If you're doing a Sonoma trip, this is a fun stop if you are a fan of history. I loved finding out that this spot was originally started by Franciscan monks back in 1825 for communion wine. It was the very first vineyard in the whole Sonoma Valley. The Sebastiani family took over in 1902 and it's still got that family-run, authentic feel. We visited the tasting room on 4th Street and the vibes were immaculate. It's not just some corporate tasting room; there is a sense of history and time in the room. Myself, my father, and wife did the tasting. It was quick and we liked the explanations and different types of wine. The cost was $40 per person and you have 4 different wines, all of which were Valley wines. We ended up with 3 bottles, all of which we enjoyed while staying in Sonoma. If you head to the left side they have a mini museum with some of the historical wine making equipment that was used on site! read more

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Great service . Our server was from Bulgaria .i loved her accent . I had a glass of sparking wine. Not acidic at all , refreshing . Chardonnay was pleasant . Nice ambiance inside as well as outside read more

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Had such a nice time at Sebastiani, wines were great, vibes were fun, and the service was fantastic (shout out to Oscar)! If there's one thing I love at a wine tasting it's a welcome pour, and when that welcome pour happens to be bubbles (which it was here), then we're really off to a good start. I'm still kicking myself for not getting a bottle to bring home! When we tasted in December the menu consisted of 5 wines (not including the welcome bubbles) 1 white, and 4 reds, we were also able to taste a few off menu wines, so grateful for that because 2/3 of the bottles we went home with weren't on the menu. During our tasting we learned a lot about the history of Sebastiani Winery and even got to take a short self guided tour of the tasting room and an old barrel and equipment room connected to it. Even though the interior is very grand and castle-esque, they were playing classic rock jams, and had a very cool and down to earth vibe, which I was not expecting when we first arrived. Would definitely recommend tasting here for a grand and classic Sonoma experience. read more

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Give Juan a raise. We had the best time here! I am not a fan of young Malbecs, but the 2023 was astounding. The rose was light and crisp, a true porch pounder like all rose should be. Juan did a phenomenal job of walking us through each tasting and was great at recommendations based on our preferences. He very clearly cares about the wine quality and was proud to serve the wines Sebastiani produces. He is an absolute delight and made our experience that much better. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Sebastiani Winery. A name that once meant something in my family--my parents poured it regularly, not because they were connoisseurs, but because they found something they liked and stuck with it. So, visiting all these years later should have felt like coming home. Instead, it felt like walking into a house you barely recognize. The setting? Gorgeous. A legacy brand enjoying a bit of a resurgence, with a towering tasting room anchored by a stunningly long bar--classic, elegant, the kind of place that should exude old-world charm. Seated by the fireplace, we started with a small pour of rosé--pretty in the glass, but forgettable on the palate. Maybe it was the fatigue of a long day of tasting, but the wines didn't land. Green, maybe even sour, like they were still searching for their identity. The wine ambassador? Friendly but uninspired. The descriptions were vague, lifeless--empty phrases you could slap on any bottle of supermarket red. No depth, no history, no sense of place. We wandered the facility afterward, hoping for a connection to Sebastiani's storied past, but found only a collection of artifacts without a voice. A museum with no tour guide. Maybe I was just wined out. Maybe my expectations were too high. But in a room that grand, with a bar that inviting, I should have felt something. Instead, I walked away with nothing. And that, more than anything, is the real disappointment. read more

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Always an enjoyable tasting of great wines. The servers are knowledgeable and courteous. The winery is beautiful and oozes history. read more

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery - The barrel room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sonoma, California

Sebastiani was the last stop on our winetasting adventure as we headed home from a week of overindulgence. We were fascinated by the story of the winery, the atmosphere, and the staff. Everyone was so helpful and explained everything to us. The wines themselves were all good, and their bottle prices were some of the most reasonable we saw on our visit. If you have the time to stop and the means, try the Cherry Block wines. Unquestionably the best we tried while in Sonoma, these are made from 60 year old vines and are the smoothest wine I've ever tried. read more

Had a lovely time with close friends. We were able to try a handful of wines and it was delightful. It was neat to see the timeline history indoors while enjoying some good wine. Must visit. read more

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sonoma, California

This historic winery in beautiful Sonoma is just a few blocks away from the popular plaza and it's definitely worth a visit. The facility is magnificent and the grounds are well kept. They have been pouring award winning wine for decades and there's no sign of them ever slowing down. read more

Disappointing The wines were average We were on a cruise recently. The Sabastiani wines severed were excellent. Why those wines could not be served at the winery is a mystery. The host was pretty dull. Not a great experience read more

Despite the "walk-ins welcome" sign, we walked in and waited about five minutes to be greeted or seated. Although the sommelier made eye contact with us, we were never acknowledged, so we ultimately left. read more

We had a great experience at Sebastiani. The service was excellent and we enjoyed hearing about the history of the winery as well as the education on the grapes and wines we were drinking. The Cherry Block cabs lived up to all the hype! A nice bonus is they're dog friendly so our pup could join us! read more

Neat spot for wine tasting. Really cool, old winery, not too crowded, beautiful grounds. Nonetheless, our host was a sweetheart and we enjoyed visiting. There are so many wineries in the Foley portfolio -- this one is probably a bit down on my list of "must visits" if you're into the Foley Family Winery collection. Fun to visit and check it off my list because it's such an old establishment, but I didn't personally prefer the currently style of winemaking based on the tastes poured. The value just wasn't there for the price. read more

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Our wine tour stopped at Sebastiani to start our day. We were greeted outside with a tray of glass and a bottle of wine. Our tour led us around the property and into the back processing building. We learned about the history of the winery and how their entire process works. We then walked into their main tasting room and we couldn't believe the woodworking that surrounded us. The artwork, large barrels, and quality wine were all fantastic. We enjoyed quite a few wines before I ultimately decided to buy some bottles and my colleague joined the wine club. The staff was all friendly but not over the top smothering us. They let us enjoy the space and move at our own pace. I would probably come back! read more

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This place is simply ok, definitely far from my favorite winery. It has the "old school" winery vibe which I'm not really into. Additionally we were told we couldn't sit outside because there were only two people working. We saw the staff tell another group this as well. If two of the four total groups visiting (who also arrived at the same time) wanted to both sit outside, seems like they could have made it work! Oh well! read more

We didn't look like the folks you typically see at wineries so we weren't really tended to very well. No one shared any information about the wine other than its varietal which was the opposite of what we expected during a wine tasting in Napa. Was pretty inside though read more

I had an overall good experience at this winery. I sat outdoors next to the fountain, which was nice to look at while doing the wine tastings. They gave you still water from a can which was the first time I saw water from a can. The charcuterie board was pretty good. I liked the crackers and meat that it came with. From the wine tastings I liked the white wine. I wouldn't say this winery was as good as some of the other wineries in the area because it didn't feel as special in terms of wine and the view. But I still had an enjoyable experience here and got some bottles of wine. read more

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First winery of the day. The outdoor was spacious and social distancing was definitely in place. Two of us did the signature tasting and my other friend did the other one (I think there was only two). I loved how they gave complimentary water out of the can and some crackers. Unfortunately, their freezer broke and they were not selling any charcuterie platters. There was one white wine I really enjoyed but forgot the name of it. It's the first white wine off the Signature tasting menu. Our table staff member was very minimal in explanations and didn't hang out too long at our table compared to other staff members really conversing with their tables. Not sure if she felt like she would be wasting her time or what, but we didn't mind it, just something to notice. We ended up not buying anything from this winery but it was a good experience. I hope they get their fridge fixed so you can have a great charcuterie spread during your tasting. read more

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***3.5 Stars*** Beautiful grounds with pretty good service. I visited Sebastiani with a few friends last summer right after the shelter in place orders had been temporarily lifted, and we had a pretty decent time overall. At the time, they weren't actually conducting tastings, but they were offering wine by the glass and bottle and had a food order requirement. Since many of the wineries seemed to be operating the same way during that time, we decided to book a reservation. They require your entire party to be present before they can seat you, and the tastings are limited to an hour and a half. When we arrived, we were greeted right at the front entrance. The grounds are really beautiful here and they had several covered tables nicely spaced out on their patio. Loved their timeless brick exterior and the serene water fountain that's set right in the middle of their spacious front patio area. Ben was our host and he was extremely kind and accommodating. Since we opted to purchase a few bottles of wines to split, we didn't get the regular spiel about the wine like we probably would have if we had done actual tastings. Ben was really diligent in making suggestions based on our wine palates. We ended up having a bottle of their 2019 Carneros Rose and their 2016 Dry Creek Zinfandel. Both wines were good but I wasn't blown away. I preferred the rose over the Zinfandel. It was floral and citrusy which I always enjoy during the warmer weather. We also purchased two of the charcuterie boards from The Girl & The Fig. The boards were pre-packaged in small cardboard boxes. We really enjoyed the cheeses and the olives but thought that they were really small for the $25 price tag. Considering the circumstances during COVID, our experience wasn't too bad. I feel like things would have been a lot different had we actually been able to do tastings. I wouldn't be opposed to coming back again and doing an actual tasting here. I'm hoping to really get the full experience when I do. read more

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I really enjoyed our wine tour here as well as the wines. We ended up buying two of their award-winning red to enjoy at home. The space is pretty impressive with giant wine barrels and a really cozy feeling that I associate with wineries. I much prefer a place that looks like it has history vs more modern wineries. Our guide was super friendly. My favorite part was enjoying our tasting in a cozy living room area with a fireplace and a giant mural of Sonoma. Our guide told us that if we could find three hidden items in the mural we would get a prize. We took the challenge to heart and found them all, and as a prize, we got to enjoy some of their wine sorbet as well. read more

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It had been almost exactly 25 years since we last visited the Sebastiani tasting room as part of a bus tour and the beginning of our appreciation of wine. We so glad we stopped in again as we had a great experience. I think the guy taking care of us was named Mack. Anyway, he did a great job of explaining the wines and helping my wife find something she likes (not an easy feat). She hates dry reds, which is most of what's served in tasting rooms. In the end, he essentially created a custom tasting for her of lighter wines and a port. She was very pleased. For me, as he started to understand that I was completely on the opposite end of the spectrum, he also started to go "off script" for my tastings. In the end, we bought a case (something we never do), after he noted a Labor Day weekend sale going on and ability to eliminate shipping charges. Otherwise, the space is pretty much what you envision when you close your eyes and imagine what a wine room should look like. read more

Thanks to Juan for helping me out on a special occasion this weekend! The service was outstanding and everything turned out fantasticI hardly ever write reviews but I want to thank Juan and the staff here at Sebastiani for all they did for my family this weekend! read more

Came here on a Sunday with my husband and two small kids. A great time! My husband was DD so I enjoyed my tasting as well as most of his. Beautiful outdoor area with the fountain and picnic tables. I would definitely go back! Only reason for 4 stars only- only food for purchase is charcuterie board and no outside food allowed (ok ok in the picture below you can see I brought my kid a lunchable - crowd control measure). Issue for us because of 1. dairy allergy and 2. really enjoyed the wine but food would def have benefited the tum and the mind read more

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery - Fountain - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Being a wine club member has its privileges! Every September their Cherry Block becomes available, and normally the only way to ensure that you will get a bottle at a good price is by joining their club. However the other benefits to being a member is that your complimentary tasting is valid at their sister properties as well. I'm normally a red wine fan, but I have tried some of their white wines and they've been pretty good. The running joke with the tasting room is that they will fine a white wine, that we'll fall in love with. I'm always impressed by the knowledge and professionalism of their tasting room hosts. What normally leaves an impression on me is the personality and sense of humor of these hosts. On this visit we had the pleasure of being paired with Vic. The knowledge, and the conversation was the icing on the cake of our pick up/complimentary tasting. Sebastiani follows the safety protocols set by the county so make sure to call ahead and schedule your pick up or wine tasting. It's definitely worth the trip. read more

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery - Wine - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sonoma, California

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After an incredible tasting at Buena Vista Winery we decided to stop by Sebastiani to see if we could get a tasting. I hadn't been there in years, last time I was here it was a fabulous experience. We walked up to the bar and asked the gentleman if we could get a tasting, we didn't have a reservation. He said no, but we could purchase a glass or bottle, he gave us a menu then walked away. I glanced around the room tables were full with guests and empty glasses staring empty in space looking totally bored. We decided what we wanted just a glass, trying to get anyone's attention. We were ignored, we waited & waited. Several of the staff walked by like we were invisible no smiles on their faces or acknowledgment that we would get any service. 30 minutes passed as we were determined to try your wine. Such a HUGE disappointment after the above & beyond experience at Buena Vista Winery. It's a shame these are older adults not young adults, Customer service should be a priority. read more

We arrived and took seats of two people leaving. No one greeted us despite seeing and walking by us several times. I finally asked a guy if they were open till 5 it being 4:00 and he said yes. He then feigned surprise that we hadn't been helped even though he saw us take the seats he was responsible for and had walked passed us no fewer then 10 times without even a glance. We just came from Buena Vista where we were treated amazingly. We walked out of this place even though someone had recommend because they were rude and dismissive. read more

We scheduled a wine tasting and charcuterie board and loved our experience. Our sommelier was amazing! He had a great sense of humor and wonderful service. After tasting he brought us sorbet. The winery is gorgeous with lots of details throughout. Would definitely recommend, especially on a weekday when you can have more personalized service. read more

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My husband and I visited 3 Wineries on 8/20/23 and Sebastiani was the first and best. We were greeted by Frank who gave us a tour and tasting that was above and beyond our expectations. Frank led us through the cabernet experience with anecdotes and stories for each wine. He was knowledgeable and friendly, and had a true passion for the product. We highly recommend visiting Sebastiani and working with Frank! read more

I became a Sebastiani member in 1990, moved away & rejoined in 2012 when we moved back to Sonoma Valley. The decline over these past years has been palpable. As a local & frequent tasting room visitor we've been consistently ignored, in lieu of the service they preferred to serve the tourists. When the tasting room is empty they talk among themselves & busy themselves with housekeeping tasks. As a member our membership required us to purchase 4 bottles of wine quarterly at approximately $1000. Inevitability more bottles were purchased beyond our requirement as well. We frequently brought our out of town friend's & family, some signed up for memberships and yet the constant drumbeat of sell, sell, sell was a constant. This became unsustainable because it started not only to ruin our tasting room experience but it started to feel our 14 year Connoisseur Club loyalty wasn't valued. The wine is average for the valley with the exception of the $150 Cherryblock which we've been drinking since 1990. We get the feeling the winery & experience isn't the owner's priorities. That is extremely sad & dispiriting as this is one of the Foundational wineries & part of Sonoma Valley's history. read more

We called and made a reservation for 2 picnic tables for 10 people to come and enjoy wine. When we arrived, we were told we must purchase 4 bottles of wine to have picnic tables. Then when we were handed the receipt, they charged us $25 for each picnic table but this was never communicated to us. When questioned about the charge, Frank responded "WELL you are sitting on our property." Since he had opened our wine bottles, we had to stay. When asked where our reserved tables were located, we were told we had to find open picnic tables. No one told us any of these requirements when we made the booking. The server, Frank, was an older man who was incredibly rude and dismissive towards us. I have never been so talked down to by someone and it was not appreciated. Would not recommend Sebastiani. We had a AMAZING experience at Buena Vista in Sonoma prior to this and would direct people there! read more

When I researched for places to visit, this was one that had great reviews and I added it to the list. It seemed like a great venue, looked like they had food trucks on hand sometimes and the place was beautiful and overall it was a great visit. The wine was ok, I wouldn't say it was my favorite, their white wine was good for me, the red was a little bitter for my taste. When we were there it wasn't lively, there wasn't much going on, but it did give us some free range to venture inside and see the huge barrels and art work and stuff, with Covid we had to sit outside, but the weather was nice and our waitress was good, but IDK, there was a different vibe I guess. Maybe it was just the day we went. I would go again, maybe when they had food trucks or a band, or maybe when it opens up inside, I would come back and give it another chance. read more

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We may have to revisit Sebastiani at a later date, but based on our tasting yesterday it was just okay. The property is historic and with downtown Sonoma built up around it so there isn't much in regards to views here. There is a nice fountain out front and picnic tables spread all over with nice areas to sit and enjoy bottles. You can bring your own picnice supplies or buy a array of things on site. If you sit outside on the weekend, you must come back in to the bar for your next wine in your flight, pours for the flights are on the small side and tend to be inconsistent. Inside is cool for it's historical value with a fireplace but overly dark and I wouldn't want to be there on a nice day. Wine can be hit and miss. Some good ones, many average ones. I would revisit another time for a redo but as of now it's meh... read more

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We've been members here for many years. We enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces, the casual ambience and the cozy roaring fireplaces inside. But what we really enjoy is the tasting experience itself. The staff here are funny, warm and engaging. You never feel rushed. Many have been here for years and you can tell they really enjoy being there. We usually get a reservation but we also know if we just stop in we will be welcomed and accommodated. We tend to leave with our favorite Dry Creek Zin and their Cabs are getting better and better. Bonus that they are members of the Foley Group which gives you tasting privileges at numerous wineries across the state including Chalk Hill and Lancaster, and new properties are being added all the time. Stop in and talk to the manager Jessyln - you won't be disappointed! read more

I came here on a late Saturday afternoon for wine tasting. I did the Signature flight (mix of reds and whites) and my partner had the flight with all reds. The other option is an all whites. They have an offer where if you purchase a bottle of wine from the flight then you don't have to pay for the flight. Winery closed at 5:00 so tastings stopped promptly at 4:30. They let us sample a few wines before buying a bottle and then we were welcome to sit outside for the rest of the day. tldr; nice winery, ample parking, outdoor patio with picnic tables and hula hoops. read more

First winery we visited in Sonoma! We made a table reservation for a tasting beforehand. We arrived 10 minutes early and we were right away seated at a table in their courtyard. The staff was very friendly and reminded people to wear mask whenever they move away from their table. For tastings, they have 2 flights, a classic one for $35 (2 whites and 3 reds) and a red one for $40. I am mot a huge red wine fan and being summer and all we opted for the classic one. The first one on the list was a 2018 Semillon from the Alexander Valley, which made me buy a bottle (and maybe a good 4 glasses after the tasting) from the first sip. Nice atmosphere and the wines aren't too expensive. PSA they will wave the tasting fee with a bottle purchase. read more

Wine is great, service not so much! When we entered the tasting room, the man who was greeting people was unwrapping pens when we came in and asked us did we need anything. We said we were looking around since I've never been to Sebastiani. I decided to get a tasting, so I went up to the tasting area. `There were three people there and no one greeted us. We had to say we wanted to do a tasting before someone helped us. The only nice thing was when we asked for water they brought two cans of water to us. My wife grabbed the waters and sat down in the tasting room and the man that was greeting people came over and spoke to the woman that was helping us and told her that we had to go outside. He did not have the courtesy to speak to me or explain to me that they were reservations inside. Note the whole time we were there the table remained empty. read more

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Went her for the first time the other day - it was one of their summer Friday music nights - what a party! On the last Friday of the month, they have food trucks. They had 4 of them - a lobster truck (yum), The Fig Rig, a mexican truck and an indian food truck - lots to choose from - though long lines for much of the evening. Seems the whole town comes out for these parties - we got there on the early side and it was already quite full - inside (where the music is set up) and outside. Lots of people bring their own chairs, tables and food. A real community gathering. The music was the Jami Jamieson - they were excellent and there was lots and lots of dancing all evening long. They serve wine by the glass or the bottle. We had their Pinot and it was really good. I highly recommend this winery and Friday nites for sure - just get there early and have some fun! read more

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Another gorgeous evening in Sonoma. Sebastiani has monthly music at the winery for members & non-members of the winery. It's starts at 5pm, there is a $10 entrance fee for non-members, you'll get a splash of wine, they were serving Sauvignon Blanc in a to-go sippy wine cup included in fee. And I was told if you bring it back next month you get a discount on the entrance fee. Gotta remember that, plus it's a cute cup. We walked in and decided to sit by the large water fountain. There were plenty of patio chairs & tables for all. There is also a large lawn area with lots of picnic tables that were filled with family & friends. They only serve wine so people are encouraged to bring their own food. There was a well known food truck just outside the premises. We sat close to the entrance of the winery so we could hear the fantastic live band playing inside and be close to the bar were I had a fine glass of their merlot. Since there was COVID-19 protocol mask were worn inside and there were a few couples dancing the night away. They had the dance floor almost to themselves. Sitting there with music playing, view of the Sonoma hills, palm tree swaying, calming water fountain and a nice glass of Sonoma wine reminded me that you don't have to go far from home to enjoy a nice piece of paradise. read more

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What a beautiful tasting room at this, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, wineries in Sonoma. If you get a chance, take a look at the large, spectacular dining area with huge barrels located behind the tasting room - it's magnificent! Oh yeah, the wine is awfully good as well. If you are really nice and give your wine ambassador at the bar a wink, as part of a tasting they might also give you a pour of the Cherry Block Cabernet - it's about as good of a Cab as I've ever had (although we are not the target audience for those $500 and $1,000 bottles of wine--this is more affordable at about $200/bottle, not that we spend that very often either!). Really good tasting experience with some great wines. read more

Our first winery of 6 in Sonoma and was a bit disappointed, service was standard. All outside tasting in a beautiful garden walkway. Wines were all good but nothing wowed me. I can only compare to NJ/NY wineries. read more

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