What a very special experience! We did the Root 101 tasting with Austin and it was wonderful. The wines were fantastic, the small bites perfectly paired and Austin was charming. This is a "must do" when in Sonoma! read more

A friendly tasting room that happens to provide quite excellent pinot. I brought a couple different bottles home from Walt a few weeks ago and drank one this weekend. While I typically have some buyer's remorse when I eventually sample my haul of wine from a weekend trip, Walt was just as good as I remembered. Their generous tasting is free if you purchase a bottle, definitely worth a pop-in should you find yourself in downtown Sonoma. read more

WALT pinots are delicious, and the staff are vEry knowledgeable! AJ poured side by side wines which is a great way to experience their wines. The vibe is chill and relaxing. We did the fLight they offer for walk in, but they have a cool 1,000 miles of Pinot experience as well. And to top it off they sell a Hot Pepper Bacon Jam! read more

Well, we joined the wine club after our first and only visit here, so it must mean its good! Came here on my honeymoon while touring the Napa and Sonoma area for two weeks- and this was the only wine club we joined. I used to LOVE pinots and moved on to Syrahs and Cabs, but the pintos at Walt were really amazing and complex. They also had some nice whites which That Guy I Married really enjoyed. The most impressive part of our experience is the how charming the tasting room and staff are. We sat outside at picnic benches under oak trees and the staff came up and gave us our pours. The staff was very engaging and knowledgable and the experience did not feel rushed or inauthentic at all. You could tell that they really cared about the wine and your experience. I always appreciate that! Overall a great experience and I can't wait to get our first shipment of wine!! P.S. they have a sister winery in Napa called Hall Winery that is AMAZING as well. Well worth the visit if you have time AND if you love Sav Blancs and Cabs!! read more

UPDATE 9/19: I did receive a very thoughtful message from management. It seems as though they truly wanted to remedy the experience. Still canceled my membership, but very much appreciate their response. ---- Absolutely appalling service. Good wine is easy to come by in this town; it's the level of hospitality that makes or breaks a tasting experience and this was definitely a break. A current member of Hall/Walt (sister properties), I made a reservation for a tasting and to pickup my shipment. We were served by Pete, who was short with us throughout the experience. In contrast, he was quite attentive to the couple sitting next to us, who we also enjoyed pleasant conversation with. After serving us our tasting, plus an additional splash of an off-menu item, and offering to sell us a bottle to share before our dinner reservation, he suddenly asked us to leave - claiming that we'd been over-served prior to arriving there. If it was true that we were sloppy on arrival, why would he serve us at all? Another employee (a man in a cowboy hat) came over to sling snarky comments at us and support Pete's decision, telling us "we're done here". To round out the embarrassing and awkward exchange, a third employee came over and began to yell at us, causing quite an uncomfortable scene. Our patio companions at the next table over were visibly shaken and offered their apologies to us for how we were being treated. This wasn't a bachelorette party, or a 21st birthday. We'd arranged transportation so no one was driving. There were no wild antics. Just four, mid-thirties, Bay Area professionals trying to enjoy a day in wine country. I truly do not know where the disconnect occurred, but can only wonder if we were targeted as a group of women. Would our experience have been different had we been four couples? Either way, it was clear that we do not fit the demographic of who Walt prefers to serve. Reading other reviews here, a lot of comparisons can be drawn to others who were treated similarly, which is incredibly concerning and disappointing. I will not return to Walt, and will be terminating my membership at both properties. read more

Roessler specializes in the Pinot and Chardonnay varietals. Tasting Fee = $10, waived if you buy a bottle What's Included = 5 different Pinot Noir and some bonuses Ideal winery for the Pinot Noir lover. I tasted a variety of Pinots and enjoyed them all. Our sommelier, Scott, also included some "bonus" tastings and would often revisit previous tastings. You certainly get your money's worth even if you don't buy a bottle. The $10 fee is minimal for the quality of wines you're tasting. The bar area is tiny but there are a few tables that work great for groups and couples. We opted to stand at the bar even though there were a couple tables available. A few of my faves: "Clos Pepe" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir "Ridges" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir "Savoy" Anderson Valley Pinot Noir "Ceremonial" Russian River Valley It was hard to decide which bottle to purchase as they were all unique in their own way. We ended up buying a bottle of the "Savoy" which was a bonus tasting. I highly recommend asking to taste this wine because it's not included on their tasting menu. read more

What an awesome spot right off the square! Fabulous Pinots, wonderful staff and gorgeous scenery! I loved the concept of sitting outside (or inside the little house on a cold day) and enjoying the picnic tables with friends and an awesome tasting! My only thought is maybe set some small snacks out on the picnic tables? I'll be back for more! read more

This sister winery of Hall provided an amazing quality of wines and exemplary service. We were not rushed but guided on our wine tasting based on tasting preferences. Chris B provided exceptional service. The chardonnay was one of the best I've had and the Sierra Mar pinot noir was light, salty brisk flavored wine that gives me the impression of relaxing on the beach. It was amazing. Can't wait to return. read more

Walt Wines - Delicious wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Some of the best Pinot Noir's I've had. Four stars just for their 2006 Savoy Pinot Noir. This Anderson Valley vineyard has become well known because of the rich and complex fruit it produces. Little darker in color than the other Pinot's. Wonderful mouthfeel and good acidity. All their Pinot's are well made and even their Chard is great. The tasting room staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Also you can't beat its location right off the plaza. read more

Terry was great! Took us through their portfolio of pinot wines - got to try a chard and one of their Kathryn Hall wines. If you are a member you can bring 4 guests!for free. If not it is $20 a person which I thought was worth it. Their pinots are more robust than most - however they have a partnership with Dick Shea from Willamette Valley - cannot wait to try as he is like the Yoda of winemaking! Delicious wine - try it! Cute little house converted to a tasting room. Enjoy! read more

Walt Wines - Part of the tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed we were by our experience here on Saturday. After walking around Sonoma and visiting a few different tasting rooms, we popped in to MacLaren's, who recommended visiting Walt Wines (Hall's) for our pinot lover. Our server, Rose, was awkward and rude from the getgo. Though she admitted that she was employed by the winery, not Walt, she seemed to know absolutely nothing about the wines she was serving or the process of the "wine tasting." She explained initally that she would allow us to sample each wine on the list, but instead tried to stop us after taste and have us walk away with that bottle ($65) instead of trying the next variety. The other tasting groups seemed to be having a lot of fun with their servers, as they explained the wines and pairings (which we received none of). We actually did not receive a single tasting of a Sonoma area variety until we specifically asked for it. This was literally one of the most awkward experiences I have had in any sort of dining capacity, and after $20/person we were left wtih absolutely no knowledge of Hall Wines or pinots at all, and tasted significally less than one glass of wine in total. What a horrible representation of the spirit of Sonoma. With so many other tasting rooms in the area, choose another, or be sure to have a server other than Rose. Yikes! read more

Must go! All the Pinots were AMAZING. Generous pours, great service, cute tasting room. They do two side-by-side at a time, which really helps you differentiate the notes between each. Went to their sister winery Hall and was so happy that they had other WALT wines available to taste there as well. Bottles aren't cheap, but so worth it to take home, especially as an out-of-towner. Highly recommend! read more

While on an anniversary trip to Sonoma we stopped here to experience their Pinot's. No appointment is required and they have a charming outdoor patio with a very impressive old Redwood tree that offers a beautiful backdrop and nice shade. The service was excellent and our server was knowledgeable about the wines and very easy to talk to. They welcome dogs on their patio, which in my opinion is outstanding & not unusual in Sonoma. We like their Pinots a lot and would recommend them to friends. For those that are not aware, this is a tasting room set off of the main square in Sonoma, not an estate or large winery. (although Hall is their larger sister producer) The only negative is the $ cost...the wine seemed to be pricey. At $75.00 a bottle I won't be able to afford to drink their pinots as often as I'd like. The tasting fee is a little pricey as well @ $30 per person & is not applied to the purchase of the wines. I'm more likely to purchase a few bottles if I know the tasting fee will be credited back - isn't that the point of the tasting, to get you to purchase their wine? read more

I went to a few wine tastings recently and Walt was the best. Their wine was amazing. Terry is a wine god and educated me while also making us feel entertained. He was the highlight of our time at Walt. They have great respect for covid too read more

After tasting at 15 other wineries, we were looking for that one final tasting before heading back to Los Angeles. Based on a recommendation from Spann Vineyards because of my love of pinot, we came to Walt. I was unfamiliar with Walt, but knew about Roessler (Walt's prior name) and Hall (the parent company). The tasting room is a house with kitchen aromas from The Girl and the Goat across the street. It's also slightly off the main square which gives it a mellower feel. Walt's pinots didn't disappoint and we completed our wine debauchery on a harmonious chord. (I was going to write "high note", but that's too cliché.) I picked up a gorgeous bottle of pinot for $40 which waived the $10 tasting fee and buried it in the car which was already riding low due to the cases of wine already packed inside. read more

Honestly. Fucking whack. If you want to feel upidy. Come here. Honestly reservations? They have an extremely big money tree in the back. So they can be completely empty and not accept a party that buying bottles. Walked in with a group of more than 6 and OMG. had to negotiate to get the last two people to the table. And there is plenty of room for a big group. Ugh Wine is good. A bit overpriced. Cheers. We are headed to Steiner's read more

Locally owned Pinot Noir house in the town of Sonoma. I have met the owner there at several events. Pinot's from all areas of California. Great tasting room, Generous pours and friendly staff. Oh, did I say I love their wine?!! Absolutely! read more

This is by far my favorite place on the square to taste and share wine with friends. Walt Wines is located 1 block off the square behind the Swiss Hotel. I've been a member for over seven years and enjoy my club benefits for dinner events, pick up parties and complimentary tastings. I love that my membership is honored at the sister winery, Hall in St. Helena and Hall Rutherford. The wine and the staff are outstanding and we'll educated which is always fun no matter what level wine noob you may be! This is a true Chardonay and Pinot House. Tasting fee is usually waived with bottles purchased. Definitely check them out if your a Pinot fan! If you play your cards right...there might be a yummy Cab open from Hall to dive into! read more

Walt Wines - Tables set for food and wine at Walt - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

We had a wonderful time at Walt! The wines are incredible and this winery is a must stop! Terry was so thorough in his explanation of everything. He made our experience wonderful! Thank you so much Terry! read more

If you like Pinot this is the place for you! Terry was fantastic, he gave us a great description of the wines and was really friendly and engaging. He even gave us a great amount of information about the area and the grapes. We got to talk to one of the wine makers also, who was really informative and really enjoyed "talking shop" about California wines. The music and art was great but really, they could have a tasting room in a shed with a three legged wobbling chair and this place would still be amazing, the reason? The wine is SO freaking good. Every wine we tried was just amazing but the Blue bird was incredible. I would say this is a must go to place for Pinot Noir lovers, they have something for everyone. read more

Must visit again! This is a great little tasting room in Sonoma square. The Pinot's (all 20something of them) are all delish and the Chardonnay's are equally yummy. We walked away with two bottles of Pinot. You must try the 'bacon' pinot and the 'cowboy' pinot....If you think they actually have those ingredients in them, you need to stop wine tasting all together. Scent is everything! Zeke will pour you some amazing wines and he is super knowledgeable about them all! You will not regret a stop here! Definitely call ahead if you have a big group as the tasting room is small but cozy! read more

We stopped by here today and were the only ones at the tasting room. I'm a big fan of the personalized experience at these smaller tasting rooms. Jeries was great and had us try the Pinpoint extreme (Pinot experiment) and another Pinot (don't remember the name) from Monterey grapes that's so popular that you can't get it unless you're in the wine club. We bought the la bris Chardonnay and the Rita's crown Pinot. read more

While I prefer Hall (their sister winery in Napa) which offers some of the best Cabs I've tasted, Walt is one of my favorite stops in Sonoma - offering amazing Pinots and Chardonnays that offer such great quality at what I think to be reasonable prices. A nice change of pace, as most of Hall's wines are pretty spendy. In my mind, being members at both "evens out" in the end (that's what I tell myself and my husband who has a heart attack each time we receive a shipment). The staff at Walt is so friendly, and they offer a great backyard area with picnic tables. We bring our dog each time, and she's able to wander around off-leash which is really great. This spot is always one we stop into while we're in Sonoma. Not only because we're members - I would still stop in here if we weren't. Definitely recommend trying a tasting here - you won't be disappointed! read more

Visited this tasting room 2 years ago and was drawn here by the steel drum band on the back patio. Came back to restock the pinot stash. AMAZING pinots, unlike any I have tasted. The gal at the front was so helpful since I couldn't remember what I had purchased last time. She opened up multiple bottles for us to try and was knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. Ended up signing up for the wine club and cant wait for my first shipment. read more

Great wine, enjoyable atmosphere, awesome hosts. Well worth your stop in Sonoma! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Great Experience. Very knowledgeable staff nice atmosphere and very knowledgeable staff. Definitely worth you time to stop & enjoy a relaxing time read more

Walt was our second stop on our Sonoma weekend winery tour. My friend had been raving about Walt's tasting experience, plus we received a 2-for-1 coupon from Sojourn, so we made sure to spend an afternoon there. It was a beautifully hot day and we were lucky to grab a spot outside. The decor and outdoor space is so inviting; it's easy to spend an entire afternoon lounging and drinking wine. I liked the modern, updated look and feel of the winery's branding. The tasting menu was varied and we got a pretty good idea as to what their wines taste like. I wasn't blown away by any of them, although we did buy a bottle of the Rita's Crown pinot noir and the La Brisa pinot noir. Our server was extra friendly and chatty, and regaled us with many funny stories as he poured. The only problem was that he was just as chatty with all of the other tables, meaning that he came around much less frequently than expected. Normally we're more than happy to take our time, but it was about 95 degrees that afternoon and were subsequently VERY thirsty (for water). I did have to remind the server twice to even bring the water in the first place, and then the refills were few and far in between. Beyond that, it's a great experience and a breath of fresh air from traditional tastings. read more

$10 wine tasting, for 5 different Pinot Noir. Walking from house-to-house felt like trick-or-treating. read more

The rudest hospitality I've ever experienced in four years of being in the wine country.

We were there about a month ago. Austin was amazing and made the whole experience just relaxing and great. Totally recommend. By the way they have the cleanest gravel ever!!! read more

Stopped in here for a wine flight. The tasting was spectacular! I'm fairly picky and found their pinots very pleasing, and the staff was a blast. Would definitely be back. $10 for a tasting; waived when you purchase a bottle. And they throw in a few 'surprises' off the list so you get a really great selection of tastings. read more

This is a cozy little winery just a few doors North of The Girl and The Fig on the N/W corner of the square. We just moved here from OR and Pinot Noir is my favorite wine. The selection at Walt is quite nice. We purchased the Hein Family Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and it is D-LISH! The $10 fee is a great deal (waived for locals and/or if you make a purchase) for the quality of wines you're tasting. Zeke in the tasting room was friendly, laid-back and very knowledgeable. We will be back for sure! read more

Best Pinot noirs ever - seriously. If you are a fan of this grape, do yourself a favor and get here. Knowledgeable staff, and cool place just off Sonoma Square. read more

OMG! Thank you Michael (man wearing a cowboy hat) for such a wonderful tasting experience with my family (traveling with my sister and 3 kids). We were greeted with warmth and Michael is so knowledgeable and generous with the wines he was pouring us. I almost did not go to WALT because of the poor yelp reviews and glad that we did. He gave the kids apple juice and poured it in glass - Apple juice vintage 2019 ;) Thank you for a wonderful experience and will definitely come back! read more

This place was my girlfriend's and my first stop on our guided wine tasting tour around Downtown Sonoma on a blistering weekend, and despite my habit of not drinking while the sun's out (unless it's Picnic Day~~), this was a great experience. Because of our tour, we were allowed to taste six of the wines (basically, all of the wines from both the regular and reserve wine tastings, if I remember correctly). They had some wonderful chardonnays, and it was an absolutely wonderful introduction to red wines with their specialty - the pinot noir. Absolutely excellent! The decor was quite nice and relaxing, even at 11 AM (we're not alcoholics, I promise). The assortment of pastel and watercolor paintings of local rural scenery was pretty cool to look at. The music that was playing was nice and relaxing, and it created a nice ambiance, despite it being only me, my girlfriend, our tasting guide, and the person on duty. I imagine it would be many times more enjoyable if it were night-time and there were more people there! Overall, a fantastic experience. A definite go-to place for anyone visiting Sonoma! read more

Without a doubt, Walt is a must stop for all Pinot lovers as Rey source from vines up and down the best regions in Ca and some OR vines as well. They are joined at the hip with Hall as well meaning access to great Cabs too! read more

One of the finest tasting rooms in the town of Sonoma. Home of exquisite Pinot Noirs. Staff is always very helpful and does their very best to accommodate given that the tasting room is fairly small. Most importantly, you simply cannot do better than Walt Pinot Noirs! read more

Very disappointing visit. We are club members and we sat there for an hour and only had 2pours of wine. One person spent the whole time on the phone. The other person was just too busy to help us . Finally left without sampling the rest of the wines because we had a lunch reservation. And this was on a Tuesday,not a busy day. They just dint really care. read more

Hit up Walt on a mid day wine tasting with some friends before heading to a wedding for the evening. Great selections, personal service, and knowledgeable staff made for a fine experience! We had a fantastic wine flight of five different pinot noir's for $10, which was much less for the quality you're getting. I'll definitely be back! read more

Walt Wines - Walt. - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Bravo Walt Wines! We are wine club members at Hall in St. Helena and made her way to the sister tasting room at WALT today in Sonoma. We were quickly greeted by Dan and without delay had two different white wine offerings in front of us. The Chardonnays were interesting and despite the cold and rainy weather were a welcome reprieve to what Napa and Sonoma are known for however the star of the show at Walt are their Pinot Noirs. Try one, try two, try them all ..if you can sit and savor.. every Pinot has something different to offer. The tasting room itself is quite as it is a repurposed home just off the center of the Sonoma Square downtown. Enjoy! Ask for Dan! read more

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