we were tasting, and genuinely passionate. My family and I loved this experience and cannot recommend enough. Pro tip: make Hanzell the LAST part of your trip, because I do not think any other vineyard trip can top this. read more

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Really great experience! The tasting cabanas located just adjacent to the vineyard were the perfect way to take in the beauty of this estate vineyard, the sun and the shade when needing a respite from the Sonoma sun. Peter, our host, was warm and had a lot of great information to share about the Hanzell estate and the wines, knowing when to share and when to allow the natural beauty of the wines and the vineyard engage the senses. We tasted through a couple Chardonnay's, Pinot noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon. All were great, elegant and refreshing with the vineyards rather than the hand of the winemaker taking center stage. They all in their early lives had plenty to say but with time in the bottle are sure to reveal additional nuance and complexity. Highly recommended!!! read more

One of my wine-passionate colleagues is a Hanzell ambassador and insisted on setting my friend and I up for a tour/tasting during our trip to Sonoma. What a treat! I'm so thankful he did because we had a wonderful experience! The tours are by appointment only, and they are private so they're pretty perfect for anyone seeking a more intimate or romantic atmosphere. The winding road to reach Hanzell is long, so when you reach the top the views are incredible. We arrived a bit early, but our host Ben was very gracious and soon we were walking the vineyard, learning about the oldest pinot noir vines in the country. He also took us offroading to see the rest of the grounds, and give us some more history. I was particularly taken with their French farmhouse, complete with purple flowers cascading down the side. Flawless. We did a quick walk through their wine cave, got to check out where they make and bottle the wine, then settled into the library for a tasting. He set out three glasses for us - two chardonnay, one pinot noir. They were all fantastic (of course) and my friend bought a bottle of chardonnay to take with us. He even gave us some really good recommendations for lunch and other worthwhile wineries before we set off. I definitely hope to visit again in the future. Thanks Hanzell! read more

Hanzell Vineyards - Road leading up to Hanzell - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Amazing visit here with my boyfriend and bestie, from the start to finish. We were greeted by the time we pulled in to this exclusive estate, by appointment only, tucked away from it all. The beautiful Vineyards, the kitty, the cellar, the fantastic and iconic wines of Hanzell Vineyards, and the personal guide from the wine educator, made this place a must visit. One of the best experiences ever, and I've been to quite a few wineries. If you love Burgundy, this is as good as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay can get, make a reservation and you will thank me later. read more

I can't say enough positive things about this place. Before I get into the delicious wine, their customer service is beyond par.

OMG best tasting yet. Organic sustainable winery. And what an amazing setting and view! Tony was so gracious and answered all our questions. We are in love with their wine! read more

Lovely drive up with one of the most beautiful views of all the wineries I've visited. Ambiance is stunning (see my photos). We had a private tasting and tour for 6. The guide was fine but was not especially hospitable given we purchased almost $1,000 worth of wine (he had offered tastings of the 2009 wine if we purchased the membership but failed to actually give us that tasting). read more

Hanzell Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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If you love French-style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, you'll enjoy their wines as these are the only two types of wine they produce. They are good to drink now, but they are more of collector wines to keep around. We made reservations in advance as they are by appointment only ($45 per person). Give yourself some extra time to get up here as you do drive up a private hilly road. We were greeted by our Estate Educator, Gary who was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was only my husband and I so it was nice to have a private tour. He drove us to the various vineyards and explained the different climates at each as well as the history behind the Hanzell name. It was very informative. The caves and the bottling area was nice and clean. Apparently, they do everything on site here including bottling and labeling, which I thought was pretty impressive. In the end, we got to sit in a nice wine room with a Sonoma view (which was the barn that was originally used to bottle wines) for some tasting. The room was filled with a collection of vintage wines hanging on the walls. We got to try the following: - 2011 "Sebella" Chardonnay - citrus aromas, still young so good summer wine - 2010 Chardonnay - my favorite of the 3 tastings, smooth French style chardonnay, easy to drink, good to drink now or can keep for 10 years - 2006 Pinot Noir - fine tannins, nice sophisticated finish We happily left with a bottle of the 2010 Chardonnay. Hope to visit them again in the future. read more

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Picking a winery to tour and swirl is like picking a favorite wine, everyone has their own taste and likings. If you are looking for a private quaint setting on top of a Sonoma hill, with a rustic unpretentious winery that does just a few things, but does them masterfully. Hanzell is the place to be. Upon securing reservation for a party of 3 on a beautiful Sunday morning, we arrived at the winery, reclusely located at the end of a road behind the gates that opens on a per visitor basis. From the moment when the gates slowly opens for you, you feel transposed to the countryside of France, leaving whatever other worldly concerns behind. The view at the top is absolutely stunning. There is no words to describe the fantastic waves of colors that's comprised solely of grape vines. Chardonnay and Pinot noir are the signatures of this winery, as they boast the oldest continuously producing chardonnay vineyard and the oldest pinot noir vineyard in North America. Our estate educator/guide/photographer met us at the bottom of the charming heritage house, she then ushered us around the vineyard, cellar, production, and the wine library, citing history of the vineyard as well as tremendously interesting facts about the production process. Before we headed up to upper floor of the heritage house for our private session of wine tasting. Three pours of 2 chardonnay and one pinot noir, she talked us through the different wines and let us savor from one to the other and back. The fragrance of the pinot noir is amazing. It was a fantastic experience and quite the contrast from the imposing castle/touristy experience I had at Napa last year. As a family, I definitely prefered this one more for its wonderful elegance and privacy. read more

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I keep a "wish list" in Evernote sorted by region and varietal and Hanzell Chardonnay has always been towards the top of the list. When planning winery visits for our recent trip, I wanted something unique and intimate and Hanzell absolutely delivered. The drive up to the winery takes you up some narrow, winding roads which were so fun to drive (although be respectful when driving through the residential part). There is a private gate that opens for you when you pull up and you'll be greeted at your car when you park and given a bottle of water. Our tour guide for the morning was Alaina, who showed us around the vineyards in a Range Rover and let us taste some of the grapes still on the vines. Since Hanzell is located on the side of the Mayacamas Mountain Range, the views you'll see up there are absolutely breathtaking. Make sure you bring your camera! Since it was just my girlfriend and I, Alaina let us ask all the questions we wanted and took plenty of pictures of us. Our Instagram followers were very pleased. We got to check out the wine cave and also the wine-making equipment before going to a small private room back in the main house. On tasting were the Sebella Chardonnay (their more affordable offering), as well as their flagship Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were absolutely knockouts. I can honestly say the best of each varietal I've tried thus far. Alaina also offered us refills which is almost unheard of at a tasting for $80-$100 bottles. If you buy 3 bottles, they will waive one of the tour charges ($65). If you live in the East Coast, they have a distribution center in New York and offer overnight shipping if you just can't wait. Their wine club is a good deal, priced at 15% off and you get a 50% discount on shipping. You can choose 6 bottles of chardonnay and 6 bottles of pinot noir, or make them 12 bottles of one varietal. Wine club members have access to special offerings as well as free tastings at future visits to the winery. Trivia: Hanzell's President, Jason Jardine, previously worked at Flowers, another great Sonoma winery known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. If you're looking for a memorable winery visit during you stay in wine country, you absolutely must check out Hanzell. All of these 5 star reviews don't lie. We will definitely be back next summer. read more

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Oldest Chardonnay vines in the state and some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines on the mountain too. Unique history, unique terroir and incredibly age worthy wines. Not for the wine novice nor the tourist- That's why there's a castle in Napa- A premium and exclusive experience highlighted with tons of relevant history so make this your first stop if you can get in. Trust me, you'll only share Hanzell wines with your Very best friends! read more

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Great wines but your basically pay$65 for one glass of wine $260 for 4 of us. Better off buying 3 bottles and having a picnic. How many times can you hear how wine is made. read more

Legitimately the best wine tour I've ever been to. I'm not a wine connoisseur (although I definitely enjoy my wine), but my boyfriend and I have been to a lot of wine tastings and tours in our time. We definitely didn't want to spend an hour going through the steps of winemaking with some huge tour group, so I picked Hanzell from a sommelier's recommendation. I was so glad I did. Hanzell is nestled on top of a hill, up a winding dirt road. Since we came on a weekday, we basically got a private tour. Peter was very friendly, chatty and knew a lot about the different types of grapes and the history of the vineyard. He also didn't seem to mind our endless questions, which was definitely a plus. I had originally thought the farm animals would be a little cheesy but boy was I wrong - they were one of the highlights of the tour! Oh, and the wine wasn't bad either! I didn't think I enjoyed chardonnays but I loved the ones we had here. I would come back again. read more

Having great memories from my first visit here, my interest was piqued when my brother mentioned that his tasting experience with his friends was a bit...different. Sadly, my return visit left me with disappointment and (quite literally) a sour taste in my mouth. We went with the Heritage Winery Tour and were joined by another group of folks with one of them also being a return visitor. While the tour was solid for newcomers, I noticed that it was surprisingly difficult to carry a conversation with our host and the new staff member she was training. Most unfortunately, that just became exponentially worse during our tasting. Aside from both the whites and reds being warmer than their ideal serving temperature, it was a serious struggle carrying a conversation with our hosts - she just couldn't carry it at all and the trainee was just very reserved it seemed. What's worse? The latest vintages fell terribly short of expectations compared to the 2009 and 2006 library selection that I tasted during my first visit. The tannins in the current pinot noir vintage were painfully grippy to the point of being outright harsh on the finish. And having mentioned that library selection that was graciously poured for us, we were left hanging this time when I asked about possibly tasting the de Brye chardonnay listed on our line-up. While I certainly don't expect extra pours, they are always welcome and I was surprised that we didn't get the chance to taste the de Brye despite being return visitors. In fact, our host didn't even know we had been to the winery before in spite of having that specifically noted on my reservation... Simply put, this was one of the most disappointing tour & tastings I've had yet given the awkward conversation and lackluster wines. At least at a tasting bar, one can make his or her way through the portfolio and wrap things up sooner than later. On the bright side, a pour of Pliny the Elder afterward made everything better. read more

Incredible wine, friendly staff, and a beautiful estate. We were the only ones scheduled for a tour in the afternoon, so we got a private tour. Peter was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. He took us around the estate, including the six different vineyards, explaining the history behind each one. We got to try the Chardonnay, the Hanzell Farms Chardonnay (a real treat), and a Pinot Noir that was out of this world. Pro tip: If you buy two bottles of wine, a tasting fee is waived! S] read more

I was a welcomed guest of Hanzell Last week after contacting Candida on Cellar Pass. This is an appointment only property. I made my way up a very windy, one lane road up the superbly perched tasting room at the top of the Mayacamas Mountain range overlooking over the entire Sonoma Valley Region, and from a vantage point in the vineyard, you can actually see the San Fransisco skyline on a clear day! Upon arrival I was greeted by Ben, (and Pontiac the Cat) whose dad became the resident winemaker in 1973, so Ben has spent most of his lifetime involved with the property, knows the history intimately and relays it well in the tour he gave to me and another couple. He drove us thru parts of the vineyard, in a Land Rover, explaining the appellations and nuances of the soil that give the grapes their character. We even tasted the pinot grapes beginning to ripen on the vine! We then toured the cool, aromatic cellars and the bottling area. The tasting was held at an elegant sit down table and is more formal than your typical tasting, which actually allows you to focus on the wine. We were treated to a lineup of 3 wines, two chardonnays and a 2013 Pinot, which I took a bottle home. Ben explained it would lay down nicely and suggested opening in 2017. The tasting room/cellar is exceptional as it is lined with their super vintage collection including 50 yr plus vintages! I inquired how I might be able to purchase a true vintage wine, Ben explained first I would have to become a wine club member, then write a compelling letter stating why a certain vintage is important to me, which I plan to do! read more

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We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy a tasting here. We learned so much from our educator, Tony, who was so personable and knowledgeable about the vineyard, wine making process, and all that Hanzell had to offer. While this was our first trip to Sonoma, it certainly will not be our last trip to Hanzell. read more

Hanzell Vineyards - an old barn in a vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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My bf and I had the loveliest time here! We signed up for a 90 minute tour of their wine caves and the rest of their farm. I had a blast petting the big puppers! Our guide drove us around their vineyards, telling us the story of how Hanzell came to be and what their overall viewpoint/goals are for the vineyard. After the tour, we got some tastings of their white wines, specifically the chardonnay. I was never a white wine fan before this! It was so, so good, even though I used to only drink reds. The best part about the tasting was that Pontiac, a cat who lives there, kept us company the entire time. I got to pet a cat while I drank wine!!!! I guess if you're allergic to cats or just are scared/hate cats, this might not be the best place... read more

Sorry Hanzell, we came for a tasting and did not enjoy the wine. Not to our liking. Nice little tasting room though.

The most excellent tasting experience!!! I live in San Francisco and visit my family up in Sonoma frequently, trying out a few wineries in the area each time. This is far and beyond the BEST experience we've had in the area. Hanzell has designed an intimate and luxurious tasting area among the vines. Each wine was absolutely delicious, unique, and accompanied by amazing stories of the terroir, history, and wine making process. Tony was an amazing host, and so generous with us time and knowledge. This is the place to go if you want to relax and spend a blissful few hours in Sonoma tasting absolutely delicious wines. read more

Their Chardonnays are awesome and the Pinot is not far behind. We sat outside for the tasting overlooking Sonoma Valley, while Edsel (the cat) was laying on the table watching us. Can't get any better. The winery is beautiful and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Our favorite is the 2015 Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay. read more

Peter was a great host during our visit today- we were hoping for but weren't expecting some history and information about wine tasting and he took the time to (from a distance!) explain to us about the winemaking process, answer questions, and just chat. The wine was delish- the pinots were our favorites, and the view and vibe of this place was wonderful. The website says you get to taste 3 wines but it's 3 types of wines, 5 total tasting in our case. Would definitely recommend coming to this fabulous vineyard. read more

If you want the most relaxed, informative and gorgeous vineyard tasting Hanzell is the place! Andrew was our farmer and we loved his company. He was so incredibly full of knowledge and delightful to work with. The Chardonnay is the best we have ever had! Michael McNeill was also so nice to us, the hospitality was unmatched. Thank you for having us. We will be back soon! read more

Gorgeous property and a delightful tour. Lots of photo-ops. We learned a lot and loved all of the animal life - they use the cutest little sheep to help fertilize the soil! And if that wasn't enough they have two herding dogs that are even more adorable. Finally there is a cat named Pontiac that helps you sign the guest book! The only downer? They only had 3 wines to taste. I still recommend it though. Highly. read more

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I'm a Sonoma native and have tasted the majority of wines produced in the valley. That being said Hanzell is producing some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in all of Sonoma County. In fact, they've been doing it since the 1950s with style and grace. I'll mention that this is a "by appointment only "tasting so you need to plan ahead as you can't just show up. They are happy to accommodate given advance notice. The actual Vineyard and property site is one of the most beautiful in all of Sonoma. It overlooks the area of Sonoma mountain and the valley down below. The tour starts with a viewing of their wine caves followed by a walk through the vineyards. You're in awe of everything the whole time. After about 30 minutes you're taken to the old winery facility which is now the tasting room and seated in a room with such rich history it makes your head spin. Fun fact. Hanzell were the first wine producers in the US to use temperature controlled fermentation vats. This way they were able to control the fermentation process. The tasting consists of 3 to 4 different wines from the property all being Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. If you're a fan of these varietals and a big fan of French wines I'd highly recommend coming here because the wines show so much restraint with fruit and they are arguably my favorite Pinots and Chards in California. I was also able to purchase a birth year wine (1982) from their library selections! It was when they used to make Cabernet Sauvignon on the property and the wine is still standing the test of time. All in all, if you're visiting Sonoma make sure this place is on your list of stops. The service is amazing the winds are exceptional and the view from the top is pretty great! read more

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