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.

Unbelievable service and wine. Highly recommend this hidden gem. Came for my bday with a group of…read more10 and they took care of us beautifully.

FYI: appointment only! We didn't know this but we were still accommodated which we are so grateful…read morefor. We will have to go back! The sauv blanc was crisp and the gardens were peaceful. A perfect stop after hiking at Sonoma valley regional park.

Our friends recommended that we come here to the tasting room at Laurel Glen. We had a tasting…read moreappointment set up with Juan Carlos who did an amazing job. It was a smaller room but was nice and cozy since it was just us in there. Juan Carlos was the nicest guy ever and was very knowledgeable. We were able to taste some older vintages which was really cool to do some side by side with newer vintages. I loved the varietals they had like Gruner and Riesling. The reds were also spectacular and it was a great last tasting to our day.

My wife and I have been visiting and drinking Laurel Glen wines for years. Their Cabernet is…read moreabsolutely fantastic. Likewise the tasting room space and experience, tucked in the tiny hamlet of Glen Ellen, is personal and relaxed, which tends to not be the case in many other tasting rooms in and around Napa. If you're a Cabernet drinker (or want to be), this is the right place.

Intimate, rustic & exclusive wine tasting experience. Loved the cozy setup & in depth, candid chat…read morearound each wine. Highly recommend compared to a typical mass hyped winery.

When looking into wineries in the area, Schermeister stood out to me because everyone said the same…read morething - that Rob and Laura are amazing and that you have to come by. After a few tours of very large wineries, we ended our week in Sonoma and Napa with Schermeister and it was, undoubtedly, our favorite stop. Not only was the wine our favorite we had, but, as reported, Rob and Laura were just so welcoming and wonderful. They felt like old friends even though we had just met. Also, their tasting room is just gorgeous and in a lovely area. I whole heartedly recommend stopping in at Schermeister if they're open (they close when they sell out of wine) and I plan to come back any time I'm in Northern California.

The winery is so pretty! Love the space and they now do BYO picnic style so you can bring family,…read morefood and enjoy their wine. Tucker was fantastic and helped us with everything from our very first step in. I learned so much about their wines and process! While their wines won't be my favorite of all time, I'd be back when I'm in town for a girls weekend or just because! We did the standard flight and not the premium version. My favorite was the red but a lot of my friends loved the Spirit Rock!

Loved the vibe of this spot. Everyone was so unbelievably nice. Very cozy. Also dog friendly. All…read moreindoors but beautiful space. I didn't really get to enjoy all the wines so I'll 100% be back to try more

Imagery is such a fun winery! The wines are all incredible and very innovative . The art on the…read morewine bottles is so fun too. We've been a few times and it's always a great time, super chill place, everyone is super nice, and service is great. 10/10 would recommend

Came with my friend who is a wine club member. It's 12/30. It's not that busy. The wine club area…read moreis closed on the weekdays and there is a sign directing us to the main bar with a welcome of oh you don't have a reservation and weird looks like we were stupid to come without reservations. Ok. Noted. Now we are with Gerardo... He tells us we "get to" taste these wines and we ask for the white burgundy skipping the viognier. Other clients are tasting the sparkling which we just got an email about so we ask and he says we are getting an extra pour. Ummm we'd like to try before we buy is that a crazy expectation? And so we continue on. Meanwhile the other bartenderis offering other people side by side of the barbera and the upper ridge barbera to taste what they like...not us. When I commented that I do enjoy French champagne he said it's made in the same style and he has a bottle at home that he might drink for New Year's. Ok cool. He had zero wine knowledge. Didn't tell us much about the wines. And wanted us to purchase but was limiting our tastes and experience. Another couple arrived who noticed an error on their invoice and he could t figure out how to correct it and had to enlist the help of someone else. The final straw was we asked to taste the rose and he said it's not open today but then we saw other folks try it from the same fridge. Very odd. Didn't feel like there was a benefit to being in the club. He closed with telling us he needs to go to lunch so what are we buying? I've been here many times before and enjoyed the patio and the inside table with the fireplace and cute gift options. Today he made me question whether I would return. I don't think that the wine industry is doing really well so an experience like this is very off putting.

Hands down, BEST Winery EVER!! The proprietor, Ryan is the…read moreperfect host! I fell in love with his fascinating explanations and side stories. He is the opposite of snobby. Went out of curiosity, stayed for the WINE. We usually buy a customary bottle as a courtesy. Husband bought 9 bottles Wine is so CLEAN (by way of complicated chemistry) and so low in sulphates, that I didn't get my usual hot flashes, nor did hubby get his usual wine headache. LUCKY us, we are locals and can drop by anytime! Next stop~Their CHAMPAGNE Winery, one street over. Wolves, Lovers & Thieves.

This is a comfortable location to taste good wines with interesting stories, with the bonus of…read morehaving a relatively low tasting fee and fair pours. We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed the music and the ambiance. The owner was the one who served us, and he was personable and rightly confident enough in his wines that he didn't hover while we tasted. I recommend the truffle and dessert wine taste--the chocolate is made locally, and we enjoyed it so much that we visited the shop. One thing I particularly enjoy about Glen Ellen (population under 1000) in general is the support local businesses give each other. It is clear that this winery is part of a strong community ecosystem.

Hamel Winery came highly recommended by a friend who visited Sonoma recently, so it was our first…read moretasting spot in Sonoma Valley. From our personalized menus, yummy squash spread and focaccia, and delicious wine, it was a fantastic experience. Our sommelier, Emily, guided us through our tasting and had such a profound knowledge of the methods and practices that make Hamel's wine so special. The grounds, the views, the epic cave, it was all a once in a lifetime experience. Our favorite wines were the Grenache, the Sauvignon Blanc, and the Chardonnay!

Hamel winery is definitely an experience for those with a bigger wallet/purse. The property and the…read morenewly built wine tasting and wine making buildings were gorgeous! We were were greeted by our personal wine staff who guided us through the wine tasting. He was pleasant, but overall seemed a bit apathic throughout the whole process. He was knowledgeable about the wine and the property. He guided us through the wine caves, which was lovely. I appreciated the personal attention, but it became a bit uncomfortable as the staff member sat with us between pourings. I would have liked the option to take our time drinking the wines, but I felt uncomfortable and slightly rushed as this person sat with us and did not always speak te whole time. We did arrive 30 minutes late due to the Tock app (reservation app) guiding us to the wrong location. We called Hamel to notify them and the person said they would wait for us, but I detected a bit of a tone. I also emailed Tock, which they responded quickly but basically said that they investigated it and it was basically an issue on Apple's side of things. No acknowledge of the inconvenience this had on me and my husband. We did receive a very tasty appetizer made by their world-renowned chef, but the wine fell short in my opinion. It seemed a bit watered down with little flavor overall. The wine is very expensive along with the wine tasting. Ultimately, I think you're paying for the view, experience and the cost of those new buildings.

Little Vineyards in Sonoma feels less like visiting a winery and more like being welcomed into…read moresomeone's beautiful home. We had the pleasure of attending their Sunset Sips and Sounds event, where owners Rich and Joan were incredibly warm and hospitable from the moment we arrived, creating an atmosphere that makes you instantly relax and want to stay awhile. The setting itself is stunning, peaceful vineyards, rolling hills, and live music. Rich performing on his Chapman Stick and guitar was the perfect complement to the surroundings. It added this soulful, intimate feeling that made the entire experience unforgettable. We had two bottles of their Double Gold winning 2021 Syrah Zinfandel blend, and it was delicious. Layered, smooth, and dangerously easy to keep drinking. Places like this are rare now. Authentic, personal, creative, and completely unpretentious. We'll definitely be back!

Super! Just super! What true fun gem with genuine people leading you through those gorgeous…read morevarietals. Perhaps you could even meet up with the winery doggies too. Take the drive down a dirt road just off Hwy 12 to find this wine mecca. Bring a picnic, relax and enjoy the experience. Fantastic!

Amazing wines, the best QPR in California, these wines are a bargain at 3x the price. Detailed…read morevineyard management and meticulous winemaking. Always a favorite of mine.

The service was wonderful, pretty grounds & vineyards! The tasting room is in the barrel room where…read morethey keep the wines, very cozy kitsch. Our favorite was a Syrah and a port. We bought a few bottles and will definitely be back!