$10 tasting, and they apply the fee to purchases. Most of the wines were uninspired, but a couple really spoke to me. The 2007 Pinot is good and quite light. Overall it's an okay vineyard to visit. Definitely smells like manure, though. read more

Schug winery is off the beaten path a bit, set back from the main roads on a true back-country road. The grounds itself are beautiful, but enjoyable only from the car because the near-by farm animals make your nose dreadfully aware of their presence. The tasting room is like a country diner-sized bar, but relatively cozy. Although not very busy, we ended the tastings early after waiting while all three of the bartenders walked back and forth in front of us for 5 minutes. The wine itself was average and not on par with Viansa, which was our first stop. All in all, I was disappointed mostly by the service and general odor. read more

I'm a fan of the wines, and the staff was quite friendly. I really wish they would renovate (or expand) their tasting room. It was a crowded fit for 7 people, and put a major damper on our experience. It made for an intimate experience, but for a maker of a pretty well-known national label, it was disappointing. read more

Excellent wine. Shug specializes in Pinot Noir and they do a great job of not making it soft and elegant. Their style is more like Burgundy and Oregon than California in this respect, but it is the way I like my Pinot Noir. I am a believer in the rule that the more built up and fancy a place has set up their tasting room, the worse the wine. This rule is often very correct. Shug falls in line with this rule. It is the wine that is front and center here. There is not fancy deli or fake Italian tile, but there are really nice wines. This is the actual place where the wine is made and bottled and you can go outside and see the pressing tanks and look through a window from the tasting room as see the bottling line. The Sauvignon Blanc is lovely, and the sparkling red delicious. I am also a huge fan of the Reserve Merlot. read more

We headed here on Memorial Day weekend and were treated to free wine tasting. First we tasted three wines, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and a Pinot, The final offering on the tasting for the day was from the reserve list. As an added bonus they took us in the back an gave us two more tastings! While we were thrilled that the tasting was free of charge the wines themselves were average. Nothing rocked our boat and we walked away without purchasing. The place was packed but the staff did their very best to make sure that everyone was attended to. While we started with one server we ended up being passed to another. This was okay considering the weekend and circumstances. read more

We have been here several times and the service has been amazing. We became members! Glynn is the best every time we come here with different groups for private tastings. Kyle was very accommodating when my, now fiancé, was planning to propose to me when we had our entire family here for a private tasting. They worked with him to cover all bases and make sure everything went well. We will always come back! read more

In the area one day, I convinced a friend to give this place a second chance even though he previously had a bad experience and vowed not to return. He has a review here, so I won't go into details other than to summarize our experience: puny tasting room, unimpressive wine, rude service. I never would have planned a return visit, but when I visited this page to read my friend's review, I saw an announcement that caught my eye: Schug would offer Federweisser at their Oktoberfest party. MY HOLY GRAIL! I have been searching for Federweisser locally for more than a decade, after enjoying it immensely while living in Germany. Every winery I visit, I ask. They never know what I'm talking about. But here it is, in black and white. Federweisser at Schug. I needed details! I tweeted Schug. I e-mailed Schug. Tell me more, I said! No response. FAIL. read more

Small place, friendly folks, very decent wines. Good estate Pinot worth stopping by if you're near. read more

Schug Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Schug was a great start to our Sonoma weekend. My boyfriend and I hadn't done any research beforehand, but we checked for deals when we drove in and ended up at Schug first. We didn't know what to expect but we had a nice experience! I enjoyed all of the wines that we got to taste, and the little pond and the distant fields were absolutely stunning. We took quite a few pictures of the hills, pond, and flowers after our tasting. The tasting room itself was very small. It was jam-packed and very noisy, but it looked like most people were done with their tastings and just deciding to hang out inside. The woman who helped us was very sweet. She seemed a little shy or overwhelmed by the crowds, but she did a great job and we loved the wine tasting! I really enjoyed the wines and the scenery here. It was a little too small and noisy (we couldn't hear a lot of what she was saying), but I wouldn't mind coming back. read more

The Wines were great, but because of the tasting experience, I will never buy Shug again. My Fiance and I had a horrific experience. From pouring each blend into the same glass, then asking to use separate glasses for a more pure flavor, then to an argument about why the entire flight should be in the same glass. The comment that really stood out to me was when the woman asked "where are you from"? we answered and she continued to say how cruddy our home towns were and why only "stupid people" are from there. The knowledge of the wine was awful; "Why are Shug Noirs different from other businesses"? "Well most people buying wines are really stupid and dont know the difference, which is why our marketing is the best". The absolute worst service and experience we had ever had. Never do a tasting at Schug! read more

Small, charming tasting room with great staff and an awesome Malbec and Chardonnay. Definitely with a taste.

Carneros, between Napa Valley and Sonoma -- but definitely these guys have the more relaxed, less pretentious Sonoma vibe going on. Tasting Fee: $5. for 4 wines, or $10. for 4 reserve wines, waived with purchase. 2006 Pinot Noir, Carneros $26. 2005 Cabernet Savignon, Sonoma Valley $26. These were the highlights, DELICIOUS. Price not bad, especially if you are comparing with Napa Valley Wineries. Overall three stars, got the fourth star because they were amazingly patient with our group, Japanese guests that had never been winetasting. Turns out they sell their wine in Japan, and had brochures printed in Japanese. read more

THEY HAVE A CAVE! So, you know the draw was the soup pairings they offered with their tastings. Delicious, by the way. And they offered reserve tastings for $10 with gourmet cheese during April in Carneros but there was only one of the 5 reserves that we wanted to try-- the sparkling pinot noir. The pourer was kind enough to let us just try the one. They had just released that wine that very weekend. It was a hot hot day and being able to walk through the cold cave was refreshing. We bought a couple bottles and put Schug in our top favorite places that we had visited. read more

Pretty good Pinot noir. We bought a lot here but maybe cause it was our first stop. The Sauvignon blanc was good here too. The people helping us were knowledgable and very nice. You taste at a small counter. It was kind of crowded. The wine is good but I probably wouldn't go back. read more

Some of the finest wine in California. From a tourist standpoint, the estate is an unassuming, no frills affair, but when it comes to the wine, it was my favorite of all our stops. Don't miss this one!!! read more

See all

Cool tasting room. A little bit cool on the service, like you can't rush them. $10 tasting fee seemed kind of high for this area, but I guess they get a lot of tourists being closer to the City. Big lineup of pinots, but they were too earthy for me. read more

Good place, friendly people. We stopped here for a quick great tasting. People were nice, including the other patrons. Wine was great. If I was not travling and moving soon I would have purchased a bottle of their Cab or Chardonnay. Will be back. read more

Visited early May in perfect warm weather. I think we arrived a little after Noon and it was perfect timing. The tiny place got really, really packed and people were even waiting outside. It was my moms 1st time but unfortunately the staff wasn't as informative as I had hoped. Also I had asked if we could do half now and explore or sit outside and then try the rest but the guy said no. I was fine with it but when we saw later on people were tasting outside I was a little bummed. The self guided tour was so much fun! The 3rd spot was a but tricky to find but once we were down there it was very much an exciting adventure. I respected the fact that we were not pressured in any way to join the club. read more

White wine primarily. This is a Pinot winery. The staff is wonderful and very fun. They have a very nice picnic area with music and corn hole. read more

Schug Winery - Nice little quaint tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Nice property, pretty good wines. I really liked the Cab Franc and the Pinots. Tasting room is a little more than "cozy" in my opinion. Hosts events and weddings but the guests kept coming into the tasting room to the one bathroom continuously. Other than that nice experience. read more

Love this cute little place! Beautiful and friendly! Ask for Harrison Rose - he's great! This place is known for their Cardonnays and Pinot Noirs. We ended up buying a bottle of the Pinot. A lot of their wines are VERY highly rated. They have a cute pond w ducks and a duck house! Just splendid. read more

See all

Had a great experience tasting with friendly staff. Their Pinot noir and Malbec wines were definitely delicious and worth coming back to retaste. read more

See all

Wonderful winery. I went to Sonoma with my boyfriend for his 40th birthday and we ended up at Schug. We were recommended this winery from a good friend of mine who went there for her sister's bachelorette party. We had a lovely guided walking tour from Mary. She was so friendly and nice and very informed about the vineyard and history of Schug. She took us all over the estate, we saw grapes being juiced, we got a tour of the underground barrels and fermentation, and then sat in a beautiful cave for our tasting. She was so enjoyable to spend our day with and we would recommend Mary and Schug to any and everyone! read more

These guys are fantastic. Aside from a lovely grounds (perfect for a wine country picnic) and their back-flip-worthy Savignon Blanc, they are always nice, always informative, and a pleasure to visit on my weekends in Sonoma. As the resident Californian in my family, I recently volunteered to get sparkling wine for my brother's wedding toast. I was up at Schug to pick up my membership bottles (yup ... I'm a member) and mentioned that I was looking for a sparkling wine for an event. They didn't have any opened, but didn't hesitate to open some for me to sample. It was great, but I didn't have all the information I needed from the bride to make the purchase. They were totally sweet about it -- and reminded me to call to get a special they were offering since it wasn't offered on the website. When I called later to make my order, they worked with me to get the most bang out of my buck (genuinely) since I was shipping across the country. And the day after I placed my order, the woman I worked with called to tell me that she had the wine maker sign all of the sparkling bottles and write "congratulations" to add a little extra. I was thrilled with the service from start to finish. I liked Schug before ... and now they've sealed the deal. read more

I love the privacy and intimate feel of Schug winery. While planning a trip to San Francisco, we decided to visit at least one winery. I wanted to avoid the wine country crowds. It took us about an hour to drive from the Union Square area to Schug. Upon arrival, it looked like something out of a storybook: endless vineyards, a small pond, and the actual winery in a barn-style building. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, and he didn't mind that we didn't take the entire wine making process 100% seriously, and he wasn't offended when I said one of the red wines "tasted like cigarettes." I don't recall paying an entry fee, but we purchased a bottle of wine at the end of our tour. I'd recommend this for couples who'd like a private tour and some souvenir wine. read more

The Pinot is the best and the people in the tasting room are so friendly and interesting. I loved their patience to answer all our questions as we tasted. You can wander the grounds and take in the gorgeous views. read more

See all

Excellent overall experience. Went on a self guided tour with my wife to explore the gorgeous grounds. Then had a wine tasting with our host Fred who was very friendly and knowledgeable. Loved all of the wines and purchased a bottle of their delicious Riesling. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Schug Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Great wines and a pleasing German vibe make this place worth a visit. It's also noteworthy that this winery was the first in the US to offer bordeaux which provides a bit of historic intrigue. An added bonus is the flow of people is much more reasonable than many other nearby wineries, so you can enjoy a more relaxed, intimate tasting experience. read more

Schug's European-styled wines of elegance and finesse are some of my favorite wines in Sonoma. Known for their gentle pinot noir with subtle complexities hinting at cherry, orange peel, cola, mulling spice, dried cranberry, vanilla, toasted oak........ Schug Pinots have lower alcohol, become velvety with a few years of cellaring, and with their bright acidity, pair well with a wide variety of cuisine. They also make wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cab, sparkling Pinot Noir and sometimes Cab Franc and Syrah. Caution: The elegance and finesse of Schug wines may be lost on you if you prefer your wines to taste like raspberry syrup. read more

Stopped into Schug after hearing a few good things about the wines and was pleasantly surprised! Very cute, intimate tasting room (call ahead for parties of 6 or more), super friendly and attentive staff and their immense pride in their history is clearly displayed all through the cellar door. (German tourists or ex-pats from Germany will particularly enjoy a visit here - it looks and feels very much like a quaint, traditional Germany winery). Our host during our visit was Jennifer - and she was great! Very friendly and knowledgable of the vineyard and wines as she took us through a journey of a variety of their offerings. We started with their sparkling Rouge de Noir.. I am typically not a sparkling (or Champagne) fan but this was fantastic! Blush in color with lots of fruit, it was a great and interesting start to the flight. We worked our way through a Chardonnay and a few different Pinots (each very different, but all good) and finished off with a Merlot. My husband tried their late harvest Lake County Riesling which he really enjoyed. To our delight, Jennifer even offered us a sneak peak of their caves and barrels! All around, a great stop, good wines, friendly service...we'll be back! read more

Went because of good things I heard about the pinots. However, the chardonnay surprised me in a great way. I don't like the usual buttery concoction. Their's had some interesting tastes to it. But what made this great was the staff. We were helped by Harrison. He knew his stuff with interesting takes on wine and history. It was obvious he really enjoyed his job and believes in Schug. Also, really liked the winery itself. It feels quaint and similar to a family European winery. Plus, surrounded by amazing hillside scenery. read more

I actually give this place no stars. The tasting room wasn't even busy and they turned my friends and I away when we walked in from the rain because they won't serve 6 people. So we said can we break into groups of three and they said no and were so rude about!!! Couldn't believe it! Dead tasting room, rainy outside , and told us to leave basically. So Rude!! Not recommending this place to anyone read more

This was one of our last wineries that we went to on our Napa trip and hands down one of the best. It's a hole in the wall kind of place with absolutely beautiful grounds. The workers on the inside are very nice and knowledgeable. The wine tasting is extremely inexpensive for 5 tastings and each wine was some of the best we tried. The sauv blanc in particular was one of our favorites. A big surprise and a MUST visit!! read more

Glenn Thank You (what he said his name was)was hysterical. Acted grouchy but was super fun. Ask for him. read more

Schug Winery - Glenn "Thank You" and the wife. Had a great time. - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

I didn't actually get to go into the winery. Why? Because they turned our van away at the door. To be fair, it was Saturday in wine country, but there was nobody there! Too bad for them, My friends and I spent well over $750 that day between the 3 other places we went to, so their loss. Can't believe that they couldn't make room when their tasting room was empty. Live and learn, too many other places deserved our time and attention. read more

While the female employees were lovely, the gentlemen helping us was condescending over a confusion of price that he didn't clarify well in the first place. I agree that the tasting room was quite small and with only a few people there we were packed in. I also didn't like that they weren't serving the Riesling for tastings. You don't have to include it in the main tasting (at Hess you can do a $5 tasting for their dessert wine only), but you should make it available. read more

My visit to the Schug was super disappointing. The tasting room was small and had absolutely no charm. The worst part of my experience, however, was with the staff. The guy pouring our wine was unfriendly, offered no information about the wines, and was just plain rude. He was clearly homophobic. I will never go back to this tasting room or purchase Schug wines. read more

A small, intimate winery, with a genial tasting-room staff of two. Next time I come, I'll schedule a tour in advance--the size of the place and the quality of the wines seems to ensure a much more personal, tasteful peek into the world of estate winemaking. Liked their '04 Pinot Noir especially, but the older Cab was also yummy. read more

$5 tasting fee, waived when you purchase wine. We really liked this place. It was cute & intimate. Service was great. Wines were reasonably priced. The Chardonnay is buttery and delicious! They are known for their Pinot Noirs. Pretty area. read more

One of my personal favorites from home. So glad I was able to stop at the vineyard while in town! The hostess was helpful and knowledgeable about the wines they had to offer. We were here for memorial day and took full advantage of their specials! If you love Pinot Noir, this is a MUST stop! read more