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    Hamel

    4.5 (154 reviews)
    PriceyWineries
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    By appointment only

    Hamel Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Hamel

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    Destiny W.

    Hamel Winery came highly recommended by a friend who visited Sonoma recently, so it was our first tasting spot in Sonoma Valley. From our personalized menus, yummy squash spread and focaccia, and delicious wine, it was a fantastic experience. Our sommelier, Emily, guided us through our tasting and had such a profound knowledge of the methods and practices that make Hamel's wine so special. The grounds, the views, the epic cave, it was all a once in a lifetime experience. Our favorite wines were the Grenache, the Sauvignon Blanc, and the Chardonnay!

    Duck
    Lauren R.

    We had an amazing experience here! Bailey was our host and she answered all of our questions. A lot of the wines are made in concrete containers which made the wines not so tanin heavy. This is great for me because I can get an allergic reaction. They are organic! We had the tasting with lunch from 10:00-12:00. It was not crowded at all and an extremely enjoyable experience. It almost feels like you are at the getty or something. They had a great architect and overall it feels expansive. The view from the library is top notch. You do need a reservation. We picked up some wines and joined the membership since it waives the tastings. They have events throughout the year and their wines a tasty. Shipping is only $15.

    Natalie R.

    I was really excited to go to Hamel for our tasting but the experience was far more underwhelming than I was expecting it to be. We started in the front building with a tasting and some information on the wine. After going to other wineries, I was expecting more information about the history of the winery, family, property, etc., but that seemed to only come with prompting from us. Our host seemed bored with the day or just so subdued that it took away from our excitement for the experience. The wines themselves were good but none blew our socks off enough for us to walk away with any. After sitting for a bit too long, we were able to view more of the property and cellars and that included a lovely view but doesn't justify what we paid for the tasting. Hamel was at the top of our list of wineries we wanted to visit and it sadly fell well below what we were hoping to experience. There are many other wineries to choose from who offer a much more comprehensive and engaging experience.

    Nathalie T.

    Another 5 star winery! You had such a nice time, enjoying our indoor tasting small tour of their very unique, very beautiful cave production area. Everything is very pristine planned out and the architecture is very thoughtful. Our host with amazing when we found out it was just her second week I couldn't believe it because she's so knowledgeable and had answers to all of our questions. Moved outside for a view of the vineyards. Went home with a bottle of course! Delicious.

    Kent S.

    Had high hopes for Hamel today since the family has local ties to UW Madison. I wanted to support them and sing their praises. Unfortunately, my review is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the grounds are incredible. The olive tree lined drive up to the estate house is incredible. It transports you immediately to the Mediterranean. The area around the tasting room is well maintained and has a very contemporary vibe. The Hamel family believes in a natural, almost understated approach to their wine but their feeling about building design stands in sharp contrast to that. The building is perfectly positioned on the estate to block the view on the nearby highway. That attention to detail provides a perfect space to taste their wine. On a more negative note, the tasting experience was underwhelming. Our guide was not very engaging and didn't provide an estate history until prompted. The guide didn't convey the same excitement about their offerings as we've seen from personnel at other wineries. Overall, excellent grounds but tread carefully about the tours.

    We did a tasting with a meal the other day and it absolutely was phenomenal. Richard was our host and did a great job on the tour and the food we were served was awesome. What an incredible place. Kudos to the chef as well for putting together a wonderful tasting menu. The wine....yeah it was incredible.

    Miranda L.

    The Hamel Estate Experience is a unique tasting experience in Sonoma County. The entry level tasting pricing comes at a premium in comparison to others in the area. I had full expectations going in for a higher level of hospitality based off this cost. Upon arrival, we were greeted by our host and shown our tasting area. We were sat inside in a shared space with 2-3 other groups and a view of the vineyard partially blocked by some chairs and the window mullion. The chairs were extremely low and rather uncomfortable as a tall individual. We were given four wines to taste and a small bite before we were asked to walk the cellars. Walking back to our seats, we noticed how much quieter it was outside and asked to take a photo before settling back in. At our seats, we were given a couple more tastings before having the membership fully explained to us verbally (the only time out of many wineries this was done on our trip). While we enjoyed our host making the most out of our time together, we left feeling underwhelmed. The experience felt disconnected and missed the mark on feeling intimate. Our attention was often pulled to other things going on in the space or noise left it difficult to hear our host. If you have a large party or don't mind communal wine tastings, this would be perfectly suitable for you! The wines were good but I recommend doing a tasting that focuses in their library collection wines.

    Chef's Experience Tasting: 4 of us attended and this was the seating and our view. Behind us was a gas firelplace.
    Jeff B.

    We two had the 2 hour Chef's Experience Tasting. Easily among the top three paired tasting experiences we have had worldwide, and perhaps the very top. There were a total of four guests for the 10am tasting, with no other visitors. The wines exceeded expectations; all had lovely aromas (the high-quality glasses likely contributed to the richness of the fragrances). The wine/food pairings were simply outstanding; like the wine, the food smelled heavenly. After a cave tour, we sat with a gas fireplace behind us, facing a beautiful bucolic scene through the mostly-open large fusuma-like sliding doors. Robert, the Sommelier who guided us through the cave tour and tasting, was personable and knowledgeable. The Executive Chef, Thomas, served and explained each of the five dishes. Every aspect of our experience was well-done. If I visit the Napa/Sonoma area again and can only visit one vineyard, it will be Hamel's.

    Get an look at their production processes!
    Andy A.

    Hamel Estate Experience was absolutely fantastic and I'd highly recommend it! Our gracious host and sommelier Emily shared her library of knowledge about Hamel's unique vision for showcasing the particularities of their terroir. We loved the deep insights she shared and it's wonderful to be hosted by somebody who really cares about the guest experience. The architecture and vineyard production process are modern high-end and it's lovely to get a behind-the-scenes look into how much thought and engineering they put into their vertically integrated processes. You'll love seeing the colorful cross-section of ancient volcanic lava flows in their wine caves!

    Molly B.

    Incredible! Our best Sonoma wine tasting experience by far. We loved learning all about Hamel, seeing the amazing Highland cows, and touring the caves was the definite highlight of the experience. The wine was fantastic and the snacks provided were also amazing. Our server was so knowledgeable and kind. The tasting room was perfecting decorated and especially cozy with the fireplace. Overall, an unforgettable experience!

    Ashley V.

    Amazed by this place! This was one of the best wine tastings I've done after two visits to Napa/Sonoma valley. We had a fantastic time on the tour and tasting the wines! I will dream about the cab we tasted for quite some time and I will definitely be buying a bottle this year. Joined the wine clubs because we loved the way they make the wines and the taste so much. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    Amber V.

    Hamel was my favorite winery we visited in all of Sonoma County! You can't beat the views and you must try the Chef's Table experience with the wine and lunch pairing. Everything was incredible and we will definitely return on our next trip! Service was also 10/10!

    Estate Room tasting
    Melissa K.

    Beautiful vineyard, enjoyable and knowledgeable host, amazing wine!! I try to make Sonoma a regular rotation in my long weekend getaways. My last trip I booked a tasting in their Estate House and WOW!! I highly recommend to book their Estate Room for your tasting. It was private, beautiful and what a view! I admit, I never heard of Hamel before but after spending a few hours enjoying their wines, I fell in love!

    Liberty Duck Breast

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    Tried going today, but they closed at 4- not 5. Last day before we head home, so we will miss it, sadly.

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    4 years ago

    Rude host - insinuated that we were cheap and could not afford their wine. Would not recommend!

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    So glad you enjoyed your experience!

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    8 years ago

    If you get Zakk as your guide just leave. Total clown. Wines are fine but our guide had some type of syndrome

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    Page 3 of 4

    Ask the Community - Hamel

    Your reservations say "no uber"? Can you explain further? Uber is available in Sonoma

    Thank you so much for your question regarding Uber and other forms of public transportation. Uber, Lyft, and our local taxi services are wonderful forms of transportation; however, we have found over the years that due to Hamel not being located… 

    Hello is this place dog friendly?

    Hello there Callie! Thanks for the question. Though we all love dogs, unfortunately, we don't… 

    Is Hamel open yet for tastings? I know many other wineries are opening with reservations, but their website does not address anything regarding the current environment.

    Yes, we are open and offering all three of our tasting experiences by-appointment only. Please visit https://hamelfamilywines.com/#visit-us for the experience details, and to schedule an appointment, please call (707) 996-5800 or email our Concierge… 

    Are kiddos allowed on the premise?

    Hello there Anne! Our experiences do not typically appeal to children and were designed for adults… 

    Can I take Uber to/from the property?

    Yes you can!

    Is the patio dog friendly and can tastings be scheduled on the patio?

    Thank you for your interest in Hamel Family Wines! We love dogs; however, we do not allow them on property. And yes we offer tastings on the patio - space and weather permitting. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

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    Review Highlights - Hamel

    The landscaping and architecture truly transports you and makes you feel like you are in your own little paradise.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Cline Family Cellars

    Cline Family Cellars

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    What a beautiful and serene winery! The thing that I've commonly needed about Sonoma wineries if…read morethat they're more down to earth than Napa wineries but the wine is just as good! The friend that took us here mentioned how she likes that you never feel rushed. I see why people purchase wine club memberships now. As a Pendulum wine club member she gets wine pick ups, discounts, and unlimited tastings with three guests. The setting is beautiful! So many flowers. Nicely shaded picnic benches with umbrellas. They have a large fish pond and it's 25 cents for a cup of fish food to feed the turtles and koi. This is one of the most family friendly wineries I've seen. Many people bring their kids. They have corn holes too. Fancy and Pudding were the highlight! I reached out and felt like a Disney princess having one of them come to me for pets. The restrooms were very clean as well! It was fun browsing the store too. And of course the tasting and charcuterie board were a fantastic experience. I loved the cheeses and almonds they had. We had the option of deviating from the tasting menu. But everything we tasted was great! I think you can also bring your own snacks. It's a great winery experience. Nothing for praise for Cline Cellars. The day we went it looks like they were setting up a wedding later in the day. But that didn't negatively impact our experience at all.

    Had a sweet time. Checked in quickly and found a table…read more Property is very pretty and spacious for wandering. Purchased the tasting of 5-6 wines. Would visit again if in the area.

    Photos
    Tasting room
    Tasting room
    Cline Family Cellars
    Even better wine

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    Even better wine
    Viansa Winery & Marketplace

    Viansa Winery & Marketplace

    4.0
    (899 reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$

    I say, This was one…read moreof the wineries I visited or a mate's stag weekend and it was easily the most enjoyable and memorable! The landscaping and architecture of this neo-Tuscan vineyard is breathtaking and, coupled with the warm, rolling hills of the Sonoma gap, one could easily believe they were in Italy. Staff were friendly, courteous, and conversational; all things you would like and expect from such a location. The food options were limited and rather pricey but one rarely visits a winery for the food. Plus, being within the most renowned wine-making region in the united states, I can hardly fault them for expensive fare. Overall amazing experience and I hope to visit again when I return to California! Great Show, Very Sporting. Fare 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Vistas 10/10

    Wine was tasty. My favorite was the Chardonnay. That glass was so smooth. Bought a couple bottles…read morewhile there was a Bogo sale. Booked the wine tasting for four. initially we planned to do the outlook where we were given a wooden cabana to sit with our group from afar. It looks aesthetic and alluring, but when we sat inside to see how it was, it felt cold and the walls were so high that you couldn't even view the vineyard. one of those things where the idea is great, but execution not so much. Ended up on the heated terrace which was way more comfortable. Service: 2/5 our server didn't seem very knowledgeable about the wine when we asked questions and of the information that she gave us, it sounded like a list of notes from a description that the wine maker gave her. This was very disappointing. The entire interaction felt strange, and there was no eye contact. We all felt rushed because when we weren't done drinking the wine, she would always come in and tell us she's gonna pour us the next wine, then leave, just so we need to finish the current glass we had. In general, if we aren't able to finish a glass of wine fast enough, or we just don't want to it would be nice if the winery could provide more glasses for us to try the rest of the wines instead of being rushed and using the same glass for every round. Overall, this place is great if you want something very casual. It's such a fun place to sip on wine with friends. Butttt, if you are looking for a true wine experience to learn, this is not the place.

    Photos
    Cheese plate 2/5 very meh
    Cheese plate 2/5 very meh
    At Viansa Winery in Napa. - DJ Joe Manifesto of Thump Sound D.J. Services
    At Viansa Winery in Napa. - DJ Joe Manifesto of Thump Sound D.J. Services
    Inside

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    Inside
    Buena Vista Winery

    Buena Vista Winery

    4.3
    (746 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    We had an amazing time here earlier this month! The service was excellent (attentive without being…read moreoverbearing), and there was a ton of variety in what we tasted (with a group of eight that was much needed!). Do ask about the story of the naming of the wines! I would certainly recommend for most occasions-- the grounds and property is beautiful and you can easily spend an entire afternoon here.

    Went to the winery for the first time and honestly really enjoyed it. We booked a last-minute…read morereservation on their website and it was completely painless. Super easy process and check-in as well. From what I saw, there were two main histoic buildings and both had a lot of character. The older architecture and stone details gave it taht classic wine country feel without trying too hard. There was plenty of seating and the space felt open and comfortable. The wine lineup was solid and well curated. They're known for their reds, but I lean more toward the whites and still found a good variety to enjoy. What stood out most for me was the special guided tour our Sommelier done for us. I loved seeing the antiques and hearing about the history behind the buildings and how the winery came to be. It made the whole experience feel more meaningful instead of just going in for a tasting and leaving. I didn't leave with bottles this time, but I genuinely enjoyed the experience and everything I learned. Definitely will be back! Also there are some really nice antique stores very close by, so it's easy to make a whole afternoon out of it.

    Photos
    Me and my besties
    Me and my besties
    For us clink clink
    For us clink clink
    Buena Vista on Sept. 21, 2024.

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    Buena Vista on Sept. 21, 2024.
    Scribe Winery

    Scribe Winery

    4.1
    (371 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$

    whewww, what an experience! I had the pleasure of visiting Scribe as one of my gal pals is a member…read morehere. What a standout winery! It's members only (plus entourage) and we were able to enjoy a bites pairing with our wine tasting on their hacienda. Upon checking in, we were given a complimentary "splash" (it was more than that) of their rosé of pinot noir, then shown to our table. The grounds are gorgeous- it feels very secluded and the design and layout was spectacular. We were served by Fran, who was so knowledgeable and had some super cool tattoos that my friends and I were in awe of. We tried the sylvaner, chardonnay, syrah, and pinot noir. The light bites were delicious as well and were filling for our group of 5! They brought out a salad with rosemary roasted almonds, anchovy vinaigrette, fried olives, blistered shishito peppers, green beans and gigante beans, and toast with roasted tomatoes, dill, basil, and a cheese(?). Everything was so fresh and such a delicious pairing with our drinks. We also got a splash of their vermuth at the end. We were told that Scribe acquired some of the property next door so they'll be focusing on estate wine creation. This was such a delightful experience and I'd love to return to check out the small shop they have onsite (it was closed when we visited). Thanks Scribe!

    I can honestly say this was probably the BEST winery experience I've had in wine country. I've done…read morea few wine tastings around the area and nothing compared to this! My girls and I went for my best friend's birthday and we honestly had such a wonderful time. When you call and inquire they tell you that non-members can only book on weekdays, so my girls and I made a reservation on a Friday. You pay up front for the total amount of people, which also includes tax and service tip, so when you arrive on the day of your reservation, no payment whatsoever is needed! It was $85, and with tax and service fee it came out to $111 each. When my girls and I arrived, we were greeted by a host named, Justin. She was immensely warm and inviting, basically sunshine in a person, and made us feel so welcome and comfortable!! She poured us a welcome glass of rose, and my girls and I were able to walk around the property (which was truly stunning) with our glasses. When we were seated, we were served rosemary almonds, and our server came up and introduced the history of the venue, as well as the menu, and wine. The menu was set, and it was absolutely incredible. This was the first time I felt as though this experience included an actual MEAL rather than an array of small bites or a small charcuterie platter: 1. fried olives 2. tomatoes and cucumbers with whipped feta (MY FAVORITE) 3. Prosciutto, melon and basil 4. Braised butterbeans with SCRIBE olive oil 5. House-made flatbread (so delicious) The wine was amazing, of course. We received about 4 glasses of 3 oz pours, which was enough for us. The Chardonnay was definitely my favorite. If you're ever in the Sonoma area, I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation you honestly WILL NOT REGRET IT.

    Photos
    Scribe line up
    Scribe line up
    Pinot Noir
    Pinot Noir
    Interior of hacienda

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    Interior of hacienda
    Sangiacomo Family Wines

    Sangiacomo Family Wines

    4.8
    (42 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    We enjoyed the Sip and Soar Package at Sangiacomo Family Wines. Unfortunately our hot air balloon…read moreride had to be rescheduled with Sonoma Ballooning, although we were expecting this due to the weather and are looking forward to rescheduling this at a later date. We were so grateful to still be able to experience our wine tasting here. Leane reached out to us prior to our visit and let us know what to expect on the day of our tasting and asked if we had any dietary restrictions. The hospitality at Sangiacomo Family Wines is one of the many things that makes this wine tasting experience extra special. We were warmly welcomed by our wine tasting host and educator, Vlada, as soon as we arrived. We enjoyed a splash of Sauvignon Blanc that was amazing. Everyone that works here was so friendly and welcoming. Along the visit, you will see a collection of other wine labels from other wineries in Sonoma County and Napa Valley that get their wines from Sangiacomo vineyards. The amount of different wineries that get their fruit from Sangiacomo vineyards is impressive. Before being seated, we soaked in the stunning views of their vineyards on the property. We enjoyed a delicious spread of pastries, cheeses, and charcuterie, which we enjoyed as part of our visit. This winery is known for their exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Everything we sipped was absolutely amazing, and we loved all the wines we tried. Vlada was an exceptional host and we learned so much about this winery. We learned that this is a family owned winery that started out as a pear farm. It changed to a winery and love that it has remained a family owned winery over the years. Our tasting was cozy and we loved all the festive decor. The property has rustic trucks and a tractor on the property that they decorate during the different seasons. We were blown away by how much we loved all of their wines. We purchased a few bottles of wines to enjoy at a later date. An all around exceptional wine experience in Sonoma! Highly recommend to all!

    Stop 3 on our Sonoma wine trip didn't disappoint. Our guide Jillian provided a great mix of family…read morehistory, company background and viticulture. The lovely wine terrace was the perfect place to enjoy a Sonoma morning while sipping on their delicious Chardonnays and Pinots. Our guide did a great job of engaging us in conversation while allowing the time and space to enjoy the wine and scenery alike.

    Photos
    Sangiacomo Family Wines
    Sangiacomo Family Wines
    Sangiacomo Family Wines

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    Hamel - wineries - Updated August 2026

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