Great place. These guys really know their wines. Great local wine store in the Monte Rio area. read more

Wanted to pick up some bread and cheese to go with some wines we had picked up at some local Sonoma Wineries. I had heard good things about Sophie's Cellars, so pulled into the parking lot while heading back to our rented cabin. As soon as I walked in someone was there to help me. I told them I just wanted to look around first. Got the local Raymond's Bakery baguette and some Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam cheese. People, this combination of bread and cheese is the ultimate. It just goes perfectly together. The bread was fresh and the cheese was like butter when we spread it. The staff was friendly and helpful. They also have some good beers in stock if you're not into wine. read more

John is awesome. He is so attentive and truly wants people to enjoy their time at his place. He took us outside and set us up in a comfortable spot (turned chairs to avoid direct sun, etc.) And then he brought us the most AMAZING cheese plate (with gluten free crackers, no less!), to go with the delicious wine he'd curated from the region. This place is a little hidden jewel. Great snacks and drinks and warm hospitality. read more

Sophie's Cellars - Wine Bars Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

If you are in the Russian River Valley because of the wine, Sophie's Cellars needs to be on your destination list. We were pointed here by the innkeepers where we were staying and we were extremely impressed. A great little wine shop with a solid selection and amazing service. The shop is run by two guys and Mark (I think that's his name) was great! He prides himself on pairing wine and food and has an EXTENSIVE knowledge of wine and the local wineries (he has a relationship with many of the local vintners). We are not experts on wine, but he did not condescend to us and actually taught us quite a bit. This guy loves to talk about wine and we did not get bored. They have a deal worked out with a ton of local restaurants that won't charge corkage fees if you purchase from Sophie's. Even better than just that, Mark printed the menu for us from the restaurant we told him we were planning to go. After we told him what we would probably be ordering from the menu, he walked us around the store suggesting some great wine pairings. They also gave us some vouchers for free wine tasting at some of his favorite wineries. We will not only be going back here, we will probably be going back before we leave town tomorrow! read more

We got a really deep oenological explanation of the flight we ordered. I should have brought a little notebook because it was like a casual lesson :) We'll definitely be back! read more

Great place! Until this place opened, only Korbel had deli stuff in the area ( that I could find ). On the outside, it looks like a place that sells knitted stuff made by senior citizens, though. Easy to miss. Of course, Duncan Mills is lucky it is on the only road around, because you might miss it if you blinked, but it has a rustic charm that many little towns in the area has. read more

Visited John and Sophie's Cellars another time with friends. Once again, incredible access to 1-2 barrel releases and hospitality. It had turned chilly and sure enough John walked out with alpaca wool blankets to make sure we were warm enough. He doesn't quit being good to people. This is the place to stock up on thoughtfully selected wines and sit in the tasting room of someone who affirms your value and worth no matter who you are. It's simply amazing and I'll see him again next year when I'm back for my retreat. read more

This is one of my favorite places to wine taste, John Haggard is so knowledgeable and so great at answering questions, not only did we get to drink great wines but we learned so much read more

Sophie's Cellars - Wine Bars Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

This is a must visit if in the Duncan Mills area. John is a wealth of knowledge as it relates to wine and his tasting room is charming. Highly recommend! read more

We absolutely loved this place. The owner is very kind, funny, and easy to talk to. We will definitely be back!

$10.00 for about 6 ounces of crapppy wine? The guy that served us was accepting a delivery at the time and had two other guests he was trying to serve outside so I waited patiently. I told him I elected to just purchase two glasses of wine for my wife and I and that we wanted to skip the wine tasting. When he poured the amount of wine into each glass I was surprised at how little it was. I'm not trying to get hammered but it would be nice to have a decent amount of wine so I could enjoy the setting with my wife. When we tasted the wine it was no better than the stuff you get at Grocery Outlet for 3.99 a bottle read more

We have been customers of Sophie's Cellars for over 15 years. Not only do we buy wine there, and John has never steered us wrong but we love to stop and taste. So if you are going by Duncan's Mills on your way to the coast stop in. read more

New kid on the Russian River culinary block. This small, woodsy, well appointed art gallery like wine cellar has a tremendous variety of local and international wines at a price that you simply cannot find in the City or at larger wine specialty shops. Add to it a nice selection of cheeses with fresh bread and you have all the makings of a fine pic-nic out on the River or any where else you may wander off to. Oh, great service too! read more

Great selection of wine and cheese just before you head into the wonderland of Monte Rio.

These are the nicest and most educated guys around. If you want personal service and the best pick no matter what our budget, go here. I've gotten some killer Pinot's, Zins, etc. Very hard to find jewels are in this shop. Plus excellent cheeses and stuff from the best local sources. P.S. there really is a Sophie. Maybe they'll give you a peek. read more

As of October 2012, Sophie's has moved just down the road to a true tasting room in the heart of Duncans Mills. (Okay, Duncans Mills is too small to have a heart or any other organs/appendages, but they are front and central - north side of highway 116, same as the General Store.) Same great local wine, bread and cheese selection. I've attended one of their Friday night "locals" tasting nights in the new space, with cheeses, 3-4 wines to sample, and usually a local beer choice. I look forward to spending more time over there. Friend them on Facebook for a discount on purchases. read more

The men that own this place are so nice and helpful. They have a great cheese selection and local vino.

We drove by this delightful place after a walk through the redwoods. Our experience was incredible. We had a super Pino Noir, Point Reyes Blue and herbed salami. John was very knowledgeable and friendly and sitting outside looking at all the beauty surrounding this place could not have made for a better more relaxing stop. I would highly recommend this place and will return the next time we are in the area! Hats off John and thank you!! read more

The guys that run this place are fantastic. You can tell they love what they're doing and really know their stuff. They have a good variety of wines - from local wines to imports and affordable bottles to break-the-bank bottles, they will help you make the right choice. They helped us pick a great wine and some insanely good cheese to go with it. I'll definitely stop by again the next time I'm in the RRV. read more

Sophie's Cellars is a treasure worth driving to Monte Rio for. They stock hard-to-find, delicious wines in all price ranges, for all tastes. The owners listen and recommend according to what you want, not what they want to sell. And they don't try to upsell you; I was interested in a $20 bottle of sauvignon blanc that I'd had once before, and they recommended a $14 bottle that turned out to be even better! So go with their recommendations, because these guys --- down-to-earth, serious-about-wine, friendly types --- know their stuff. You can grab bread, crackers, cheese, and wine all in one stop, head to the beach or back to your hotel or cabin, and ahhhh...good living. This is a place I return to each time I'm in the Russian River area. Stock up on wine here and you won't be disappointed. read more

This is one of my favorite wine shops. The two gentlemen you'll be helped by, John and David, are truly awesome dudes. They seem to be the only people who work in a wine shop that don't instinctively attempt to sell you the priciest bottle that they'll show you. Tell them what you like, how you enjoy it and how much you want to spend. They will give you a range of options, all picked out to fit your specific description, and every wine will be either on price point or with a margin of error of 10-15 dollars on average. They also can direct you to awesome wineries all over Sonoma to go and taste at. read more

Sophie's is a great wine shop! They have an excellent selection and helped us pick out a couple of really unusual and delicious wines aimed right at our specific tastes. The folks there are very knowledgeable and clearly wine nerds (I mean that in the best possible way). They also offer discounts to locals and have arrangements with some of the local restaurants to offer no corkage. Very cool place... read more

Just a great selection and experience. John is amazing and I could listen to him talk about wine forever.

John is very knowledgeable, and his expertise extends beyond wine. We called him prior to our visit and he recommended a lovely hotel, restaurant, and of course a list of wineries to visit. When we arrived he provided us a map that led us to some amazing wineries. His shop has an excellent selection and John is always able to pick just what I'm looking for. We picked up a half dozen bottles from him and all were perfect. Service is just amazing. He really takes the time to listen to your specific likes and dislikes. If you're not in the area, just call him and he's equally helpful over the phone. Whether it's for a special occasion, dinner party, or just to restock your rack, call John and he'll help you make the perfect selection. UPS ground shipping arrives in San Francisco next day! read more

On our way north to the sea ranch we stopped to get some cheese for our wines. Super impressed with the service and love the discounts for locals and industry people. The MT. Tam was a bit young but we were informed still quite delicious. The Fog Lite on the other hand was very ripe, but still quite nice. I didn't look to hard over the wine, but at a glance looked great. read more

This is probably about the tenth time in my first year of hosting that I've given this advice to guests who stay with me (Green Gage Farm, Indian Valley, Novato, CA) when they ask if I have any recommendations for touring the 'wine country' up north. "It's about an hour's drive from here to Duncan's Mills - I might suggest you stop for a morning hike at Armstrong Woods in Guerneville first, then go talk to my friends John and David at Sophie's Cellars for advice on where you should go for a fabulous tasting experience. You can taste many of the finest wines of the region right there at their shop, but if you want a totally fulfilling visit to a winery/vineyard, tell John how you imagine this with as much detail as possible. He is so connected to the industry of this region that with a few key words, he'll know where to send you. Instead of winding blindly down a bunch of endless country roads, he can tell you which places are unique and why, which wines to ask to taste, and why, and probably even which wine steward to look for at the tasting bar, and why. Food, ditto." There is no one I know who claims to have their 'hand on the pulse' of this area that has it over on John Haggerty; because he's in the veins of the vines here. It boggles the mind. No one I've ever sent to Sophie's Cellars has anything but raves about the way their whole visit to the region was enhanced by their consult with John and David. I now solely count on them to make my wine buys for me every November during their fabulous sale. Oh, yes, they'll ship it to you, too. read more

within just a few minutes we were out the door with a loaf of garlic rosemary bread, a french sheep's milk cheese and an Alexander valley Merlot. and they didn't mind our muddy condition, having spent the morning hiking through the nearby Armstrong Woods redwood grove in the rain. read more

Very friendly. Excellent selection of wine and cheese. Essential information about the area. This place is pivotal to a great vacation (or day to day life) on the lower Russian River. read more

this was our second trip to the russian river area. last time we passed this little gem by cuz there's lots to do there. this time we made it a point to stop because it is just so damn cute! it is a lovely, homey shop. the owners were delightful. they were not snobbish about the fact that we know nothing about wine. they made great recommendations and the cheeses!! out of this world! fresh bagettes just made the whole experience perfect. will be back again and again! read more

We had the pleasure of meeting John on a Monday evening about 4:30. My only regret is that we couldn't have stayed longer since they close at 5. However, he offered such a wealth of knowledge of the food and wine of the area and his passion around it is so undeniable. He genuinely wanted to know what characteristics we like in wine before making any recommendations, and completely nailed it. Will definitely stop in again and this time make sure we have a bit more time to do so! read more

This is a relatively small, but sophisticated wine shop specializing in the boutique wines of Sonoma County and the Russian River area--preeminent wine making parts of the world. I am, as a wine-drinker, moderately knowledgeable but far from being expert. And so my encounter with John couldn't have been better--he listened while I told him what I was interested in and what I wanted to learn about, and then he in a most relaxed way, told me a lot that I didn't know! Most enjoyable. In the end, we bought a bottle of wine for $8 and some artisan cheese for about he same--and we weren't disparaged. Stop by if just to ask why someone would pay $100 or more for a bottle! And if you walk out with a good bottle for $10-20, you will have gotten extra value for the experience. It's one important reason to visit the Russian River. read more

Visited for the first time and had passed by this gem of a place many times and was more than pleasantly surprised. Warm and inviting store; John and David were so pleasant and helpful in suggestions. What I liked most, we went back the next day and they remembered us! The cheese case is not accessible that cheeses, etc. are manhandled by everyone. I would definitely go back - the prices are extremely reasonable; the best I have seen in a long time. Thank you David and John for something so wonderful. read more

Great shop, great proprietors, wonderful knowledge of their wines and foods. We were referred by an outlying hotel - and NOT disappointed. We had been to a handful of local wineries over the past several days and told them that unfortunately our car was chock full of wines - no attitude or problem - they were helpful on suggesting wineries to visit and to set us up with the perfect picnic for our tour. These guys know their stuff! A pleasure to find - we'll be back! Thanks read more

I went to Sophie's last Saturday with 10 other ladies. I called John in advance to let him know we were coming. He was super accommodating. He had the patio all set up for us with blankets out because the weather was iffy. We ordered multiple bottles of sparkling and he checked on us several times to refill our gasses. Sophie's is a fantastic place to sit back and enjoy a glass (or 10) even when the weather is a bit chilly. I will definitely be going back on my next trip to the Russian River. read more

Great little gem in the charming town of Duncans Mills. We like to come here to get a bottle to go on the way to the beach or enjoy the wine specials on Fridays and enjoy appetizers and wine by the chiminea outside. The appetizers are delicious also. John is very knowledgeable about wine and it is fun to chat with him about all the different aspects of wine production. Several restaurants in the area offer free corkage on wines purchased at Sophie's Cellars, which is an added bonus. Glad to have this place in the area. read more

Sophie's is a little gem in Monte Rio. The guys that work there are also the owners and really care about you making a good wine purchase and very friendly. They have an excellent selection of wines and a small selection of cheeses and salami. They also carry bread from a local bakery that is wonderful. I go there on a regular basis and I'm always happy to go back and try something new because I know I won't be disappointed. read more

If you plan to visit Sonoma wineries, stop here first. You'll get great advice, a quick (or longer!) lesson on Russian River wine growing from the very knowledgable John, a co-owner, and an opportunity to get terrific limited production wines that don't get broad distribution at a very fair price. Many of the wineries invite tasters to bring their picnics and Sophie's Cellars is a perfect place to get the cheese, bread, and other goodies to keep you going. Owners David and John keep detailed records on purchases, and they take care to get to know your palate's preferences. read more

This was our first wine tasting stop in the Russian River/Sonoma Valley, and David couldn't have been a more gracious host. From selecting wine for our different palettes to recommending THE MOST FABULOUS brie and baguette sampling, he is the real deal. I am normally a Zinfandel drinker but David was able to turn my taste buds towards a lovely Grenache. He mapped out a plan for hitting wineries and eateries up the Sonoma Valley, ending in the quaint town of Healdsburg. A great little shop in Duncans Mills and a gem of a guy! read more