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    Kosta Browne Winery

    4.5 (19 reviews)
    PriceyWineries
    Open • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    By appointment only

    Kosta Browne Winery Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Kosta Browne Winery

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    Concrete egg
    Jonathan B.

    Summary: Very good, hard-to-get, premium-priced Pinot Noirs While KB isn't as rare as it was a few years ago, it's still relatively unknown (no marketing) and hard to find. There's a multi-year wait to become a member and you have to re-apply every year. As all the reviews say, the wait is worth it. We were lucky enough to go with friends who had recently become members but hadn't visited yet. KB is a little hard to find. The address isn't even on the Web site because they don't allow drop-ins. Even with the detailed directions they gave us, we drove around the block twice until we found the U-shaped parking lot. Rachel was our host and, even though she had only been on board for a few months, was very knowledgeable and very welcoming. We tasted a Chardonnay while we took a tour and learned about the background of the winery. Apparently, Dan Kosta and Michael Browne started their wine business by saving their tip money from serving at a restaurant. KB ages in oak, steel, and concrete -- I had never seen a concrete egg that large. In the wine lab, we saw a machine that I think we were told costs $500K. But the highlight of the night was the Observation Room, so-called because it overlooks the production floor. We should all be so lucky to drink wine in a room like that. Speaking of which, we got to taste the little-known Observation Series. Of the three, my favorite was the Free James Pinot Noir. It comes from a cold patch in Freestone by the ocean and is the last KB site to be picked. The KB wines are really good but might not be for everyone as they are premium priced. If you can splurge, you should try one -- but they are small production winery and you probably won't find it at your local wine shop.

    2009 Keefer Ranch
    Fred T.

    So years after my first review, Kosta Browne is still making fantastic pinot's While it no longer as rare as it was years back, they still are somewhat hard to find. The vast majority of the wine produced goes to restaurants. The rest goes to members of its wine list. If you see it at a wine shop they purchased it from someone who has an allotment. Unlike many wine lists, you may have to wait till you receive an allotment. I had to wait several before I was allotted 6 bottles for my first allotment in 2010 and it was another 4 year until I started getting a trickle of single vineyards. Since then mine has grown steadily and now I can buy way more than I can consume. I believe that the list is much much shorter these days and the allocation ramps us pretty quickly. You start out with your entry level pinots, mainly the Sonoma Coast and Russian River. Time and yes the amount you purchase dictates if you will be moved up to the single vineyard wines. As before the allotment you receive is based a few factors. Wines ship 2 times a year divided into first the Appellation Wines (entry level) then the single vineyards later. 1) Time time time. How long have you been on the list 2) How much you purchase. Do you buy your full allocation or just a few bottles. 3) Production. If its a banner year, you may get more of a particular vineyard etc. If its a low production year, you may not even get an allotment of that particular vineyard. There are a few I have yet to receive like the 4 Barrel. We stated getting Magnums the last few years as well of the Appellation series. If you haven't sampled the wine or are lucky to have had a friend with a few, its easy to join and get a few bottles yourself with a bit of waiting.

    The tasting room
    Natalie C.

    I visited during COVID-19, so felt very lucky to have an opportunity to get to the tasting room once they finally opened it. The tasting room and experience was what you would expect from Kosta Brown. The wines were wonderful, our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and conversation was free-flowing. Would go back the next chance I have.

    Russell Batt letting us sample wines from the barrel. Check out his beautiful Panerai watch too.
    David C.

    Kosta Browne Wines are exceptional! Wine production is very limited as Kosta Browne is focused on delivering the very best Pinots: flavorful, intense, and balanced. Three interesting notes about Kosta Browne: * Kosta Browne wines are carried in only the very best restaurants across the US, many of them Michelin starred establishments. * The winery is not open to the public. Only members are allowed private wine tastings, tours and wine allotments. * Wine membership is very unique. You don't just sign up and within a month start getting a shipment of selected wines on a quarterly basis. The Kosta Browne wine membership list has a 2-4 year waiting list! A group of friends and I did a private wine tour and tasting with Russell Batt in June 2014. Amazing experience! We tasted 3 bottles and also sampled a handful of wines directly from the barrels. The overall vibe was laid back and comfortable. It was as if we were just enjoying wine in Russell's very own house. It was perfect. We learned a quite a bit about Kosta Browne: 1. How Dan Kosta and Michael Browne humbly started their wine business by saving tip money! 2. The Kosta Browne wine making process 3. Kosta Browne's three appellation wines: Sonoma Coast, Russian River and Santa Lucia Highlands. As we concluded our private event, I just wanted to immediately buy a few bottles of wine! Again, Kosta Browne doesn't sell any wines at the wine tour. No gift shop, either. I left feeling helplessly craving more Kosta Browne wine. Grapes and terroir help distinguish good wine from great wines but I've always been a believer that it's also about the employees. Great employees like Joyelle Finn and Russell Batt combined with great wines create the Kosta Browne experience. Thank you for an amazing experience! Hope to meet Dan Kosta and Michael Browne in the near future or have an opportunity to invest in Kosta Browne!

    Delicious wines

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    13 years ago

    Closed to the public. Only open to members for pickup. Get on the list; it is worth it. The best Pinots and a yummy Chardonnay

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    Ask the Community - Kosta Browne Winery

    Review Highlights - Kosta Browne Winery

    “I met the winemaker, Michael Browne, and he was so down to earth, friendly, knowledgeable, and enjoyable.”

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Fog Crest Vineyard

    Fog Crest Vineyard

    4.4(215 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    •$$

    What a lovely tasting experience! Each of offerings in the tasting was delicious - I left with two…read morebottles of rose! More importantly, it was a restorative and relaxing experience. I came out to Sebastopol for some solo time away from the craziness kids and work life. Connie was such a warm and welcoming presence as she came by with her each new pour. I had the patio to myself as I enjoyed the view and enjoyed my wine over a book. Couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience!

    This business does not care about it's customers and is so impossible to reach it's almost comical…read more I was a long-term customer of Fog Crest. In 2024 we received a shipment of wine where all the wine in the shipment was broken. In typical situations, wineries offer replacement of broken bottles, but Fog Crest was impossible to reach in spite of (literally) 50 phone calls and emails. Since I couldn't reach them, I canceled my subscription to their wine club. Flash forward a few months, they charge me another ~$500 on my credit card for wine, but never ship me any wine (in spite of the fact that I had already canceled online). Again, dozens of calls and emails, no answer and no response. Still trying. A few months after that, they charge me ANOTHER ~$500 on my credit card for wine, but don't ship that wine to me either. After probably 100 calls and emails, I finally talk to the wine club coordinator on the phone. She of course acknowledges my dozens of messages, and acknowledges my situation. She says she will replace the wine that was broken and figure out why they've been charging me for wine I haven't been receiving and make it right. But that she can't talk right now and she'd call me back with more information. That was a month ago. I've now called again dozens of times, and emailed. No response. Called and emailed the owner, no response. This is borderline criminal: $1,500 in charges for undelivered product, a non-existent customer service experience, and an online system so archaic that it doesn't process your cancelation and continues to charge you for product.

    Photos
    Fog Crest Vineyard - Great view

    Great view

    Fog Crest Vineyard
    Fog Crest Vineyard

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    Moondance Cellars

    Moondance Cellars

    5.0(150 reviews)
    5.2 mi
    •$$

    David's wine is superb! He always says that each person gets to decide what they like when it comes…read moreto tasting wine - we all have our own palates - but I find it easier to trust in David's. We have been members for years and it's always the highlight of a trip to wine country to stop by and have a delightful hour or two with the winemaker himself. You can't go wrong with a bottle of David's wine, a true gem!

    We were passing by and spotted this winery on the map - overall, we had a really enjoyable and…read morepeaceful visit for a one-off wine tasting. David was as nice in person as on the phone when booking the appointment the same day. We had the choice of indoor vs outdoor for the tasting - both were nice spots but it was really nice out with the picnic table, pond, scenic hills, horses, heron, rat terrier Mikey, and the lounge chairs where we could enjoy our BYO lunch (Mexican from Roy's). Moondance has been in this location for over 20 years and co-promotes businesses in town, including the local Nepalese spot where their wines are served (Yeti), which is pretty cool. They only make 4 wines right now - two reds, two whites - and there were fans of all between the two of us, especially the Sauvignon Blanc, the Chardonnay (which was less buttery and less dry than others), and the Pinot Noir. The pours were the standard smaller size, which at least one of us appreciated, lol. Our tasting ended with a tour of the old cars, which at least one of us also appreciated. A nice couple of hours well spent in Russian River Valley.

    Photos
    Moondance Cellars
    Moondance Cellars - Mike guarding the property

    Mike guarding the property

    Moondance Cellars - Outside

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    Outside

    Balletto Vineyards - Rose of Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

    Balletto Vineyards

    4.4(236 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$

    Through Platypus Tours, our host Gary introduced us to Gabriella at Balletto Vineyards. In…read moreaddition to the lovely grounds with lovely vines and the sustainable practices, Gabriella provided a tour of the winery which was so welcoming and informative. She shared insightful information about winemaking. We enjoyed the wine tasting experience in the outdoor tasting area and came home with wine to share with our family and friends.

    The first time I came here was around 2022, when Covid practices were still prevalent and these…read moreguys had a pleasant outdoor tasting area. I specifically came back here with my friends to enjoy some wine and a great outdoor experience with hopefully the same hospitality we got last time. We arrived and we were seated...it is still beautiful, but it seemed like the person who took care of our tastings just appeared to be very distracted and not so into the wine pours...we got small explanations of what we were getting and probably got the smallest tasting pours I have ever encountered anywhere...in which we got five. I thought the price tag of 30pp they would not be so stingy...and we did purchase a few bottles but there was no discount on the tastings even for that. I would highly encourage you to go elsewhere if you want to get a proper tasting. This place is just not the same as it was....what a pity.

    Photos
    Balletto Vineyards - Russian River Valley Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

    Russian River Valley Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

    Balletto Vineyards - BCD Vineyard Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Designate bottle wine at tasting room in Santa Rosa

    BCD Vineyard Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Designate bottle wine at tasting room in Santa Rosa

    Balletto Vineyards - Sebastopol Hills Vineyard Walking Tour Self Guided and Staff led

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    Sebastopol Hills Vineyard Walking Tour Self Guided and Staff led

    Iron Horse Vineyards - View from outside at Iron Horse

    Iron Horse Vineyards

    4.1(449 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    •$$

    Edit in response to comment: Visit is from November 15th, 2025. Closeup of moldy grape from…read morecharcuterie board is attached below now. We've heard a lot of stellar reviews for Iron Horse, so we were underwhelmed by our experience. To start, we checked in at the front, got a glass of sparkling to start, and was told to wait for everyone joining us to get here. We waited for a few minutes. Our host ended up forgetting us and started walking off with the other party when they finally showed up, and the guy we checked in with had to go tell him we were part of his group. I enjoyed the charcuterie box that comes with the tasting, albeit there was some moldy bits here and there. We got the harvest magnum experience ($90/person). They offer more affordable experiences as well. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with any of the wines. I did enjoy the seating experience, the charcuterie box, and the mini impromptu tour everyone was given of the production. The wine itself was underwhelming for the price and as nothing stood out to us, we finished our tasting and didn't grab anything to go. As we weren't wine club members here, the host didn't pay us much attention. Worth trying once, maybe, to see if their wines are to your liking.

    Ok the good. Beautiful place. Privately owned vs a lot of vineyards are being bought up. Great…read moreview. Damn good wines. A little pricey but damn good. The overall experience though lacks. Our host was not great. Greeting person seemed not friendly and stressed. Standing like that under an umbrella with no benches seems cheap and annoying. We bought wine and really like the Rued Chard and some of the sparkling. But we won't be back and we are locals. Stinks because for a few staff changes and nicer seats this place could have it all. Oh and outhouse bathroom not cool when you are spending money. Like your wines and magical view/location but too many easy fixes for us to come back or recommend.

    Photos
    Iron Horse Vineyards - A Winter Fairy Tale

    A Winter Fairy Tale

    Iron Horse Vineyards
    Iron Horse Vineyards - The View

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    The View

    Pax Wines

    Pax Wines

    4.1(88 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Pet friendly

    Pax Wines -- Sebastopol…read more What a little gem in The Barlow! Pax Wines has such a cool, relaxed atmosphere -- part wine tasting room, part cozy lounge. The indoor/outdoor space is beautiful, with art on the walls, comfortable leather couches and lounge seating inside, plus a lovely garden patio outside. The hospitality was amazing. Everyone was welcoming, knowledgeable and made the experience feel relaxed rather than rushed or pretentious. They also offer the perfect little bites to enjoy with your wine -- warm baguette with butter and rosemary, olives, charcuterie and assorted cheeses. Simple, delicious, and exactly what you want while sitting with a glass of wine. It's the kind of place where you plan to stop in for one glass and suddenly realize you've been sitting there enjoying yourself for a couple of hours. Such a great Sebastopol spot for wine, conversation and a relaxing afternoon. Definitely one of those places I'll be coming back to.

    Such a nice time! Came in here not sure what to expect, just walking around exploring all the shops…read morearound. The staff was so warm and knowledgeable! The cheeseboard was delicious. Cowgirl creamery, other awesome cheeses, fig spread, crackers and dried apricots, yum! The wine was delicious too, we got two different Chenin Blancs, both awesome! Will be back :)

    Photos
    Pax Wines - Sparkling Rosé on tap!

    Sparkling Rosé on tap!

    Pax Wines
    Pax Wines - By Leigh-Ann Beverley, www.bonafidepro.com

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    By Leigh-Ann Beverley, www.bonafidepro.com

    Kosta Browne Winery - wineries - Updated September 2026

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