We scheduled a tasting at MacLaren during our recent stay in Sonoma. So glad we did! The wine is lovely, and a nice change of pace with Syrah being the star. Our tasting was done by Heather, the co-owner and wife of Steve, the winemaker. We had a lovely time with her, and thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Steve stopped by for a bit before he had to head to an event, and we enjoyed hearing some of his stories and information on the wine. Definitely one not to miss! read more

We discovered Maclaren about 8 yrs ago on a trip to Napa/ Sonoma. We were driving in Sonoma, looking for a winery to stop into to kill time for a later wine tasting reservation. My wife called Maclaren to see if they had an opening, as it is appointment only for a personal tasting. Steve, the owner and chief bottle washer, answered the phone and scheduled a last minute tasting. 30 min later we pulled in to his property. He has a small but personal tasting room that makes you feel like you are a a friends place. Much of a positive wine tasting experience is the interaction with the owner/ operator/server and Steve is the trifecta of all 3. Great sense of humor and the perfect host. We fell in love with the wines at the first sip! His cool weather Syrahs are the best I've ever had. We have been members there ever since and always look forward to his amazing member parties that his amazing wife Heather, Steve's boss, puts together. read more

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If I could describe MacLaren is just one word, it would be.. Perfection! When booking our yearly anniversary trip to wine country, I wanted to explore places that we haven't visited yet and immediately MacLaren's amazing reviews stood out to me! Located in Kenwood, the estate is located on a gorgeous piece of land with a stunning view from the tasting porch of the glorious vineyard. Upon walking up, we were welcomed by the winemaker himself, Steve, who is beyond amazing and made this tasting experience one of a kind and truly special! Since our visit was just as CA started to slowly open up during Covid, we were the only one's at the winery for a tasting {as appointments were being scheduled accordingly to abide by social distancing policies} - Steve sat with us during the entire visit and we had the opportunity to just sit and relax, get to know Steve and how his wine-making journey began and really unwind and enjoy our visit. A+ service to the max - You leave the winery feeling like you are a true friend and this experience was one we will not soon forget! The wines!! The wines speak for themselves and are beyond delicious {and we loved learning the story behind each wine and the meanings of each of their names}. Our tasting consisted of a few whites as well as a few reds - Each one was better then the last and it's very hard to pick a favorite - But here are a few MUSTS: The 2019 Aida Viognier, The 2019 Lee's Sauvignon Blanc, The 2017 Atoosa's Vineyard as well as The 2016 Heather Pinot Nior! We recently took the 2019 Aida Viogner on a boat trip with friends and they could not stop talking about the "best wine we've ever had"! We are cherishing our bottles and opening them when cooking a beautiful dinner {with Steve's spot-on recommended food pairings}. Steve didn't even have to ask us to join the wine club.. about half way through the tasting, The Hubs and I just looked at each other with a look that said.. Yup, we are joining this wine club! Best decision ever! The shipments are clearly laid out - You will receive an email stating what bottles you'll be getting within each shipment as well as the opportunity to swap out bottles for your faves & the opportunity to track your delivery so you know exactly when you can taste all the deliciousness! Our visit at MacLaren blew us away and there aren't enough words to describe just how much we love this winery! If you are in wine country.. MacLaren is a MUST! And tell Steve I said hello! read more

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My wife and I didn't even know this winery existed, even though we live just up the street. My friend invited us to a tasting, and we are so glad we now know about it! It's a cute little winery out of the way, but easily accessible for my disabled wife. Steve, the winemaker and owner, was an absolute delight and we had a fun time bantering about wine and a variety of topics. He really knows his wine, and I learned some things today listening to his explanations about the different Syrahs he makes. I will definitely be back! read more

In the wine business and vineyard owner since 1970s, I found the wines alright (C+ to B-); their prices 20-25 percent higher than competition in Napa, Mendocino and Sonoma counties; and the owner who says "I have no employees" somewhat of an egomaniac. Avoid this place, as we wasted nearly $700, no deductions for full case purchases, et al., and instead go to Kenwood, Chateau St. Jean, or the dozens of superior wineries in both Dry creek valley, Knights Valley, and Russian River Appelations. read more

If you have a chance to stop in to visit Steve and this beautiful property, do it!! It was a VIP experience the whole time. I made reservations for 3 of us to come do a private tasting. My email inquiry was responded to immediately. The whole visit completed exceeded my expectations. Steve came out to greet us, super friendly, funny and personable! He led us into a darling tasting room filled with soothing music, stunning natural light, a long table decorated with our tasting flight information, glasses and a pen to take notes. His sense of humor and light-heartedness made conversation really easy. His knowledge of wines, grapes, vineyards, what pairs well with certain foods, etc ...it's all top notch! I left having learned so much and excited to pair some of the wines I bought with the different foods Steve recommended. This is the kind of place that makes you wish you could go wine tasting everyday. It was relaxing, charming, fun and comfortable. Thank you Steve for showing us such a lovely Sunday. Can't wait to bring more friends to visit again! Cheers :) read more

MacLaren - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Nearly three years later and my first stop back in Sonoma for a wine-tasting is with MacLaren. The tasting lounge itself hasn't changed since I was here and neither has the wine. It's still absolutely wonderful. We found the tasting process to be calm and relaxing and really enjoyable with plenty of time in between each sample to talk, socialize and really get to enjoy the experience. Steve has a tremendous passion for his wines. Listening to him talking about the choices he's made for where to acquire "berries" and when to crush "the fruit" and how to age it and such, it's amazingly interesting. It is worth it to see and enjoy. I look forward to drinking this bottle of Sauvignon Blanc soon and thinking about my time here in Sonoma. read more

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Many thanks to our friend who introduced us to this amazing winery. My husband and I recently visited MacLaren Winery for a private tasting with Steve in his lovely tasting room in Sonoma. He specializes in Syrah, though also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir (and a Viognier that also must be fabulous because it was sold out). Each Syrah we tasted was unique and incredibly smooth. I knew pretty quickly that I would be joining as a member. The experience itself was a great time, Steve is engaging and down-to-earth and clearly passionate about what he does. Definitely recommend a visit and the wine. read more

MacLaren - In the MacLaren tasting room...see all those empty glasses? A good sign. - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

My cousins were in town so I decided to set up 2 tastings. The days of hitting as many as we could before we stumbled out of the place are long gone. One time a fellow yelper and I hit 7 places then had to taste through 20 Australian wines afterwards because we were comp'ed a room by them. But I digress. In the Rhone Valley in France they make these beautiful Syrah's with beautiful restrained fruit, light pepper, and cherry. They are amazing wines - you would see them as blends or just Syrah. We're talking Cote Rotie, Crozes Hermitage, and even some Chateauneuf Du Pape. They get these flavors because the grapes are picked a little younger which means more acidity (better for food), lower alcohol i.e., 12.5% not 16+% you often see with Syrah, It makes a Huge difference. These are really complex layered wines that evolve in your glass and are fantastic with a nice meal. Often I feel the big alcohol wines that are over ripe over shadow the food. These wines are right in step alongside a meal. My cousins and a friend, we'll call him 'Bobby J' went in around 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon. Steve Law, the winemaker and proprietor is located just off Sonoma Square down a walking alley around the corner and through the cement woods. He has some nice outdoor seating, and a beautiful friendly tasting room where you can stand at the bar like most places or have a comfortable seat with your friend's. We sat and he brought and described the wines too us. The first wine was a Sauvignon Blanc style which is akin to a Pouilly Fume from Loire, France. Much more complex than the average SB. I like most styles and particularly liked this one and bought a few bottles. Then we got into his vast array of Syrah's. None of these are what you've had before. If you Syrah doesn't thrill you then you definitely need to try these. If it does - then you definitely have to try these. I LOVED the Bonnie Glen and the Atoosa the best, but honestly liked all of them. They're all different styles, picked at different ripeness, terroir, and have different alcohol levels. A Truly Unique Experience for the wine lover. https://www.maclarenwine.com/Wines read more

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This is my favorite place in the alley! If you love syrahs or pinots, you will love this place. The syrahs are so rich in different flavors and kicks. The owner is super great and hospitable and gives you a quick description of each wine for you taste. There's lots of room to sit and even when it is a bit crowded, service is always on point and we never have to wait long for our next pour. read more

We had such a wonderful tasting experience here! Came with three adults and two babies. We were looking for a place with enough space for the strollers and not too stuffy/pretentious. Maclaren immediately felt warm and welcoming! It was such a treat to meet the actual winemaker and hear the stories behind his wines. I loved that he named two of his wines after his mother and his wife. At six wines for $20, the tasting also provided a lot of bang for your buck. (Fee waived with bottle purchase). We started with a perfect Sauvignon blanc, tasted three Syrah's, tasted a blend of the prior three and finished with a Pinot noir. My favorites were the Sauvignon Blanc and the moaveni. The later was a bold wine that would be excellent with a steak and dark leafy greens. Can't wait to pop it open for a special occasion! Space is very comfortable and we enjoyed lounging on the sofas. Mr Maclaren kindly gave us some local chocolate truffles for the road. Great hospitality and delicious wines! read more

MacLaren - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

The syrah wines here are not my thing. They taste harsh and have too many tannins for me. My wine usual disclaimer applies: Wine enjoyment is a subjective experience. What I don't like you may love. Each person's mouth chemistry is different and flavor perception varies. I love fried Brussels sprouts which you may abhor. I love fruit forward pinot noir wine, which you may think is too sweet and syrupy. Tasting room is modern and chic. Has comfy furniture to sit and relax. The owner is a delightful guy. Dig that Scottish accent. read more

Super cute tasting room! We appreciated the food pairing with the wines and Steve was awesome! He had a lot of information to share with us about his wines, which were all wonderful! Thank you Steve for this experience and being a part of making mom's birthday trip memorable! read more

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What a wonderful tasting at this very lovely tasting cottage with owner Steve. If you like Syrah's, you should make an appointment here! They also have a beautiful Viognier. Steve gives a great tour of his wines and his thoughtful wine making! read more

Four of us visited MacLaren for my brothers birthday. It was a relaxing and informative visit. We all kept our masks on until the tasting, Steve kept his on the entire time. Most important, the wines were outstanding. Steve is a great conversationalist...enough info about each wine, but not TOO much. read more

Special, private, entertaining, informative, beautiful wines and Steve is amazing - a must see when visiting the Sonoma Valley!

Went to MacLaren winery for the first with 4 other friends. We were met by Steve Law, the winemaker. Despite being almost 1/2 late for our appointment we were met with a pleasant greeting and were taken inside. We were made to feel comfortable and chatted a bit while Steve waited for one of our party trying to secure dinner reservations for later. Prior to tasting each wine, Steve was kind enough to share where the grapes were sourced as well as some of the process that he went through to make each wine. I am generally reserved when giving feedback and do not give praise easily. Each and every wine we tasted were flat out excellent! WOW!!! If you love wine and have not tasted his wine do yourself a favor see for yourself what an excellent winemaker Steve is. You will not be disappointed. read more

Steve is one the best winemakers out there. His Syrah is absolutely stunning and so are all of his other wines. I was honored to have him take time and share the wines with me. Don't not miss your chance to find your new favorite Syrah. Go visit him!!!! read more

MacLaren specializes in Syrah and does not disappoint. Owner and winemaker Steve Law produces some of the best in the country. The tasting room is comfortable, he is friendly, and even their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot are impressive. Excellent experience if you want a down to earth, non-pretentious, off the beaten path opportunity to learn more about one of Rhone's greatest grapes. read more

Cute, very intimate wine tasting lounge. Fully open for business. Do not let the recent CA wildfires discourage you from coming out to Sonoma Sq. which has all of its wine bars and restaurants open for. This particular wine tasting spot has two large bay window seating areas that can seat probably a total of 20-22 people. Plus the bar area which 8 or so people could stand at. The service was great. I was with a total of 11 people. Half of our crew arrived about 10 minutes after the rest of the group and we started our wine tastings at different times but our server knew exactly which wine each of us were on and did not skip a beat with bringing us our next pour. They had one white to taste and the rest were reds. I actually enjoyed the sauvignon blanc quite a bit. I also liked the "Drouthy Neebors" syrah red blend as well. If you buy a bottle of wine they will waive the tasting fee which is normally $20. Minus one star for small seating space and it also didn't appear your could buy any cheese or crackers or snacks, although many guests brought in their own snacks from outside. read more

Gorgeous vineyard! Steve and his wife are fantastic hosts. Loved learning about the history of the wine. A must-see/taste in Kenwood! I was with my brother and our parents, and we started our day up at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, then had our tasting at MacLaren. The tasting room is quaint and sun-filled. Highly recommend! read more

On a visit to the Sonoma area in May with our friends one of my assignments was to find a winery to visit near where we were staying in Kenwood. I stumbled upon it in my research and called for a tasting appointment. Little did I know what a great experience it would be. They had only just very recently opened up the tasting room behind their house, a beautifully remodeled barn of sorts. We were greeted by our host, Heather, one of the owners with a table set up with small bites for pairing with the wines. Their wines are phenomenal! We joined the wine club jointly with our friends even though we told ourselves we were not going to join any! Thank you, Heather, for a truly lovely tasting experience. Love your wines! read more

This is a hidden gem that has a small, cozy feel! The two men working here (forgive me I have the worst memory and don't remember their names) are delightful and super kind. You just feel comfortable and at home here. It's not a large space - there's a small bar you can stand and do your tasting at, or you can sit at the couches which are also very comfy. As a huge fan of syrah, I was glad to have found this place. There's not a lot of wineries who specialize in syrah, so MacLarens is now my go-to for syrah! The white they had us taste is also the first white I liked! "A white for cab-lovers" is how he pitched it, and it's true. Loved it. Purchase of a wine makes your tasting free! Also, we learned MacLaren is the Scottish spelling whereas Mclaren from How I Met Your Mother is the Irish spelling. Most important thing we learned that day. read more

Check out this small winery for its superb wines and informative, friendly and laid back owner Steve. He is very informative on how he chooses to grow his grapes and the resulting differences in the Syrahs he makes. The cottage setting is inviting and comfortable. The three of us had a grand time and Left wanting to continue to get his wines. Really worth the visit- you will be happy you did! read more

What a great experience! This place is a hidden gem just tucked away slightly from the Sonoma Square. We came in an hour or so before closing time and the four of us were the only customers. The man pouring was none other than the owner himself and he was very engaging and was full of fun stories. Very personable. The wine itself was AMAZING. I think we all bought wine. The wine was really good AND reasonably priced. I got a Syrah and a Zin, and they were probably some of the best wine I had on my honeymoon. Great experience and well worth the stop! read more

Can't overemphasize what an enjoyable visit we had to MacLaren! Steve is as genuine as they come, and it was hands down the best experience we had in Sonoma. It gave us great pleasure to join the club and support this small business! read more

Great experience in the wine country. Wonderful opportunity to sit down and taste with the owner/winemaker in a beautiful setting. Wine tasting as it should be with plenty of time to discuss each wine with the very passionate maker. A great opportunity for those looking to learn about wine as well as for the very experienced wine fan. Oh, and the wines are fabulous! I look forward to many more visits to MacLaren! read more

The winemaker is all about Syrahs and it shows... great wines and we especially loved the 2010! You can taste the expertise and care with every sip. There is one white - a Sauvignon blanc that his mother inspired and it's also VERY nice. Love love love the old-meets-new decor and relaxed vibe. Left with a few bottles and will definitely go back! read more

A great stop in the Alley this afternoon. I enjoyed the details that Steve shared with us about each particular wine. Tasting the three different Syrahs in succession and noting the subtle differences was indeed fun. Would come back with others to drink next time I come through. read more

The owner is excellent in his knowledge, selection, and discussion of wines. If you're in Sonoma Square you really ought to go here.

If you want wines that will please your palate behind your wildest dreams, this is the tasting room for you! It is also a privilege to meet Steve Law, a kind, funny and sweet winemaker! read more

Perfect, Rhône-style wines with an in-depth description of harvesting and winemaking.

I can't say enough good things! Their tasting room in downtown Sonoma is very comfortable. The owner set us up with glasses and let us chat in between awesome Syrahs. The most amazing part was we accidentally broke the bottle later that day. When we ran into the owner's wife the next day and told her the story, she gave us a brand new bottle! These people know hospitality...I would highly recommend adding them to your list next time you visit downtown wineries. read more

My sister and I had a terrific wine tasting at MacLaren. What better way to get an understanding of the wines and the terroir than directly from the vineyard owner? We had Steve's undivided attention for at least a half-hour as he explained where they grow their grapes, the nuances of flavor, etc. I highly recommend stopping by MacLaren if you are visiting Sonoma. read more

MacLaren wines are fabulous! I love their Syrahs, and my husband enjoys the Pinot and whites. Steve is a charming host, we always enjoy the experience tasting with him. Can't wait till he finishes his new tasting room! read more

This is a fantastic winery!! I loved all the Syrah's. Joined the wine club and can't wait to receive my shipment. Kyle was working the tasting room and was very knowledgeable! Had a great time. read more

Great wine tasting experience. The vintner really engages with you and gives you a really nice profile of each wine. The setup of the Syrah wines is excellent, really takes your through an experience. After the tasting, we each ordered a glass and just hung out with the owner and his friend and had a fabulous time. I highly recommend this place and will be back every time we are in Sonoma. Cheers! read more

We always make it a point to stop by MacLaren Tasting Lounge when we are in the Napa Valley. Their Syrah wines are excellent and Steve (the owner) is very knowledgeable about wine and pleasant to talk to. Steve's has a passion for his trade!!! read more

I've visited MacLaren twice and tasted the wines three times. Tasting lounge is the perfect name for the venue, as you are able to relax and taste with the owner/winemaker, which is a real treat. The ambiance is comfortable and casual, the wines stellar. MacLaren focuses on cool-climate Syrahs and it's always fun to taste them one after the other, accompanied by an lesson about what makes each cool-climate Syrahs special. MacLaren also makes a Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine lovers. A Pinot Noir release is waiting in the wings. However, I'm a Syrah girl through and through and these are some of the best you'll ever taste. read more

This was my favorite winery of the day when I visited Sonoma a couple weeks ago for a bachelorette party. The winemaker, Steve, was extremely accommodating for our group of 9-- he even opened up his tasting lounge early to give our group a special private tasting. From the moment he responded to my email inquiry, to signing up one of our group members for the wine club, he demonstrated excellence in business. The wine was delicious and moderately priced. I highly recommend this winery to friends and family! read more