Sonoma County Wineries

Wine Tasting in Sonoma:
Tips to Set Up Your Trip

Are you interested in visiting Sonoma County wineries on your own? Discover a wealth of information to help you get started.

The first thing to keep in mind is that Sonoma County is full of wineries and places to see. Currently, there are around 300 wineries in the county and over half have open tasting hours. You will never be able to see them all during your trip.

There are also four main wine regions with the majority of the wineries. So, the first thing you will want to do is select the region or regions you want to visit.

You can usually visit around four to six wineries a day. Visiting four gives you a slow, easy pace. Six is a fast pace and sometimes you will not get the chance to really enjoy all the wines.

These are just a few things to think about as you start to plan your trip.

There is a lot of great information about Sonoma County wineries on this page. It is broken out in sections to make it easier to find what you need. Click on any of the links below to jump ahead to any topic you desire.

Open Tasting Rooms & Hours | Winery Tours | Setting Up Appointments

Best Time of Year to Visit | Lunch Ideas | Buying Wine at the Winery

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Trip Planning for Sonoma County Wineries

There are a handful of things you will want to know as you plan your trip. What hours are most wineries open? Do I need to make appointments? What if I want to take a tour? Find answers to these and several other questions.

Let's start with open tasting rooms. As I mentioned above, a larger number of Sonoma County wineries have open tasting rooms. This means you can just walk in and taste without an appointment.

Open Tasting Room Hours & Estimated Time to Taste

The typical hours for tasting rooms are from 10am to 5pm, daily. A few wineries open a little later. There are also some that close a little earlier, but this is the time frame when most are open.

This gives you about seven hours each day to taste wines. That may seem like a lot, but each tasting takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. The range does not include time for transportation in between.

Several wineries also have beautiful grounds. You will want to leave a little time in your schedule to look around, take some pictures, visit with the people serving the wines and more.

This is why I suggest that you keep your list to around five wineries a day. This gives you time for some lunch and time to enjoy the wineries in their entirety.

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Tasting Room Set Up and Fees for Sonoma County Wineries

All Sonoma County wineries with open tasting hours have a designated tasting area. Some are large, gorgeous rooms with plenty of room to taste. Others are smaller with just a few spots. There is a wide range and each is a little different.

When you pull up, you will be able to see the signs or the main door for the tasting room. Walk in and head to the 'bar' for your tasting. This is usually the main attraction in the tasting rooms.

Once you arrive, someone from the winery will hand you a menu. This is the tasting menu which provides you with a list of your options. Most wineries have more than one 'flight' or set of wines you can taste. Review the list and let them know which one you selected.

The person working at the winery will give each person their own glass. Most wineries pour the wines one by one. They explain each one as they pour it for you. Once you finish, they will then pour the next wine on your list.

On the menu, you will also see the cost for each tasting. The fees range from around $5 to $20 for three to five wines. Those on the more expensive side are usually the reserve or limited production wines.

You will pay this fee after the tasting. Some Sonoma County wineries also wave this fee if you buy wines on the day of your visit.

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Tours at Sonoma County Wineries

Several Sonoma County wineries also offer tours. Most require that you reserve a spot for the tour in advance. For example, Silver Oak Cellar's Silver Tour and Taste starts everyday at 1:30 pm. However, you need to call and reserve a spot so they can open enough wine for the tasting part of the tour.

Few Sonoma County wineries allow you to just drop in for a tour. However, if you are in the tasting room and see a tour starting, it doesn't hurt to ask if they have spots available. Sometimes people don't show up or cancel at the last minute, so they might be able to accommodate you.

Most wineries also charge a fee for the tour. This is because many include a tasting at the end.

Here are just a few of the fun tours at Sonoma County wineries:

• Gundlach Bundschu: Located in Sonoma Valley, Gundlach Bundschu has a couple of tour options. The first is a cave tour. They vary the tour based on the time of year, but each tour includes a visit to their caves. Another tour they offer is their Vineyard Excursion Tour. On this tour, you ride through the vineyards on their 12-person Pinzgauer -- it looks like a safari jeep with open seating in the back. This tour runs only part of the year. Learn more about the Gundlach tours.


• Buena Vista Winery: This is the first winery in California, so it is a must see -- even if you don't sign up for their tour. They are now offering a "Taste with the Count" tour. This is a 45 minute tour and tasting three times a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The count takes you through the history of the vineyards as well as details about the current operations. Find out more about tours at Buena Vista.


• Bella Winery: Heading over to Dry Creek Valley, you will find some fun tours at Bella Winery. Their cave tour is one of my favorites. They also offer a vineyard tour, similar to the one offered by Gundlach. You can also combine the two tours into one. The combined tour lasts more than 2 hours. Find out more about the tours available at Bella Winery.


• J Vineyards & Winery: Interested in learning a little more about how sparkling wine is made? Then check out the tours at J Vineyards in Russian River Valley. Sparkling wine has a few different steps during production vs still wines. This winery tour includes a full overview of this process. At the end, you then get to try some of their award winning sparkling wines. Get details on the J Vineyards sparkling wine tour.

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Thoughts on Setting Up Your Day to Visit Sonoma County Wineries

If possible, I recommend starting your day out with a tour. This is not always possible, as some tours start at a specific time of day -- including some of my recommendations above.

However, it is fun to do the tour first because you really get a sense for what it takes to make the wine you are tasting. You can also get your questions answered and additional recommendations for your day.

It is also a good idea to pick one or two additional Sonoma County wineries to visit after your tour. This way you have some idea on where you will go. If you have specific wines you want to taste, this also ensures you will reach these wineries before they close.

After you visit these Sonoma County wineries, it is fun to try some new places. Get recommendations from other tasters throughout the day. Find out what they liked, where they visited and let them know about your journey. Sometimes there are special events going on, so it is fun to leave your options for the day open a little.

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Do you need a few tips on wine tasting at Sonoma County wineries? Find out more about wine tasting etiquette. This article talks more about the wine tasting process. You will also discover some things that you should and shouldn't do during your tasting.

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Setting Up Appointments for Sonoma County Wineries

Many Sonoma County wineries do not have open tasting hours. However, this does not mean that they do not welcome visitors. Many of these are smaller, family owned wineries. They could also be vineyards that make their own wines, but do not have a designated tasting area.

Other Sonoma County wineries do have a tasting room, but also do not offer open tasting hours. Many of these are either a little out of the way or just do not have the staff to cover the tasting room full time.

Each winery or vineyard without tasting hours is a little different. Some tell you what hours they accept appointment. Others don't even mention that they offer appointments. Either way, I recommend reaching out directly to the winery to see if you can schedule an appointment.

Make sure you arrive on time or let them know if you have a change of plans. These places need guests to make appointments so they can have staff available.

If you are tasting at or touring at one of the Sonoma County wineries through an appointment, you are not required to buy wine from them. All wineries use tours as a way to promote their products and spread the word. However, if you really enjoy a wine during the tasting, sometimes it is best to buy it on the spot.

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Best Time to Visit Sonoma County

What is the best time of year to visit Sonoma County wineries? Almost any time of year is great in Sonoma County. However, the weather is the best in the months of April - October. This is also when it is a little more crowded.

Harvest is in late August, September and October. Each grape is harvested at a slightly different time of the year, so you should see some harvest activity going on during these three months. This is a fun time to visit too, as you can learn even more about the harvesting process.

I also love visiting in the winter. The wineries are not as crowded. Since there are not as many people, it seems like you also get a more personalized experience.

Here are the average highs and lows for Sonoma County throughout the year. The temps toward the coast are slightly cooler, so keep that in mind when visiting those Sonoma County wineries.

Highs	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	57	62	66	72	80	85	90	89	85	77	64	57
C	14	17	19	23	27	30	32	32	30	25	18	14

Lows	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	40	41	44	45	50	53	55	55	53	50	43	39
C	4	6	7	8	10	12	13	13	12	10	6	4

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Lunch Ideas at Sonoma County Wineries

Each of the Sonoma County regions has restaurants open during the lunch hour. It is fun to find one with outdoor space, so you can try some additional wines during lunch.

However, another idea is to head to the local market for take out. Many wineries have outdoor areas and many allow you to use their areas for lunch. Some will also allow you to do your tasting as you enjoy your lunch.

Others will allow you to buy a bottle of wine at the winery and open it there. You will want to ask the winery before opening it though, as all have different rules and this is not allowed at all wineries.

Here are just a few Sonoma County wineries with some outdoor seating. Again, check with them on the day of your visit to determine their policy on where and how you can enjoy their wines during your meal.

Dutcher Crossing: For those visiting Dry Creek Valley, I recommend stopping for a picnic lunch at Dutcher Crossing. They are on the northern end of the valley and have a great, large picnic area behind their tasting room. The wines are amazing here too, so don't forget to stop in for a tasting either before or after you meal.

Rodney Strong: A slightly different option is to grab a spot on the grass for your picnic at Rodney Strong. This winery has beautiful views of the Russian River Valley and the vineyards surrounding it. Bring a long a blanket, your lunch and enjoy an unforgettable picnic lunch on their lawn.

Landmark Vineyards: Visiting Sonoma Valley? Then Landmark Vineyards is an ideal place to stop for lunch. Not only do they have a large picnic area, but they also have a Bocce Ball court. Enjoy some of their amazing Chardonnay or Pinot Noir wines with your lunch too!

Clos Du Bois: If you are visiting Alexander Valley, then Clos du Bois is your lunch stop. They have a large picnic table area with plenty of space to spread out. They also have gourmet snacks available for purchase in their tasting room.

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Buying Wine at the Winery

Each winery has the option to buy some of its wines. Many offer a selection of all of their wines. You will find that some of these are only sold at the winery.

Most wineries have a list of all of their wines -- in addition to just the wine tasting menu. It shows you all the wines you can buy, prices for the wines and any discounts for buy larger quantities.

It is hard not to get into the spirit of the tasting and then buying some wines. So, before you go, think a little about how you would like to get this wine home. I also usually give myself a limit on the number of bottles, so I don't overdo it too much!

You have two options. You can either ship it home or take it with you.

Ship It To Your House

If you ship it to your house, the winery will take care of everything for you. You give them your order, your address and you pay them directly for the wine and any shipping costs.

You then do not have to worry about lugging your wine with you. You also don't have to worry about it getting ruined by sitting in your car. On hot days in Sonoma County, this is an issue.

Not all states allow shipment to home. Before selecting this option, you can ask the winery if they ship to your state. Most wineries ship to all states that allow it. However, there are a few that only ship to a handful of states. It is always best to research or ask them before making a purchase.

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Take It With You

All Sonoma County wineries allow you to take the wine with you. This saves you on shipping costs, but can be a hassle.

You also need to consider if you are driving home or flying. If you are driving, then taking it with you is not a problem.

However, if you are flying you need to weigh your options. You can no longer carry on wine, so you will need to check it.

Several places in Sonoma County sell boxes for you to package up your wine. These are similar to shipping boxes, but will ensure your wines do not break during handling at the airport.

The other thing to keep in mind is that most airlines charge a checked luggage fee. If this is a separate check in, then you may need to pay an additional amount for the wine. Check your airlines policies to see how much each piece can weigh and the cost to check it.

Sometimes, it is easier and more cost effective to just ship it from the winery. Make sure you check this out before you arrive. This will ensure you know your options and which one meets your needs.

Even if it costs just a little more -- sometimes it is easier to just ship it.

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Are you looking to try some Sonoma wines before your trip? This is a great way to learn a little more about the region before your visit.

A great place to start is with some highly rated wines at a good price. This is a good introduction into the wines in this region. It will also help you decide which regions you might want to visit.

You will want to look for Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley. If you like Pinot Noir wine, look for those with labels from Russian River Valley or Carneros. For Zinfandel fans, you're best bet is a wine from Dry Creek Valley.

Here are a couple of specific links to help get you started:

• 90+ rated Sonoma County red wines under $20
• Great deals on Sonoma County wines

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Want to learn more about the Sonoma County wineries and wine regions? Here are additional pages that give you a more detailed overview of each region.

Alexander Valley: This region is in the northern part of Sonoma County. Those looking for Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot wine should stop at some of my recommended wineries in this region.

Dry Creek Valley: To the west of Alexander Valley is the small region of Dry Creek Valley. Zinfandel lovers flock to this region every year. You will find some of the best Zinfandel wines in California here.

Russian River Valley: Located close to the Pacific Coast, you find Russian River Valley. This region is larger in size than the others in Sonoma County. Here you will find some of the best Pinot Noir wines.

Sonoma Valley: On the southern end of the country, you find Sonoma Valley. Here there are more than 40 Sonoma County wineries. This region has everything from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon.

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It's always great to have a guide book handy during your journey. This way you can always take a quick peek at the map or places to see as you are tasting.

I like the ones that are compact. That way I can throw it in my bag and have it with me the entire day.

This small Frommers books has a foldout map. This makes it the perfect guide book for your journey.

It also includes 30 itineraries for your trip to help with planning. Get pricing and availability for the Frommers Day by Day guide.

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Another great way to see wine country is to start with a one day wine tour. These tours take you to four to five wineries in a day.

You will learn a little more about the region, get a feel for what it takes to get around and taste some wonderful wines. There are several options from riding a bike, heading out for a few hours on a Segway and taking the Sonoma Valley trolley.

All of these will get you around to different Sonoma County wineries for your first day in the region. Check availability and learn more about the Sonoma County one day tours.

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Here are some additional pages you might enjoy:

Old vs New World Wine: Have you always wondered about the difference between new world and old world wines? What countries are in each category? Find the answer to these and other questions about new and old world wines.

Wine Tasting Party Ideas: Are you interested in throwing a wine tasting party? Here you can find some great tips for planning the party. Find out how much wine to buy per guest, to set an overall budget and tips to set up the tasting.

Wine Serving Temperature: What is the proper temperature to serve your red wines? Lighter and heavier red wines have a slightly different serving temperature. Find out more here including what to do if you wine is too warm or too cool.

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