Located right off Highway 101 in Hopland, Saracina Vineyards makes a striking first impression. As you drive in, you're greeted by beautiful vineyards, old-growth trees, and a fun surprise--they even have alpacas on-site! The building itself is thoughtfully designed. Upon walking in, you find a cozy patio overlooking a peaceful fountain, while the interior is bright, airy, and offers plenty of comfortable seating. I was greeted warmly by Jose, who was very knowledgeable and shared some great insights into the history of the estate. As for the wine, Saracina leans heavily into their white varietals, typically offering just two or three red options. It's a must-visit if you appreciate a crisp, bright tasting profile. They also make their own Olive Oil. The Meyer Lemon was my go to. The property is also a dream for photography, so I'd highly recommend making a stop here to soak in the scenery and enjoy everything this unique spot has to offer. read more

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Beautiful vineyard with lots of wine and knowledgeable workers. The wine is great and their facilities are beautiful. read more

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Love this place, incredible wine and incredible staff! Plus you can't beat the grounds! Such a beautiful place, very warm and welcoming! read more

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Beautiful location. Super friendly and knowledgeable host. Solid rosé, the rest of the wines were good but not quite amazing. Reasonable prices. Cave tours! and you can bring your own picnic. read more

While on a roadtrip through wine country, we decided on a whim to drop in just to see a working vineyard and winery. Just as we decided this, we happen to be driving up on the sign for this place. We immediately turned in and right away we could see that this was a well cared for place. Everything trimmed and clean. We wandered into the tasting room where the worker there gladly escorted us up to the building where the lab, tanks, barrels and fermenting was going on. When we got there, one of the workers named Eddie took the time to explain the process to us and gave us a quick tour of the tanks. He showed us the grapes fermenting and how potent the Co2 is when it wafts out of the tank! He showed us the oak barrels and explained how they are charred on the inside and how it affects the taste of the wine. He then showed us the storage cellar which is built into the side of a hill on the property. It was a catacomb of tunnels and he explained that the temperature inside is constantly in the mid 60's no matter how hot or cold outside is. Afterwards, we were back in the tasting room where one of the other workers let us try some of the vineyard's organic olive oil, made from trees on the property that are over 150 years old. Very smooth and we bought a bottle for later. We took a short walk up the nearby hill which showed us an amazing view of the property. You could easily spend hours roaming around this place. We can't thank the staff at this vineyard for giving us a very informative and enjoyable time whle visiting. read more

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Paloma was an outstanding host. Beautiful setting, good wine and friendly staff. Very relaxing vibe and dog friendly also. Can't wait to go back read more

Saracina Vineyards - Wine Tours Near Me - Hopland, California

Absolutely loved our experience here! Paloma hosted us, and she was GREAT. The grounds are beautiful. The wine is delicious and affordable. I would come back here tomorrow, and I highly recommend to anyone in the area! read more

Saracina Vineyards - Wine Tours Near Me - Hopland, California

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Reservations only but they were kind enough to let us wine taste since nobody was really there. We came to support local wineries since all of Sonoma county was closed due to Covid stay at home orders. It's different here, you by wines by the bottle to taste. It's not as bad as it seems because a bottle cost as much as one wine tasting at a winery in Sonoma county! So if you have 4 people, you buy 4 bottles and you can actually taste more! The service was very friendly and accommodating. She accommodated us and even told us about each wine! Great customer service! We bought over $200 worth of wine! The wines here are average to above tasting and they have a variety of types. We liked the Chardonnay and the Old Soul. The tasting area and views are beautiful! Definitely will come back and check out the caves next time. read more

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Words cannot express how much I truly enjoyed my experience here at Saracina! 3.5 hours spent here socializing with one of the most charming sommeliers that I've ever met! And it was a 3.5 hours WELL spent! Whenever I drive down the Redwood highway towards Ukiah, I ALWAYS see that beautiful sign that says "Saracina Vineyards". Been wanting to taste here for the past few years now. A couple weeks ago, I called up some friends who live near that area and asked them if they wanted to taste here. We decided to hit up Saracina last weekend, but we were so unprepared for the amazing experience that we were about to have. PALOMA!!! Say her name! She is FABULOUS! This lady just exudes positive energy, passion, and charisma. Paloma made our experience here one of the best that I've ever had at any winery. We were running a bit late from Jaxon Keys down the way, and we called to let her know that we'd be coming a bit later than planned. Paloma was so sweet and accommodating. She told us to take our time and to stop in when we finished our tasting at Jaxon Keys. We finally left and headed to Saracina. Damn, that drive! So friggin' pretty! Just driving up the hill toward their immaculate vineyards. When we reached the top, it was like beauty before our eyes. This little secluded beauty covered in greenery, tucked away on top of the hill just waiting to be explored. I was so shocked to see that nobody else was there. It was later on in the day and definitely a HAWT one... but still! The fact that we had this little beauty all to ourselves was so cray. We walked into the tasting room and were greeted by Paloma. The warmest welcome ever! Such a fun gal! She set us up outside at one of the tables that overlooked their grounds. So relaxing, so casual, and super unpretentious. And people wonder why I travel so damn far to taste wine?! Um yeah... THIS is why. It's nothing like Napa, and I mean that in the best way possible. It was such an intimate and enjoyable experience. Oh yeah, did I mention my other reason for loving the hell out of Paloma? Homegirl was hooking it UP with them wine pours like no other! Oh yaaaasss, we LOVE a good pour, mmkay?! At one point, we had to start refusing because we were really feeling it. Know your limit, folks! But speaking of the pours; the wine here is something pretty special. From their whites to their reds, the quality and flavors are dynamite. For $10, you can choose 6 wines to taste from their versatile wine list. The $10 is waived with a bottle purchase. *Warning* You WILL be going home with a bottle if not bottles plural! This wine is magnifico! Honestly, I liked everything that I tried here. Their Chardonnay and 2016 Zinfandel were both to DIE for. Had to get them both. My friends also got a bottle of the Zinfandel. It was just too good and probably one of the best on their menu. It had a mix of beautiful floral, earthy, and spicy tones with a super smooth and balanced finish. I go crazy over some good Zinfandel. They also produce Roussane here which is a varietal that I rarely ever see on a tasting menu. It's honestly never been my favorite, but this one from Saracina had a subtle sweetness and light acidity that I really admired. I love when wineries can make me like a varietal that I don't generally care for. We chatted with Paloma for literal HOURS while we were here. This one on one experience is something that I will forever treasure. It was like I was catching up with an old friend, but this friend knew any and everything about the wines that we were drinking. They also have wine caves here, but unfortunately they were closed for the fermenting season. But that's okay because it gives me an excuse to come back again. Just WOW! Such an amazing time was had here at Saracina. I'm already planning my next visit as we speak. read more

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I think the initial a 2 star review was too harsh for this beautiful place even though our tasting fee wasn't waived on that visit. Management has recently reached out to me and offered to make it up to us. That is not necessary, but the thought is very much appreciated. It is truly a wonderful place with great wines and staff and we will be back! read more

Rolling volcanic hills covered with oak woods, Redwood, and laurel to infinity. They slope down to undulating green carpets of new wine growth in the valley below. The sound of crickets and wild birds loft in the air, the occasional knock knock knockings of pileated woodpeckers. The petrichor is fife with notes of wild grass, bay, warm Eucalyptus, and tar weed. I feel the presence of wildlife watching me curiously. A rabbit just crossed the field. These are the days of my past remembered, and brought back with the emotions that Saracina rekindles. This tasting is one you want to remember. I was planning a surprise birthday party for my lovely wife and how it all came to be, was because of the follow-through and dedication of the entire staff. There were a lot of red herrings cast at my wife to misdirect her so she wouldn't figure out what I was up too. Easily said she thought we were going to Clearlake to swim and relax. That mysteriously takes by the front door of our favorite winery. Because it's pretty? Great wine? Awesome employees? Also and largely because they have a Villacita for club members. Yes! When I was here last, I began a calculated plan to make this day a success, and with the help initially from Paloma then Maura it came to fruition. Deftly arranging vanilla cake covered in fondant, a charcuterie platter to feed 10 people, and bubbly followed by wine when it ran out. This began as a see with my membership. As a member you get free wine tasting, use of the tasting room area, friends included (check with them), and perks. The perks could be for a charcuterie under certain rules up to stays in the lovely Villacita on the hill over looking the ponds and vineyards. Very romantic indeed. Paloma is the greatest in the tasting room and the TR manager Maura had my back. (When the lady that makes the charcuterie off premises was overbooked, Maura got in touch with her and was given a formula to make one for me.) It was gorgeous. I opted for all of it. Though we passed our annual quota for mandatory wine purchases, we still bought the 2 cases to share with our friends to use the Villacita. Membership def has its perks. I could talk about the incredible wines here but taste is so subjective. Each persons like are so different. Just come and order a flight for tasting. Paloma or Maura will guide you through the wines during the tasting. You will know what I know and possibly join the wine club too. The wine educator/trainer there ... Jesse, was helpful and stayed with me through a lot of this too. And he did a special pour that I loved his intuitive choices. He knew my taste. I also had the good fortune to be there while I was there to meet Alex. A special winemaker by any standard. He studies the constantly changing world of wine making looking for the next WoW!! factor. But he also well read, so whatever her is thinking, will be ahead of others and unique. My curiosity was piqued when on the tour he made Clay Syrah wines. Wine from clay kegs, a 4000 year old Georgian/European style, but unlike others, make it relevant. I never in my life tasted these notes and profiles from a tasting of this wine. It sold out really fast in a few years ago. It is in aging production now. 10 to 12 years ago there was a clay revival and he arranged to have his kegs made by Mission Clay. Two of the kegs make 500 gallons each. He has a few sizes including 50 gallons clay kegs. Partner intellectually with others in preserving this classic way of making wine, he passes on his research and passion to the customer HERE. Uniquely, he seals the tops with bees wax. I am not an expert but my palate tasted Chinese spice and a hint of honey wax. It takes 3 years outside to finish. The lovely labels were inspired by legendary artist from Japan, Jun Kaneko, he was able to drink this wine. The other label was with Pam Stefl Toki. Pale color, tannins and acidity are softer, and it has wonderful savory not oaky notes. The rest of the story is when you visit. Saracina - Saracina Vineyards https://saracina.com If you like this review please don't forget to mark your vote below and follow me. Thank you. read more

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I wish that we drove on this section of 101 more often because we would definitely stop here every time! I picked this vineyard at random based on good Yelp reviews for a stop on the way between San Jose and the Mendocino coast. It was an excellent choice! The grounds are beautiful, but it was too hot to picnic outside; we appreciated the cool tasting room and the friendliness and knowledge of our tasting guide, Jose. He even gave us a few extra tastes of wines that weren't on the tasting list, just so we could compare and understand the wines better. Everything was delicious! We had a hard time choosing just a few to take on our trip. That's why I'm hopeful I'll be able to go back that way another time to buy more. read more

Looking for a special afternoon with friends, sipping white wine in the vineyard- here you go! Low key, casual. read more

We happened to stop there in late 1984 during a visit to my sister's in Rohnert Park. We tasted the champagne and decided it was exactly what we wanted for our February wedding. With a ridiculously budget friendly price, my brother in law decided he would gift us the champagne. Back he went a few days later and bought 4 cases. The tasting room at that time accommodated about 3 people. Thanks Navarro for the great memories. read more

In looking for a place to picnic with our two kids, we decided on Saracina, a place we had visited and enjoyed many years before. This gem on 101 has only improved with time. Nathan greeted us warmly and we enjoyed the afternoon tasting Saracina's wonderful wines and enjoying our lunch as a family on their beautiful grounds. Definitely will keep this on our travel pit stop list! Thanks a bunch Nathan and Saracina! read more

Stopped by here over a long weekend and loved that it wasn't crowded here. It's a beautiful winery with a modern/petite tasting room. The hosts were friendly people and had good conversations. They had $10 tastings and great priced wines. We purchased a bottle of the unoaked Chardonnay for $20 and loved it! Also +1 for the tower next to the tasting room dedicated for just bathrooms - restrooms had high ceilings - thoroughly enjoyed my couple minutes on the toilet there. Wish we were able to do the wine cave tour but you had to make reservations in advance. Next time... read more

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The single worst experience with a winery that I've ever had. I placed an online order April 21, 2024 and to date, I have no received wines. My three email inquiries have still not been answered. I called a week ago and a man named Jose said my order was never processed. He promised he would take care of it. I called again the next day, and the wines still were not shipped. He promised he would follow up to give me a tracking number, but he has still not done so. It has been almost a week since he promised that. No follow-up, no attempt to make the situation right. I've called the winery since then and nobody is ever there to answer the phone. At this point, Saracina Vineyards has stolen more than $250 of my money, and there is zero evidence that I will ever get my wines. I cannot recommend Saracina to anyone. read more

Lovely setting with very old olive trees great staff warm and helpful and most of all great wine

There are some wineries in California where one visit is enough to enjoy a great experience. Saracina, however, is not one of them. It rewards return visits in a different season from that of your initial one in part because of the rotating selection of estate wines, but also because the property itself is so dynamic and in the midst of continuous change. Some of this is due in part to the restlessness of the owner, who constantly updates the landscape and experiments with the estate wines. Part is the simple cycle of the seasons, which are on full display in this part of the Upper Russian River Valley. It will look, feel, and smell different in summer than spring, fall, or winter. And the wines will, too! We got to speak with Saracina's winemaker, Alex M., on a recent return visit to learn more about the library vintages (8-10+ years old) of their superb Atrea "Old Soul" red wine blend (Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Malbec all from Mendocino County vineyards), and to hear him talk with such passion about both the estate Malbec as well as the heritage vineyards from which they source some of their white and red wines. While we were sorry to hear that they phased out their Anderson Valley Pinot, it was great to be able to pick up a bottle of their old vine Sauvignon Blanc, from the oldest such vines in California. It has been served at the French Laundry in Napa Valley, if such things matter to you. They should in this case: it's a hauntingly beautiful and distinctive wine, unlike almost every other Sauv Blanc you've ever tasted. Be sure to sample the estate olive oil and honey, too, and pack a picnic for outdoor enjoyment under the shade of the willow tree grove! As pretty a place as you will find for wiling away an hour or two before returning to the road. Highly recommended to those who appreciate well made, honest wine that can compare well with Old World varietals and that demonstrate the importance of organic farming practices in producing the best and most interesting wines, both single origin and blends. read more

We thoroughly thought this place was great. The wine tasting was wonderful and the server Jess was so knowledgeable and friendly. The grounds are impeccably kept. A definite to stop in and taste. read more

Despite the rain and COVID, we had an awesome tasting with our host Paloma. Beautiful, peaceful property surrounded by misty mountains, European-style buildings and llamas. We enjoyed all of their wines, especially the Chardonnay and red blends. Great value for a $10 tasting and $20-45 bottles. read more

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I had an amazing time at the Saracina Vineyards. Staff was so welcoming and accepted last minute reservations. The alpacas are so cute and the sitting areas are nice and rustic. Glad my wife and I came here and went home with a bottle of Chardonnay. You do not really hear too much about Mendo County being too much on wine, but definitely up and coming. read more

Saracina Vineyards - Menu - Wine Tours Near Me - Hopland, California

Great scenery and wine. Highly recommend the cave tour. Paloma was a wonderful hostess!

Our group of 9 spent a lovely few hours here on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Angelica, our hostess, was incredibly attentive and outgoing, making us feel at home. We did a tasting, with the standout bring the Choir, one of the most unique white wines I've ever tasted. We also got to meet Alex, the winemaker, and got a tour of the working caves. They let us try some Rosé that they were pouring for the first time, and some fresh honey as well. This was such a standout of the 3 wineries we went to. Highly recommend! read more

Delicious wines all the way around. Friendly hosts. Peaceful grounds w/ancient olive trees. Dogs welcome My favorite wine was their Sauvignon Blanc but all were delicious. read more

We have passed by Saracina Vineyqards for years and never stopped. Well today we did and I'm so glad because.... First off the wine is ridiculous. Literally had to stop myself from buying every bottle. But we went home with 4 bottles and the olive oil. We are sonoma / Mendocino county natives and know good wine when we taste it. This. Is. Good. Wine. To top it off... the experience was *top notch. Authentic, kind, extremely educated, warm, hospitable, and very charming. Paloma and Jesse. We'll be back. No doubt. read more

Saracina is one of the most beautiful vineyards I have ever seen. The property itself is stunning as well as the caves. Alex the wine maker was very warm and welcoming and it was his day off but he was still there. We had a fantastic conversation about the fermentation of their wines as well as the difference between Napa, Sanoma and Hopland grapes and timings. Angelica, who looked after the tastings was also incredibly warm and welcoming and genuine. Such a good conversation and time with both of these lovely souls. Will definitely be back. Also scored some vintage 2006 wine as well. I am not even going to mention how good their wine is. Try it. You will love it. read more

Mendocino seems to be known more for illegal crops than wine. This might be changing. There are several wineries along highway 101.They all retain a rural feeling. It is quite different than wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma. Snooky and I decided to stop at this winery when he saw the olive oil sign. The road leading to the tasting room runs beside the fields. It ends at the parking area next to the tasting room and pond. The tasting room is attractive. The hostess was friendly and gave us a lot of information about the estate wines she was pouring. There are also a cave in the hill. We visited on a weekday and it was closed Saracina Vineyards is a California Certified Organic (CCOF) winery. The wines that I tasted were all good. My favorite was the Old Sole Red. We did not buy any wine, but we did take home a bottle of the olive oil. There was a sign in the tasting room offering a discount to yelpers. A word of warning, the CHP patrols this highway so watch the speed limits signs. The speed limit changes all along the highway. It might not be a good idea to have wine breath when driving along 101. I saw more tickets being issued here than I have on highways in the Bay Area. read more

Again, driving down the 101 heading home I see this sign talking about wine tasting, wine caves, WINE CAVE??? Now that peaked my interest so we followed the signs and pulled in. The parking lot only had one car at the time but the scenery was breath taking. My wife went inside and I walked the grounds with our dog as I needed some relief as well. The grounds are beautiful, the bathrooms, very clean and the entrance to the wine cave, very very cool. We did not go into the wine cave, however, they do have a mini cave in the tasting room which is very cool. The wines were worth the stop, the grounds were worth the stop and if in the area, I would stop here again. read more

Spectacular wine and views. Even on a cold day I chose to sit outside because of the wonderful landscape that surrounded the tasting room. The outdoor heaters made the cold not an issue. Staff were amazing and very knowledgeable. The baby goats were adorable, be sure to say hi to them! read more

The wine and the property were gorgeous. Gonzalez was our host and he was very friendly and attentive. He even showed us the cave as well as took us to see the animals on property. It was a great experience accompanied by beautiful views and tasty wines. read more

Are you a Bay Area wine lover who wants to spend an afternoon tasting great wine on a beautiful property without the Napa/Sonoma crowds? Come here. And the staff, especially Paloma, are always so welcoming and really care about their work. read more

Came here on a friends recommendation and was just blown away. The property was gorgeous, the wine was delicious, and Paloma was extremely welcoming, friendly, and knowledgable. Despite coming at 3pm on a Saturday, it was pretty empty which made the whole experience very tranquil. Due to covid, we were unfortunately unable to do the tastings and instead went with a bottle of white for a very reasonable $23. Paloma situated us under the willow tree where we had a very relaxing time. I look forward to coming back here in a few months for the full experience of seeing the caves as well as trying out some new wines. read more

What a happy and surprising find!! The property is extremely beautiful and we had a great tasting with Paloma, she was so knowledgeable and made the experience so great. I have to say the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were so good, well balanced and very rounded on the finish for the Chardonnay. I don't love white wine but I am leaving here with a case. Highly recommend. read more

Unless you are a serious oenophile, chances are you've never even heard of the Sanel Valley, let alone its reputation for making fine wine. If you've ever tried organic white or red wines from Mendocino County, however, by a major label like Bonterra (currently owned by the Chilean wine juggernaut, Concha y Toro), then you've tasted at least some Sanel Valley-grown grapes, even if you didn't know it at the time. In the early 1990s, the Fetzer family sold their hugely successful Mendocino County wine business to the drinks conglomerate Brown-Forman (maker of Jack Daniel's, Finlandia vodka, El Jimador agave tequila, Korbel sparkling wine, and Canadian Mist, among many other brands). Various sons of the founder then each set out on parallel paths to making artisan wines on historic ranch properties near the town of Hopland, in a very pretty spot in the Upper Russian River Valley south of Ukiah with sweeping Mayacamas mountain views. Brother Danny F. called his patch of prime Mendocino wine country the Jeriko Estate and developed it as a wedding and events venue, while brother John F. named his spot Saracina Vineyards to honor a location in Tuscany where he and his wife had stayed in during a post-nuptials holiday to Italy. Formerly, it was called the Sundial Ranch and made fantastic Russian River Valley Chardonnay. For white wine lovers, the good news is that it still does! Saracina thus is something of an idiosyncratic mashup of Mendocino wine growing tradition melded with modernist, Italian-inspired elements in the landscape, such as heritage olive trees imported from Corning, in the upper Sacramento River valley near Redding. The tasting room, wine caves, and wine-making facilities are exquisite to behold: architectural gems made up of glass, metal, and stone. Even the drive to the tasting room from US-101 winds through estate vineyards, willow trees, and blooming plants like lavender and sage, from which small batches of honey are made and for sale in the tasting room. An annual olive harvest also yields small batches of extra virgin olive oil, which is also for purchase by guests. As far as the wines go, they are made with care and creativity by Saracina's head winemaker, Alex M., whose past experience making wines in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley as well as earlier training as a sommelier shows in the quality of the "Pick and Shovel" Zinfandel - a blend of grapes from multiple vineyards in Mendocino County - and in the Atrea "Old Soul" Red, which uses Zinfandel, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Syrah to craft cellar-worthy wines at a fraction of Napa Valley prices. Not to be slighted, either, is the Saracina unoaked Chardonnay, made from heritage vines on the old Sundial Ranch property, and the "Choir" white blend of Viognier and Roussanne, which is partially fermented in steel and partially in oak barrel, giving it a nice cross-over appeal that is neither too heavy nor too light for most white wine drinkers. Saracina and Atrea wines are made with the consultational input of David Ramey, a major figure in the production of handcrafted fine wine in Sonoma County, the Napa Valley, and beyond. Vineyard sites are either Fetzer family owned or selected on the basis of specific heritage vines or unique soils, microclimates, and growing conditions. Jug wines these most definitely are not. The other draw here is the estate Malbec, which is made in a Bordeaux style to age well in the medium term and given a barrel treatment similar to that of a Merlot of Cabernet. There are library wines from 2011, 2012, and earlier to choose from, if you're willing to pay a little extra than the cost of the current releases, which are generally in the $20-30 range. A modest tasting fee is waived with bottle purchase, and you can also make prior arrangements to visit the wine caves if so desired, or attend winery events throughout the year, like special dinners or tours of the 600 acre estate, which is quite impressive even from the tasting room and entrance driveway. Wine club memberships offer discounts from 15-25% and the top tier includes a free overnight stay annually in the estate guest cottage. A very nice perk, if you're interested, one not matched by many other wineries, period. All in all, Saracina is a whole package kind of place that elevates Mendocino wine tasting to the next level: elegant and refined, but also rustic and fun without the high costs and status-seeking vibes of its southern neighbors. Why not stop by the next time you're heading north on the 101 to check all of its treasures out for yourselves when you're "just passing through" Mendo? read more

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We had an amazing experience here, all the staff were great. The service was prompt and so inviting. I would definitely recommend coming here for a wine tasting. The property is gorgeous and the general manager there was absolutely fantastic. They serve very nice wine and we will be coming back when we're in the area. read more

What a lovely property! We were helped by Meredith, who was such a lovely personality filled with warmth and passion about the wine. This was a perfect stop as part of our Hopland Passport, and we look forward to coming back for a picnic! read more

Angelina was AMAZING! The wine was also really good. We walked away with so many bottles!

Great service, pretty little winery. Excellent price points. Enjoyed the Rose and Malbec.

Wow. This place is beautiful. This place, from the hands that brought you Fetzer, comes Saracina. Fetzer has been long sold off, but the wine maker here is making wonderful wines for all types of tastes. Wine tasting is $10 a person, waived with purchase of a bottle. I was impressed with the Unoaked Chardonnay. I don't usually like Chardonnay, but this was amazing. Of course, this was one of the purchases I made. Beautiful grounds, I wish I had a picnic to sit and enjoy the scenery. Little lizards are everywhere so watch your step! read more