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Handley Cellars

4.5 (114 reviews)
ModerateWineries
Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Enjoying a wine tasting on a beautiful afternoon
Sarah S.

We were on our way back home and decided to stop in and try this place. The scenery was beautiful and were greeted by friendly staff right away. There was plenty of seating available outside and was very relaxing for our tasting. I am partial to reds and they had a nice variety, some slightly more tart than what I prefer but to each their own. However, we both really liked their 2016 Zin so purchased a bottle of that. My guy and I really enjoyed our sommelier, and since I'm late on this post forgot her name unfortunately. I recognized her Michigan accent from my home state so was nice to chat about that. I highly recommend this place for a tasting out on their beautiful patio, outgoing staff, and hope to return!

the front of the winery
Kristina R.

My friend and I chose to go to this winery because we were looking for dog friendly wineries in the area. This was listed as dog friendly, and the photos of the tasting room area looked visually pleasing, so we decided to check it out. It wasn't too busy at all when we went on a Sunday afternoon. Derek was our wine attendant and was very knowledgeable and friendly. He made us feel very welcomed there. Great dude, give him a raise for us. The winery is full of cute and niche decor that the owners collected from all over the world. It felt very down to earth. We loved how tranquil the patio was, plenty of shade, lots of beautiful statues, and lovely scenery overlooking the vineyards. If we're ever in the area again, we'll be back.

Cool unique Furniture
Geo C.

I really want to give this place a higher rating but from the experience I had it felt so displaced. We arrived after finishing coming from Lula Winery (great place by the way) and we're greeted but almost with annoyance as we were a large party. I never caught the name of the lady hosting but she was a short hair blonde woman who gave Karen Vibes as she was not very nice or courteous to our arrival. An older woman was also there and she was somewhat more pleasant but not memorable, which sucks because she gave loving grandma vibes at first until the rest of our party showed up. We didn't have a reservation, but we also don't expect that from a winery from previous experiences, and the fact that we're traveling and they're located literally in the middle of no where didn't seem right to expect that from passerby's. We weren't allowed to come in because they only sat for a table for 2-4 guests? It was so un-inviting and poorly received to welcome guests that have never been to their winery. I really wanted to give it a chance because it's a beautiful property. So anyway we don't have a reservation but they said we could sit in the picnic area and order by the glass ... we have never tried their wine so... not sure that really would work effectively. We sit in the area they say to sit but they don't come to us nor tell us what the arrangement is for ordering wine so we were out there for 10 minutes before I decided to walk in and ask if they would tend to us only to find out that we had to go to them and order wine inside. We left there not trying not one of their wines because they treated us as if they didn't care and didn't want our patronage. I was so disappointed in that level of treatment. Dare I say it was because we were darker skinned or looked middle class, but it almost felt that way? We drive by a General Store on our way back to our Airbnb and I tell them of our experience and they mention how their original owner passed away and how she would never have treated us that way. It was somber to say the least because the thought of not tending to potential customers seems mind boggling. I couldn't believe it that we weren't treated with more decency. I hope the level of service improves for any large parties who simply wish to try wines and enjoy a good time. Let alone to Celebrate a couple of birthdays. Thanks Handley Cellars for such a displeasing first encounter.

Signage
Shayla B.

Go big or go home, they said. Well if you come to Handley Cellars, you definitely won't wanna go back home anytime soon! This beautiful winery and tasting room is located in the quaint town of Philo right off of highway 128. Their signage is hard to miss as it is big and bright and located on the right side of the highway if you are coming from Booneville. The drive up the small hill is fun and it exposes you to their lovely vineyards. Their patio is actually located on the right side of their tasting room as opposed to in the back. They have a very spacious outdoor area with plenty of tables and some nice shaded areas for those super warm days. Inside, you will find their tasting room with two different tasting bars. I did my tasting at the bigger bar that has a cabana-like structure. The staff here are some of the most jovial that I've come across in a while! Now to the wines; Handley has quite a spread here! I tasted their 2016 Pinot Noir Rose, 2015 Pinot Gris, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and their 2014 Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir. I'm not the biggest lover of white wine, so I knew that I probably wouldn't be a fan of the Sauvignon Blanc. Their Sauvignon Blanc actually wasn't as tart as some that I've tasted in the past, but it wasn't my favorite. Also wasn't a big fan of their Pinot Noir Rose, but I think it's because I prefer sweeter and bubblier rose. This rose was more on the tart side. I was, however, really surprised by their Pinot Gris! It was smooth and fruity with nice hints of pear that I really enjoyed. I would totally sit out on the patio on a hot summer evening and sip on that Pinot Gris! I also really loved their 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir! That Pinot was straight fire! They age many of their wines in steel barrels which contributes to the smoothness of their wines. This particular Pinot was light and silky and appealed the most to my taste buds. The 2014 Yorkville Highlands Pinot is made in a barrel that's set higher up in the hills, so the taste is a little more peppery with high notes of cherry. If you're looking for something with more of a kick, this Yorkville Pinot is definitely the way to go. Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Handley Cellars and I would definitely come back! I highly recommend their 2015 Pinot Gris and their 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

Angela F. W.

Five star all the way. I am a huge fan!! Came here last weekend for a Yelp and CellarPass tasting event. The tasting room and vineyard are absolutely beautiful. They have a variety of white and red wines to choose from. Staff at Handley Cellars were so accommodating and friendly. They went above and beyond to ensure guests were having a great time. Among all the wineries I visited that day, Handley Cellars was the only one where I made a purchase. I like smooth and sweet white and red and was super impressed by their late harvest Riesling. I am usually a bit indifferent towards Rieslings but man this late harvest Riesling they have is perfection! It's actually a dessert wine that has a clean and crisp fruity taste with a hint of honey. It's very refreshing and not overly sweet. Sunshine in a bottle is a perfect description. Plus who doesn't like honey, honey?! It's not cheap by any means but I had to have it. When I got home after a long day sipping through Anderson Valley, I was so excited to take my bottle of sunshine out but noticed that the bottle had wine all over it. I was very frustrated and wondered why it was like that. Did I just get a bad bottle? I called Handley Cellars the following day. Chris spoke to me on the phone. He happened to be the same gentleman who helped me with my purchase at the event. I explained to him what had happened. It turned out it was because I left the bottle of wine in the car all day in almost 90 degree weather. I had no idea that caused the wine cork to pop! Now I know! Chris said he wanted me to enjoy my wine and do what is right. He took down my information and promised to ship me another bottle free of charge! Two days later I have a brand new bottle of the same late harvest Riesling sitting at my desk! Wow! Talk about stellar customer service!! Thank you so much Chris and Handley Cellars. You have gained a loyal customer. I can't wait to visit this awesome winery again. When I want to enjoy a bottle of sunshine or need an excellent dessert wine for a gift, I know where to turn to!!!

Christine R.

We have arrived in the heart of Pinot country and to have Handley Cellars welcome us was a treat! Yelpers near and far congregated at this lovely host winery for Yelp's Grape Escape 2017 ~ Alexander Valley. They pulled out the red carpet for us Yelpers on a lovely Saturday (Nascar & Pride weekend). The weather was perfect with light winds. I'm still glad I brought my Yelp fan hahaha. This was an EPIC Grape Escape and Handley Cellars poured some delicious wines. As I'm sipping and mingling, the Pinot Noir stood out the most, and I thought to myself "duh" we're in Alexander Valley. This property is gorgeous and unique, sit in one of those chairs inside the tasting room. There's something about Alexander Valley wineries compared to Napa - unpretentious. Thank you for the stellar hospitality. It was a nice drive from Marin, not that far approximately two hours if one leaves at the crack of dawn. I love that we get to visit such wineries in California, it's just a drive away. 'Til we meet again ~ cheers and see you on Yelp!

Curtis H.

Returned here after a previous visit a few months back and had some more great wines and conversation with the same lady who helped us the last time. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here are very good and for the quality the prices are reasonable. They have a nice little patio where they do the tastings and both times we were here we got to meet some nice dogs and cats (and their owners). This place is worth putting on your itinerary.

Dog friendly!
Stephanie C.

Hubby and I were in Anderson Valley for white wine weekend, and we decided to start our Sunday morning here at Handley. They were offering brunch with tastings for their open house that day, so we each got one small plate of eggs, bacon, and potatoes with our wine! We had a wonderful time. Beautiful scenery outside, great decor inside, friendly staff, and tasty wines! We ended up buying two bottles of wine to take home and enjoy - a Pinot Blanc and a Riesling. We were able to bring our dog inside the tasting room with us, but they also have outdoor seating that would be nice when the weather's warm!

Handley Cellars tasting menu, glasses on the patio.
Aryana F.

Handley is a must see destination for any lovers of true organic spirit. Lush astounding flavors. Elegant ambiance on a wisteria covered patio, overlooking the grape vineyards and old farm house.

View from tasting room

Wine, view and wine educator were all very enjoyable. Beautiful location and tasting room. Reasonably priced wines that were delicious.

Refreshing Sauv Blanc on a warm day
Christina R.

Handley was our first stop on my very first visit to Anderson Valley as part of Yelp's Grape Escape. Perched on a knoll, this welcoming spot has a nice view out over rolling hills full of grapevines. We spent some time on their lovely outdoor patio, under a wisteria-covered trellis. The staff could not have been friendlier and treated us to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir Rose, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. We enjoyed them all, and took home some Rose and Pinot to enjoy later. For wine club enthusiasts, they have a variety of flexible options. Check out their Brightlighter Selection for 4 bottles 3x a year. Fewer bottles per shipment spread out over more shipments helps keep home wine storage from overflowing. I hope more wineries start to do this! The tasting room staff also said membership grants you access to the rental house on the property as a bonus. We'll be back, and we'll bring friends. Great experience all around.

Keith M.

I brought a friend for her first visit to wine country in July. Our second stop was Handley Cellars where we met Stephen Anderson at the tasting bar. Stephen had a wonderfully pleasant manner and we could tell instantly that he really knew his wine. We stayed at the bar for about half an hour talking with another couple that was visiting from Orange County. We had a pleasant conversation with them and never felt rushed by the staff. After they left, we asked Stephen about the patio outside the tasting room. He suggested that we could finish the tasting on the patio. As it was such a beautiful day, we agreed that it would be a great idea. Stephen set up a flight of red wines for us on the patio and gave a brief, but thorough presentation on each of the wines. We noticed that a group of women came onto the patio with a picnic lunch. We asked Stephen about it and he said locals frequently brought lunch or snacks to accompany tastings. He invited us to do the same. Since my friend and I had been on the road for almost two weeks on an extended trip, we relished the idea of taking a break and enjoying lunch in such a picturesque setting. We hastily created some appetizers from the left overs in our ice chest to pair with the wine tasting. We were especially surprised by Stephen's laid back, no-pressure-to-buy-attitude. So, of course, we purchased a bottle of 2015 Chardonnay and enrolled in a membership. We would both highly recommend a stop at Handley Cellars! They were so good that they turned out to be our second, and final stop in wine country because my friend felt no one could have done any better. Oh, and the wine was excellent as well!

Handley Cellars patio is shady, cool and a relaxing respite during a busy day of wine tasting
cailyn m.

Thank you Handley Cellars for hosting the Yelp Elite kickoff. It was my first time visiting and I loved it. Being greeted with a beautiful Rose was such a treat. Elegant and clean it was the perfect accompaniment to the Ahi Poke bowls. My hubby enjoyed the mountain Pinot, I think he hid a few bottles in the trunk:-0 The tasting room is a nice relief from the heat. Loved the patio seating and live music! Overheard the wine club perks--dibs in the guesthouse? Wow! Can't wait to visit again.

Side patio - lovely!

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10 months ago

We had a wonderful experience at Handley Cellars. Incredible wines and wonderful people. I can't recommend them enough.

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What a great local winery and wine, recommend stopping whenever you're in Anderson Valley!

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Ask the Community - Handley Cellars

Review Highlights - Handley Cellars

This is based on seven-years experience visiting Anderson Valley and tasting at nearly every vineyard.

Mentioned in 35 reviews

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Maggy Hawk - A bottle of our Afleet Pinot Noir with our winery in the background.

Maggy Hawk

(3 reviews)

White Pinot?! What?!…read more Maggy Hawk is a recently-opened Pinot House, part of Jackson Family Wines, and they make a White Pinot! We were a big group so just bought bottles to share. Next time I'll do a full tasting! What I tried and enjoyed: JOLIE PINOT NOIR "Expressive, silky, and refined. Jolie is an elegantly transparent Pinot Noir that opens with light-footed red fruit and rhubarb, then blooms into bright raspberry, strawberry and floral notes." - from website WHITE PINOT NOIR ANDERSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA "A unique combination of aromatics: white peach, jasmine, Meyer lemon, rose petal, blood orange and wet stone. An entirely original and truly beautiful sensory experience." - from website The White Pinot was so unique and refreshing on a hot day! Give it a try! Maggy Hawk is located in Philo, in beautiful Anderson Valley, across the street from The Madrones (a small compound of guest rooms, a boutique, tasting rooms, and a restaurant). We had a delicious lunch at Wickson, at The Madrones, then crossed the street to meet friends at Maggy Hawk. They have bocce courts and some seating in the front, more seating and a small bar inside the cozy tasting room, and tables and a pizza oven on their back patio. I look forward to returning to do a full tasting, hopefully when they're making pizzas! Cheers and thanks for the warm hospitality!

We are so excited to see Maggy Hawk open a tasting room in the Anderson Valley. We discovered this…read morewine at Craftsteak in Las Vegas years ago and tasted the wines at Pino-Fest in Anderson Valley but the wines are very small production and not easily found. The new tasting room is right across the street from The Madrones where we always stay. They updated the property and it is fantastic. They have a great outdoor patio in back with a outdoor kitchen and pizza oven. In front of the tasting room the have Bocci ball courts. We enjoyed all of their wines. We joined the wine club and look forward to visiting them on future visits to the Valley.

Roederer Estate - Food menu

Roederer Estate

(132 reviews)

$$

On the drive from the Bay Area to the Mendocino coast, you have options on routes to take. But the…read moremost delicious is following the winding road through Anderson Valley wine region which is replete with wineries and eateries along the entire stretch of this Northern California appellation. And towards the northern extreme of the valley are the spectacular vineyards of Roederer Estates and the home of some of the best sparkling wines in Northern California. Situated atop a hill with a commanding view of the vineyards, valley, and surrounding mountains, Roederer has a beautifully modern tasting room and new outdoor patio with abundant seating and umbrellas for shade. On the day we visited it was 81F outside in the sun, but thanks to the natural air conditioning of a Pacific breeze from the coast, it was super comfortable on the deck. Roederer has everything from traditional tastings of various house wines (mixed vintages, estate reserve, and flights) to wines by the glass to bottles if you are in the mood. Prices vary by vintage, but begin around $18 for a glass and go up. Tastings begin at $35. Bottles begin at $40. Members of wine clubs receive an approximate 20% discount on bottles and tastings. In addition to wines, a limited but nicely curated selection of nibbles are available (think Marcona almonds, olives, prosciutto and cheeses, and duck rillettes, but if you're feeling indulgent they also offer a variety of Tzar Nikolai caviar options that can break the bank). We ordered the duck rillettes which were yummy, albeit a very small portion and not house made. Also, they did not come with crackers, which were an additional charge. This was our only gripe, because do people just eat the rillettes straight out of the jar with a knife?!? But that aside, we loved our sparkling wine selection (a bottle of Brut rosé) and the casual luxury of enjoying our bottle on the outside patio during a gorgeous summer afternoon. Service was quick, attentive, knowledgeable, courteous and friendly, but not hovering or overbearing. Perfect balance. If you want to experience the best of Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, be sure not to miss this gem of a winery.

A poorly managed, lazy business hiding behind a beautiful landscape…read more My wife and I were in Mendocino for a family trip/mini honeymoon. Friday afternoon, we decided to venture out toward Philo to explore the vineyards in the area and stop by for some wine tastings. Roederer caught our eye off Hwy 128, so our group of 4 decided to go for a quick glass to enjoy the beautiful view. Enticed by the large door and expansive patio, we walked in to order our wines around 4:25pm. A taller long haired man greeted us with "Hey, sorry we're at full capacity" was our greeting. No hello, no welcome to our estate. I let him know we just stopped by for a glass and were not there for a full tasting. Uninterested, he just repeated that they were at capacity and finished for the day. Their hours state that they close at 5, and rejecting 1 glass of wine at 30 minutes before closing seems absurd and rather lazy to me. Let the photos speak for themselves...half of the interior tables being available, along with half the exterior being available meant full capacity. There are an abundance of family run and established vineyards all throughout the Anderson valley. DO NOT waste your time coming to Roederer Estate.

Handley Cellars - wineries - Updated May 2026

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