Rebecca Germolus Everyone hopes for the ultimate wine tasting experience when anticipating a trip. Research and planning take a lot of time, so I hope this blog can lend the guidance you’ve been seeking.
Wine Tasting Experiences in Sonoma County
The Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County offers everything to create the ultimate wine tasting experience —stellar wines, breathtaking scenery and world-class hospitality. And when not wine tasting, enjoy endless recreational activities, art galleries, museums, explore large and small towns, attend concerts and check out the food scene.
Sonoma County: A Haven for Wine Enthusiasts
Historical records of grapegrowing and winemaking in Sonoma County date back to the 1800s. Italian immigrants, upon seeing the Northern Sonoma County landscape, were reminded of the undulating hillsides of Tuscany and Umbria. This winemaking legacy adds depth to the present-day wine industry, as wineries build on and further expand the county’s reputation. Several of the family wineries along the Wine Road date back well over a century.
Diversity of Vineyards
Along with this rich history, Sonoma County offers great diversity in grapegrowing with its many microclimates. This diversity allows grape farmers to grow a wide array of grapes, from world-renowned Pinot Noirs in the Russian River Valley to classic Cabernet Sauvignons and other Bordeaux varietals in Alexander Valley. You’ll find Rhone varietals like Grenache thriving in Dry Creek Valley, and Spanish varietals like Tempranillo flourishing here as well.
Wine Options
Due to the diversity of the growing climate and conditions within Sonoma County, the local wineries also offer a multiplicity of choices. You can find hundreds of wineries that produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. But you can also find Viognier, Vermentino, Pinot Blanc, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Dolcetto and many other less-known varietals.
The Wine Road offers the perfect tool to help you locate the wine you’re looking for. At WineRoad.com, select Winery List under Wineries to get to a search page. Click on the drop down for “Search by Wine Type” and find a long list of options. Pick the wine or blend of your choice, and you’ll instantly get a list of wineries that produce that wine. This powerful tool is the first step in developing your ultimate wine tasting experience.
Planning Your Sonoma Wine Tasting Adventure
Does your wine tasting adventure have you enjoying a series of formal tastings with food pairings, or causal drop in tastings, or maybe a mixture of both? Is this adventure about exploring new Sonoma County wineries and new wine varietals, or it is taking a deeper dive into your favorite wine preferences?
Defining, Researching, Selecting
Defining your expectations is a key step before starting your research. If you’re only looking for casual, no appointment necessary tastings, no problem. The Wine Road has a list of wineries where walk-in visitors are welcome. With this list of wineries, you can now compare it to your wine type list to narrow down which wineries serve the wines you’re most interested in. Next you might explore the online Wine Road map page. Sonoma County is a large area, and knowing the distance between each planned stop will help you gauge how many wineries you can visit in a day. It will also help you plan a logical route.
If you prefer a paper map and are planning your wine tasting adventure in advance, you can order a Wine Road map that also gives key information about each winery listed. Even if you’re not fond of printed maps, I always recommend having a Wine Road map with you, as cell service in rural Sonoma County can be spotty and a map might be the only tool you have to guide you to your next destination.
More Research Options
If you’re looking for a more formal or educational tasting, check out Experiences under Explore at WineRoad.com. There are also many more tools within WineRoad.com to help you define and select your tasting path. The Wineries search tool lets you search by Winery Name, Region, Wine Type or Amenity.
As you check out the pages under Explore, you’ll discovered in-depth information about each of the appellations or regions within Wine Road — Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley.
Reservation Required
Many of the smaller Sonoma County wineries require reservations. If you’re interested in visiting one of the many by-appointment wineries, go to the winery’s website and follow the steps to book your appointment. Remember to give yourself at least 60-90 minutes for each tasting appointment, plus plenty of time to drive to your next appointment. Your Sonoma wine tasting adventure is about relaxing and having fun, so don’t overbook your day!
Most reservation systems require the tasting fee be paid at the time the appointment is booked. Tasting fees vary, and will increase if you select a food pairing or an educational tasting. Wineries generally explain their tasting fee policy on their website or when you book your appointment. If the information isn’t clear, call the winery to get an in-depth explanation.
The Wine Tasting Experience: What to Expect
If you’re new to wine tasting, it might seem intimidating. Wine Road’s goal is to help everyone feel comfortable visiting wineries and learning about and enjoying wine. To help you along this journey, check out Tasting Tips page. It covers general wine tasting tips, tasting etiquette, getting the most out of wine tasting, and tasting fees. And if you don’t understand the wine jargon, the Wine Road has an online glossary of terms to help you navigate the language of wine.
Wine Tasting Formats
Although some wineries continue to offer wine tasting at a bar, many wineries now have seated tasting, both indoors and outdoors. You may be offered a list of wines of which you can select 4 to 5 tastes, or you might be asked to select a tasting flight, with the price of the tasting flights varying depending upon the retail price of the wines in each flight. Other wineries might have a set number of wines open each day, and those are the only tasting wines available for that day.
If you’ve booked a tasting appointment, you may have to select the wine flight or wine and food pairing experience in advance. Generally, a winery’s website will explain the various tasting options and prices for each option. If the information isn’t available on the winery’s website or social media page, give them a call so you know what wines will be poured, and that it fulfills your expectations for your ultimate wine tasting experience.
Maximizing Your Wine Tasting Experience
Here are few quick tips to make the most of your wine tasting experience:
- Ask questions. The wineries want to share information with you, but unless you ask, you might not hear about the information you’re most interested in.
- Take notes. Unless you have a photographic memory, it’s always a good idea to jot down your favorite wines and wineries that you discover during your visit to Sonoma County’s Wine Country. Wineries often will have a printed list of their wines you can write your notes on.
- Don’t wear scents. Scented products will affect your ability to detect the aromas of wine, which will alter your perception of the wine’s taste. Plus, your scented product will ruin the tasting experience for those around you.
- Stay hydrated. I’d encourage you to drink water before, during and after each winery visit. Without water, you can quickly develop palate fatigue and you’ll no longer be able to completely discern the nuanced differences of the wines.
- Plan Food. Depending upon your wine tasting path, you might want to have lunch in one of the towns in Sonoma County. But you might prefer to pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful winery picnic grounds. Just be sure you plan to taste at the winery where you’ll be picnicking.
- Designated Driver. Decide who in your group will be the designated driver before you begin your wine tasting adventure.
Must-Visit Wineries in Sonoma
There are so many excellent Sonoma County wineries. Let’s explore a few that are filled with history, are little-known hidden gems, or are renowned in the world of wine.
Seeped in History
There are a few wineries that have been owned by the same family from 50 to over 100 years, giving them a historical depth worth exploring. These wineries include:
J. Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
For additional historical background on the above Sonoma County wineries, check out these blogs:
Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 1
Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 2
Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 3
Multigenerational Family Wineries – Part 4
Iconic Sonoma County Wineries
When planning your ultimate wine tasting in Sonoma County, you’ll want to make sure to include a few wineries from the following lists. There are plenty of choices of renowned Sonoma County wineries — wineries that wine journalists long ago discovered and have written scores of stories and reviewed many of their wines. Here is a short list:
J. Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
Sonoma County Rising Stars
The following Sonoma County wineries are large enough to get noticed by the wine media, and receive stellar reviews for their delicious wines.
Hidden Gems Along the Sonoma County’s Wine Road
The list of Sonoma County wine tasting hidden gems might go on for pages, but I’ve picked out a few that shouldn’t be missed and explain why.
Colagrossi Wines – The industrial warehouse location might not ooze charm, but Craig Colagrossi’s warm hospitality and intriguing Italianate wines will win you over.
Mounts Family Wines – Besides having exceptional wines, the views from the outdoor tasting area are breathtaking and their hospitality is unrivaled.
David Coffaro Vineyards – If you looking for eclectic, quirky and wonderful, you found it!
Idlewild Wines – Tucked off the plaza in Healdsburg, the Idlewild wines hit every mark for those looking for lesser-known varietals.
Leo Steen Wines – Winemaker and owner Leo Hansen searches out hidden gem vineyards and then creates expressive, delicious wines from unexpected varietals.
Porter Creek Vineyards – Besides having the best wisteria and chickens along the Wine Road, the wines and the views are worth the drive to this off the beaten path location.
Woodenhead Vintners – With spectacular views from the deck, Zina’s hospitality and a delightful collection of local art, the wines might seem secondary, but one sip and you’ll know they’re the star of this stop.
Beyond Wine: Pairing Experiences in Sonoma
As with any good marriage, the union of wine and food elevates both. Wine and food pairing in Sonoma County will also elevate your wine tasting experience.
Here’s a list of a few wineries offering wine and food pairing experiences:
Bricoleur Vineyards – The lovely grounds and fabulous food pairings will make your day!
Capo Creek Ranch – Owner, winemaker and chef Mary Roy offers a choice of four wine and food pairing experiences.
deLorimier Winery – Every Saturday, their wine educator and the estate chef offer an immersion into the world of wine and food, sharing plenty of information including what make the perfect wine and food pairing.
Kendall Jackson – Choose from three diverse wine and food pairings or opt for a one-of-a-kind picnic.
Lynmar Estate – Billed as providing the ultimate luxury wine and food experience, Lynmar Estate’s chef offers an elevated multi-course lunch paired with their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.
Please note that all wine and food pairing experiences require advance reservations.
Sonoma County’s Other Experiences
Sonoma County offers so many opportunities for recreation, culture and visual beauty. When you’re ready for a break from wine tasting, a drive to the ocean will provide multiple places to stop, drink in the views and walk along the ocean on trails or on the beach. If you like kayaking, canoeing, boating, biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, ziplining and more, explore a comprehensive overview of all the outdoor activities Sonoma County offers.
The backroads of Sonoma County offer beauty around every turn. Wine tasting will take you down many of these scenic drives, as will the drive to Highway 1 and down the Pacific coast. Point your car, pick a road and enjoy the stunning scenery throughout Sonoma County, but be sure a trip to the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is on the list.
Looking for more indoor activities? Check out these options:
Bringing Sonoma Home: Purchasing and Shipping Wine
One of the best parts of visiting Sonoma County wineries is bringing home your favorite wines from your wine tasting experience. But can you actually ship the wine home? Each state and country has different laws regarding shipping wine. Most states now allow direct shipping, but a few do not. Check with the winery or the shipping company you decide to use. You might also check the Wine Institute’s site to view current shipping regulations by state.
When you buy wine through a Sonoma County winery, they can also ship the wine for you if your state allows interstate wine shipments. Just ask about shipping options when purchasing wine. You can also check wine as luggage as long as it’s in an airline approved shipping box. Luggage fees may apply.
Deciding What to Buy
Taking visitors wine tasting is something I do frequently. Before we set out on our wine tasting adventures, we always start with “the talk.” My questions are: How much wine can you take with you as luggage, and what is your wine buying budget? After I hear the answers, I can help guide my guests to make the right decision on what to purchase, what to take home on the plane, and what to ship.
If you’re buying a full case of wine from one winery, it’s best to have that winery ship the wine for you. If you’re only buy a bottle or two at each winery, then it’s better to get an airline approved shipping box or two and take the wine with you when you fly home.
Taking Notes
Earlier I recommended taking notes at each stop, and here is why. You might want to spread out your purchases over time, but you need to remember what you like from each winery. Be sure to sign up at each winery so you can receive information from the wineries about new releases, shipping specials or other offers. When you get these communications, your trip notes will help you determine what purchases you’d like to make.
Wine Club Options
When you love every wine you taste at a winery, you might consider joining their wine club. Not only will you get those wines shipped directly to you throughout the year, but there are also several other considerations to joining a wine club.
Here are some of the potential benefits:
- You’ll get wine shipped directly to you a few times a year, plus most wineries offer discounts on wines to their club members.
- Often limited-production or older vintage wines are only available to club members.
- Tasting fees are generally waived for club members.
- The winery may host wine club-only events or allow members to attend events at a discounted rate.
- Some wineries have guesthouses that club members can rent at reduced rates.
- Some wineries offer discounted shipping to their wine club members.
Joining multiple clubs allows you to keep our cellars stocked with all your favorite wines.
Keep in mind wine club benefits vary from winery to winery.
Ready for the Ultimate Wine Tasting Journey?
The tools and information needed to plan your ultimate wine tasting experience are at your fingertips. Between the Wine Road’s very informative website and the lists and links above, you’re ready to plan your ultimate Sonoma County wine tasting adventure!
Happy Sipping!
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