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

Beautiful grounds and a relaxing experience with delicious wines…read more Setting: Scenic and relaxed with bocce ball, cornhole, ample indoor/outdoor seatingand beautiful vineyard views. Service: Mixed--waited 30 minutes before being greeted or given any direction, but the wine experts were warm, knowledgeable, and made up for the rocky start. Experience: The picnic for two was charming and tasty, with generous pours and a laid-back vibe. Great place to sip, snack, and soak in Sonoma.

Both Wine Snob* and Wolves Lovers + Thieves are a must-stop in Glen Ellen!…read more The husband and wife duo, Ryan and Lindsey, are incredible, welcoming hosts, winemakers, servers, you name it.. offering some delicious wines along the way. Both locations are walking distance from each other, and easy to stop in without reservations for a tasting or even if you just want a glass. We first stopped at Wolves Lovers + Thieves for their tasting of 4 sparking wines. Each sparking is produced from different methods: pétillant-natural, Champagne method, and Charmat method. There were a variety of grapes too, one of which I had not had before, the chardonnay musqué, which they offer in a still version at Wine Snob*! Ryan and Lindsey are so knowledgeable and were happy to share their love for wine with us. I wouldn't necessarily call myself a wine snob, but I know what I like and these two tasting rooms are the places to be!

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.

Really great and thoughtfully crafted wine tasting experience in a beautiful setting. We did the…read moremost basic tasting which came with a chef created bite and a tour to the wine cave. The tasting took place in the tasting room which had floor to ceiling windows looking out at the vineyard, then we strolled past the garden, into the cave, and back to the tasting room. The property is absolutely gorgeous, both the buildings and the views. Reservations are required as the tastings are very intimate with one person from the tasting team assigned to each group. We were helped by Rachel who had a plethora of knowledge, it was actually amazing how much she knew. The tasting menu had four wines, but we did get to try some additional pours that were open, including fun side-by-side comparisons. The wines were good, but my favorites were on the pricey side, so unfortunately I didn't bring any home with me.

I recently did a tasting at Hamel, and it was such a nice experience! The wine and the tasting are…read moredefinitely on the pricier side, but they were all very delicious. The food that they brought out for us to taste was also delicious. It was very cool to tour the facility and learn about their dry farming, organic & biodynamic farming, and more. Service was great, the place is absolutely beautiful and gives off a fancier feel than other wineries. I would definitely come back.

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!

The ambiance is mellow, perfect for a Sunday afternoon of relaxation. The tasting delivers…read moredelightful flavor for the red lover in you. It is dog-friendly, so water is available for your furry friend at a public dog bowl (though no individual bowls are made handy). Service is kind, so you'll feel welcome even if you come alone.

Wellington is an easy stop in Sonoma. The tasting room is bright and clean, very classy, modern and…read morewelcoming. We sat at the bar and shared a tasting. Good wines and great service.

Still four stars a lovely young girl waited on us. On the receipt it says MF also another guy that…read morewas there. He was very knowledgeable and he talked to us also. We ended up buying a rosé bubble, sparkling, four Merlot's which we love the most and one Sauvignon Blanc, which I did not taste, but I thought why not. Was pleasantly surprised about the wines. I belong to VJB and they are a sister winery. It is a beautiful place inside unfortunately I forgot to take pictures.