Our party of 14 were provided the complimentary tasting experience since we were staying at the Flamingo Resort & Spa. Seated outside in their canopy tent with heaters, we were treated to 5 wines with a small charcuterie board. It was the perfect way to start the afternoon. Our host was gregarious, very knowledgeable of the wines, and gave us recommendations for places to eat. We would definitely pay for the experience if need be! read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

Tucked along Sonoma Highway at the corner of Laurel Avenue in Kenwood, Muscardini Cellars is a small, intimate tasting room that feels like a true labor of love. Founded by winemaker and owner Michael Muscardini, the winery beautifully embodies his vision of bringing a sense of "la dolce vita" to Sonoma wine country by celebrating great wine and the simple pleasures of life. Open here in this historical 160 year old school house for over ten years, and in operation for over a decade and a half, Muscardini Cellars is most celebrated for their Sangiovese wines as their grapes for this varietal are sourced exclusively to them and them alone providing for a uniqueness that cannot be found anywhere else. What brought a friend and I here for a warm winter weekend wine tasting was the fact that Muscardini Cellars was one of over fifty wineries participating in Sonoma Sips for the second year in a row where local wineries throughout Sonoma County offer walk-in visitors a tasting deal of three to four wine pours for only fifteen dollars, and in this day and age is a real treat. With plenty of parking and plenty of open seating both indoors and outside on their front patio that overlooks the Sonoma Highway, tasting room associates Nicole and Bethany treated us like VIPs. With a welcoming splash of their 2024 Pinot Grigio which was crisp and cool and had distinctive notes of peaches and melons throughout, it was a easy breezy way to start our special tasting. For our second pour, we enjoyed their signature 2021 Sangiovese, which is sourced from nearby Alice Vineyards, which we learned was started by a woman named Sandy and sources her grapes exclusively to Muscardini Cellars. This wine leans more approachable with earthier notes and more rustic thanks to being grounded in character rather than a bold, Brunello-style expression. A nice Sangiovese that is balanced and easy to enjoy, which highlights its nuance and structure without overwhelming the palate especially when paired with a fresh margarita pizza or gnocchi. Our third pour was their 2023 Barbera wine, which was sourced from nearby Mendocino County. This "daytime" red wine was soft and elegant through the mid-palate, giving it a luxurious feel that balanced what is typically a bolder, more forward style of red. Its structure and earthier character would pair beautifully with traditional dishes from Italy's Piedmont region, especially those featuring truffles or porcini mushrooms. What we thought would be our final pour was their 2019 Fortuna, which is a wine that represents a friendship and collaboration between winemakers Michael Muscardini and Brian Wise, who started B. Wise next door. We learned from Bethany that Muscardini started his vineyards only as decor on his property but a neighbor told him he should start a winery with his harvested grapes. Fortuna represents a combination of grapes that Muscardini and B. Wise have over the past few years. With a little bit of everything, this super tuscan wine is geared towards a palate of American wine as it is not heavy in tannins and is more acid friendly, especially when served with a creamy herb or garlicky entrée. After our Classico Tasting Experience wrapped up, Bethany was kind enough to pour us a sample of their 2022 Zinfandel, which proved to be both approachable and well-balanced, not to mention reasonably priced at $58 a bottle. At Muscardini Cellars, the red wines are crafted with impressive balance and pair beautifully with hearty dishes. The tasting room itself is gorgeous, complete with an outdoor deck that overlooks Sonoma Valley and the nearby highway, creating a relaxed and scenic setting for enjoying their wines. Between experiences like the Classico tasting, participation in promotions such as Sonoma Sips, and their ongoing wine pairing dinners, it's easy to see why Muscardini Cellars continues to thrive, and why their success will carry on for many years to come. read more

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Visited on 4-9-26 with my wife and two close friends for a private wine tasting. My wife and I have been wine club members since about 2013. Karen set up a beautiful presentation for our wine tasting experience. Bethany conducted a brief tour and conducted our tasting. All in our party were throughly impressed with the wine pairing we had. It was apparent much effort went into what was on our plates. Bethany did a great job on the tour and in conveying her knowledge of the wines we tasted. We visited 8 wineries during our trip and Muscardini ranked # 1 in every aspect. I highly recommend visiting Muscardini if you enjoy great wine and top notch customer service. read more

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The wine and service is excellent at Muscardini. They have a nice patio and lawn seating area for tastings. They make you feel welcomed.

We hit up three different wineries this Valentines Day weekend and this was by far the best one! Bethany was excellent and very informative (I got you on the fire pit girl! lol) ! We learned so much about the wine we tasted in a very fun and engaging way and we cannot wait to come back! If we lived closer, we would definitely have become members! It was surprisingly quiet for a V-Day but the tasting room was cute, cozy and classic and that just meant Bethany got to spend more time telling us all about the delicious wine! Our tasting was also complimentary because we were guests at The Flamingo (pro tip for you if you're planning a Sonoma trip!) AND we got complimentary cheese, crackers AND some delicious little chocolates! read more

My VP at work is a member here so we arranged a tasting when we hosted a group in the Sonoma area for a day of wine tasting. Their wines are based on Italian grapes and how they make wines in Italy which makes for a different experience. The owner and staff were wonderful. They gave us a great wine tasting experience and even let us taste a few special wines and did a food/wine chocolate tasting. Such great fun! read more

This was my first time at Muscardini and I was pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed the experience! I have driven by before but never stopped in. I realized they are on the Priority Wine Pass that we have which means we get 2-for-1 tastings here, so it was time to stop by! I thought they just had the front patio for seating but they also have a huge lawn out back with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables! We wanted to look out at the rolling hills of Sonoma while we did our tasting, so we chose a table on the front patio. The tables have umbrellas which was much needed during the warm afternoon. Our sommelier was Isabella and she did a great job! She was so knowledgeable about the wines and made us feel like we had an extra authentic experience. This is an Italian winery and Isabella is not only Italian but has also lived in Italy before! We enjoyed talking with her about her experiences there and learning about the unique aspects of the wines by Muscardini. This winery does not have their own vineyard, they source grapes from a variety of different vineyards in the region. Isabella was attentive to our needs, came back in a timely manner throughout our tasting, and even gave us some extra pours. We enjoyed having our own water pitcher to pour from so we could stay hydrated during the tasting. She made great recommendations for us based on our preferences as we moved along through the tasting, even allowing us to change up some of the tasting options to include ones that better suited us! We had a lovely experience here and I look forward to coming back to hang out on the lawn next time! read more

Muscardini Cellars - Backyard lawn area - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

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As always, the staff was extremely accommodating, professional, and knowledgeable. Most importantly, the wine is magnificent. I strongly recommend that you go for a tasting, have a charcuterie board, and enjoy an amazing day in the wine country. read more

I got the "All Things Italian" Tasting Experience with a group of friends visiting from out of town since one of them never went wine tasting. As usual, the experience always starts off with the phone call, not actually entering the venue. And they were very courteous. Honestly I thought I was talking to pre-recorded messages when chatting with them, very professional folks. I had little expectation of it going in and they blew expectations out of the water. This is an actual Wine Tasting Experience. Not those experiences where a waiter comes in, pours you a glass, says a few sentences, and makes you rate how much you like the wine. They sit you down in a cute fancy room like you're in class, schools you about wines, teaches you how to pair wine with food, and the history of Muscardini's. The whole football field, not even 9 yards. My only regret is not setting up enough time inbetween to enjoy this wine tasting and the next wine tasting. For the "All Things Italian" Tasting Experience, expect to spend way more the 90 minutes tasting. And for good reason, they aren't cutting corners. We had to leave in a rush for the next tasting and Muscardini's tried to call the next place to tell them we were late. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

Laid back winery located off of highway 12, I love the fact that we were able to choose the wines we wanted to taste. I'm not a huge fan of reds so I stuck mainly with the whites & rosés, it was nice to be able to have the option. Our server was so sweet & very attentive, they offer charcuterie which was tasty & paired well with my wine choices. They have many seating options indoors & out on their patio & deck. Great spot to sit & enjoy a glass of wine with friends! read more

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Our tasting experience was fantastic. We had family from out of state visiting, and were treated to a beautiful, delicious, and educational tasting by Nichole. Both Nicole and Nick (the tasting room manager) made our day very special. The ambience, sitting outside in the shade at a picnic table on a sunny day, was ideal. Book ahead, it is very easy to do online. We had opted for the All Things Italian Tasting Experience, which I highly recommend. The food and wine pairing was perfect. Muscardini wines speak for themselves, they are absolutely delicious! read more

We had a wonderful Italian tasting experience with Nicole. She was very knowledgeable and engaging. I would highly recommend this! read more

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What a fantastic winery. Nick took good care of us today! Me and my family stopped by for a little wine tasting. He recommended us a few things. We did a few tasting and ended up buying a couple bottles here. We were able to bring some light snacks in, although they do offer a charcuterie board. We had some cheese and snack we picked up from some of the local shops. So happy I stopped by. Highly recommend coming here. The ambiance was very chill, relaxing, and just a fun experience. I love that I was able to freely roam the property. read more

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I really enjoy coming to Muscardini. We came her with a group of friends and is a great place to drink wine, have a variety of wines, from whites to reds to grapa. If you have a group, call ahead and make a reservation. Seems like muscardini is a very popular place within the wine tour industry, and tons on people come by throughout the day. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

Molto, molto bene! My bad Italian aside - you will love your tasting at Muscardini Cellars. Trying to find reprieve from Pandemic gloominess, a tasting is just what we needed. Our tasting was lead by Nick, who was professional, charming, and hilarious! It felt like we blinked and we had spent two hours in their gorgeous open space to enjoy their wine. The owner also walked by with his adorable, friendly dog to give us a warm welcome. You will try it if you do a tasting flight, but the Rosato (Italian rosé) is DIVINE. Get a few bottles as you impress your friends with your knowledge of authentic, Italian wine. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

This was the second stop on our Napa and Sonoma wine tour. We were greeted outside with the first tasting ready for us to enjoy. After the second tasting, my SO and I decided to add a reserve tasting and tried the rose of Syrah and the grappa oro. I enjoyed the rose but the grappa oro reminded me too much of scotch. We ended up leaving happy with 3 bottles between the two of us. read more

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I've been a member of Muscardini for awhile now (because the wine is great!) and finally had a chance to visit with my friend that lives in Nor Cal. We had a private tasting that was hosted by Karen, who made the whole experience wonderful! Great wines, paired with small foods to match, which included her own jam blends. I wish I lived closer so I could visit more regularly...but I will definitely be back! Thank you Karen for the welcoming hospitality! read more

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Over the hill and down the twisty road to Muscardini Cellars we go. And the main reason was Jamie Jamison & awesome band were playing there. The wine, well was secondary but just as important. We arrived & there were plenty of regulars & newbies like us planting our chairs and tossing blankets about. There are tables & chairs available but first come first serve, no worries we brought our own. The band plays in the front, probably because there is a nice porch for them to stand on but the back of this winery is a park like setting. Nonetheless Jamie is belting out song after song taking a few breaks while the extremely talented band plays some instrumental songs that are off the charts. You can bring your own food or walk 2 buildings down to a taco truck(Cochinita) more about them later. Anyway back to Muscardini they have a $10 fee with a souvenir glass alone & it's an additional fee for the wine. I think that is a bit excessive since wine by the glass is $12 & then some. So it's a $22+charge for a 6 oz pour, Really? There is a $5 discount if you bring the glass back on your next visit. All in all the music & crowd was awesome, dancing & swaying to the backdrop of beautiful Sonoma Mountains and JJB. I'll be back, but head to the back enclosed lawn area its very inviting and the perfect spot to have a casual wine tasting picnic. read more

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We were just laughing , about Karens .... The others were the negative ones ! LOL The last stop for today was Muscardini Cellars !!! Karen ... my clients wine educator was phenomenal ! Great energy, knowledgeable, generous ! This family has been with me multiple years and Mary Kay has been fighting cancer for 10 years today !! Karens patience and ability to make my family feel comfortable and enjoy their experience means the world to me as the Napa Valley Chauffeur !!!! Keep up the great work and thank you for correcting my experience with negative Karens !!! LOL read more

Muscardini Cellars - CLIENTS , ENJOYING KAREN !!! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

This is a review for their "simmer down saturdays". We went last night with a group of friends - lovely evening. Excellent band, room to dance, dog friendly and kids too. It's $10 for their logo glass (empty) which is basically the cover charge for the band. Then you buy wine by the glass or bottle. You can bring your own food which is nice. Excellent service, fun inexpensive evening. We'll be back! read more

Enjoyed our time in the backyard during COVID-19. Protocols were enforced with outdoor tastings. Nick was very responsive and communicative regarding our reservation beforehand and was equally chill and welcoming during our tasting. We were able to bring our own food, (mostly cheese and charcuterie of course) which I felt helped enhance the wines. The tasting included 4 wines plus a Manhattan that featured one of their in-house grappas. I appreciated that unique aspect of it. My favorite was their 2019 rosé, of which we took a few bottles home. Would definitely return ! read more

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Place was very laid back. We took our 4 month old puppy & she had fun. We had a charcuterie/cheese plate it was very good. Paired well with their wines. Prices are very reasonable. I really enjoyed their Rose of Syrah was very refreshing. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

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The wine dinner at Muscardini was off the hook! Five amazing courses paired with spectacular wines made for an incredible evening on the lawn. Food 5/5, Wine 5/5; Service 5/5. We checked in with the hostess on arrival and were told to grab a welcome drink and choose any table we wanted. The wine was a bright Pinot Gris, one of the best they've made. We sat and chatted for a bit while the appetizers started to arrive paired with their Rosato di Sangiovese. They started with skewers of watermelon, sheep's milk feta and basil which were really good. Next was prosciutto arugula and nectarine pizzettas, salty and sweet with a peppery bite from the arugula, wow! Final app was gulf shrimp on a corn cake with lime cream which could have used a little more salt but still tasty. The Rosato worked really well with all the apps, very pale with a hint of wild cherry, yum! Next was a salad with figs, candied walnuts and goat cheese. There's really nothing like fresh figs, so good. This was paired with their Barbera which was not too heavy but full of flavor in the true Italian style. This was followed by early girl tomato gazpacho with basil olive oil paired with Sangiovese. One of my favorite wines that they make, bright red fruit with a little leatheriness. Then the main course, a big hunk of Alaskan flounder over shrimp risotto and Roma beans. They paired this with their big super Tuscan blend, which actually worked well. I have know idea how the caterer cooked this so perfectly in a pop up kitchen. I really didn't think I would be eating better than restaurant quality food at an outdoor winery event but that's how it went down. Finally, dessert, ginger shortbread with fresh fruit and whipped cream, delicious and not too heavy paired with silky B-wise Fortuna. Pretty much a perfect evening. My advice, if they ever have another one of these, get your tickets quick before they sell out. In the meantime, when your up in Kenwood be sure to drop in and taste their Italian style wines, they're amazing! read more

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Went to a wine and music evening. Great music and wonderful wine. The location is breathtaking.

My friends and I came here for a bachelorette party. The "All Things Italian" Tasting was a great experience, and every taste of wine, food, and combination was explained in great and lovely detail. Personally, I loved hearing about the history of Muscardini Cellars and the obvious love and care the family has put into their wine. Weeks later, I ordered a few bottles of the Vermouth for our group. Nick thoroughly explained the ordering and shipping process. Unfortunately, I later ran into a few issues. The first one was when UPS sent back our order to Muscardini as I had completely missed their email notifications (this was on me). After contacting Nick again, I was able to get my order again with a reshipping fee. HOWEVER, once I got my order, the Vermouth bottles were sticky from mild leaking (most likely a fault from UPS). So, I had to call Nick again. He told me the wine was still technically fine to drink, but Muscardini would send us another set of bottles. The second set arrived in perfect condition! Although there were so many shipping issues, I really appreciate the excellent customer service I received, especially from Nick. 10/10 experience. I highly recommend the Vermouth (there's a reason why I tried so hard to get those bottles!) visiting Muscardini Cellars! read more

We go past Muscardini each time we drive up Valley. Well, today I made a point of stopping in and having a glass of wine. Nice place! Sitting out on the deck is wonderful! Especially on a sunny day with clear skies. The view is spectacular! For this afternoon, I had a glass of the 'Rose of Syrah.' A crisp light wine, a bit dry; but ideal with strawberries, raspberries and drizzled over fresh baked shortcake with whipped cream. Definitely a wine for summertime! Service is outstanding! On my next visit, I want to taste the Syrah, the Tesoro, Sangiovese and Fortuna. This is a spot to really take in the views and the wine in a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, especially on a sunny day. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Muscardini is along the highway going upValley through Sonoma, north to Santa Rosa. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

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A true hidden gem. The Italian style and varietals are truly amazing. The staff will make sure you feel at home like true family experience. They offer charcuterie board with some pretty good wine infuse artisans salami among other delicious stuff. Dog friendly as well as kids Gorgeous green backyard. They offer live music on certain days and time of year(summer time) of you have the opportunity to visit, don't miss it read more

A must for wine tasting! The staff is amazing and the wine is a unique treasure. I would highly recommend it. read more

We loved our experience at Muscardini Cellars! We were blown away at the hospitality and kindness of everyone. The tasting was great, and we loved the charcuterie board. Karen was amazing and so knowledgeable about the wine. We had a blast chatting with her as we tasted great Italian style wine. We sat outside with our dog and it was a perfect early afternoon spent in wine country. We can't wait to come back! read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Great wine and great atmosphere! We've been several times before, but my husband and I went back today for the first time since COVID began. They have lots of great, spacious seating and we felt very safe. Staff are all friendly and knowledgeable. Desmond was our server today and we really enjoyed talking with him. We enjoyed all of their wines, and they're a great stop particularly if you enjoy darker reds. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

I stopped in last week during a beautifully cold winter day. Driving around in the cool mountain air in Kenwood was just perfectly exhilarating! I was excited about this new tasting room (for me). I had the best tasting with the servers......apologies for not remembering their names (a Cuban woman and a retired teacher). Their names should be stuck in my brain because both provided the most excellent tasting. Each of them was kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. I shared some laughs and experiences with the retired teacher. Both women made my time in the area an absolute delight and I can't wait to return next year! I highly recommend the wines and the tasting experience at Muscardini! read more

The wines made by Muscardini are scruptious! Michael Muscardini is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and I love the dog presence that has been a staple there. A Sonoma Valley icon, that's for sure. Highly recommend! read more

Delicious! We got to drink in the in the little private room near the entrance. Great experience. Nicole was knowledgeable and friendly. If you are going wine tasting make sure to swing by. read more

Stumbled upon this winery looking for a Sangiovese on the last night of our Napa/Sonoma trip. Did not disappoint- we fell in love with their Tuscan blends. Ended up being my favorite winery of the trip, and it's worth noting that it was the only place I ordered wine from after we got home. Received great communication during the shipping process as well. I believe we were helped by Nichole and Ashley during our tasting- they were the best! read more

Went on our wine tour today and our host Nick recommended a great bottle the Sangiovese. It was great pair along with our cheese board and salami. We like his Italian feedback on the winery, he should definitely get an all expense paid trip to Italy lol. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Sangiovese bottle - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

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This was one of many stops on my whirlwind wine tour of Napa/Sonoma a few weeks ago - I found it because it was listed on the Priority Wine Pass, but I made sure to visit because I saw they also make vermouth! As it turns out, not only do the make vermouth, they make three different *grappas*, too! Honestly, that was their saving grace, in my opinion - the tasting was normally $15 to taste 4 of their wines, and $25 to taste their other 4. Obviously I wanted to taste all 8, so with the BOGO from the wine pass, they still charged $25 to taste all 8 (shared with my wife). Honestly, I'd say all 8 were good, but agreed, none were stellar, especially for the prices. They were friendly enough, but if it'd just been a wine tasting, we would've left without buying anything, and would have felt like, while we enjoyed the tasting well enough, it certainly wasn't worth $25, let alone if I'd paid $25 and only tasted the 4. On the other hand, if you pay for a tasting here, you can also taste an absolutely PHENOMENAL vermouth, and three equally phenomenal grappas (an unaged, a slightly-aged, and a super-aged, obviously in increasing order of expensiveness.) Honestly, I would probably have been happy if it'd been $25 to just taste those four, let alone $15 (if I'd just done the $15 tasting), so at *that* point, it becomes a much better (far less advertised) deal. I suppose they feel everyone who comes to Sonoma is just there mainly to taste wine, but seriously, I had a lot of great wine that trip, but zero other great vermouths or grappas (or indeed, any other vermouths or grappas at all). Super neat. My only slight complaint, though not too big of one: if you only buy one bottle, 0% of your tasting is comped, you have to buy 2 bottles. And they have to be full bottles, the 375ml vermouth doesn't count. So I ended up being forced (yes, forced! :D) to buy about a hundred bucks worth of their products! Cause, *obviously* I was going to buy a bottle of vermouth, I just probably would have bought a 375ml, since vermouth doesn't last forever once you open it... but once the idea was put into my head that I could waive the tasting fee, I was *going* to waive the tasting fee, so $48 bottle of vermouth it was! So then I clearly had to buy a $45 bottle of grappa, too. (The grappa is great, but it wasn't $48 worth of great. Absolutely $23 worth of great, though!) read more

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When visiting Sonoma wine Country and your looking for the best winery with the best tasting wine(s) look no further Muscardini Cellers is your place. This divine gem is so romantic. The surrounds are beautiful and clean. Plenty of space. Plenty of outdoor seating for a nice couple to celebrate a special occasion or a large group to get together to celebrate any occasion. It's spacious and covid friendly. The service given by Ashley was outstanding. She was the hostess with the mostess. We were so impressed and thankful for her knowledge of all her wines. We learned about what type of grapes when in the wine. She shared so much knowledge that goes in to each bottle of wine a little history of the owner and his passion for his wines. It was a wonderful experience and one that stands out from the rest. Ashley had so much passion for her wines. Her customer service was outstanding and the passion we saw made us want to continue to raise our glass and share Muscardini wines with all our family and friends. We loved the wines so much we signed up to be a wine club member and looking forward to our 1st shipment. So, look no further head on over to Muscardini Cellers. Don't forget to ask for Ashley she'll give you the wine experience you've always looked for in a winery. Happy Customers Laura & Mike Cheers read more

This was the last stop for us on our Sonoma wine tour. The history of this venue was the most interesting to me. It was apparently built as as school house in the 1860's. The version you see today has been transformed into a great place that is inviting and comfortable. We sat on the porch and enjoyed wine tasting before moving to the back to continue the tasting. Surrounded by tall hedges the back is a quiet place that has small picnic tables and chairs to sit at. They host music and movie screenings here so check the website to see what's going on. Inside is a tasting bar and they have snacks to buy so you have something to munch on while enjoying their wines. I know that the choices are many in wine country, but this is a great place to go, you will enjoy yourself. read more

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This is some WORLD CLASS WINE! Had to grab a few bottles for the road. The staff was so welcoming and had a vast knowledge of the wines they were serving. read more

Muscardini Cellars - Bottles of the sauvignon blanc and the rose of Syrah - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Kenwood, California

There are few things in this world that could possibly be more enjoyable than sitting in Muscardini's outdoor grassy/treed seating area on a cloudless day while enjoying one of their reds. Awesome environment and the hostess was very pleasant and personable to our tour group. Very laid back tasting room. Keep in mind this isn't a vineyard, some people on our tour group were being assholes about this. read more

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