This is an unassuming little winery in a very nice setting. No fancy tasting room but lots of great seating outside for tasting. Had some really nice reds and it was fun to talk to the tasting guide abut the wines and the winery. Very knowledgeable and made for a nice hour or so. Wines are reasonably priced so was able to bring a few of what we tried home. read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards - rows of vines in a vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Forestville, California

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My wife and I set out early yesterday to get out of the house and spend the day up in the Russian River visiting some of our favorite haunts. I have been a fan of Joseph Swan wines for longer than I care to mention - let's just say over 30 years. Ironically though, I haven't visited the tasting room very often. My wife and I stopped in last year - it happened to be the Sunday of the Barrel Tasting weekend in March, I think - and had such an enjoyable experience, that we have been itching to return ever since. We were lucky enough to get an appointment on this trip. First off, Richard was an excellent host. He is very friendly and knowledgable. We enjoyed chatting with him very much. Second, we love the wines - so honest, so pure. We tend to prefer wines that are lower in alcohol, not heavily oak-influenced, and that taste of the grape...This winery has been carrying that torch since Joe Swan founded his winery around 50 years ago. Rod Bergland, who's been making the wines for the past 30 years or so, is very respected in the industry for this very reason. Rod happened to be onsite and was gracious enough to spend some time chatting with us. What a treat! It was fun and fascinating to hear some history of the winery, the vineyards and the wines from the guy overseeing it all. Fantastic spot for a low-key, no hype visit. Nice setting. Great, honest wines at reasonable prices. Iconic winery and people. read more

Stars for History, location, old school charm.... Great Pinots. Not my favorite RRV. But can't complain. Reasonably priced and worth stopping in. They have a lot of different vintages and numerous vineyard designate Pinots. Have some sun as well. read more

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I had an incredible tasting and experience at Joseph Swan this past weekend. It was my first time visiting, and I certainly will be going back. We were a group of four, and our pourer, Richard was such a welcoming and wonderful host/pourer. That weekend was a barrel tasting, so it was a fun experience to try their wines that were just recently tapped from their barrels. Richard was extremely knowledgeable, taught us a lot about the wines, and helped make our afternoon a really lovely one. I had heard that their pinot's were especially incredible, and they did not disappoint. My friends and I all purchased multiple bottles and am looking forward to visiting again, soon! Thank you Richard! read more

The only reason I am giving them 2 stars and not 1 is that our tasting experience was nice. I bought 2 bottles of their 2011 Syrah and when I opened the cap to uncork I found that corks were leaky. Both the wine bottles were turned, were tart and we couldn't drink them. Very disappointed. read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Forestville, California

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This was a wine tasting dream-come-true in my book. An unpretentious, low pressure tasting session in the spacious barrel room of a family run establishment. (Trust me, I had to sober up before penning that sentence... *hick*.) The Syrah and Zinfandel were by far the stand out wines, but these stars are really going toward the friendly atmosphere, the heavy pours on our six samples, the gorgeous setting both inside and out, and of course the price tag: free! We picked up a few bottles of the Zinfandel for the river float the next day and raised a plastic cup as we floated by on our air mattresses. (We're classy like that.) read more

This winery holds a very special place in my heart. It was my deceased great uncle was who introduced me to wine and inspired my passion for it. My many adult hang-ups and parents are what has spurred it on! Anyway, my great uncle traveled the world collecting wine. Over the years, I was fortunate enough to partake in many fine bottles on his dime. One Thanksgiving, as he always brought the wine; my uncle brought a 1978 bottle of JS Cab. So fine a bottle was this, that the true wine drinkers hide it from the rest of the family because they wouldn't know the difference. I was certainly ok with that plan, as it meant another pour for me. My uncle knew the original owners of the vineyard and use to pick with them during the season. Over the years, his collection grew and grew. This is a very small winery and production is very limited so it is very hard to find anywhere but at the winery. Although, I have found it at very fine restaurants or shops a few times. I haven't been back in a few years, so I can't speak to what charm JS still holds. Rest assured, though. Next time I go to wine country, I will pay another visit to JS. read more

I love this place and let me tell you why. First I prefer the Sonoma area for tasting because you can find wineries like JS. Those are wineries that are still about the wine, the experience, not the appearance of something wonderful but the flavor of what is wonderful. Until last Sunday I hadn't been in the tasting room for a few years but it has been upgraded (not Napa upgraded) but upgraded. The tasting room is a barn, not a faux barn but an actual temp regulated barn and it is full (really full) of barrels. It's fun to watch newbies try to enter...city folk aren't accustomed to barn doors. And I assure you, they never leave the barn door open. JS has a great line of wines and they are as generous with their pours as they are with sharing their passion for the vines. Something I enjoy about wine tasting is learning about the history of the land and surrounding area. At JS you can get as much input and information as you'd like. There is no pressure to be a wine snob or make meaningless small talk about the tannins you learned about in your pocket wine guide on the drive up. Sip, enjoy, discuss, move on. It's about the wine so don't expect to pick up kitchen accessories or stumble upon a top chef giving a demonstration and pairing lesson. Come on and relax and taste some great wine. Bottles range in price so don't be surprised when you find something you enjoy and leave with a couple of bottles. Vine on! read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards - Tasting is a non Napa experience! Love the intimacy AND the wine. - Wineries Near Me - Forestville, California

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Being in the wine industry, I frequently get asked about places to go wine tasting that are "authentic." I've never quite understood what that meant as I've never been to a tasting room serving "unauthentic" wine. Anyway--what the folks are really asking is for a "wine country in-the-barrel-room-with-the-vines" experience--not a tasting room shop nowhere near the winery or vineyards, but right in the middle of it all. That's Joseph Swan. Joe Swan was one of the pioneers in Russian River Valley for Pinot Noir...and the current winemaker/owner Rod Berglund continues that legacy. When you arrive at the winery you literally arrive at the winery--it's a functioning winery that takes a tiny portion of the barrel room and uses it as it's tasting room area. You are literally among the barrels. It's not fancy, nor is it meant to be. I chose a rainy Sunday to go tasting there and Rod just happened to be pouring and telling stories about each individual wine and how it was made, and any little backstory to go along with it. It was awesome. Down to earth and just a great guy to talk with, and his wines are the same--down to earth. He sources great fruit and makes some wonderful wines. If you're looking for a polished wine tasting where the servers are wearing slacks and logo'd clothing with a nice printed menu on the granite countertop bar with soft jazz in the background, this isn't your spot. If you're looking for a real wine-country experience with no frills and some good wines to match set in the barrel room of a functioning winery in the middle of gorgeous Russian River Valley definitely plan to stop by Joseph Swan. read more

This is a great place during barrel tasting. They have at least 6 different wines to sample in the barrel and 4 or so in the bottle. They are very informative and you can get a great wine education here, complete with a geologist this year to discuss how and why the wines are different. Some of the wines, syrah and zinfandel, are the same grapes but different regions in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Valley. The 07 tannat is my favorite and I look forward to getting a big ol box of it come November. I've never been here outside of barrel tasting, so I have no idea what's it normally like. read more

I really didn't enjoy my experience here. I don't think any of my friends did either. First, I didn't find the lady there to be all that nice or helpful. We were, initially, the only group in there. I felt like we were just bothering her. Ok, not quite. In all fairness, she did answer our questions with a smile generally, but I got the feeling that she thought we wouldn't buy anything and decided to treat us accordingly. I'm not saying that's what she was thinking, but I felt that way. Especially when this other group walked in after we were there and I felt that she was MUCH friendlier towards them. I couldn't tell if she already knew them, she very well may have and maybe that was the difference. The wines were average at best. I did pick up a bottle, but that was mainly because I wanted to get a bottle from each winery I went to since it was my first time in Sonoma/Napa. read more

Small, somewhat hidden vineyard which is really located on Trenton and Not on Laguna (slightly confusing). The tasting room and pourers are unpretentious, and really reminds me of Unti's In Healdsburg- it looks like a parking garage; it's really their barrel room with a couple of tables set up We tasted 6 wines; whites and reds; their tastings are free. Would recommend if you're in the area. read more

Non ci posso credere, il miglior vino della California! Mi dispiace. Alta California. read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards - a rack of wine barrels - Wineries Near Me - Forestville, California

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Moving back east into the heart of the Russian River Valley, we stopped to taste at Joseph Swan Vineyards. Joseph Swan was a pioneer of Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. The winery is now owned by longtime winemaker Rod Berglund. They still specialize in small lots of unique and interesting single vineyard Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. The wines are rich and bold with full fruit and spice, yet elegant and very refined with less extraction and alcohol than many contemporaries. In their way they really embody the Russian River Valley. The tasting room is in the middle of the cellar- very low key and all about the wines. The wines are pretty restrained and elegant by CA standards, but definitely embody Russian River Valley with their bright and bold fruit and spice notes. Single vineyard Pinot Noirs, very fairly priced below $40. Several nice Zinfandels as well. I love the branding of their wines as well. read more

Mr. Swan was and is THE GODFATHER of California pinot noirs and zinfandels. Sure, this is not OPUS ONE facility-wise, but Rod makes great wine ( albeit funky at times ) at more than fair prices. If you don't like this winery, you really do not appreciate what wine is all about. Some people have commented on what they perceive as rude service, but Rod is not there to kiss your ###. What the heck, you come here for the wine, not for a pick-up date. Take this for what it is, the birthplace of the great pinots and zins of California! read more

I recently started working with wine and I don't know all that much. Joseph Swan winery is highly regarded in my workplace. I recently went to Sonoma and put JS winery at the front of my list. Embarrassingly, I was there before they opened. It was worth it. Rod was so welcoming and warm, taking time to explain his winery's history and product. I was always comfortable, and I'm writing this review as I drink a bottle of wine that I bought. My friend, who i am sharing the wine with is over the moon. Superb, sublime, sexy. I can't wait to visit Rod and the winery again. read more

We stopped by during the week but found out this Vineyard tasting room usually only open during the weekend. So we stopped by again on a Saturday morning. We were glad we did. All the reds are great, my favorites were the syrah and pinot noirs. The big surprise to me was the gewurztraminer, i had good and bad experiences with this wine, but the 2007 gewurztraminer from Joseph Swan was absolutely pleasant, dry and tasty. Too bad, i forgot to ask the name of the hostess, she was very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I love coming here. The atmosphere is so cool, this huge barn-like structure that is chilly and smells like grapey-goodness. The people who work here are always so friendly and love to share stories about the wines. Plus, the wines are excellent. The pinot gris was one of my favorites all summer. Lately, I've tried their Zinfandel and Pinot Noir and was very impressed. We bought a few bottles and it's been hell trying to let them age a bit more and not opening them up right away. I would recommend stopping here during a day in Sonoma. It's a cute little place and you will be welcomed and well-treated. read more

This is a small-scale production winery (~5,000 cases a year) making some great wines. You taste in a warehouse amongst barrels & a bottling machine. I would think in the 40 years that they've been in business they could have afforded a more refined tasting area. The service was great! Very friendly and generous. Overall I liked the wines, the clear standouts were the Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels. Not a huge fan of the Gewurztraminer or the Tanat but overall a strong showing. I'll be back! read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards - tasting bar - Wineries Near Me - Forestville, California

Like many of the wineries I have reviewed recently, I have been here twice during Barrel Tasting Weekend in March. They do a great job at this event and offer 6 tastings, plus a few out of the bottle. I appreciated their willingness to educate people (especially the geologist, like Stephanie said) and fell in love with their 07 Tannat. I have never purchased future wines before, but this just blew me away and I cannot wait to get my shipment. read more

This was a nice vineyard we hit towards the end of our day of barrel tasting, and yes I do remember the tastings. My fiancee had bought futures here two years ago so I was excited to give them a try. Unfortunately they didn't have any of the tannat in the barrel or in the bottle, so I was a little disappointed at that. All of the wines seemed to be dry and I couldn't find one that I really liked. They staff was very knowledgeable, they even had a geologist on had to explain how the same grape grown in two different areas can taste different based upon the soil and rocks, but that is where the good parts came to an end. I was really distracted by the lady who was too caught up trying to taste wines than corralling her 2 year old son. I was surprised that 1), someone would actually bring a young child barrel tasting, and that 2) someone from the winery didn't say something to her. I'm sure we will be back here next year, as I would like to see another offering of the tannat. read more

Such an amazing place with friendly staff and owners. Lynn is a sweetheart. Google maps can be tricky but they have signs out in all the necessary spots read more

Wonderful place! The people working there actually seem to like their jobs. :-) There were vats of crushed grapes as you walked in, and the large imposing doors were impressive. The tasting room is part of their storage/work area, and is only open on weekends or by appointment. (We squeezed in on a Friday.) The rest of the time, the space is used for bottling and daily operations. This was our first stop of the day, and was wonderful way to see how a small winery operates. They were topping off the barrels while we were there, and happy to answer any questions our group had. The wines are good, and the location is gorgeous. The only drawback, don't trust the wineroads map! The tasting room is on Trenton Road not Laguna. (Also note there are multiple Trenton Road exits off of the River Road highway.) read more

Joseph Swan is old-school in many ways. First of all, no tasting fee. Second, the wine - real balance and complexity, no fruit-bombs. Third, you're tasting in an actual barrel room, not some fancy corporate facility. Excellent pinot. Make sure to try the cuvee de trois. Great tannat, which people seem to have picked up on. And syrahs that are way too good to be this far under the radar. They are also dog-friendly. (They have treats behind the counter.) read more

This last weekend my friend & I were tootling around the Russian River area, and stumbled upon the Joseph Swan Vineyards. I'm so glad we did! Set in an old barn, with the wine barrels right there, this tasting room offers free tastings in a really laid back atmosphere. The assistant wine maker was pouring, and soon after, the wine maker joined him. I always find this to be a treat, to hear what they like and what their thought process is when creating the wines. This time did not disappoint. We had a terrific Pinot -- their 2007 Saralee -- and they even offered us a second taste. The wines are not cheap, but they are reasonably priced for a small, quality vineyard. The small room is not fit for large parties, and the road to the tasting room is not fit for big buses. Which is just fine by me, as it feels like an insiders gem. Also nice to hear it is dog-friendly! read more

Had a bottle of their wine at Single Thread and loved it. Went to look for it at the vineyard, and discovered a gem!! We bought all kinds. Aromatic whites and plumpy fruity reds!!! Love that it's so low key without any hype. I hope they stay as it for at least another 100 years!! read more

To those in the know, Joseph Swan, the founder of his namesake winery, was part of California wine-making royalty. He was responsible for some of the best Russian River vintages from the 1970s and 80s, from crisp, fruit-forward Chardonnay to brooding, vineyard-specific Pinot Noir, to memorable, age-worthy Zinfandel, with a smattering other varietals thrown in for good measure. Joel Peterson, who would go on to found Ravenswood in Sonoma, got his start by working with Swan on batches of ZInfandel back in the day, and that's just part of the story here. To those who don't happen to know the backstory, today's Joseph Swan Vineyards might come across as a bit more rustic-chic than a polished and prim wine critics' darling. It's understated in the extreme, with simple wooden signs, scattered wine-making equipment, open-cardboard boxes of bottles stacked up on the walls, and a tasting room that, well, isn't exactly a room at all, just a small corner of the main winery otherwise taken up by office space, lab space, and rows of moveable barrels in which various vintages of wine slowly age and mature until they are - by consensus vote - deemed ready for release to the general public. You can visit here on weekends without an appointment; just read ahead of time the directions on the winery web page, which is simple but sufficient, so that you don't get your wires crossed while navigating the narrow backroads in this pretty little section of the Russian River AVA, where some of the region's best cool climate wines are made. You can also make prior arrangements by phone or email to taste on Fridays and Mondays. If you happen to come on a Friday before noon, you may find yourself tasting through 4-6 newly opened bottles, depending on what the current releases look like. This will likely include a white or two (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Grenache Blanc), several Pinots (vineyard-designate, or a multi-vineyard blend), a Zinfandel, a Syrah, or another red such as Petite Sirah or Tannat. The whites are released a few years after harvest; the reds may be aged 3-5 years or more. Our favorite from a September 2016 tasting was a 2010 Great Oak Vineyards Syrah, followed by two 2012 Pinots (Great Oak and Trenton View). 2014 Viognier and Grenache Blanc wines, aged in stainless steel barrels rather than oak, were beautifully aromatic and delicately made. At JSV, nearly all the wine comes from estate vineyards or from vineyards within a few miles of the property, often owned by friends of the crafty and creative winemaker, Ron B., and his partner, Lynn, who together oversee the operations with the help of a small number of hands-on apprentices and assistants. You'll likely encounter others in the tasting room who know ahead of time about Joseph Swan's reputation for scoring wines in the mid- and upper-90s by the major critics whose opinions still matter (Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Prince of Pinot, etc.). This doesn't mean that you need to share their views, of course, but it gives you some sense of the gravitas here that lies beneath the cool-casual atmosphere. It looks effortless, and at times this may indeed be the case, but years of work, play, experimentation, and daring have all gone into the process that results in some sophisticated wines, even by Russian River Valley's high standards. See what you think. There are lots of other good places nearby, if you don't like things at the Swan, such as Taft Street Winery, Pellegrini Wine Co., and Joseph Phelps - Freestone. But I gotta think that you'll like this particular Swan quite a bit. An ugly duckling he most certainly is not! read more

The wines just get better and better. This vineyard makes outstanding Pinot noir and releases them only when ready to drink. The wine maker obviously takes great care and knows his stuff!! Fabulous wines and a casual laid back atmosphere for tasting. Love it! read more

What wine tasting is SUPPOSED to be like. Unpretentious, honest folks, enjoying the sharing of good wines. Prices are appropriate, and the wine maker was happy to tell us all about his different varietals. read more

Joseph Swan Vineyards is likely the most special and interesting winery in the United States. With limited, handcrafted production and a variety of interesting and unique vineyard sources and varietals sold at unbelievably fair prices I have not yet found a peer in quality to price ratio. The entire staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their wines and ready to provide a favorable tasting experience. Rod, the winemaker for over twenty years, is eager to discuss his wines and techniques, as well as the rich history of the Trenton area and Sonoma County in general. Give Joseph Swan a try, you too may quickly become enamored of their approach to fine wines. read more

Oh My God! I'm going to keep this simple- GO HERE NOW! Wines to die for... Most probably the only 5-star rating I shall ever give about anything, anywhere, anytime for any reason. Yes, it's that good! read more

I love Joseph Swan Pinot. I recently went to the tasting room while showing some friends around the Russian river valley, we had a great time. This is the quintessential Sonoma county tasting experience: JS has history, great wine, nice non-pretentious people in the tasting room, and they still have the Sonoma county funk that is what makes this area so special. read more

Bad service. They would not finish our tasting because we were loud. With so many options in Sonoma I don't recommend wasting your time here. read more

Terrible service. If you have more than 4, DO NOT VISIT. If you have 4 or less make sure you are NOT enjoying yourself. I was cutoff for being "loud" which means you cannot have fun while tasting their wine. Wine is mediocre at best anyways so I suggest trying ANY OTHER vineyard in the Russian rive valley. read more

I first came here ten years ago and was so impressed with the kindness of the employees and the quality of the wine that I came back ten years later. Their wines are some of the few age worthy wines made in California. The employees know their wines and wine in general. The setting is very rustic with old wine equipment and wine barrels. If you happen to like well balanced, elegant wines can will get better with age, I highly suggest visiting this winery. read more

Great Zins & Pinots. Their Zins seem to have staying power. Meaning, I recently drank a 1999 and it was still very good.

Really nice people and lovely wines. The setting is humble but homey. A real treat.

Incredible Pinot - and fantastic Chardonnay and I am not a Chard fan. Great lo-fi tasting room with very approachable non-snobby staff. Do not miss this winery and support them in every way you can. I suggest becoming a wine club member here - as its a great way to try their wines. Another good way to check them out is during barrel tasting weekends in March. read more

We use Rod and Lynn at Joseph Swann as one of our best examples of why people should visit Sonoma County and not "six flags over Napa". Deux Amis used to be the other before they moved. They used to have two barrels and a 2 x 12 as their counter. This is slightly more posh but you truly understand you're dealing with the winemaker and not an intermediary. Every one of their wines is unique. The individual palette will decide what they find drinkable or superb. This should definitely be on the map for anyone who truly wants a genuine feel of the wine country for great people and great wine. read more

Took a 2012 Pinot Noir to Flavor last night. Was an excellent compliment to the grilled lamb. Yum. Great price too.