When we lived in so cal. Well before the great movie came out, I binge read Sideways by Rex Picket. Bae was shocked as I never read a book cover to cover in two days. So she read it and also loved it. We of course loved the movie but the constructive out crop of all that was to learn, to respect and to appreciate a fine Pinot Noir. While I have a pretty good food palate, I don't think I have it honed in when it comes to wine. My scale doesn't vary from 4 buck chuck to high end... taste is taste. And we LOVE the Pinots from WALT. So far I haven't tasted anything objectionable. Bae joined their wine of the month club so we get a couple of bottles delivered; or in this case, beautiful spring day, new whip, and a long weekend to boot... let's go pick it up in person and schedule a tasting too. Bae was navigating on her phone because she was too lazy to give me the address to plug into the SAT-Nav (as my British pals call it) so we went 35 minutes outta the way and missed our allotted time. Totally booked they still accommodated us "members" by setting us up a little informal sampler tasting right at the front door on beach-wood patio chairs n table. I'm sure they would have kept pouring had we decided to keep trying, but I'm a total wuss and had to drive. Tasty, drinkable social and fun. All without having to get SIDEWAYS to appreciate! I have another reason to have a high regard for this wine. Bae mistakenly brought this wine and we left it unopened at a socially distanced friends gathering. The next day our friends who are wine snobs called raving, ranting, oohing and aaahing about that WALT Pinot she left at their house. "You guys are great friends welcome anytime ...will name the grandkids after you" kind of gushing. "Sweet!" Said I "Damn it" said Bae! "That was not a cheep bottle of wine" below her breath! "Glad you enjoyed it!" read more

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This wine tasting experience never disappoints. We joined this winery our first time here. We look at the quality of wines, the customer service, as well as the hours of the winery (we like to taste during the week) and whether or not we can bring guests and if we can switch out our selection if we want something different. This place ticked off all the boxes! read more

We've been to the Walt in Napa, across the street from the Oxbow but decided to give the Sonoma location a spin since we happened to be in the area. The tasting experience is more or less the same--you'll start with a glass of chardonnay, then move onto 4 single-vineyard pinot noirs from Willamette (OR), Anderson Valley (Menodocino), Petaluma Gap (Sonoma), and Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara). As with the Napa location, the wine educators are really knowledgeable--not just about Walt wines, but the vineyards, vineyard management, and even AVAs. If you're into pinot noir and interested to see how different clones grown in different regions are expressed differently in the wines, you'll really enjoy the tasting at Walt. For me personally, although I love the exploration of pinot from Oregon to Santa Barbara, the winemaking style isn't my favorite. These are some very lush, high alcohol pinots, one topping out at 15.1% (The Corners, Anderson Valley)--Dry Creek zin territory--and some of the elegance and expressions of terroir are simply overpowered by very dominant fruit, new French oak, and explosive alcohol. I can understand many people might love this style of pinot, but it gave me palate fatigue pretty quickly. That being said, if you're looking to include a tasting or two in your day trip to Sonoma, you will be blown away by the hospitality and learn more than you could ever want about different pinot clones, diurnal shifts and how terrain can impact it, soil composition, etc. A+ tasting experience, even if I wasn't the biggest fan of the wines. read more

Extraordinary wine and extraordinary service. I waited a couple days to write this review because I wanted to get it right. My friend and I visited Sonoma for a few days and reserved a chocolate and wine pairing at Walt. Our wine educator was Elan. Now this is the important part: Elan turned a tasting into a sensory experience. Now the wine is excellent but what took everything to the next level is Elan. He challenged us with hints and pairings, guiding us through the different Pinots with different chocolates. His enthusiasm and superior service were what made this the best tasting, pairing wine experience I have ever had. read more

Walt Wines - Wine and chocolate pairing - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Jessie was our host. He is very knowlegeable and taught us a lot of stories about wines especially different regions of Pinot noir. We came to Sonoma to research Pinot noir, so it really helped the information. He also gave us excellent service. Don't miss the opportunity to go there for the wine tasting. read more

Well, we have found another new favorite wine spot! I sure do love exploring Wine Country so when we booked a gorgeous hotel in Sonoma for a night, the research began. I was originally drawn to WALT Wines because of the beautiful signage they have outside of the perfect, cottage-y looking home {the tasting room} - A brick structure with a Blue and Yellow W {my favorite colors}.. How do I not check this place out?! While walking up to the tasting room, it was more than I could have hoped for and more beautiful than the pictures portray. I think I even said to my husband, I want to live here! Super cute and quaint! Since they have re-opened with the Covid-19 CA restrictions, they are taking every single precaution - Limited reservations, tables located at least 6 feet apart, the entire team wearing a mask from start to finish as well as sanitizing stations located around the property. Thank you - This made us feel super comfortable while venturing out to taste some FAB wine! You all know that I am a sucker for good customer service - Huge shout out to Austin for providing us with a phenomenal experience! From the second we walked in, Austin gave us a warm welcome and treated us like royalty. He was more than knowledgeable about each and every wine {and region} that was served to us - He told us about his favorites and after telling him what we liked, he pin-pointed the ones he knew would be our favorites. For those that know us, my husband and I can be a bit goofy at times {we always like to joke around and have a good time} - Which we did with Austin and he immediately picked up on our crazy sense of humor. At some wineries, the "sales pitch" at the end can be a bit much but Austin was clear, concise, and very direct as to what the wine club entailed {without the typical "sales pitch} - And guess what?! We joined yet another wine club! The wines themselves are amazing! Each tasting will start out with two whites followed by four different reds {they are known for their Pinot Noir's}. These were a few of our favorites: The 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, the 2018 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir, the 2017 Corner's Pinot Noir as well as the 2018 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. We are so excited to be a part of their Wine Club and try more delicious Pinot's! A bonus to joining the club - You also get complimentary tasting at four {yes, four} additional tasting rooms - Score! read more

Jennifer was very cordial and knew so much about the wines. I loved the Pinot Noirs and joined your wine club. Thank you for the wonderful experience. read more

I was in Sonoma for the weekend, and my friends (who are Hall Wine members) invited me to join them for a tasting at Walt Wines. WOW! I had no idea what I was in for, what a pleasant surprise! It was a lovely day and we were seated outside under the big beautiful Redwood, and our host, Elan, was the host with most! His personality, knowledge of Pinots, and his passion and enthusiasm made for such a FUN learning experience! He took us on a tasting journey spanning 1000 miles of vineyards from the coast of OR to CA, and they were all so delicious in different ways! If you love Pinot Noir, make yourself a reservation with Elan, since this place is not to be missed! I look forward to returning with my family and friends ~ Cheers! read more

Walt Wines - Host Elan at Walt Wines in Sonoma - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Always love tasting at Walt! They start you off with Chardonnay or Rosé before the main tasting of 4 Pinots. No matter which server you get, they are generous with revisiting or allowing you to try other options they have open. I've been a handful of times since I became a member about a year ago, and have enjoyed every visit! Not something I can say about other wineries. Their Pinos are amazing, my fav is Clos Pepe. Cute tasting room and the outside patio is relaxing as well. read more

Kyle was delightful. He was very knowledgeable and informative. Truly made our tasting experience enjoyable

BEST TASTING OF MY LIFE! I had waited over 2 years for this tasting and it did not disappoint. When we had initially went to Sonoma in 2020, I had wanted to try this place, but it was too packed and we couldn't get in. This time, I told myself I would reserve early and get the chocolate tasting. I am soo happy that I did!! Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the staff & especially the wines & chocolates! read more

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I have a 3.5 year old and 16 month old, and this is the first time I never felt welcome at an establishment (wineries and breweries included). If you say that you allow children, then you will have customers who show up with children who behave like...children. But just because you say you allow kids does not mean you are a kid friendly establishment. There is a difference. Our server was very nice and did ask once that the kids keep it down so they don't disturb the other guests, but our biggest insult was the server named Jesse for the table behind us. My daughter was twirling next to his table of two, and he bent down and asked her to not disturb the other guests, then proceeded to crack a joke to those two customers where one of them said "cheers to that", and he explained how he never could handle the responsibility of kids and that's why he has a cat at home. Cracking a joke at my child's expense to another customer while we are right behind you is one of the most despicable things I've ever experienced in the food service industry. He probably thought we didn't hear him, but everyone at our table did and agreed it was incredibly rude and unprofessional. Maybe this place would be better off switching to a "no kids allowed" policy. Additionally, we had scheduled this visit weeks in advance, and at the last minute they told us someone had messed up the reservations because they had a private event at that time, and they needed to bump up our reservation by two hours. This meant the grandparents weren't able to make it and join us. After an inconvenience like that, you think they would have been a little extra polite. I will say after tastings we usually purchase a few bottles of wine to take home, but this time we left with zero. If you're looking for a kid friendly place in Sonoma to visit with your family, this isn't it. read more

Walt is always a great time! John, Jessica, Jennifer, Ted and PJ are the friendliest hosts at ay tasting room that you will ever visit.

We joined last year per a friend's recommendation. A few months ago, my husband and I, wine club members, walked in for a tasting. There was a young girl at the front desk who rudely told us there was an hour wait. We said we were members and just wanted to get a glass of wine. She said that wasn't possible. Are you serious?! So rude. Furthermore, when we quit the club, no one emailed or called to ask why we were quitting. Apparently Walt is not into customer service AT ALL. Very disappointed Walt. read more

Kyle is always a great wine educator. he provides a great overview of the Walt portfolio - as well as the Hall And BACA properties. He and his wife share their enthusiasm for wine and their World Class Wine Region. We purchased a half case. My wife also really enjoys wine - but, moreover enjoys the interaction with staff. Kyle exceeds that. cheers read more

Our wine tasting flight was a great sample of the variety of Pinots offered by WALT. Our host Kyle was very pleasant and informative about the different locations and characteristics of the various wines, which included a Chardonnay, Pinot rose, and four single vineyard offerings, with two additional bonus selections. The tasting fee of $40 was reasonable given the scope of wines tasted and the personal attention we received. Highly recommended for Pinotphiles!! read more

Walt is so much fun! On a side street away from the hustle and bustle of the main drag, the wines are excellent! I hate Chardonnay, but their Chardonnay is delicious! Both times we've been in we were waited on by a gentleman named MK, who is quite funny and incredibly knowledgeable about the local regions and wine offerings He's so fun, and we will be back to visit again! Thanks! read more

Walt Wines - Delicious wines top to bottom and we love MK! - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

We took a mental health day from work after a tough loss in our family and headed up to wine country. Somehow we totally forgot that many wineries are closed on Tuesday so we opted for some lunch at El Dorado and figured we'd try our luck finding an open winery on the square. I was eyeing Walt from our table as it looked cute and had a nice safe outdoor area and low and behold I had bookmarked it on Yelp ages ago because of their pinot-rep. There were only two other parties there when we arrived and we were given a choice of outdoor tables, well distanced. Each pinot was a delight and, though pricier then we're used to in Sonoma for both tasting fees and bottles, we took home a couple bottles we were really impressed with in the hopes we might save them for something special. Terry helped us out and he did a wonderful job of educating us on the offerings and their vineyard sources...he also did a great job entertaining our one year old. :) read more

Can't recommend this enough! We didn't like Pinot noir before going but ended up loving it. We actually went to another tasting after and it didn't compare at all after being spoiled with Walts Wine. Mike helped us and he made the experience amazing! I recommend the chocolate and wine tasting! read more

Walt Wines - Chocolate and Pinot Noir tasting - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

The wines were delicious, as usual. And it was great weather to be outside. Our person was fantastic; she was knowledgeable and helpful. I was less impressed, however, by the front desk person; what's the problem with giving more than a splash? If not for that, I'd give a 5-star rating. read more

This was my 2nd time visiting Walt Wines just off Sonoma square, the last time was November 2019. The wines are delicious, spanning numerous single vineyard pinots and a few chardonnays. Our host Michael was terrific, and well balanced in his relaxed yet attentive approach. Outdoor seating is plentiful, note pic of us under the resident giant redwood! Reservations are definitely a good idea. This is a target visit for discerning wine enthusiasts. read more

Walt Wines - One tasting in, nice set-up for our appt., giant redwood an arm's length away! - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

A lovely tasting experience due to the shady patio and the friendly gentleman that assisted us. My cousins and I did the special tasting of the day, which included five tasting glasses. All the Pinots were refreshing and delicious. I could taste several notes in each wine and I really liked that we were about to taste such an array of options. They really have something for everyone with different taste buds. I prefer sweeter wines so the rosè we sampled was perfect for me. Very subtle, fruity and crisp. The smell alone had my mouth watering. This was my first time wine tasting and of the three wineries we visited, the WALT was my absolute favorite for many reasons: 1. The gentleman that assisted us was very friendly. He gave us the run down of each wine, made casual conversation and happily took photos for us. 2. The patio area is completely shaded so it was really nice to sit out and chat with everyone. 3. Prior to dinner, more of my family met up with us and we were told that the tasting period was over but that they could share amongst the rest of us. I had the best experience at the WALT and enjoyed my time here. I will defintently be back next time I'm in the Sonoma area! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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We very much enjoyed our wine tasting with grant this afternoon in Walt Sonoma. I came here with my wife and her mother. It was a perfect day to sit outside on the patio and to enjoy our flight of wine. Grant was attentive and informative but not at all over bearing. After tasting here on many occasions this was our best experience by far. Next time we come back, I would definitely request grant as our wine educator on the next visit. read more

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Austin was FANTASTIC! He was so nice and knowledgeable. He also gave us some great recc's for the area. Walt wines were great- enjoyed the pinots a lot and bought two bottles! Loved the corners pinot! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Ilan is an excellent host and very thoughtful about wine recommendations and the local area. I have visited and been hosted by him many times over the past 2 years read more

great variety of single vineyard wines and knowledgeable staff to explain difference. Excellent tasting experience. read more

We had such a lovely time at WALT Wines today. Great tasting wines and excellent service. Our server Jesse was delightful and knowledgeable! I also appreciated that, when I had to step away from the table with my fussy baby, another employee of WALT (I didn't get her name) kindly invited me to sit in a private, air conditioned room, away from the heat that was making the baby fussy. I was able to soothe baby quickly and then make my way back to the table to sip the delicious Pinot Noir flight. read more

Great experience. Jesse was very willing to share his knowledge of the Walt pinot noir family of wines and history. We are members but always enjoy learning something new with each visit. read more

So we are a member of Hall, and we try to hit Walt for the amazing Pinots when in Sonoma. However, we had the most amazing wine educator named Elan Villamor. 1) I would take him home with us because he has the best personality 2) I learned so much because he was relatable (like as in Sideways.... I'm not drinking the effing MERLOT), 3) he was easily the best conversation all week. We love hall and Walt but Elan was the icing on the cake!!!! read more

Excellent service and wine. Came here for my birthday today and was my first wine tasting of the day and by far my favorite. Dee did a great job and really made it special. Highly recommend!! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Our favorite place to visit while in Sonoma. Love the atmosphere. We've been drinking Walt Wines for 8 years. Our favorite We're Members of the Wine Club. Also get membership pricing at Hall in Napa. read more

Walt Wines - One of our favorite stops - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Elan. Elan. Elan. We loved Elan. They accommodated us last minute on a Tuesday morning. Honestly, it was the best experience we had during our time in wine country. It was educational and delicious. Elan was passionate about what he was doing and it resonated through the whole experience. He made us feel like we'll be friends for life. We joined the membership and cannot wait for our first shipment! read more

After searching around for wineries that featured Pinots, I knew I had to visit Walt Wines during my trip to Napa. My husband and I stopped by Sonoma on our first day, and wine tasted here after lunch. The tastings here are not cheap ($30 pp) but it was worth trying. We sat outside, where the staff would come around once in awhile to pour us our tastings. The amount of each pour was decent, and once we got through all 6, our server let us go back to re-taste some of the wines. My favorite was the Gap's Crown, but we ended up purchasing a bottle of the Blue Jay due to the price difference. If you're a Pinot lover, I highly recommend visiting this location! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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We had an amazing time at this tasting room. Sitting outside among the trees provided the perfect atmosphere. Walt makes some of my favorite pinot noirs, and I liked everything we tried. I highly recommend making a reservation for a tasting while in Sonoma. read more

Walt Wines - Sign out front. - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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I was visiting home (Sonoma) this past weekend to celebrate an early Mother's Day for my mom. We had brunch at EDK on the plaza and decided to go for a wine tasting after brunch so we walked over to Walt. We are not members and didn't have a reservation but they were still able to accommodate our walk in group of 5. Terry led our tasting and he was extremely knowledgeable and provided an excellent tasting experience. We all bought some wines to take home, but when I got back to my apartment in San Francisco I realized I had been given the wrong wine. So I called them the next day and they were so accommodating when it came to resolving the mix up. They were going to ship the bottle I should've received but when I let Terry know my address he offered to hand deliver the bottle on his way to a Giants game that week. Talk about going above and beyond! We loved the delicious pinots and their customer service handling this scenario exceeded my expectations. Thank you again Terry, we will definitely be back! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

This place just off the square is known for Pinots. They produce 12-14 single vineyard designate wines. The tasting room has been open for about a year and its a very casual place, much like going to someones home for a glass of wine. The winemaker here used to work at Siduri and the concept is similar, they buy grapes from various producers and make Pinot. The cool thing is that you get to truly taste various characteristics that make Pinot so unique. Definiatly on my return list. Cheers read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

We visited Walt Wines yesterday and had just an over- the-top experience. As world travelers who have been in almost every wine region on every continent, we know an authentic but original experience when we participate in one. Elan (Alan) was our host and he took us through an exciting guided journey as we traveled with him 1800 miles tasting pinots. It was educational, enlightening, fun and left us wanting more. Congratulations to him and Walt Wines, which always deliver. We are locals in Sonoma and will continue to bring our many friends by for a great experience. Cheers, Connie and Bill read more

Love WALT in Sonoma! Great Pinots from multiple regions, chocolate pairing and food pairing options. The backyard vibes is also a plus, very relaxing and welcoming. read more

I LOVE this winery! I generally prefer Sonoma over Napa wineries. Napa is just a little too commercialized and touristy to me at this point. However, I have enjoyed quite a bit of Napa wineries in the past :) Walt focuses on Pinot and they are delicious! The Som pouring our wine is always so thorough and detailed when talking about each wine you can taste everything he explains. This place also has the cutest little backyard with picnic tables. I always make it a point to stop here when I'm in Sonoma! Go check it out! read more

WALT: Sonoma Coast Winery: Great wines: Great service. 2017 Pinot Noir and Rose is outstanding. Definitely a stop that is worth it in Sonoma. Thanks for accommodating us at the last minute. read more

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