The Perfect Winery Picnic

It’s time to explore the perfect winery picnic.

A day of wine tasting without food is not wise. Many of the wineries in Northern Sonoma County are rather rural, and the nearest restaurant or deli might be a detour you don’t have time to take during your wine tasting adventure.

Packing or purchasing a picnic is the perfect solution to keep you going during a day of wine tasting. This raises the question, where can we picnic along the Wine Road?

We always take food with us when wine tasting with friends. Knowing about great picnic spots is only the first step. Understanding picnic etiquette is equally important. Please keep in mind, wineries are private property, and are not public parks or picnic grounds.

Winery Picnic Etiquette

A winery tasting room and grounds are there for folks to sample and purchase wines. Most wineries now ask picnickers to purchase a tasting, wine by the glass, or bottles of wine to enjoy with their picnic and/or to take home. Winery policies on using their picnic areas are reasonable, and are important to keep in mind as you plan your tasting outing.

As you determine your tasting route, maybe make a tasting reservation between 11 – 2 at one of the wineries listed below, so you can have a picnic after or even during your tasting. If you don’t plan to taste and/or purchase wine when stopping at a winery, please don’t expect to be able to picnic at that winery.

Also remember, there are wineries without picnic areas, especially urban wineries. Some wineries have very limited tables that are reserved only for wine tasters or their wine club members. But, there are still many options along the Wine Road to enjoy a picnic during your wine tasting adventure.

Lastly, no outside alcohol is allowed on any winery property. Wineries have government-issued licenses that permit them to pour tastes and sell their wines. These licenses do not allow any outside alcohol on the property. If someone brings outside alcohol on to a winery’s property, it jeopardizes the winery’s licenses. Please respect this requirement and remember it applies to all wineries, no matter where they are located.

No Reservations Required

As more wineries encourage walk-in wine tasters, you’ll discover you can visit a winery, enjoy a tasting and buy some wine (which you can also enjoy with your picnic. Many wineries also sell wines by the glass.) When you ask your host if you might remain at your table to have a picnic, depending upon their reservations for the day, you may hear “Yes, of course.” You might also ask about having a picnic when you first are seated. I’ve seen many wine tasters enjoying their picnic during their tasting.

Six people seated outside on patio couches and chairs enjoying wine and a picnic, while a younger man pours wine for them. — Wine tasters enjoying a picnic while tasting at Soda Rock Winery.

On weekends and holidays, finding a table for tasting and a picnic might not be as easy to do as during the weekdays, so advanced tasting and picnic reservation are definitely encouraged.

Winery picnic etiquette is now the policy at most wineries — picnickers need to purchase a tasting and/or buy wine for their picnic or to take with them. This only makes sense as the tables are reserved for winery customers.

Picnic-Friendly Wineries

These wineries don’t require reservations, but always encourage them to ensure you get a table. Unless indicated, picnics tables are only available outdoors.

Foppiano Vineyards keeps their deli cooler stocked with artisan cheeses and meats. If you want to augment your picnic, or didn’t get time to pack one, you can still enjoy a meal on their back patio or lawn area.

Furthermore Wines (Sebastopol location) encourage their guests to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon while sipping wines by the glass, bottle or with a tasting flight. During the warmer months, they have cheese, salami, crackers, nuts, chips and chocolate available for purchase, so you can build your own picnic if you didn’t bring one with you.

Large old pine tree is surrounded by picnic tables and chairs, with a bocce court on the the left. — Enjoy a picnic and a game of bocce at Furthermore’s tasting room, located between Sebastopol and Graton.

Hook & Ladder Winery welcomes their guests to picnic, and bring children and dogs on leashes, too. They also have snack items available for purchase. There are numerous outdoor tables, which are available on a first come basis. Guests can purchase tastings, glasses or bottles of wine at the tasting bar. Should you prefer to have tableside wine served with your picnic, they recommend you make an advance reservation for one of their tasting flights.

A charcuterie board loaded with meats, cheeses and cracker. A bottle of Hook & Ladder wine is laying next to the board, and a hand is pouring wine into a glass from another bottle. — Your picnic is complete with a glass of Hook & Ladder wine.

Martorana Family Winery is very picnic friendly. They have napkins, paper plates, bamboo utensils, and will even lend you a cutting board, if needed. If you bring your own blanket, you’re welcome to picnic by Dry Creek, but no swimming or fishing is permitted. The creek is habitat and spawning ground for Coho salmon and steelhead. On rainy days, there are indoor couches and chairs to accommodate picnickers. Just remember to include your tasting and/or bottle purchases in your visit to the winery.

A bottle of Martorana Petite Sirah on a table with two people seating opposite one another at a table, each with a glass of red wine. — Enjoy a bottle of Petite Sirah with your picnic at Martorana Family Winery.

Mill Creek Winery welcomes their guests to enjoy a picnic after tasting and purchasing their wines. The inviting setting might have you lingering for a while. Although reservations aren’t required, they are recommended on weekends and holidays to ensure you get a table.

A man-made pond is surrounded on two sides by red Adirondack chairs, a third side has a low wooden fence with a vineyard beyond the fence. On the fourth side is a building with a water wheel. — Relax and enjoy seating by the pond at Mill Creek Winery.

Oak Tree Winery, located in Windsor, allows their guests to bring picnics into the indoor tasting room and enjoy noshing while tasting or with a bottle of their wine.

Pedroncelli Winery provides their customers with an inviting lower patio for outside tastings and their upper patio is perfect for a picnic paired with a bottle of their wine. They do recommend making a reservation as this popular spot fills up quickly in the spring and summer, especially on weekends.

Outside seating area with various chairs, tables and orange umbrellas with a large oak tree and vineyards in the background. — Outdoor tasting and picnic area at Pedroncelli Winery.

Raymond Burr Vineyards encourages visitors to use their outdoor terrace for picnics, or to just hang out and enjoy a glass of wine. The vineyard view deserves more than just a quick glance and is the perfect backdrop for your tasting and picnic. Although they encourage reservations during busy weekends, walk-in guests are always welcome.

Eight young people seated at a picnic table with wine bottles and to go food containers hold up their glasses for a toast. — Happy picnickers and wine tasters at Raymond Burr Vineyards.

Soda Rock Winery’s rustic charm draws you in and soon you find yourself relaxing on their back terrace, enjoying a flight of wines and nibbing on picnic fare. They encourage visitors to bring a picnic to enjoy with their tasting, and hope you’ll find a wine you love to share with your meal as well. This popular spot doesn’t require a reservation, but the tables fill up quickly during the weekends and on holidays so making a reservation is best.

Two images: umbrella shaded tables and chairs around a four-tiered fountain. A umbrella shaded table with a tree and heater to the left and in the background is a vineyard. — Outdoor seating at Soda Rock Winery.

West Wines, located just outside of Healdsburg as you head into Dry Creek Valley, allows tasters to bring along picnics. They encourage reservations to ensure a table is available, especially on weekends. If you know West Wines will be one of your stops, you can also order box lunches with 48-hour advanced notice.

Wilson of Dry Creek offers a breathtaking view from their back deck, which overlooks Dry Creek Valley. They encourage guests to enjoy a picnic during or after their tasting. If you taste and then picnic, you’re sure to find a favorite Wilson wine to enjoy with your lunch. This popular spot fills up fast on weekends, so you might consider booking a reservation to ensure you get a table on the deck.

Large oak tree canopies and shades tables and chairs on a deck with the view behind being vineyards with mountains in the distance. — The view from the Wilson Winery’s back deck.

At Woodenhead Vintners, drink in the panoramic view from their deck while you enjoy a tasting flight, or purchase your favorite wine to sip with your picnic. Woodenhead also displays works from numerous local artists, giving you the opportunity to sip, eat and shop all in one stop.

Round metal tables and chairs on a deck with an orange umbrella. There is a sweeping view of trees, vineyards and mountains in the distance. — Woodenhead Vintner’s view from the deck.

Reservation Required

Some wineries require reservations for tasting, which can include a picnic, or you can purchase food from the winery. Other wineries require reservation for the combination of a tasting and picnic. The wineries below offer lovely picnic grounds and vistas, making it worthwhile to do a little extra planning.

Bella Vineyards + Wine Caves – If you’d like to picnic at Bella Vineyards, reservations are recommended, especially if you have a larger group or you want to visit on a holiday or weekend. They ask that you enjoy a tasting or purchase wines when you arrive, and then have your picnic. To book a reservation or for details, visit their website.

A group of people sit in Adirondack chairs, a golden retriever is tied to one chair, two babies sit on the ground in front of woman. A young first plays with a hula hoop. Most of the people have wine glasses. More tasters at picnic table are int he back ground. — Families and dogs are welcome at Bella Vineyards + Wine Caves.

At David Coffaro Winery, book an indoor or outdoor tasting, in advance, and you’re welcome to enjoy a picnic after your tasting with one bottle minimum purchase for groups of four or less.

due Ruscelli – Whether you have a large or small group, due Ruscelli’s private oak grove offers a secluded setting for your tasting and picnic. For additional information, please contact the winery directly by using the form on the Experiences webpage.

A terraced landscape with green grass, trees, a wine barrel and bocce court. — The terraced oak grove at due Ruscelli will soon be dotted with picnic tables and wine tasters.

Dutcher Crossing Winery – Reservations are recommended for their Bottle Service experience for groups of eight or less. The cost is $50 for bottle service (wine that you purchase from the winery), water service, stemware, and an ice bucket to keep your wines chilled for 90 minutes.

Reservations can be made on their Visit Us webpage. They also offer charcuterie daily for an additional cost per person if you didn’t have time to pack a picnic.

Quivira Vineyards has three picnic tables nestled in their redwood grove that can be reserved for a picnic. The reservation fee is credited toward the purchase of their wine by the glass or bottle to enjoy with your meal. If you’re planning a weekend outing, be sure to book well in advance as these picnic tables are very popular and book up quickly. If you book the table, but forget to pack the food, the winery does have food available for purchase.

Robert Young Estate Winery – This is a by-appointment winery, so guests with appointments for a tasting or to purchase wine are welcome to use the front terrace for a picnic. Be sure to let the winery know your plans when you book, or when you arrive for your appointment. They also have charcuterie boards available for purchase.

A wicker and teak seating area of chairs and a low table overlooking a lawn, vineyards and rolling hills in spring. — The terrace view at Robert Young Estate Vineyards.

Purchase Your Picnic

Capo Creek Ranch is the perfect place to visit if you just want to show up and enjoy an afternoon of wine and food. They offer different wine and food experiences, including a vineyard picnic with an RTV (rough terrain vehicle) tour. A reservation is required for these experiences, so visit their website for details.

D’Argenzio Fine Wines has a sister restaurant next door specializing in wood-fired pizzas and authentic Italian fare. You can place your food order while sipping wines in the tasting room and have it delivered to your table.

Korbel Champagne Cellars is a great stop for lunch under the redwoods. Next to the tasting room is a delicatessen with a large selection of local cheeses, charcuterie, snacks, desserts, and fresh sandwiches and salads. The deli has rotating weekly specials and cocktails of the month featuring Korbel California Champagne. They also have an outdoor seating area that is dog friendly.

A Little Planning Helps

Not all wineries are open daily, so be sure to check winery websites for details on tasting fees and hours.

This is not a comprehensive list of every picnic spot along the Wine Road. If your favorite Wine Road picnic spot isn’t listed, please let us know via the comments.

And remember, to get the most out of your wine tasting adventure, stay hydrated and take time to relax and enjoy a picnic. Pack snacks for between stops and a picnic to enjoy mid-way through your tasting day.

Happy Sipping!

More from my site

Posted by Rebecca Germolus

Rebecca Germolus, co-owner of Maximum Value Marketing, loves Sonoma County and playing along the Wine Road. Rebecca daily immerses herself in wine country by providing cost-effective marketing and writing solutions to wineries and restaurants.

All Posts