Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    BobDog Winery

    4.9 (29 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Open 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

    By appointment only

    BobDog Winery Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - BobDog Winery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    On the top of the world
    Jim R.

    Up on top of the mountain you will meet Tim and Kandy - farmers, proprietors and wine makers and get to learn about the 5 classic Bordeaux grapes-Cabernet, cab franc, merlot, petite syrah and malbeck. Up here you feel like you are a thousand miles away from civilization and while their little wine tasting is rather humble in comparison to the big houses, it makes up for it in authenticity, humility and quality. The drive up can be a little bit sketchy as the road is a bit steep in spots but just keep going..... it is definitely worth the drive. Thanks to all the other Yelpers - without your advice, we never would have found this hidden gem. It is definielty worth a trip north to taste and visit this great little winery.

    BobDog Wines!
    Kari M.

    Wow BobDog Winery! You rock my socks off! This amazing winery is owned by Candy and Tim. It's the highest elevation winery in all of Cloverdale and has breathtaking views. We received a fabulous wine tasting complete with crackers, almonds, and chocolates given by the owners themselves! There were a couple people less experienced with wine tasting and Candy walked them through how to taste and enjoy. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Tim reminded me a lot of my dad. Great sense of humor and really loves what he does. Their old vine zin is delicious and they were having a sale (2 for 1), so we ended up getting one of those and 2 bottles of their now sold out Petite Verdot. All their wines have very little tannin (with the exception of their Bordeaux style Merlot). Their Casi Novembre dessert wine is absolutely delectable and was served with cute chocolate raspberry bones that were so good we ended up buying a bag! All their wines are incredibly full bodied and tasty. I would highly recommend calling them and scheduling an appointment. (They are a working winery, so you have to have an appointment). You will not be disappointed!

    Uncle Fishbits Aeneas X.

    Exceedingly rare hospitality, INCREDIBLE wines, wonderful experience! Appointment only... which we didn't know, and Tim was gracious and welcoming enough to take us at a moment's notice. We were staying at Ravenridge Cottages, and simply tooling around the area, when we searched for a wine tasting experience that was less about lining up like cattle and drinking as fast as possible to move to the next one... It's a rare opportunity that a winemaker will be so welcoming to chat with you for hours, and offer you a rare glimpse into the wine making process with a complete lack of pretension, welcoming spirit, and gracious attitude. In fact, the rule for BobDog Vineyards (which includes Sky Pine Vineyard selections as well - one vineyard with different types and levels of winemaking) is very simple: "The 3 F's: Food, Family, & Friends. These are not cocktail wines, and are meant to be experienced with food... which Tim was kind enough to supply. The wines really opened up when paired to something, and we ended up buying more bottles than we have, at any winery, in years. One additional thought- for the proprieters of the cottages, we purchased the port dipped in chocolate. I HIGHLY suggest this delightful way to wrap up a dinner party. As you open the package, you see a bottle dipped in chocolate that peels away to reveal the delicious bottle of port. It's incredibly fun, and really unexpected. The drive there is BEAUTIFUL, and to *city folk* adventurous. To anyone that has been to the Luberon, or appreciates and understands the only places worth going have drives that are a bit off the beaten path - it will be a no brainer. It's only about 15 minutes outside of Cloverdale, and you will really enjoy spending the time to sample the wines and chat with the winemakers.... a wonderful family that really reminds me of what I love about the Willamette Valley - families of farmers making juice. If you can make delicious wine without the silly attitude, you are living life better than most, and making it better for others, as well. Thank you so much for being so welcoming. And hug Cabbie for us! =) Pavlov says hi. You guys should be an inspiration and model for other vineyards. Cheers!

    Vineyards all around
    Jenny I.

    BobDog turned out to be the gem of our wine-tasting tour of the Russian River Valley! Tim and Kandy, the owners of BobDog Winery, are gracious, unpretentious, and generous people. Before getting to our review of BobDog's wines, it is best to call for an appointment beforehand. An appointment is best because Kandy will text you precise directions to the winery, which is (literally) 2 miles up along a narrow, windy mountain road. As an example of how wonderful Tim and Kandy are, we missed a turn and ended up going almost 8 miles down (another) windy mountain road, and missed our appointment by nearly an hour. Kandy very graciously allowed us to eat our lunch before our tour and tasting, brought us water, and came back from another tour to ask us if we needed anything. Tim and Kandy taught us about their sub-appellation and how their altitude, atmospheric conditions and rain fall affect the character of their wines. In a nutshell, BobDog's wines trend on the drier side, have complex, delicious, and atypical tasting profiles for their varietals. Due to the climate and soil, BobDog's wines tend to have more tannins and an earthy character. We came to appreciate the uniqueness of BobDog's wines, and we very much enjoyed the craftsmanship in each. The mountain climate is apparently ideal for the Bordeaux varietals, including: Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Syrah. To highlight potential pairings for their wines, Tim and Kandy brought out cheese, meatballs, and chocolate. Their wines are very reasonably priced, in the $30 to $50 range. BobDog is well worth the winding trek up the mountain, and you will learn a great deal about wine making from Tim and Kandy. We are so glad we spent an afternoon visiting Bobdog!

    Stirring the grape must
    Dennis M.

    I decided one afternoon to explore an AVA from the top down, so I went to the highest AVA in Sonoma County - Pine Mountain AVA. Actually, it is the highest AVA in the United States. This AVA is most known for Bordeaux grapes, with some Rhone varietals grown. What is interesting is that grapes grown at elevation (between 1500 to 2500 ft) produce grapes with a higher skin to juice ratio than at lower elevations. This give a very intense, robust, flavor profile. Also increases the value of the juice, as less is produced and difficult growing conditions. The wines produced at elevation are part of a growing ultra premium wine category you may be hearing about. Now...to Bobdog. The owners, Kandi and Tim, purchased the property over 25 years ago and are growers first. In the last few years they have started producing wines themselves. They grow the Noble 5 Bordeaux and make a few blends and a Merlot port-style wine. When I first got to the winery I realized just how steep a drive it really was and thought what a pain it must be to grow and harvest grapes here. The view up her is just amazing. You are in this tiny AVA, bridging Sonoma County and Mendocino Counties and looking down on the hills over Cloverdale. These people are a hoot. Very down to earth. Very knowledgable. They do tastings right in the room they produce the wines in. They even let me join in the process, stirring the "must" for fun (it is a lot of work, btw.) Tim and Kandi are about the grape...growing it...and making wine with the grape being the star of the show. They don't want to mess with it or throw too much at it, and don't believe it pushing up the flavors with some oak. They let the wine shine on it's own merits. The tasting is well thought out. They even pair with foods, knowing their wines stand up best to the palate this way. It was a very nice experience. All the wines had nice acidity, balanced tannins, and great flavors. If you tried these without food, you may think them a bit too strong. With food, however, they are perfectly balanced and give you a great mouthfeel as well as delivering a lush taste compliment to your chosen bite. I spent a good two hours just talking to the owners about their wine, their vineyard, and their history. Bobdog was named after their first dog, a Rottweiler named Bob. The winery is now patrolled by a McNab named Cabernet, Cabbi for short. Wines are very decently priced, around $30-48. Definately call for an appointment. It is a drive up the hill. They are very nice people, but it is a small production winery and they will sit down with you when you come. This winery is worth the trip up the hill. Especially if you want to explore the different AVA's or see really what a change in terroir can do to a grape.

    Tim and Candy are great!

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marv C.
    0
    44
    15

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jim R.
    50
    1821
    5837

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny I.
    14
    88
    65

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T H.
    720
    938
    152

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kent S.
    56
    103
    12

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pat B.
    11
    22
    4

    12 years ago

    Excellent wine tasting - the most educational tasting I have ever experienced! Thanks, Tim!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Really nice folks here, and they explain wines with food very well. The setting is just beautiful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - BobDog Winery

    Review Highlights - BobDog Winery

    To highlight potential pairings for their wines, Tim and Kandy brought out cheese, meatballs, and chocolate.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Peay Vineyards - Private subterranean wine tasting in their cellar

    Peay Vineyards

    4.8(4 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$$

    Came with high expectations and was not disappointed!…read more Made a last-minute request for a tasting at their Cloverdale location, and they made time for me that same day! I love supporting wineries run by female winemakers, and Peay's (pronounced "pay") winemaker is knocking it out of the park. Was given a private tour by Orion, as he kindly interrupted his lab work to give me the full download on Peay's history and evolution. They farm the grapes organically and have a large-scale fermentation operation that allows them to maximize the grape expression during the first fermentation without rushing to clear space for the later harvest. Their subterranean storage is compartmentalized into five, separately climate-controlled sections where the wines are stored for barrel aging. The amount of intentionality and control to each step of the process is what makes their wines so consistent and delicious! My absolute favorite wine of theirs is the 2018 Syrah (which is sadly out of stock)! I ended up purchasing their 2019 Savoy Pinot Noir and 2018 Les Titans. Anyone who enjoys West Sonoma AVA needs to give Peay a visit! Their cold climate Syrahs and Pinots bring an earthy minerality that I literally cannot stop drinking!

    Just came from their release party today and I certainly enjoyed it! People are very nice, although…read moretheir regular staff are not very well informed about their wines. In general, they have EXCELLENT Syrah, but great pinot (great but not excellent). Their Syrah easily stand out and I consider it to be really top notch quality. Their Pinot Noir is indeed good and borderline great, other more exceptional Pinot Noir can be had at other wineries. I definitely like this place and I would recommend this to anyone.

    Photos
    Peay Vineyards - Left: 2018 Les Titans Right: 2019 Savoy Pinot Noir

    Left: 2018 Les Titans Right: 2019 Savoy Pinot Noir

    Peay Vineyards - Juggling a multi-bottle purchase to snap a selfie leaving their Cloverdale location!

    Juggling a multi-bottle purchase to snap a selfie leaving their Cloverdale location!

    Peay Vineyards

    See all

    J. Rickards Winery

    J. Rickards Winery

    4.9(126 reviews)
    7.7 mi
    $$

    May 6, 2025 - Cloverdale…read more This was our second visit to this winery, and it was just as lovely as our first visit. It's a family-owned winery, and very down to earth. Dog-friendly. Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by Tilley, a rescued Aussie Cattle Dog. I LOVE that they list her as one of the team members on their website. There is a large tasting room, and an outdoor covered patio on a terrace overlooking the vineyard with amazing views. Once we chose where we wanted to sit, our host, Christy, gave us a complementary taste of rose'. The tasting fee is $20 per person, waived with a two-bottle purchase. The tasting menu is mostly reds, but started with a Viognier. We were then offered the chance to try any white that they had open. Such a relaxing and, really, a perfect wine tasting experience. Christy is friendly and knowledgeable. And then Jim Rickards (owner) came over and talked to us for a while. He is very personable, and had some wonderful stories. We shared conversation with him for quite a while. We enjoyed all the wines. We bought the rose' and the merlot. Prices range from $30-$39 for the whites, and from $35-$63 for the reds.

    Had the absolute best wine tasting here today! Not only are the wines very good but the views are…read morespectacular. Christine was a wonderful host and Jim was a plethora of information. I feel like we could have spent the entire day here. Be sure to check them out and say hello to the wine dog, Tilly!

    Photos
    J. Rickards Winery - September 1, 2023 - Our first visit. Beautiful vineyard.

    September 1, 2023 - Our first visit. Beautiful vineyard.

    J. Rickards Winery - September 1, 2023 - Our first visit. Happy sunflower.

    September 1, 2023 - Our first visit. Happy sunflower.

    J. Rickards Winery - In the barrel room during a tour

    See all

    In the barrel room during a tour

    Icaria Winery - Icaria Winery, Cloverdale, CA - September 1, 2023

    Icaria Winery

    5.0(5 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Icaria Winery, Cloverdale, CA - September 1, 2023 This was…read morethe second and final winery of the day for us. We had tasted earlier in the day and were ready for one more tasting adventure. Tastings here are by appointment only. I learned that texting in my appointment request worked very well. We were able to get a 3 pm appointment. Due to its location, you'll get a text explaining how to get to the location and what to do when you get there for parking. This is a pretty small scale family-run winery operated out of the basement of a house that is at the top of a hill not far out of town. There are about 50 acres of wine grapes grown down below. The tasting fee is reasonable - $20/person, compared to other wineries in the Alexander Valley area that have $40+/person tasting fees. Our host was family member Helen, who was charming and knowledgeable and she poured our wines and explained a little about each one. We also got to meet and talk to her husband and winemaker, Greg, We got to taste their Chardonnay, Zinfandel, a couple of their cabs, and a very recently (that morning) bottled Pinot Noir. Everything was very delicious as we sipped our wine overlooking the vineyard below. All the wines were very reasonably priced I thought, considering their outstanding quality $35 - $65. We bought a bottle of the Cab. Sauvignon and the Pinot Noir. We have every expectation they'll be delicious when we open them.

    The total definition of a hidden gem! Who would have known that this beautiful tasting room was…read moretucked away in the hills of Alexander Valley?! Came here with a friend during a wine tasting event, and we were both blown away by the aesthetics and the Cabernet! This was hands down some of the best Cab Sauv that I have ever tasted in my life. That kind of Cab that makes your eyes roll to the back of your head with each and every sip. Yeeep... like that. 'Twas extraordinary and I lived to tell it. Upon entering their estate, there's a long windy one way road. It was our first time there and we didn't realize that it was a one way road until we got closer to their grounds. It's pretty gnarly! We didn't realize that they have a shuttle bus that transports guests up to their estate. Whoops! Make sure you don't make the same mistake we did and park at the bottom of the hill and wait for that shuttle. Trying to turn around to go back down that one way street is scary, but we made it work. From first glance, the estate looks like a charming old house on the hill. In fact it is, but you'd never expect what's hiding in the backyard. A full on patio tasting area with jaw dropping views of the valley beneath. Our eyes instantly lit up when we made it to the back patio of their estate. Is this even real?! It was stunning and extremely intimate. We were only one of three groups (one group left shortly after we arrived). It felt like we almost had the place to ourselves. The owner/winemaker (Jeff Smith) and his wife (Helen Smith) are so down to earth and hospitable. They poured us our wines and told us about what we were tasting. I love visiting and supporting small family owned wineries like this. It's such a special and intimate experience. Every wine that we tried was exceptional. Their Cabs are just friggin' mouthwatering, and this is coming from a gal who doesn't drink Cab all too often. But let me tell you; their cabs are so damn smooth. It's literally like silk. Still bold like a Cab should be but extremely balanced. Boldness without the super tannins. When it hits the back of your throat, it just opens up with so much complexity. These are Cabs that don't need food to bring out their flavors; they can be enjoyed all by themselves in completely delightfulness. But, I KNOW that they would be amazing when they are being paired. Just exceptional Cabs. I'm actually so grateful that we came across Icaria during the wine tasting event because I'm not sure if I would have discovered them otherwise. If you're looking to taste in the Cloverdale area, Icaria should be at the top of your list of wineries to try.

    Photos
    Icaria Winery - The view

    The view

    Icaria Winery - Icaria Winery and Vineyards, Cloverdale, CA - September 1, 2023 - by appointment only

    Icaria Winery and Vineyards, Cloverdale, CA - September 1, 2023 - by appointment only

    Icaria Winery - The view

    See all

    The view

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8

    3.6(5 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    This place has been closed to the public for 15yrs and at one point in the 1950's, was the second…read moremost visited site here in CA second to Disneyland! I was able to step on the properly briefly due to a flat tire - gorgeous property and hop the Gallo family will re-open in the near future.

    Per my previous review from January of this year, Souverain was moving north from their location on…read moreHealdsburg Square to this Asti Winery location in Cloverdale. I had never been to this Cloverdale location before as it had previously been closed to the public, but now that they have combined tasting rooms for Souverain and Cellar No. 8/Asti Winery, it is now open to everybody and today was the perfect opportunity. Upon arrival, I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that it was right by the freeway exit/onramp as I had fully been expecting to search for it along the long stretch of Asti Road. There is a lot of historical significance here as this was the site of the Italian Swiss Colony which was founded in 1881. I've heard that for decades, this had been quite a destination for tourists on vacation. I took a picture of the plaque I saw out front. The building which is now the main tasting room also served as a post office, so there is still a mail area just inside the door. Since it was the day after Memorial Day weekend, it was super empty in here, I'm sure a stark contrast to the absolute madhouse it must have been over the long holiday weekend, especially with all the great weather. Anyway, I took a bunch of pictures which I will post shortly. Sadly, true to his word, the cool guy that we met at the old Healdsburg Square location last time (Jim?) did not make it to the new tasting room and apparently did retire. Most likely, he is on the cruise that he had been telling us about or travelling around the world as he had planned. However, the person behind the counter...the pourer (is there a proper term?) today was named Charlene and she was really cool. We discovered that she was originally from Louisiana and she was very knowledgable with a similar passion for wines and history so we had a fantastic time talking to her about wines and wineries in general. As always, it's the people factor that really makes such a big difference in the overall experience. I'm a member of Cellar 360, so there was no charge for our tastings, but even if there had been, it wouldn't have been a big deal as they only charge a $5.00 tasting fee per person. Not bad at all! Anyway, we tasted the following today: Cellar No. 8 Sauvignon Blanc 2008, North Coast, $16 bottle Cellar No. 8 Chardonnay 2008, Sonoma County, $17 bottle Souverain Pinot Noir 2008, Caneros, $25 bottle Cellar No. 8 Petite Sirah 2006, North Coast, $20 bottle Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Home Vineyard, $35 bottle As you can see, their prices were incredibly reasonable and we were fortunate enough to also sample a reserve chardonnay, a reserve merlot, and a reserve cabernet sauvignon. The regular chardonnay was okay, but the reserve one really raised some eyebrows, especially for the price. For me, this one was reminiscent of the chardonnay that I recently had at Chateau Montelena when I visited my friend Matt who recently started working there. Regretfully, I was so busy enjoying the wine that I forgot to catch the vintage or specific details. It was good though! As expected, the characteristics of their petite sirah was more conducive to pairing with food than for casual sipping, but I felt that with an appropriate pairing like wild game or perhaps venison, it could be a most pleasant pairing. After all the tastings, we walked around their gift store and then went outside to walk around the beautiful, but almost empty (well today anyway) grounds of the winery itself. The haunting emptiness of a Tuesday after a long holiday weekend, contrasted against the stunning scenery of the vines and calming serenity of the hillside was rather breathtaking...pretty spectacular without all those people to mess it all up. Darn humans...LOL. Anyway, walking around, saw a bunch of wild birds and even a lizard as it came up to look at us before it scurried away. I took a picture of him so if it came out, I'll be sure to include it with my photos for this winery. Just took a look and he looks fantastic! I don't remember the last time I enjoyed walking around a winery so much, but I'm guessing it's because it was so empty after the long holiday. This location is pretty far north and off the beaten path, so for me that is actually a plus. Nice winery...will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Souverain & Cellar No. 8 - Tasting Building

    Tasting Building

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8 - Gift Shop

    Gift Shop

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8

    See all

    Blue Rock Winery

    Blue Rock Winery

    4.4(7 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    Food: - (can't rate this, I don't drink) Service: 5/5…read more Ambiance: 5/5 Hands down one of the best tasting experience I've ever had. They gave pretty PHAT pours, and 8 glasses of wine. I don't drink so I can't rate the wine. My friends all said it was good. Vibes of this space are on POINT! I would love to go back in Aug/Sep, our wine connoisseur told us we are able to taste the grapes that the wines are made out of during that duration. The view of this space are amazing. I hope the room on the second floor that looks out to the vineyard. There is also an abundant amount of wildlife here. Turkeys, Rabbits, Birds.

    Our favorite Winery in California…read more Simply the best place to visit if you are looking for a gem, One on One tours and tasting in the most spectacular place. Stunning grounds, that will amaze you, photographs so awesome and Wine to die for ! Home of Baby Blue Blend, the handshake to the public, Blue Rock offers so much more variety and is their own produce. Take the personal tasting session in the main lounge and eat the platter, relax and unwind, unfortunately you won't want to leave. Everyone flocks to Coppola nearby but misses this, and what a miss, the drive around the grounds has so many picture opportunities. Stunning. Wine is amazing, I'm sure you will agree, and clearly this company is growing big with distribution now in 24 states. We are Ambassador members and bought a case today on top of our membership. Can't get enough of this. Definitely recommended if you enjoy a personal experience. Brilliant.

    Photos
    Blue Rock Winery - Cheese plate and first 4 wines

    Cheese plate and first 4 wines

    Blue Rock Winery
    Blue Rock Winery

    See all

    BobDog Winery - wineries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...