So finally decided to try Sobon wines after a friend recommended. What a cute winery! The tasting menu was great, so great that it was tough to pick a favorite. Although I'm a fan of the reds, their whites were equally delicious! I love Barbera's and theirs did not disappoint. Teri was our host. She was very attentive and was great introducing us to all their different wines! The prices are very reasonable and of course it was Black Friday, so even better! It was hard not to resist joining their wine club as well as walking away with a case of 6 bottles! Cheers to a long term relationship! read more

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One of the best wineries in CA, including Napa and Sonoma with consistently high quality wine at prices much less than Napa. Our Amador, Placer, El Dorado, etc. foothill counties are loaded with beautiful scenery, no traffic problems, and very reasonable tasting fees or no tasting fee. This winery and their Shenandoah Winery are always at the top of my must visit list. read more

Sobon Estate - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

Luis was awesome! Very knowledgeable about the wines and property. Beautiful property! Had a great time. Bought many of the wines. read more

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What is there not to love? Ample parking, an area to picnic and history!! Lots of history and lots of family photos with stories to go with them! Loved our gal that day! Smiling and compassion when she spoke. Great at what she does! I appreciate them most for their value!! Still one of the most affordable places and that means everything these days! read more

Very warm family-owned winery. wine is great, my personal favorite is the Zinfandel. The people are super warm and welcoming. There's even a museum that displays farming equipment relevant to winemaking. Overall great experience. read more

I love Sobon and their wines. They are worth the journey every time. Reviews are all over the place for them, and it's the same with the wine enjoying friends I have as well, but every time I've visited they've knocked it out of the park. It's one of the only places where I know everything I'm going to taste is going to be great. Yes, there is a museum here, and on a particularly hot summer day cooling off inside while you sip and take a short trip to the past makes for some perfect memories. I certainly appreciate all the shade. During rona times they are offering private tastings by reservation only. Yesterday, April 17th, some of the fam, my boo, and I came for one such experience. It was excellent fun to have a tasting experience after such a dry spell, and we had a nice time. I walked away with their tannat and rosé, but as usual was tempted to buy more bottles. On our way out a kind staff member offered to take our picture near the impressive wisteria winding its way along the roof of the tasting room. *Some people* were a little wary of the fat bumblebees buzzing about. XD It's a good spot for a picnic. PS. Sylvester the Cat is retired from wine kitty duty and lives with a retired former staff member, if anyone was curious. Some of us were looking forward to visiting him and asked after him on this last trip. read more

Sobon Estate - red chairs in front of a white house - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

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We hadn't planned on going here because we had been before. We had just stopped in to get some glasses but it's just so hard to resist good wines when they are sitting there right in front of you. They have different Covid protections in place from masks and screens for interacting with the staff. If you are concerned about covid but still want to get a wine tasting in. This would be a good place to start. We ended up leaving with two bottles and two glasses and would have left with more had our car not already been loaded with 4 cases of wine. I really wish I could afford to buy and drink all of the wines I enjoy. We will be back, even if it is only to grab a bottle or two when we go to experience the near endless wineries in the area. read more

Host was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. By tasting at Sabon we were able to keep the glasses and taste free at the sister property Shenandoah vineyards. Wines were lovely, at Sabon, would come again. read more

My friend and I found ourselves without husbands to join us for our Amador County wine tasting adventure because they both had to work on Black Friday. Ah shucks! ; ) We made Sobon our second stop and it was such a welcoming experience. The staff were very friendly and helpful, pouring generous tastes of every single bottle they had for sale. Amazing! I especially appreciated their festive spirits despite having been slammed by a massive amount of customers earlier in the day seeking the early morning deep discounts. Left with a half case of wine between the two of us for a sweet Black Friday deal. So glad to be able to share this little gem with my friend on her first visit to Amador wine country. read more

Sobon Estate - A very festive and friendly Sobon staff on Black Friday - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

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First visit back in a least five plus years. Indoor tasting socially distance.... Still using plexiglass shields to pass glasses back and forth from taster to pourer. So, wines were all great. Some better than others. Our favorite was Rocky Top Zinfandel 2019. Staff was friendly and jovial. We will be back. read more

The property is very pretty as you arrive. On-site is a little museum (which I did not partake in) so have No input on that. The staff here is super nice. We worked with Diane and Paul and were treated very well. Cute little gift shop with some fun little wine related items. The downfall was the wine in my opinion. But that was my personal preference. The tasting were very fair as I do t remember a fee for tasting but don't hold me to that! Plenty of room for your limo but no pets allowed inside the tasting room fyi! read more

We have been visiting Sobon for many years and we really enjoy the Zinfandel wines the most. It is one of the oldest wineries in the area. It is not one of the new "I have to spend millions on the building" kind of wineries but that allows them to charge decent prices instead of over charging to pay for their wines. They also have a lot of history with a museum. Try the Reserve wines for a small charge. They are worth it. Staff is always friendly and they have a great selection of wines to try. There is a nice area for a picnic and a friendly cat to say Hello. read more

Sobon Estate - The wine tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

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Fabulous wines. Fascinating history as well as friendly helpful staff. You simply can't go wrong here!!!

Very nice welcome. Lots of information about the history of this family owned winery. Lots of wines to taste for only $5.

Paul Woodward was AMAZING! He really takes the time to connect with his customers and create a great experience. I would go back just for Paul. read more

Walking into the tasting room, you can't help but notice all the awards and ribbons that their wines have won. Impressive! They also feature books about the local surrounds which is a nice touch -- this area has a lot of history. And a kids area! I did the $5 reserve tasting which featured more generous pours than the general tasting. Is it worth it? Well, I thought so. Great opportunity to try some of the regional grape varieties including tannat - one that usually ends up in blends. Like it's name, it was very tanniny. A bit over the top for my taste. Oh, you get to keep the glass as well; it is large, bulbous and has Sobon etched onto the glass. I like the fact that this winery is organic; I discovered you don't have to forgo taste to be labeled organic. My favorite was the primitivo, part of the reserve wines tasting selection. Just smooth. I'm not going to go into detail like: hints of blackberry with a whiff of tobacco and leather. 'Cause I'm not like that. read more

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Lm_bsGNPZm3DqFwjzlb5vQ?select=JhWUQumzmsL_FdKVzTSULA Tasted the low cost line-up that was presented. Unimpressive. They own Shenandoah vineyards and the same stuff you get there is over here with a different label. If you want to taste the "good stuff" you pay a tasting fee. Let me reflect on this STUPID technique used by wineries. You hold back the best wine and make people pay to taste them. Well - do you know where you can shove that tasting fee AND the wine? I go to a winery to taste the product. You really can't find another way to see if you like the wine. Based on the low quality of your low priced swill, I should trust that $5 is going to justify me drinking higher cost swill? If you want to sell your product, quit being prickish about the tasting. If you have problems with busloads of assholes showing up and getting ripped at your expense, then deal with that differently - don't deny the serious wine freak a free tasting. I was drinking at 15 places in Amador County over two days before I ran onto this fee crap. I spent over $800 at the other places and Shenandoah and Sobon got zilch from me. Do you get it, yet? Sobon must be counting on impressing visitors with their "Kountry Kitsch" and a $5 glass which dolts describe as "free". Suckers born every minute. Yes, they have a nice museum http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Lm_bsGNPZm3DqFwjzlb5vQ?select=Eoe9fs55mb6pw3Pdnd7Whg and a very showy tasting room http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Lm_bsGNPZm3DqFwjzlb5vQ?select=4QjgFGXBA8zliVnAKfb-oA. The old wine cellar http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Lm_bsGNPZm3DqFwjzlb5vQ?select=siVdxA5CCBhXrRAzV_XLRw with the barrels for storage http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Lm_bsGNPZm3DqFwjzlb5vQ?select=4H34tqJ7P2kS16Jat2mf1g smells like cat piss. I am thinking that Sobon might be bottling it. read more

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Visited Sobon with a couple of local friends. Decent wines, though not my favorites. I was excited to see they had a 100% (or so) Roussanne, but found it less than impressive (it was on sale at the time for only $10 a bottle though!). Lots of Zins, which isn't my preferred varietal, but they were OK. I enjoyed their pepperiness (which I do like in my Zins). Wasn't in love with their dessert wines (White Port and Zin Port) either. Spacious tasting room with lots of merchandise. Lots of awards on the walls (though, working in wine, I know that doesn't really mean much). The tasting room attendant was helpful (she did come off a little curmudgeonly, but I can forgive that), and she seemed to know her stuff well enough. Interesting side note: The winery was first owned by the D'Agostini family, which is also the name of the friends I visited with. Apparently all D'Agostinis in the area are related, but they no longer claim it. So my friends may or may not have been related to the original founders. That was a nice, semi-personal connection to the place! Best part about this place: the winery cat!! I don't know if he's an official member of Sobon Estate, but he certainly made our trip. We found him in the museum (sort of interesting stuff in there: history of the winery, old tools, presses, barrels and the like). And took pictures galore of him! Oh yeah, I like how tastings are generally free in Amador, including this place. Their bottles weren't outrageously priced either (I saw other places charging well over $30 a bottle out there). They also gave our DD a free bottle of water (they also offered soda), which is a nice touch for encouraging DDs! read more

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I have been wanting to check this place out for a while now and today that finally happened. This a smaller winery but don't let that fool you, this place has some amazing wines. I am a huge fan of Zins, especially full bodied Zins and this place did not disappoint. They have about five different Zins and all of them not only met my expectations but completely exceeded them. The customer service here was top notch. The staff were all very professional and knowledgable about their wines. They were also very accommodating to my large party which included industry buyers. This place is a long way out so be prepared to drive a little. Once you arrive though, there is plenty of parking. Pricing is also great!!! Overall, I am glad I came here and will definitely be back in the future. I also recommend everyone try this winery. read more

This winery sets itself apart from the others because it displays a little piece of California history. Somebody likes collecting frontier days items. They had complimentary wine tasting, from which the red blend was the best. For $5 you can also taste some of their higher end wines plus you get to keep the wine glass that will get you free wine tasting at their sister winery, Shenandoah Vineyards. From this set of wine tasting the petit Syrah was groovy. The lady pouring for us was friendly and engaging. We had a good time here. read more

Sobon Estate - Free wine glass with $5 tasting - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

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Sobon Estate is the oldest continuously operating winery in California. This winery is set back a bit from the hustle and bustle of the main part of the Shenandoah Valley, but those willing to drive a bit more can literally get a taste of history. This large estate is on Shenandoah Road several miles past the end of Steiner Road. They are remote with poor cell coverage and no public wifi, so just keep driving until you see the sign. Parking is good unless there are buses and limos in the lot. The grounds are nice, but they are more rustic than the typical Amador winery. The tasting room has a nice cellar feel, but the small bar can quickly get overwhelmed with customers. Still, the wine is the star here with consistently good wine at a very good value. They are one of the few bottling Tannat and have a great reserve tasting deal with their sister winery. Sobon is a bit rough around the edges, but is a nice stop for those willing to make the trip. read more

LOVE this winery and the fun wine inspired gift shop in the tasting room. The two times I've visited there seems to be a discount offered with various quantities making reasonable wine even more affordable. For FREE there is a long list of Zins and additional varietals, but it's worth the $5 to taste their RESERVES - could have easily purchased all four but settled for two bottles of the '09 Tannat, beautiful color, fuller bodied than the others. MMMmmmmm good. read more

The reserve wines selling for over $20 should have been great. They were barely ordinary. And they have the rudest, most unpleasant and ignorant tasting room staff I have ever encountered. It was not a busy day -- we were the only customers, and yet they managed to make it a bad experience for us. Not quite sure what management is trying to accomplish here. Nothing worth buying on your own nickel, but is someone else wants to give you a gift, ask for the Primitivo. Its their best bottle. read more

Whoever does the hiring here, you've got an eye for great staff been here a few times and it's always exceptional service. Staff is well taught and exceptionally friendly. Today while taking my mother, sister and family friend whom are all knew to wine and there first time wine tasting, we were so pleased with our experience. Friendliest, most inviting and helpful staff of the entire day. Was an absolute pleasure and a wonderful experience introducing some family to wine. So proud to carry your product at my work and will continue to recommend a great wine from a great family and team. read more

Today seemed to be the day of bad service in Plymouth. Sobon was not alone in that the tasting room staff seemed to have entirely forgotten their customer service skills (or even their basic manners). The man who was helping us poured our tastes, slammed down the bottle, and walked away in between. Not very inviting. Their wines don't strike me as particularly interesting, but they are priced accordingly and are good enough that for a bottle of dinner wine I enjoy them. The group I was with all agreed that we like their Zins the best--in particular the old vine zin. They are also certified organic, though they don't mention that anywhere except for a small line on the bottle, so if you are looking for organic wine, it's a good place to start. read more

One of my favorites for sure. Great wines at an even better price and such an awesome family and staff. Tons of great history too!

A lovely winery with a cute gift shop. The wines were good; purchase a glass for $4.95 and they'll pour you their estate wines. I loved sashaying to the counter w/ my VIP glass while the minions drank the "regular" wines out of the regular tasting glasses. read more

I love how rustic this place is! You really feel like you're in an old world winery. The staff was super nice, and incredibly attentive to my entire group (6 of us). They took the time to explain the wines they were pouring and made it a point to tell us about Shenandoah Vineyards, which we equally loved. The grounds are awesome, especially the museum. The winery cat was a cute touch too! He hung out by the fountain most of the day. read more

I placed an online order for a Christmas gift for my dad. They make a primitivo that is one of his absolute favorite wines (he really loves all of Sobon's wines). Shortly after placing the order I received a phone call from one of the family (I believe Andrew) thanking me for my order, and we had a wonderful conversation. I was very impressed by that. We actually visited the estate in 2019 (we're from AZ), and it's such a beautiful place. Some of the best wines found in CA for sure, this place is a treasure. read more

I did enjoy the cat following me through the museum. I got to pet it a few times but you know how finicky cats can be. We purchased the glass for $5 a piece and it came with the reserve tastings (also gets you reserves at Shenandoah). The funny thing is that I enjoyed their non-reserve list more. Delicious Zins. Fun farm like ambiance. read more

Wines just ok. Tasting room ok. Very good for the prices but not overly exciting wines. The Rsv wines are the best they have and ok for the $$. read more

Always my go to winery for the best old vine zin! If a white wine drinker, their Daphne is perfect for salads, seafood, or sipping. When you want red, their Rocky Top and Fiddletown Old Vine Zin's are over the top delicious. These reds are a must serve when you BBQ steak, hamburgers, pork, or cook any pasta dish, or pizza. Always a favorite stop of mine a few times a year. Note that Taylor's Market on Freeport carries their wines and also has my favorite "sleeper" wine, the 2018 Zinfandel Special Reserve from their sister winery nearby, the Shenandoah Winery. Outstanding taste and value. Eat, drink, and be merry people. read more

Really liked this winery, and had to make choices about what I was going to buy as I liked so many things. We really liked the zins, and they had several to choose from. The prices were very reasonable, parking was easy, lots of room in the tasting room (although it was hard to find a place at the bar.) Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Dessert wines were too sweet for us, which was too bad. We didn't try the reserve wines for the $5 tasting fee. read more

Our friends have a vacation home in Volcano and are members of this winery. Great choices and exceptional value especially for members. I highly recommend it. Our current favorite is the lovely and jammy Old Vines Zin. read more

Sobon Estate - On the way to Sobon. Plenty of grapes and farm animals. - Wineries Near Me - Plymouth, California

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Simply the best Zin on the planet...too many "award winning" out of this world wines to talk about...and the prices are generous and affordable read more

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What a gem! Amazing wines and friendly staff. Love, love this winery! There was not a wine I did not like..whether you like White or Red, there is a fantastic selection. Loved the ReZerve Zinfindel! read more

I love this winery and the fun wine inspired me with the gift shop in the tasting room. read more

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Our trip to Sobon Estates started with groans as we pulled into the parking lot and saw a monster size wine country bus parked out front. The groans got louder as we heard the tasters talking loudly and slurring their words (I'm not one to judge on over indulging on wine, but it was only 11 am). But hey, the customers are not a reflection of the establishment, right? Wrong. After the bus crowd left, we were greeted by the staff who had clearly had enough (before noon mind you). The pourer started the tasting by announcing that this was a "white wine" (forget the varietal, vineyard or any of the other info that a wine drinker would be interested in). Chalking that up to having just dealt with the perhaps non-informed bus goers, we asked questions about their wines- they do have some worthy reds. However after tasting the third Zin, I asked about the vineyards and differentiating factors only to be met with a blank stare. The staff was just not into interacting with the customers or talking about their wines. They did not mention anything about the certified organic winery either, which one would think might be a selling point or at least a topic of interest. The most memorable wine was the late harvest Zin- its a winner if you are interested in dessert wine and is fairly priced too at $13 for a split. All in all, the wines were more impressive than the service and tasting room staff, which isn't saying too much. The wines are an okay value for the price, but I won't be returning to Sobon with so many other good options in the area. read more

This certified organic winery located in Plymouth CA, is a hidden gem. Their Rocky Top Zin is my favorite of all their wines. Although, they have many I haven't even tried. They have won many awards over the years, but they remain a small, unassuming family owned winery. read more

We went to a local charity event and won a wine tasting and limo certificate for 20 people at Sobon Winery. We went to reserve the event the Winery (wine owner) said a limo was not included rather, it was a paid tasting for 20 people. According to the paperwork a limo is included. They negotiated to include the limo but only for 6 people. I have not been to the winery and would not even consider to go. I know they sell their wines in stores and restaurants around the Sacramento region. I will NEVER taste or purchase their wine. Why would I support a vineyard that will not fulfill their promise to a local charity?!?!?! read more