we had an absolutely incredible "at home" pinot noir tasting at our rental home in Glen Ellen with Marta. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. If you're a pinot lover, i highly recommend. delicious wine, small intentional production. just awesome ! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - what we tasted - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

I write this with trepidation and one of the best kept secrets for Pinot lovers is about to get blown. I go between guarding the secret and sharing with all of you. Oh well. Pinot fans rejoice. An amazing hidden gem lives in Glen Ellen. A throwback to when the valley was sleepy and felt like you were visiting your neighbors backyard for a sip of wine. Talisman is that and more Greeted with a tasting menu with our names on it. A tasteful table for two was setup. What unfolded was an epic journey through some amazing wines. There is a flavor profile for everyone in the sample we tried. Check out the pictures of the grape growers and then sample this wines. Pricier than most but oh so good. Do yourself a favor. Save your money. Eat a little less and come down to experience some Pinot. Do not leave without getting some bottle even just one. Keep it yourself or share with someone you think can appreciate what you will have. Definitely a return is planned for this new fan!! read more

Great wine, great lounge, great tasting venue, great staff, amazing wine maker. Just overall great experience every time we come. The staff is knowledge and eager to please and teach about the wine, the Vineyards, the process, etc. If pinot, small lot productions, cozy atmosphere, and education is your jam, then this place is definitely up your alley. Cheers. read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Wine flight - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

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First, amazing Pinot!! I mean all of them (although I have my favs), and that's everything. Second, an adorable tasting room in the quaint village of Glen Ellen. that looks and feels like your visiting your best friends. Third, Grayson! Professional, informative, generous, and super fun! And lastly, I have to give kudos to the whole team for their generous support of community nonprofits. Having been to their tasting room and purchased their wines, when I saw their donation of a private at-home tasting at the Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian auction, I made sure to be the successful bidder. It was an amazing experience for me and my guests. Thank you @talismanwine and Grayson! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - table setting with wine, cheese and crackers - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

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I can't stress enough, how wonderful Talisman is and how glad I am to be a member. First, their Pinots are absolutely delicious. And you know exactly where they come from. This is a very small business and everyone is amazing. The owners even drive deliveries down to the South Bay during COVID so even if we have trouble visiting the tasting room, we still get to enjoy the wine. I've known Amanda, the manager, now for all the years I've been a member (I think at least four?) and she knows my palate and chooses my wines whenever it's time for a shipment. We also share a birthday so I have a special place for her in my heart . This is a difficult time for all of us, and especially small, family owned businesses. It's important that we do what we can to continue to support those we cherish so that when this year has come and gone, our go-to establishments are still thriving. Talisman is the only winery I'm a member of and I couldn't be more proud and satisfied. If you're up in Glen Ellen or just want a shipment of wine delivered to your front door by the owners themselves, give them a call. read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - My favorite, Huckleberry - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

One of the best wine tasting room experiences ever. Grayson and Amanda were not only extremely knowledgeable... but were graciously kind and followed our pallet. There was a group that came in of 9 ladies who were clearly already intoxicated. They were rude to Grayson and proceeded to say their experience was mediocre. One of them fell in the bathroom. I say this bc they threatened to write a negative review and I don't want that to be the case. Talisman is amazing and Amanda and G do a great job of representing the vineyard. Highly recommend. read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

We had a great tasting at Talisman Winery recently. I mainly drink Pinot Noir and have made my own Pinot Noir and I always enjoy visiting Talisman and tasting their Pinot Noirs. Talisman has been making great Pinots for decades. During the tasting, they poured us four different Pinots and I particularly loved the 2018 Adastra Pinot Noir. And Marta (the co-owner stopped by) and was delightful. They do a great job and I strongly recommend visiting them! read more

This has some of the best Pinot Noirs in entire wine tasting area. They are on the pricier side but it is so worth it. The also serve two roses as options which are my favorites especially the Dawson Rose. They are flexible with the wine club as to when you pick it up, holding, etc. A tasting is about $30 I believe, but waived if you buy three bottles. If you join the club, it's a free tasting for up to four people each time. The service here is just impeccable. Amanda, the wine club manager is so responsive and accommodating. If you are looking for an amazing tasting in a cute town, this is it. Stop by and try the pinots. You can't pass it up. Then just take a quick walk to other nearby wineries. No driving needed in between. read more

The hubby and I had an appointment (the only way to go when tasting) and were greeted cheerfully by Grayson. The tasting room is very homey and cozy. The bathrooms are clean and it appears that everything us handicapped-accessible. Pinot Noir is our fave and we were not disappointed. Wonderful flavors with each wine being a little different here and there from the others. Well priced and worth it! read more

Located in the adorable little town of Glenn Ellen, Talisman is one of the most charming Pinot Noir driven tasting rooms in our repertoire. As you may know, we love love love Pinto Noir and Talisman will not disappoint. Aside from 2 roses, it's all their talented wine maker Scott Rich produces. Inside the tasting room you'll be greeted by one of their amazing wine experts and whisked away on a pinot tasting adventure. If you're interested you'll learn about each growers grape, soil conditions, and can taste those learnings with each sip. Becoming members definitely has its perks. Generous discounts, private event invitations, and access to their wines before the general public. We do a 6 bottle commitment and it's really worth it for us, plus you know, Pinot. Parking isn't an issue but reservations are highly recommended. Cheers! read more

This "tasting room" is a true gem ! When we set foot into this tastefully decorated place we immediately felt at home. Beautiful art, comfortable seating and wonderful hosts. Amanda guided us along a tasting journey where we ourselves, all of us individually, got a personalized tasting experience. Along the way, Amanda kept asking questions and based on our answers she took us to the next stations on our tasting journey. First time ever that we experienced anything like this. We felt "seen and heard" and awarded with a wonderful educational wine experience. Highly recommended !! read more

Awesome experience. Kris was very knowledgeable and extremely enthusiastic about what she wanted to serve. Gave us some terrific advice to steer us towards our likes and preferences. Thanks again! We really enjoyed our conversation and the wine! read more

Our favorite tasting room. Grayson is wonderful, he really makes you feel at home. He does an excellent job figuring out your next taste based on what you like. We have had so much fun each time we've come - very welcoming atmosphere, delightful Pinot noirs, beautiful space and fun stories about all the growers. And we've discovered some excellent new wines. Weir, Huckleberry and Gus wines were our favorite. Thank you Grayson! read more

Love their wines! I joined their wine club after tasting their Adastra Pinot Noir. I don't remember the vintage. All their wines are superb.

Talisman was such an experience that we went back the next day for more! My boyfriend and I came to Glen Ellen for a relaxing weekend for my birthday. We were staying across the street at Glen Ellen Inn Cottages and decided to walk to Talisman. This was an intimate experience. We sat down on a couch and Mathew told us stories about the delicious Pinot that we sampled. His storytelling was captivating and it brought us back again the next day for more. This was more than a tasting, it was entertainment and experience. We laughed and shared stories. We will be back again anytime we drive through. Cheers! read more

My husband, Giant (our chihuahua) and I have been wine club members for a long time now. We fell in love with their wine the moment we tasted them. Amanda is always so professional, sweet and warm. We no longer live in San Francisco (we're now in the Palm Springs area) but have kept our wine club cause we love them so much!!!!! If you're a lover of Pinots, this is the place!!!! read more

We recently visited Talisman based on a recommendation from a Sommelier at local fine dining establishment. Rebecca was our tasting room host, and not only was she very knowledgeable, but she used her expertise to find out which of their wines we preferred, and based on our preferences let us try other wines that suited our palates. We ended up joining their wine club, and Amanda, the Director of Customer Elations, surprised us with a delicious pour of a special library wine. She even kindly carried the case of wine we purchased to our car. To make an already amazing experience even better, I received a hand written card in the mail from Rebecca thanking us for becoming members. To top it off, Marta, the owner, called me and personally welcomed me to the club as well. Talisman truly has fantastic wine and excellent customer service. If you love Pinot Noir you must visit this place. Talisman specializes in Pinot Noir. Most of their wines are small production, high quality Pinot Noirs from single vineyards that represent unique site characteristics of a singular terroir. I would highly recommend Talisman to friends, family, and others! read more

Great ambiance, knowledgeable and friendly staff and some of the best Pinot Noirs you'll ever find. Awesome diversity in their lineup, from fruity to earthy. Amanda and Greyson are wonderful hosts, they make you feel right at home. Our hotel recommended that we call in advance to get a good spot because they can fill up. Loved it and will be back again!!! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Enjoying Talisman at The Glen Ellen Star. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

Absolutely amazing experience at Talisman Wines Tasting Room! Came with a total of 11 girls & they were so accommodating towards us. We learned a lot about the production process of wine & the different pinots that they offer. Amanda & John could not have been better to us:) read more

Talisman is one of our favorite tasting rooms - we return year after year for the amazing wines and knowledgeable friendly staff. Be sure to make a reservation as they often book up. Highly recommend. read more

Pinot Noir is subtle (at least compared to so-called "full-bodied reds") but that is it's magic and allure. Talisman Wine has a full line-up of pinots that allow you to fully grasp and ponder what pinot noir has to say. This is outstanding winemaking. Marta is vivacious and gracious and the friendly welcoming atmosphere permeates throughout their excellent tasting room and all the way through the staff. Excellent destination in a fresh and relaxing town (hamlet, it has been called) in Sonoma County. Don't let me try to describe the wine (for me, "X-rated"), just "GO TASTE!" read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Talisman Wine captures the "intense subtlety" of pinot noir in multiple delicious offerings. Go Taste! Tell 'em Gilgamesh sent you! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

Amanda was amazing. I had such a great experience here! Cutest place ever. They had amazing wine and Amanda was so attentive and gave so much information about it all. I loved my experience! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - a table with wine glasses and a map - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

Pinot noir only. Many different vintages and grapes sourced from several northern CA regions. Lovely tasting room with comfy furniture. Casual service folks. Relaxing tasting experience. Tasting fee is $25 per person. Waived if you purchase 3 bottles. Wines start at $32 / bottle and move up the price chain. And my favorite was the $32 cuvee as it was the most fruit forward and pleasant tasting. read more

One of the best tasting rooms I've been to. So different in atmosphere with no counter/bar, and rather real furniture and warmth. Amanda was great and I look forward to many more bottles of Talisman in my future. Thank You! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Heaven... - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

My favorite Pinot Noirs hands down. Great jewel to take advantage of and taste -- you won't be sorry. Drink some and drink it often -- it doesn't get much better than this !! read more

Great Pinots and Superb Hospitality! Truly Impressive and welcoming - Amanda is amazing! Grayson was wonderful too! We were treated to some of their amazing Pinots and I ended up leaving with a half case of a library wine. Definitely will return for a taste of the Red Dog, if available. Great job and a model for the hospitality industry read more

My husband and I did a wine tasting at Talisman. The tasting room and experience is located in the quaint town of Glen Ellen. We were fortunate to have Marta educate us on their family business that includes an extensive selection of Pinot Noirs. The wines are wonderful and we really enjoyed the intimate tasting experience and the hospitality at Talisman Wine. We highly recommend visiting this winery on your next trip to the Sonoma area! read more

Being relatively new to wine country, I've been told that Sonoma is much more relaxed, lower-priced, and generous than Napa. After going for a stroll at the regional park nearby, I was looking forward to tasting some wines in Glen Ellen to see if the rumors were true. I am a huge Pinot Noir fan, so I was very excited to sample the wares at Talisman. We entered the quaint tasting room and were given a table in an odd hallway corner location though there were no other parties present. Being that we wanted to go to a few wineries in town, my husband and I split a $25 tasting of four wines. The wines were good, but not quite as delicious as other Pinot-centric wineries we'd been to (e.g. Robert Sinskey, Etude) and the pours were a bit stingy. I'm not sure that this place fits the image of Sonoma as the more chill valley for wine tasting, especially considering the price and the vibe of this tasting room. While the experience wasn't awful, with all the wonderful wineries in the area I don't I think we'll return anytime soon. read more

My husband and I stopped by on the recommendation of another winemaker based on Talisman's Pinot Noirs (which is all they make). There was some other event going on that day, so the general tasting room wasn't open to the public. We were ushered into a private room and sat with the winemaker's wife - who was very nice and energetic. The wines were all very good...so good that we bought 6 bottles (and they're not inexpensive). They emailed the bill to us after running our credit card and we were horrified that we were STILL charged a $25 tasting fee each even though we bought so much wine. It's been our experience that tasting fees are usually waived or applied to the purchase of wine. We reached out to see if this was an error. No response. We reached out again and are still waiting to see if this was a mistake. Overall, the tasting for the two of us was definitely NOT worth $50 for the amount of wine poured and considering the additional cost for the wine we purchased. Unless this is resolved, we absolutely won't be going back. read more

Both my wife and I have issues with Talisman. Issues that stem from the fact that: 1. Their Pinot (and that's all that they do) is so damn good. In any one tasting you can experience 4-5 differerent wines, sourced from differerent vineyards, that will all blow your hair back. 2. As chief hostess with the mostest, Amanda is knowledgable, kind and just plain fun. She welcomes you into a tasting room that is quiet, laid back and super comfortable. 3. We have given many bottles as gifts and each recipient raves about their Talisman experience. Yet the biggest issue is the fact that we can't simply stop in for a taste and leave empty handed - and we are already wine club members. No, we always seem to leave with an extra few bottles in hand. Perhaps we need an intervention.... read more

#gfw Superb pinot Noir. Good peeps. Great setting. We joined the wine club. (Don't let the one star vote fool you) Yes, you pay for the tasting and then like a big boy or girl you pay for your wine too. Simple concept. Um yea...that'd be great if I could get free groceries based on what I purchased last week. That's never happened and I doubt it will. read more

So, I don't condone drinking and bike riding, but this was what happened that day! We decided to do the Glen Ellen to Kenwood loop, a nice 20 mile ride and happened to stop in at Talisman on the way home. The wines are very good, I wouldn't say they caused a religious experience, but very nice, well made and priced right. We tried 5 wines and they all had a distinct sense of place and character. They expressed the vineyard and AVA wonderfully! The 2009 Weir Vineyard / Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir was hands down my favorite. I love Mendo Pinot, and 2009 for me was one of the best vintages. I look forward to experiencing the new 2009's when I return this spring. Because there was such a difference between the 08' & 09' I'd give the wines 4 Stars, but the experience deserves 5! I want to let you know, first I work in the Industry and second the manager of Talisman is a friend of mine. So yes, I might be a bit biased but I still was pleasantly surprised since I had never been there, nor had I had the chance to enjoy the wines previously. The spot is setup wonderfully, and Amanda did a fantastic job making us feel right at home! We loved the comfortable couches and seats and what was supposed to only be a quick hello turned into an all out tasting. What impressed both of us the most was the attention to detail, Amanda presented the wines wonderfully and little ideas like using the foil from the bottle to display the vintage on the cork, using two glasses so we could compare wines. Everything she did was to create an atmosphere that was more casual and relaxed than I expected. This was just the thing you need after biking for 15 miles. Make sure you stop by and say hello to Amanda, it will be well worth it! Tell her VinoVotary sent you! read more

We were staying at a hotel nearby and decided on doing a tasting while we were walking around. The wine was tasty, but for $30 each, I'd expect the pours to be more generous. We purchased three bottles and they only knocked off one tasting fee. They should really rethink that. The server was nice enough and knowledgeable - the experience took a long time, though. I don't think we'd do it again. I prefer a traditional tasting room - Talisman is like walking into someone's living room (which some might like). read more

I had the great fortune to have a super savvy friend take me to the 8th Street Wineries in July. It was late in the day and we made two stops, one at Tin Barn and the other at Talisman Wines. It was our lucky day, as Talisman is not always open on the weekends! We were greeted by Marta, the owner, who was wonderful, warm and very welcoming even though she was winding down her day at the 'office' so to speak! My friend Amy loves Pinot, and I am less of a fan, but found that the tasting at Talisman to make me think more than twice about Pinot Noir. I enjoyed their wines, loved the story behind how Talisman was 'born' - and ended up having wine shipped and joining their wine club! It was a great afternoon--and strongly recommend anyone who is willing to abandon the 'chateau' style tasting experience, and sip with the cool kids- Talisman is the place to go!! read more

The wines were Killer. The host was super nice. Ive been to alot of tasting rooms but this is one of my new favorites. If you want awesome pinot noir, than this is a must stop. This place was a ten. read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - What a nice tasting room host. Thanks for everything Amanda. Well be back soon. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

I've know about Talisman for a few years now but never made it to Glen Ellen to taste. With some relatives coming in to town I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to sate my curiosity. The sit-down tasting we booked was awesome. Grayson took great care of us, greeting us at the door with a glass of rose, and then continued to educate and wow us by sharing some beautiful Pinot Noirs. Absolutely some of the best Pinots I've tasted, I'm looking forward to sharing the wine I brought home with friends! read more

We visited last Saturday. Being my 1st time to Sonoma, I was only interested in seeing the vineyards. Boy was I in for a special treat when we stepped into this hidden gem! If you're in the area, Talisman is one you can't miss. We can't wait to receive our 1st shipment from the wine club! read more

Talisman Wines Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Glen Ellen, California

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A GEM!!! a recent discovery (a million thanks to the holiday in carneros '09 event) & definitely a new favorite on 8th st. featuring all pinots. real cool unpretentious vibe, cool people, the wine maker had an easy going down to earth vibe who's enthusiastic & passionate of his wines! my hub & i enjoyed all the wines -- adastra, cuvee, red dog, hawk hill & thorn ridge. we especially loved hawk hill & thorn ridge. can't wait to come back & get a bottle of hawk hill and/or thorn ridge. unfortunately its not open to the public, so we'd have to wait for the next event. read more

My first sips of the beautiful wines of Talisman were taken at Pinot Days in Santa Monica at the beginning of this year. Since I was there with my favorite wine guru, and he suggested we try them, off we went! After tasting completely through, I must admit I was very impressed! Not only by all the lovely single vineyard pinots, but also talking with Scott (winemaker) and Marta Rich about the wine... Really cool folks. Im guessing my favorite one was the 06 Wildcat Mountain vineyard because I collected a label from that specific pinot the day of the wine event and it has been posted to my office wall ever since : ) Now, since my initial introduction to Talisman pinot was, by no prior planning, late in the day at a wild and crazy wine event, I wanted a chance to try them again as soon as possible so I could confirm my tastes. As luck would have it I wound up in Sonoma a few weeks later, sitting at the Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg searching the menu for a great glass of wine and there it was!! Talisman again! and every bit as lovely as the first time I tasted it! Thanks for the deliciously well made juice! Cant wait to try the 07!! read more

Talisman Sonoma Coast Thorn Ridge Pinot Noir is fantastic. A very smooth wine with velvety mouth feel and great berry flavors. Had this with seared duck breast... unbelievable. Can't wait to get the next bottle! read more