Impromptu wine taste on a slow weekday pays in spades. Had time to kill before the dinner hours so…read morewhat better way to taste some new wines and culture an education. #vacaymode Rolled through almost on their last hour of the day. Parking lot was empty and thought they were closed but decided to take a peek anyways, and lo and behold the lights were on and the door open. I was greeted by a super cool dude who didn't seem the typical tight and stuffy wine country host. I was an able to sit at a bar setting, told the details of their tasting (price, tasting line-up, fees waived if wine purchased etc). For a $25 fee (which was waived at the end cuz I always buy a couple of bottles) I was able to taste at least 5 different wines with a bonus at the end. I was also given a small ramekin of macadamia nuts, which I've never had with a wine tasting. But totally works because these nuts are very hearty and full of rich oils which counter the acidic and tannic nature of wines. Dude then plays some tunes from his personal playlist as their main sound system seemed to not be working that day and it was straight music that I personally dig. Lol. And for a full hour no one else came in which was a new experience for me. We just sat there as he poured and educated me on each of their wines and we just casually talked about random cool things, so not bogged down with wine banter. At the end I walked out with 3 new bottles, wine country air on blast and a nice dinner looming just a half mile down the road. One of the best laid back wine tasting experiences I've ever had. #luckyducky

S E R V I C E: My…read morehusband and I came here for our anniversary, and it's the same day as Veteran's Day. We weren't sure if there were any wineries open, so we decided to be spontaneous! There's plenty of parking available, and it looks beautiful and rustic. It seemed honestly dead, so when my husband and I opened the door to walk in, we saw one woman who looked like she was cleaning the table. We asked if they were open, and she responded with an annoyed, "Yeah?" She was the only one working that day, and told us there's seating in the back which we had no idea of. From that point on, our tasting experience lacked connection and excitement. W I N E: I really wanted to like them, but everything was just too strong for me, or the taste didn't surprise me. We asked if there were other options for me to taste, but we were told everything was sold out or they didn't have anything else opened. O V E R A L L: Beautiful place, however, customer service and wine fell flat for us. I like that they're dog friendly, and they seem to have the best wine club membership in Sonoma county (you get access to a bunch of other wineries which is honestly pretty cool).

Had such an odd experience! 8/2 came by for a tasting for a party of two and the door was locked…read more Weird since the hours online and the sign said they were open. We left, went to another tasting and came back about an hour later thinking maybe they were on lunch. Still closed during the hours. There was an elderly couple outside trying to get in and were a bit flustered. This couple paid for their reservations online, showed up and had no communication from them. We were calling all the numbers with no answer. I checked social media and no postings. As annoying as it was for us, I felt horrible for this couple that drove far for this and were ghosted and out of money. Unacceptable. Really wanted to try this place out but too many great places near by it. With response from the owner. Moved my review to a neutral star. Never trying to "ruin" a place, but give my experience. Hope the employee is okay, emergencies happen. Would hope in future there could be a post on their socials about a last minute closure or have the owner or another employee put a sign up or take over last minute. When people travel to try something, the 21st century checks updates online. As for the couple, they were older and were emailing and calling. Still feel bad for them. Thanks for the response David.

Amazing Pinots and dog friendly!! Always looking for…read moresmaller wineries with excellent wines and service and we found it at Fulcrum.

The MOST outstanding experience! A wonderful experience with history, geography, and wine tasting…read morewoven into a beautiful afternoon. 10+ customer service. Highly recommended!!!

I cannot say enough positive things about Talisman. My friends and I were celebrating our 50th…read morebirthdays and happened upon this tasting room. We were surprised and delighted by the quality of every single pour, as well as the amazing customer service. Marshall not only educated us about wine, but helped us make our dinner reservations on time, and gave us all a wonderful tasting experience. This is the first tasting room I'll visit on my next trip to Sonoma and I highly recommend!

Tempted to keep this hidden gem of a winery to myself, but it's too good not to share! We found…read morethis winery through our GEMS membership via AXR in Napa. It's rare that I'm able to find a place where I love every wine poured - but La Rochelle truly hit the mark!!! EXPECT: Prior to our visit, my husband and I answered a few questions online (ex: our current knowledge of wine, what topics interested us like clone varietals or appellations) and La Rochelle customized the tasting to our interests. I wish every winery did this - it made our tasting so much more enjoyable knowing that they knew our expectations! VISIT: We had requested to sit outside, and even though it was a chilly day they made us comfortable with cozy blankets and heaters. I love that they made every effort to help us sit outside & have the experience we were aiming for. We were the only visitors and loved the intimate experience sitting in their back garden complete with chickens & a wine cat! WINE: In regards to the wine itself, superb! Their Pinot Noirs & Chardonnays are small lot, single vineyards. Every Pinot was different than the last and it was such a treat to taste a Pinot Meunier and their special Pinot Noir Polyphony. We left with a bottle of 2018 Pinot Noir from the Bacigalupi Vineyard. Our host was so knowledgeable and we really enjoyed our conversations with him. It's clear the owner, Chuck, is passionate about wine. This is one of my favorite wineries in Sonoma (good wine, good value, and good people!) - will likely join their wine club and 1000% will be going back & bringing friends!

La Rochelle is such a wonderful little winery in Kenwood and has always provided an exemplary…read moreexperience every time I've visited. They are located off of a side street, rather than the main road, but are worth a visit all the same. Their "hidden" location makes the experience feel casual, relaxing, and quaint. At the entrance to the lot, you'll see a blue vehicle and the LaRochelle logo, so you'll know you're in the right place. Parking is plentiful in front of the grapes. As you enter the building, you'll see a counter on your way in, as well as a collection of Library wines. In the back, where you'll sit for your tasting, it is a serene farmhouse feel. There is ample seating at picnic tables, etc. and while tasting, you'll enjoy the sounds of water trickling from the koi pond on the property. In fact, you'll feel as if you're in a friend's backyard, rather than at a winery. The croquet course and wide open grassy area further enforces that vibe. And how could one forget about the chickens! They have a few chickens on the property that occasionally have been roaming on our visits, but usually are in the coop. The owner's dog also occasionally makes an appearance. The wines are delicious and the staff is knowledgeable about the tasting notes and growing details of each wine. My parents are members at this winery, so I've been several times, and they are PHENOMENAL at making their members feel at home. In fact, they even just held a complimentary Member appreciation event where they provided an extravagant "make your own wreath" event, complete with fresh eucalyptus, pine, and all the decoration options you could possibly imagine, as well a turkey and mashed potato meal.

Had the privilege of going up to the estate property to do a tasting with some friends…read morethe views are spectacular and the wines are just amazing very excited about the price points I can't wait to take my VIPs here for a great experience We got to sit down with the GM Korbin Ming And taste through four amazing wines!!

The wine here is absolutely fantastic and I'm so glad we decided to stop here during our day trip…read moreto wine country. They specialize in bordeaux style wines, so if you're into that, this place is absolutely worth a visit! I honestly liked every single wine that we tried, but my favorite had to be the Merlot. It was a bigger red, but very in line with my pallet. The tasting is a little pricey, but if you buy 3 bottles, they wave a tasting fee. Otherwise it's $20/person. Well worth it because the wines are awesome and in line with other tasting fees in the area.

We spent a lovely few hours at Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen on a recent Sonoma trip…read more Although they were busy, we appreciated being able to walk in without a reservation and still enjoy tastings at the main bar. Our server, Patrick, was personable, knowledgeable, and truly went above and beyond. He gave us a great understanding of the history of the family winery as well as the nuances of the various wines. He never made us feel rushed, and we enjoyed sitting outside, taking in the beautiful views--and watching the tractor tours pass by--while we tasted. Patrick even shared side-by-side trios of Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons to highlight differences in winemaking methods, vineyard sites, and soils, which made for a particularly interesting and educational tasting experience. In fact, it was every bit as informative and enjoyable as other tasting experiences we've had that were far more expensive, more formal, and required advance reservations.    The tasting room also features a wonderful selection of gifts and specialty items. By the end of our visit, we left with three bottles of wine (2025 Frank Johnson Sauv Blanc and two 2022 Three Blocks Cab Sauvs) along with several gifts and mementos. Benziger has a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and is both kid and pet-friendly. We also stopped by their sister winery, Imagery, afterward and found it to be another Sonoma gem. We wouldn't hesitate to return to either.

We did the sit down, more formal tasting. It was quite nice, on the great patio. But they also have…read morethe stand up tasting in the shop for a little less money. We didn't do the tour, but they have a trolley tour if you are looking for something with out having to walk a lot.

Visited for the Signature Tasting ($35/person) and sat outside. Their tasting room is fairly small…read morebut a nice and welcoming atmosphere. Sebastian was a fantastic host and we had a great time! We tried a variety of wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Rose of Grenache, Pinot Noir, GSM, and a The Phoenix (which is a changing blend but mostly Cabernet Sauvignon). The wine was great and we left with a bottle of 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir which is a blend of two very specific clones. Sebastian mentioned that they got a permit for a kitchen and may have that available in the next couple years. They want to focus on serving Scottish food items (since the owner is Scottish) and would be a unique addition to the region! We'll be back to try the Rhone tasting which we're told has a deep dive with the owner and winemaker on Rhone varietals and a cheese and charcuterie board included!

Delicious wine!! My husband and I love intimate wineries where it feels cozy and like family and…read morethat is exactly how we felt here. Sebastian was sooo nice and knowledgeable! We can't wait to be back! Great wine and wonderful conversations! Amazing!

All of the wines at En Guard are stunningly good. This is a small, boutique, family-owned winery…read more Csaba (Shaba), the owner, comes from a wine-making family back in the old country.The Engarde Touche is a 99-point wine and is poured at only a few very elite restaurants. Yet you will never find these wines in any wine shop or grocery store. If you are anywhere near Kenwood, do yourself a favour and see for yourself. My two cents.

Lovely service and delicious wine! Try the berry port! Convenient to many other tasting rooms.read more