If you love wine, have a dog, are in need of a nice winery with cozy vibe and passing through the Healdsburg area, you HAVE TO stop by Merriam!!! We've been to Merriam in February 2024 for their valentine wine tasting paired with chocolates. At that time, it was a sunny day and we spent the afternoon in their courtyard while our dog ran around playing with Yogi the winery pup. We were so impressed back then but haven't had chance to come back till recently. We were on our way back from the Mendocino Coast area and it was raining cats and dogs. We decided to stop by Merriam to take shelter from the rain and let my pup (and us!) released a bit :) Merriam is conveniently located right off the 101 freeway. You can actually spot it out when you travel down 101 South. The white exterior paint, the truck and cute greeneries around the front area of the wineries and vineyard make it welcoming. We feel like we've come to a friend's house instead of a business. That is in fact the vibe we felt! As soon as we walked in, Yogi the pup run up to us, wagging his tail happily like he recognized us. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. They gave us time to settle in and offered extra blankets. We appreciated Rhonda who patiently explained about all the wines while pouring them for us. We ended up cuddling cozily on the couch in the corner, looking at the rain while sipping on wines ! Wine tastings for 2 people plus 2 bottles of wines to bring home costed us around $150, which is a really great deal in my opinion! $150 won't get you far in Napa the overpriced and overrated wine spot! We left Merriam feeling pampered and happy! Such a cherry on top for our amazing Mendocino trip ! With many choices of wineries and vineyards, give Merriam a chance and you can thank me later read more

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What's there not to love about Merriam? Merriam starts off by welcoming you and your party with a glass of wine seconds upon arriving to the beautiful estate property (what service!?) and then you are greeted to your table either in the garden area (low comfy chairs) or at the main tasting area with tables and water feature. Andrew (who is our absolute favorite to taste with) just makes it so much fun; a little wine, a little knowledge, and of course a lot of wine. Plus how can you not love that there are multiple dogs roaming around the property. Make Merriam apart of your day and you won't be disappointed. read more

Great vineyard and joined the club. Dog friendly so Fido can hand out and wine was smooth. Tasting was great. They are generous.

We were greeted by the cutest dog, Yogi, and two tastes of wine before we even stepped foot in the tasting room! Amazing service by Claudia and great atmosphere. Would absolutely recommend this spot. The fume blanc and the Malbec were standouts for us. Tasting was reasonably priced. This place also serves wine by the glass and by the bottle (not just tasting), which is getting harder to find in this area. Dog friendly! Will definitely be back! read more

Merriam Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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3 plus years of getting to know the most amazing team and incredible wines in the Sonoma Valley. Tasting indoor or outdoor is amazing! read more

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My husband surprised me with a weekend getaway of wine tasting to celebrate our one year anniversary and Merriam Vineyards was our first stop. Admittedly our stops were largely dictated by them being dog-friendly as we brought our pup along to celebrate with us. Upon arriving my first reaction was being pleasantly surprised to find an EV charger on site as I am slowly getting over range anxiety as new owner of an electric vehicle. After plugging up, I had a feeling this was going to be a good experience but I never could have imagined what awaited me when I turned around. Yogi the dog literally came up to us to welcome us and escort us from the parking lot to the check in desk. It was literally the cutest thing ever and the fact that he and my Winnie got along just fine meant everything. Once we arrived at the check in desk, we were warmly greeted with a delicious glass of Chardonnay. I assumed they were knew who we were or were expecting us but after handing us the tasting and a quick stroll to the patio, I gathered that this was just commonplace at Merriam Vineyards because they didn't actually know if we did or didn't have a reservation and I thought to myself, "Wow, what service." Once it was established we had a reservation they took us to our table but allowed us to move tables if we liked which we did to have more space between our party and the next so our dog wouldn't be a bother. We then proceeded to enjoy a flight with a customized menu, even got the chance to enjoy some wines off menu, and a cheese board. All this while enjoying the view of their vines and the weather on the outdoor patio. Also there were two other dogs that stopped by to say hello throughout our visit. Our attendant, Andrew, was friendly and informative. The owner, Evan, happened to drop by and greeted us which made us feel even more welcomed and special. Overall, this was the best experience my partner and I have ever had wine tasting. It was such a positive experience that the service, plus our favorite sip (the fumé blanc) is really what made the decision to join their wine club a no brainer. Can't wait to return! read more

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We stopped by on a spur-of-the-moment decision to Merriam Vineyards. It is down a road adjacent to the Highway 101. It was a nice sunny day and we lucked out as there was only one other table occupied. We set outside with great views and the Highway noises were nicely blunted by the landscaping so it was not an issue. We had exceptional service by a young lady whom I am sorry to say I don't remember her name. (We visited on January 28th if that helps the owner/management give acknowledgement to the young lady.) She met us at the front near the parking lot with complimentary glasses of Rose that I liked. I am not a huge fan of Rose but I would drink that again and might even buy a bottle. There was plenty of spacing between the tables even if they were filled up and they had at least two outdoor seating areas and a large parking lot. We were given breadsticks to enjoy with our wine tasting and were immediately greeted by the breadstick taster, a very friendly black and white dog that was your best friend as long as you were holding a breadstick. We tasted all the offerings on the wine list. I am not a usual fan of Chardonnay but I liked this one, 2021 Undisclosed Vineyard Chardonnay. We liked all the wines, some more than others and ended up leaving with several bottles. Again, the service was GREAT! She did not hover around us but knew when we were getting low on wine and magically appeared. Great place to visit. read more

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I cannot more highly recommend this family-owned business! This review is based more on my visits over the past two years, not a singular visit. But, we were just here recently. The wine is AMAZING, especially for the price. I brought a retired friend of mine, who happens to be an accredited sommelier, and despite his desire to let go of a few wine clubs - he joined upon his first visit. The staff are so friendly and attentive! The venue is modern, clean, so cozy. Maybe not the winery to bring little kids to, but a very comfortable and stylish environment. The wine pick-up parties are LEGENDARY. We also LOVE the winery dog Yogi, but don't let him eat your breadsticks! (My wife loves the complimentary breadsticks). Yogi loves to say hello, but he really just wants your breadsticks You won't regret a visit to Merriam Vineyards - I guarantee it!! (unless you don't like wine, but if that is true, what are you doing reading this far into the review? ) read more

Merriam Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Merriam Vineyards is conveniently located right off 101 and is in the Eastern Hills of Sonoma's Russian River Valley.  I visited Merriam Vineyards on a rainy Tuesday late morning. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a Rose wine outside. We then proceeded to the barrel room, which is their current tasting room while the main tasting room is undergoing renovations. The barrel room is absolutely beautiful and was cozy on a rainy day. Liz hosted us and was so warm and welcoming and knew a ton about the wines! They have a wide variety of wines and there seemed to be something for everyone! Their grapes are sustainably farmed, and estate grown, and the tasting includes five wines. I had the single vineyard tasting, which included a 2020 Chardonnay, 2020 Diana's Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2018 Windacre Vineyard Merlot, 2018 Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Windacre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. I loved all of the wines I tried and purchased the Rose and Merlot!  I loved my tasting experience and highly encourage visiting Merriam Vineyards! I know I can't wait to go back sometime soon! read more

I loved our visit here! Super cute venue and the customer service was outstanding! While walking up, we were greeted with two complimentary tastings of rosé we hadn't even reached the check-in podium yet, that's how great the service is. We sat inside because it was raining and it was very comfortable and we really enjoyed our ambassador that served us. She was super knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. It was a very engaging experience and we felt welcomed. They're dog friendly and have a house pup that roams around. They also have free EV charging out front, which was a nice surprise! Thanks again and can't wait to come back! read more

Merriam Vineyards - Inside tasting area and the house dog - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

The wine was tasty and staff were super sweet. Beautiful facility and i love how they greet everyone with a glass of wine. Great service. True winery experience! read more

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We visited for a tasting on our anniversary. From the moment we arrived they made us feel like VIPs. We were greeted by Yogi, the cute winery dog and shortly after by two glasses of wine brought out to us near our car (despite it raining). We had our dog with us as well and it was great to be able to have her with us for the tasting. When we sat down they brought us breadsticks and menus that said "Happy Anniversary" on them - this was such a nice detail that we really appreciated. Trey was pouring for us and he was friendly and knowledgeable and even went off menu a few times for us to be able to try a variety of different wines. He took us on an impromptu tour of the facilities and let us try some barrel wine too! He made it feel like a really special day and unique experience for us. We learned so much about the wine making process. Dale also stopped by our table to welcome us and was very nice and gave us some recommendations for other wineries and things to do in town. During our reservation a large party arrived and sat close to us. The staff asked if we wanted to move a bit further from the group since they were loud (but not disruptive or anything). It was just very nice of the staff to observe this and offer to move us. Overall we had an amazing time and we will definitely be back! We're looking forward to coming back on a sunny day and experiencing the outdoor areas. read more

Merriam Vineyards - Menu with "happy anniversary" - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

We've been to countless wineries in Sonoma and Napa and this is by far our favorite. The wine is excellent but the staff is what kept us coming back and ultimately led us to become members. You'll be greeted with a glass of rosé as you walk toward the tasting room. Sara always took good care of us during our tastings and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to wine but makes you feel like family while you're there. The Estate Manager, Evan, makes a point of interacting with customers but the real star of the show is their dog, Yogi. The new tasting room is gorgeous and is the perfect place for wine lovers to sip on some wine, both inside and outside. Make a special trip here or take a quick ride off the 101 for a tasting- you'll be glad you did. read more

Merriam Vineyards - Entrance as you walk toward the tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Where do I begin? I stumbled upon this place on my visits to Healdsburg a few months ago. I wasn't expecting much as there are plenty of amazing wineries I'm and around Healdsburg. I was blown away by the wines, the experience, the ambiance, and the friendly staff. Most notably, Alison! She is awesome. In fact, she is a huge part of why I came back with an even larger group to tell people about their wines and this place. The property is beautiful without being too ostentatious. The outdoor area, especially in the fall, is just gorgeous. All the yellows and oranges of the vines and the reds coming from their Japanese maples made for some really amazing pictures. The best part of their property is that the staff is just so friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I have to give kudos to Allison pretty much running a one-woman show and tending to 8+ tables all by herself. As for the wines, I love their Golddust and their rosé. But really they're all great! This establishment is exactly why I prefer Sonoma county wines over Napa. Family-owned, smaller production, minimal tourists, and maximal wine-enthusiasts. I highly recommend this place and I can't wait to visit again. Don't forget to bring your dog! read more

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We had Sarah Carli help us and she was lovely! We enjoyed our time and the wine so much we joined the wine club. If you're looking for somewhere to go with your pup I highly recommend they were so sweet to our dog. That's how we originally found them we were looking for dog friendly places and this winery did not disappoint. read more

I honestly could never say enough wonderful things about Merriam Vineyards. I'm currently pregnant and it has legit been disappointing that I haven't been able to return for a visit recently. Soon!!! I've done the "Estate Vineyard and Winery Tour" twice now. Once with my husband and then I went back with a friend. The attention to detail (we were greeted with a glass of wine when we arrived), to the in-depth tour (I walked away knowing so much more about wine, organic farming, and bottling), to the tasting (there wasn't a single wine that wasn't delicious) made this such an amazing experience! Plus, that patio with the vineyard doggie running around was the peak of restfulness. read more

Merriam Vineyards - wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

My favorite winery! Amazing, kind staff who offer a personalized experience for each tasting. Both family and animal friendly. Stunning views, great wine and mock-tails. They also have great charcuterie options if you order in advance! Definitely will be retuning. read more

Merriam Vineyards is quite the place. The wonderful atmosphere and most welcoming staff. We were welcomed with a glass of wine before we even entered the doors. We felt like we were in the series fantasy island and everyone comes out to greet you. We were walked through a wonderful tasting of wines and even got to try "Miktos" and his friends straight out of the barrel. The property is beautiful and while walking the property feels as if you were living out in the country with no worries in life. Merriam is a nice place to visit rain or shine. We were there during a bit of showers, but it only made the experience more fun, relaxing and cozy. Thank you Merriam for having us as your guest and donating this experience to support Public Media. Keep up the good work! read more

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Great tasting experience all around. Stopped in on a rainy Thursday afternoon after calling for an appointment 15 minutes earlier. Main tasting room under renovations so they repurposed part of the barrel room nicely. Fantastic wines with quite a few surprises. Highly recommended. read more

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I'm always dreaming of the wines that we tasted on our wonderful Sunday morning at Merriam! Our friends, who also own a winery in the area, suggested that we stop by Merriam to try a new spot and we weren't disappointed. They met us in the parking lot with glasses of rose and two precious dogs, so I knew it was going to be a great time. The tasting was great, and I loved the chardonnay that we tried. I'm typically a red wine person, but this chardonnay was incredible. Throughout our tasting, every Merriam family member on site stopped by to say hello to our rambunctious group and were very kind. They made the tasting special and threw in a few extra tastes outside of the menu. The decor inside the tasting room is also stunning! The views both inside and outside are beautiful, and it was a perfect fall morning to enjoy a wine tasting. The service was wonderful, and I highly recommend trying! read more

Merriam Vineyards - The beautiful view from the front of the property! - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Definitely worth wine tasting here because they are so attentive that you feel like a VIP! We were each greeted with a glass of wine as soon as we got out of our car so we could sip on the way to the tasting area. The outdoor patio has a very pretty garden for bird watching while you taste. Just about every staff member on the premises came by to greet and chat with us which was a nice change from some of the wineries where you feel rushed. The experience was so nice and relaxing we ended up staying two hours! Their merlot was one of my favorites and made me wonder why the varietal gets such a bad rap. My boyfriend ended up joining the wine club and we can't wait to go back for the member events. read more

I truly want to like this winery. In fact, we traveled back to Sonoma from Phoenix to enjoy a nice dinner with them. However, they were completely rude and unprofessional. Everyone in our party was a member of the winery, and they treated us like trash, with no form of respect or courtesy. When we tried to talk to the owner (why we joined in the first place, he's great), the son refused and said we are not allowed to, because he didn't feel it was appropriate Unfortunately, now we are canceling our membership, and I don't anticipate returning, assuming the son will take over the winery. read more

My family and I visited for a three day weekend, and we had the pleasure of visiting Merriam Vineyard. It's a gorgeous setting with wonderful wine and a lovely staff. I would return in a heartbeat. read more

Cannot praise Merriam enough!!! The grounds are breathtaking, especially with their recent upgrades. We went in the later afternoon and sat inside the smaller farmhouse which provided some coolness from the heat. Sara was absolutely amazing; accommodating, knowledgable, and fun. The best part: Yogi the vineyard pup. read more

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As we drove onto the property we were blown away by the beautiful landscaping and clean cut aesthetic. As we walked up to the tasting room we were approached by the best greeter I've ever met, Yogi, the Springer Spaniel. This sweet pup led us into the building where Dale introduced himself and got us situated on the patio, where every table had comfortable, stylish seats and awnings. The shade and afternoon breeze provided a perfect temperature for lingering conversation. As we tried a white, one of our party asked if they had any Rosé, and Dale treated us to a tasting, even though it wasn't on our tasting list. As we continued Dale treated us to a nut mix and bread cubes with olive oil that is made from trees on the property. Each tasting included a background on the flavor and insight into the flavors and local lore. The presentation (and wine) was amazing. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Ciana is the best!! She has the best hospitality so if she's ever here you should definitely ask for her! We've been members for about 6 years and she's always soo pleasant! We love it here!! read more

We've been members of the Merriam Vineyard wine club for years, and it's always delicious! The venue itself is gorgeous, the family is super kind and personable. Evan, who runs the place, has excellent taste in wine and has always been a joy to talk to. 10/10 would recommend a visit! Definitely try their Fume Blanc!!! read more

We have tasted at Merriam 3 times and became members recently, the thing I enjoy most about them is the large amount of wine varietals they make as well as the tasting experience. The tasing room they have now before the new addition is awesome. Great tasing experience and delicious wines. The hosts especially Trey are very friendly knowledgeable and make the tasting experience great. read more

Merriam Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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So wonderful! We were greeted by Tess and Yogi and had a wonderful experience with our tasting. The only wine club we joined during our 2 week stay in California. Amazing wine read more

Merriam Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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This is the first time we've been at this winery. They have fabulous wines; white, Rosè, and red. We love their Pinot Noir. The staff is super friendly and fun, especially Chris. We would definitely come back again. The extra bonus is, if you buy a bottle of wine they will waive one tasting fee. It is almost unheard of nowadays. Highly recommend. read more

Merriam Vineyards - Photo with Chris - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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A real hidden gem! We had our little princess micro event at Merriam Vineyards. Very beautiful winery and views. Amazing owners and Oh the wine was one of the most delicious wine we have ever had. If your planning a wine tasting I highly recommend MV. And if your having a private event I also highly recommend this place. read more

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Great wines and Sara was an excellent host. Look forward to returning when the outdoor area is complete.

I've been a Merriam member for over 7 years, since my daughter and I wandered in after 2 days of tasting at other Russian River wineries and they won me over with their wines. I've enjoyed their wine club selections for years. This year to celebrate being fully vaccinated my daughters and I went RVing through the Russian River and we stopped for a tasting at Merriam. It was the highlight of our wine tasting on this trip. The staff was amazing. Super friendly and attentive. The patio was lovely, I had my ancient, 18 year old pit bull with me, and they were very accommodating with her. The overall experience was a 10 out of 10 read more

The good lord grants some of us, if we are lucky, a few places in the world that make our hearts sing and give us a deep sense of peace. Merriam Vineyards has been such a place for me ever since my first visit fifteen years ago. Put simply, this place kicks ass. The Merriams are kind people and a ton of fun to be around. Evan, the son of the owners and current manager of the place, continues the family's stellar stewardship with an intuitive sense for hospitality and a deep knowledge of wine. Sadly, I live across the country now and visit less than I'd like. However, my wine club membership is a perfect reminder that such a heavenly place exists, and when I share or gift bottles with friends, they are able to share in that delight. I'd give 50 stars if I could. Congrats Merriam family on having the best vineyard in California! read more

We had a small group stop in for a tasting. Evan, apparently the manager and son of the owner, made my wife and her friends incredibly uncomfortable. Given the location, there are many other better places for wine and respectable treatment. We will certainly never return. read more

This was literally 5 minutes from the Airbnb we were staying so we thought we would check it out. This is a smaller winery and did not have a lot of people there on a Thursday night. We had a child with us and the wine attendant Nancy was super nice and knowledgeable about the wine. It was also cool that she was not annoyed we had a child with us who loved playing outside on the patio. The furniture and ambiance is very nice. The wine was stylelisticly very French in style, if you are into that it was very good.they also do a great job of keeping the wine without having it spoil or at the wrong temperature. Give it a shot, it's right off the 101. read more

Such a fun experience! Amazing wines and great ambiance! Dale and Alison were fantastic while taking care of us on the beautiful patio. read more

Merriam Vineyards - Super cute patio! - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

On our way to another vineyard that was unfortunately closed for the day, stumbled upon Merriam. It was a picture perfect day, and the estate was very inviting. Just as we exited the vehicle, a host greeting us each with a tasting of the Rose of the day, which was fantastic. We were brought to a shaded outdoor patio, set up at a ornamental wooden table and chairs set up with cold water and breadsticks. Our host came over to greet us with clean crystal clear wine glasses and a quick history of the vineyard. The host provided a pair of similar pours to compare with easy new tasting. Sara was extremely knowledgeable about the history, origin and making of each wine. She was pleasant and fun to be with. Not rushed at all, 3 hours had gone by and the wine was fantastic...so much, we became members! The owner came by to introduce himself and was very grateful for the patronage...and Yogi (his gorgeous English spaniel) was an added touch to the ambiance. Highly recommend you check out this hidden gem! read more

A must visit in Sonoma County. Set just on the edge of the Russian River Valley this property produces some of the best Pinot Noir and Merlot I have tasted to date. Merriam Vineyard grapes are well tended for throughout the growing season with most being grown directly on the property. It is a family owned and operated business, so be sure to ask if Peter or Evan are around, I'm sure they will be more than happy to show you around the place! Whether you are just stopping by or looking for a new setting to explore while in Healdsburg make sure to stop here for a taste. **I must not forget to add that their wine ages fantastically. We loved the Pinot so much we got a case. Love to break out an occasional bottle when we have company over, it never fails to impress. read more

Very friendly staff and they even have treats for dogs in their air conditioned tasting room. Wines are just ok and moderately priced for the quality. We had a complimentary tasting card so we saved $10 fee. Wouldn't return since the wine was underwhelming. read more