Came on a Thursday, very quiet & peaceful sitting on their patio. Amy was very knowable about the ports and hubs enjoyed the tasting experience. I got the Wine Slushy to-go bag, as it was an interesting flavor and I could see it being a refreshing drink in the summer. If you are into Ports (and they also have wine tasting), worth the walk from downtown. read more

We went to Sonoma, Port Work on Father's Day to have a tasting. Really enjoyed the selection of Port wines and other wines. We also tried a selection of cheeses and crackers. They were careful to accommodate one diner's allergies to nuts. read more

The cutest tasting room with the most delicious ports! The decor is simple but nice and the vibe is cozy. I missed an opportunity to come to an event that was hosted here recently but decided to try it out anyway. I'm so happy that I did because I learned so much and became a member! Murray was the perfect host! He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us great pairing suggestions that I can't wait to try! Not only do they have ports to drink but also ports that you can drizzle on salads and desserts! read more

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Very cute place off the beaten path but also not far from the other action along the waterfront in Petaluma. What's also great is the down to earth folks pouring and giving great conversation. Been a couple of times and absolutely love the ports and they are very reasonably priced. First pick is the refreshing and unique white port as you can't find this too many place. But last trip I picked up their Deco, after dinner wine (port) which was so amazing when paired, and of course dark chocolate truffle is what goes best. If in town, stop by! read more

Always a pleasure to stop here for a tasting. Great, friendly staff, very knowledgeable about the products. Inside or outside seating. Easy parking. Joined with Heringer Estates Winery so wine offerings as well. read more

Lovely tasting room and great selection of Port wines! Look forward to my next visit New release from May 2024 is the Zinfandel port which has fruit forward cherry notes. The white port with Chardonnay grapes is also quite refreshing and peachy. My favorite port wine they make is the white grape varieties (last year was a Gewurztraminer) Murray on staff was very friendly and so knowledgeable on the port wines, source of grapes, and tasting notes read more

Sonoma Portworks - Tasting menu May 2024 - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

What a hidden gem! I've been into this cozy tasting room a few times to purchase ports. They always pour a few tastes to make sure I get what I want. On my most recent visit this month I came home with a bottle of white port! What a refreshing summer sipper - serve it chilled on its own or as part of a spritzer! I'm excited to experiment. I also got a bottle of Sonomic Gold 'almost vinegar' to top our summer salads. Service is always welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable, and prices are reasonable. I've yet to experience their full tasting but they currently offer a Yelp check-in offer, so try it out! And I hope to do so soon too! read more

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We dashed in here on a whim because I needed to do a zoom meeting and didn't want to do it in the car, or perhaps more true to say I'd rather do it over port tasting. The atmosphere was relaxed and the staff were calm, compassionate, and friendly. The restrooms are a bit of a walk away from the tasting room, but that just added to the quirky adventure for me. Really enjoyed to port and the not quite vinegar (forgetting the official name just now). Will definitely visit again when I come back to town. read more

Truly enjoyed this experience! The wine slushee was perfect on a hot day, and we enjoyed every port we tried. Bought a few bottles. Matt was very kind! read more

Sonoma Portworks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

So being a huge wine snob I have a familiarity with wines cousins like Port, Sherry, Cognac, Brandy etc. However, I have never been Port tasting and I have to say it was quite a blast. We tasted 6 different Ports. Since tasting and palates are unique with each person, I will forgo a detailed note for each port. However, my palate more or less tracked with the descriptions provided by the maker. I will provide notes for the two I did purchase. The interesting addition was the Sonomic. While in many way a finishing vinegar like soemthing 50 years+ from Modena this offering was more acidic and much brighter that a fine Balsamic. It is perfect to drizzle on smelly cheese, or say pork or fish. A little goes a long way and it will be a welcome addition to my pantry Port Barrel Reserve California Brandy: This one was a nice surprise. Given that it aged only 6 years I expected it to come on strong, hot and have a lot of hard edges. However, what we tasted was extraordinary complex, with vanilla and dark fruit on the nose, with a hint of jammy plums on the palate with a slightly hot lingering finish. There are optional food boxes that can be ordered and the contents paired perfectly with the tasting. Service was super friendly and time was taken to explain each offering. It was a quiet day we visited (Middle of the weeks after lunch) so parking was easy and lines were not in evidence. However, given the quality of the offerings, I suspect it can get really crowded. read more

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First Delivery of the year! The package arrive so quickly (confirmed shipment on 2/20 and arrived 2/22). Two bottles are securely packed and love the "Drink Dessert!" stickers. Don't mind if I do :) read more

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We were in the area searching for a distillery, but all we found was a warehouse. However, in a stroke of serendipity, we noticed a sign for a port-tasting room next door and decided to give it a try. It turned out to be the highlight of our day, a hidden gem we hadn't anticipated. The tasting experience was wonderful. Matt gave perfect insights into the wines and also gave a tour of the boutique winery. The ports are excellent! Bought two bottles & a membership. Looking forward to exciting offerings and events read more

Sonoma Portworks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

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What a gem!!! This is such a cute place if you like ports and amazing customer service! We went for a tasting and it was such a great experience. Our favorites were the petite Verdot, Deco and Maduro! I especially loved that we learned so much about the differences and the process of port making. We also took home a bottle of the Sonomic 'gold' which we look forward to using for so many different food mixes (non alcoholic). Their distilled spirits are great! The brandy was a little bit too strong for me but my friend liked it and I liked the fig one! If you are around and like ports, this is absolutely your place to visit! read more

Sonoma Portworks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

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In a past visit to Sonoma Portworks I was seated outside. This time the party was in the Tasting Room, a welcoming space which displays their craft. The port wines were delicious and each one had a different complexity. Maduro Reserve Tawney Port was my favorite. I learned how subtle adjustments can affect flavors of the products. Suggested food pairings that compliment the specific libation made the experience even more enjoyable. read more

BBobba the Bobster came up for the day so we hit Adobe Winery in Petaluma- Outstanding Wine and people! And then headed over here - one of the first few days when the world was allowed out of the haus for crying out loud!! (My Mom speaking). And it was a Hottttt day in the high 90's. Went in and sat in the Barrel room with Amy out Host. She was extremely knowledgeable, perfectly friendly, and we tasted everything- a few more than the designed tasting. I loved all of them. Both the Petite Sirah Port and Petite Verdot Ports were amazing and had their true grape varietal phenolic compounds come through. Petite Sirah has a fruit profile of blueberry, dark chocolate, and tea leaves + other flavors. Petite Verdot was known for being used as a very small percentage in Bordeaux blends - for color and tannin. Now occasionally being made as it's own wine you often find flavors of Black Cherry, Ripe Plum, and crushed Violets. There was a touch more tannin in this compared to others too. Absolutely exquisite and must haves for any port/dessert lover or I can see cognac loves being thrilled as well. the Maduro Reserve Tawny Port and the Cask Reserve Late Release both perfection!! It's close by and a casual atmosphere and yes they do have outdoor covered seating. read more

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What a great experience ! We tried this place for the first time after so many trips to napa and Sonoma for wine tasting . The fact they had both port and cherry for tastings was very unique . We brought my wife's parents w us so we were a party of 4 and made a tasting reservation through the website (very easy and smooth) The service was amazing - Amy let us sample so many different types of port and cherry and provided very detailed and clear explanations on each and every one of them . Super interesting . They didn't have many options for food so we brought in a few gourmet cheeses from the nikiso valley farm which perfectly accompanied the drinks . The price was also super fair. All in all a. Great experience - we will be back for sure read more

This place was pretty nice. I would definitely go here again for sure because the selection is great. And it is not too far from the locations and wine country or even parlay away from my country such as Sacramento. read more

Delicious, diverse sweet ports and tastes of marvelous sweet vinegars. We tried the port flight with a cheese plate to pair. Maya, our host, was informative and even let us sample a fifth port and a fig liqueur not on the tasting menu. It's worth the little bit of effort to leave the downtown and find them on the river a bit south of downtown. You won't be disappointed! read more

There are not many Port Tasting out there. And this one, I must confess, that is not the best Port I have tried. But the experience, and the top notch service I received made me even join the club! The price for the tasting is very affordable. They offer a lot of variety: Ports, Spirits and vinegars... I felt the ports had a strong alcohol taste. They were still good very. But the main reason I like Port is because I love that sweet dessert taste without the alcohol punch on my palate. Their vinegars, the Duet and Deco (after dinner wines) were to die for! Those were our favorites! I would totally recommend coming here. There is a Port for everyone. The service is magnificent and the prices are very good. The club offers many benefits too. I am exited to come back and bring some friends. read more

Sonoma Portworks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

I am all about dessert and I am all about wines, so why not be all about both with a sweet Port wine? They don't get any sweeter than the wide variety of wines being poured at Sonoma Portworks. Located in the old Foundry Wharf building along the Petaluma River, just south of downtown Petaluma, their tasting room can easily be considered one of the area's hidden gems, even though they have been here for over eighteen years. As wineries and tasting rooms begin to reopen, getting to their location by car is made easier thanks to the Petaluma Boulevard South off-ramp directly off of Highway 101 that made its debut a couple years ago and allows for easy access to the area. Sonoma Portworks is the only winery in Sonoma County that specializes in ports, sherries and after-dinner wines, and one of only a handful port tasting rooms in all of California. Port wine is most commonly enjoyed as a dessert wine thanks to the richness of each sip. At Sonoma Portworks, they feature several styles of Port, including red, and amber orange, and an aged-style called Tawny Port. I came with a friend who was a was Club Member and as a result, our tasting was complimentary. With our current situation as it was, Portworks recently was allowed to reopen for outdoor wine tastings and although we had a reservation for a 12 noon tasting on Saturday, their newly created outdoor deck complete with a tent for shade that city of Petaluma helped them build, was filled by the time we left about an hour later. It just goes to show you the power of Port! Amy, our tasting room associate was so warm and gracious as she poured us seven of their signature Port wines, all of which were available to be sold inside their tasting and production room, but she also shared the unique aspects and flavors of each wine. We learned a majority of their grapes in the small community of Clarksburg near Sacramento, and most of their wines are made right here in Petaluma. Our port tasting began with their Aris 2014 Petite Sirah Port which was a delicious port that had flavors black tea, raspberry and coffee beans, while Amy eventually brought out a port that wasn't listed on their tasting menu, which was their Aris 2015 Petite Sirah Port, and it was similar to their 2014 Petite Sirah Port, but with a smoother finish. Our third Port was their Aris 2014 Petit Verdot Port, which has a stronger finish than the first two ports thanks to hints of currants, plums and spices. Our fourth Port was perhaps my favorite of them all, their signature Port and first port they created at Portworks, their Deco Port with natural dark chocolate. This wine was a Zinfandel Grenache blend with a dark chocolate added to their port, it was smooth without being overpowering. The final three ports in our seven port tasting each had progressively bolder flavors begging with their Maduro Reserve Tawny Port, which had a bright orange color with hints of caramel and orange peel, this port was fortified and therefore has a higher alcohol count. Their Duet Sherry with natural hazelnut flavor had hazelnut flavors in its taste and smell, which gave it a nice smooth finish along with a bold red coloring. Our final Port was their Grappa Reserve, which was a port barrel aged grappa that a bright yellow hue to it and had the strongest punch of all of their wines, thanks to the extensive aging in an older port barrel. Once our tasting was done, they were so nice to bring out two samples of their Gold and Red "Sonomic" Almost Vinegar which is their version of a balsamic vinegar with half the acid, and I was wary of the taste but they both went down smoothly as flavors of stone fruit, molasses and coffee rang throughout. I was so impressed with the tasting offered at Portworks that all of their Ports were so well worth the affordable prices that they offered them at, and they were showcased in tall skinny bottles resembling olive oil bottles, that I had to purchase a bottle of their Deco Port at 17 dollars, their Gold Sonomic Vinegar at 16 dollars, and when I was allowed to enter their tasting room to make my purchase, I saw that they were selling some goods from local purveyors, so I was able to purchase a fun bag of English Toffee made by the Petaluma Toffee Company. A tasting at Sonoma Portworks is an opportunity to try unique ports and sherry as they proudly offer something for every palate. My whole experience left me reflecting on the joys of dessert wine and desserts in general and why do we save the arguably the best and must fun part of the meal for last? And at Sonoma Portworks, they are making sure desserts are the star and they are proud to share the experience with us. read more

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Andy was an outstanding host and pourer as she walked us through the selection of ports, vinegars abd even the coveted milkshake. I love a good port and these were exceptional. Worth the quick walk from downtown. read more

Sonoma Portworks - Outside - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Exceptional experience!!! We were treated to incredible ports, an abundance of knowledge an afternoon not to be forgotten. Worth going to Sonoma Portworks on a Monday when Matt works. He was so much fun and interesting to chat with. We learned so much about Port and had the best time. The ports are so good we couldn't pass up joining the port club. The Fig Port was one of our favorites! We are looking forward to our next trip! Thank you Matt!!! read more

Excellent staff and product. We arrived a bit before closing because we had just arrived in town and she took time with us after hours.

In wine country, you spend a lot of time trying the reds and whites... sometimes you need to sit back and experience the sweet life. Why not experience it by drinking port?! This place has been on my radar for awhile - and it did not disappoint! It's a tasting room located near Downtown Petaluma. Low key on the decor with the barrels in the background and only 2 servers... but I don't go tasting for atmosphere, I go for the wines. They are one of the few tasting rooms to focus on port wine. Tastings are complimentary and consist of the following: - 4 ports - 1 sherry - 2 tastings of Grappa - 2 spoonful tastes of Sonomic Vinegar (Gold and Red) Our server was super friendly and gave us a lot of information about the ports we were tasting. The ports weren't overly sweet and had quite a complex flavor - the prices range from $22 - $38 a bottle. We ended up buying a bottle of "Aris"; it had a great chocolate flavor with a great after taste that reminded me of pumpkin spice (like a nutty flavor). The sherry was a bit too sweet for my taste - it was like hazelnut syrup. The Grappa tastings were tiny but packed a punch - I can see why they give you a small sample. It's like a more intense vodka... I'd never had it before, but I was practically drinking alcohol. The Sonomic vinegar is REALLY good - a nice tart sweetness that would go great on salads, desserts, and maybe some entrees. Although there was a BOGO special on the Red, we went with the Gold because it had a more addicting sweetness.. You can also try their reserve tastings for $15 more, but this only adds an additional 3 tastings (2 ports + 1 Grappa). If you're an enthusiast, go for it! Otherwise I was satisfied with my free tasting, and confident enough to buy a bottle afterwards. Street parking only, but there was plenty of it in the area. I'll be back to see what they offer in their future releases! read more

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Very friendly and accessible tasting experience. Small tasting room, so consider calling first. read more

Sonoma Portworks - Bar area with California port - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

Five years ago I was putting together a wine tasting day just in Petaluma for a friend & I. I told her this was my version of a "Taste of Petaluma" & that is when I stumbled upon Sonoma Portworks. I made this our last stop after going to 3 local wineries in Petaluma since it was port & would be the icing on the cake. Bill Reader talked to us about the ports, how each were made, etc. The tasting was wonderful & I even made a purchase. Now fast forward 5 years....I decided to bring my daughter to Sonoma Portworks after we finished going to brunch just around the corner. Again Bill Reader was the one who helped us with our tasting, he is also the owner & winemaker. You can tell he loves to share his knowledge & insight of his ports, he's very passionate about them. And let me tell you though it's been a while since I've been here it didn't disappoint at all! Tastings are free unless you want to try the 3 reserves they have then it will be $15. However, the fee is waived if you purchase one of the reserve ports....and you know you will. Everything is bottled there except for the 2 "almost vinegars" & that is only because they're considered food products not a wine but it is bottled very close by. All of the ports are delicious & unique in their own way from the Petit Verdot Port with its dark cherry flavors to the Deco which is a zinfandel port with a hint of dark chocolate to the Maduro Reserve Tawny Port that has been aged 12 years & has a caramel & nutty flavor plus everything in between. A few other items that you can taste are 2 Grappas, one of which has a wonderful fig flavor & can be sipped on their own or used as a base for various cocktails, a wonderful sherry with a bit of hazelnut & there are 2 delicious Sonomic Almost Vinegars (a Gold muscat & a Red Carbernet Sauvignon) both of which are yummy & delicious to cook with or make some tasty salad dressings. Oh and the bottle prices are very reasonable. I loved everything but I must say my favorite was the Norton Port NV made with Norton grapes. Have you ever heard of a Norton grape? I'm sure you thinking no & neither had I, but Bill will tell you all about the grape which has a wonderful history. My daughter & I purchased some items including the Norton Port NV. I definitely will not wait 5 years between visits again as the ports are just too delicious to wait that long! read more

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I cannot speak highly rough about the port selection and the friendliness of the staff. We not only enjoyed the tasting and info, but purchased 3-4 bottles. The white port is especially hard to find anywhere in the states. More than worth the visit! read more

Sonoma Portworks - Menu - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

Delightful tasting. Not just the only port specialists in the region, but also some truly unique port options - whites, chocolate, "sonomic" balsamics. Delicious, friendly, inviting, and knowledgeable. read more

Had a great experience trying a $15 tasting flight that included four port wines, a liqueur, and even some vinaigrettes. 5 star customer service from Amy, definitely would check it out if you are looking for a change up from the traditional reds, Sonoma Portworks is the real deal! read more

Sonoma Portworks - Nice Color on this Rose Port, Many Varieties to choose from... - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Excellent quality and value, setting - only all-port such location in No. Calif. See more http://BayAreaBackroads.org Petaluma review read more

Sonoma Portworks - Sonoma Portworks winery cafe - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

Charming Amy told us all about the business. The ports are delicious and the balsamic are wonderful

Headed to Petaluma with a casual itinerary we saw the Port sign as we exited the freeway. I'm so glad we did. The outside seating was nearly full. We opted to sit inside. Its quaint. The staff [two ladies were lovely]. The Ports were literally all delish full of flavor. They even have a small ice cream to add to your tasting for $5 more. We had nice conversations with the staff and they were informative about all the local spots from the next winery to the cheese factories. All in all it was a very nice visit. Only regret not purchasing a few bottles! read more

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Loved Port wine before, and tried to find something new. Went to this place on a birthday celebration trip a couple weeks ago. We were hosted by Amy, who was very nice to show us their products, very professional. The wines were pretty good, the ice cream was even better :-) read more

Slowest service. They were "so busy". No restroom available. Only two women working and talking to patrons and not to us. We've been waiting and my there are empty tables everywhere. Makes no sense. Won't be back. read more

We were so happy to finally visit and do the tastings. What a treat to talk to Bill, the owner of these delicious creations. This is truly a local owned biz that is creating great products that they're passionate about. As a sweeter palate, we appreciate all the depth there is to these flavors. Each port has a distinctive flavor and feel to it. Plus they have they versions with hazelnut and another w/chocolate. And they also have these products called almost vinegar that are great pairings w/almost anything! And we got to try a boozy milkshake - yum! Truly appreciated Bill's passion, expertise and sharing his knowledge. read more

Dropped in with my mom (and dog) 30 minutes before closing and we were lucky enough to squeeze in a tasting. We had so much fun, learned a lot about port, and took home several bottles. Would recommend if you're in town and looking to do something a little different. read more

I have never been to a port wine tasting so this was definitely my first! And I loved it! The staff were very friendly and patient with us. The wine was also delicious. I wish they gave us a little bit more with each pour but it's a really affordable tasting ($10) so I can understand. The wines you can buy for yourself are also well priced afterwards. I wish the tasting fee could be waived if you were to buy a bottle but sadly that wasn't the case. However, I still recommend this place to anyone in the area and wanting to try a range of good port wines. read more

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Excellent customer service! Max is the best! And they have great tasting ports! Best wine tasting experience ever! read more

Sonoma Portworks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Petaluma, California

Had such a lovely tasting with Amy. We booked a tasting online, easy. We chose to sit outdoors and had a lovely tasting of their ports, some spirits and some "almost vinegars".... The ports are to die for! Having been to Porto, I would say these rivaled in taste. Top notch! We loved them all so much we bought one of every bottle variety. We also joined their wine club (no pressure) but we are excited for more visits a s more ports! You won't be disappointed! This is a great spot with a focus on fine ports! read more

The Sonoma Portworks has been on our wine tasting stops because it is probably the only winery that specializes in ports. But due to its location, which is away from the Sonoma County wineries further north, we haven't had a chance to stop in for a tasting. With a concert at the nearby Green Music Center, our group decided to stop by Sonoma Portworks for a Port tasting, then for dinner and the concert. The small quaint tasting room has two tasting counters for four and a couple of tables in the room. But we were fortunate to be able to step right up to one of the counters and Bill, the owner, was our server. Ports are the name of the game here. The complementary tasting consists of four ports, a sherry, a grappa and two balsamic vinegars. For $15, you can taste two reserve ports, Cask and Maduro, and a reserve Grappa. He gave a detailed description of each port that was poured. We went with the reserve tasting and tasted the delicious Cask and Maduro ports. The Grappas, which are spirits, are distilled next door at Stillwater Spirits. Bill was friendly and commented on the Ain't Too Proud t-shirt that our friend was wearing, a show we watched three nights earlier. He said he was watching in next week and talked about the time he lived in Detroit and how he experienced Motown. We bought the Maduro, Norton, Deco and a red Sonomic. Our friend loved their "Like my Glass" wine glasses and bought a couple too. A great fun and educational about ports and we'll be back again soon. read more