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    J. Rickards Winery

    4.9 (126 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Magnificent
    Tom S.

    Darn Fine Barn Wine the motto here at J. Rickards. Words that are a metaphor for living a good life drinking beautiful wine vintages. This authentic winery led with passion by Jim Rickards himself. A grand tale of sacrifices made to achieve the goals of this small family winery. Phenomenal winevat incredibly reasonable prices...Absolutely fantastic experience with genuine people. Cheers!

    Rosé and the view
    Shayla B.

    The exceptional views will get you in the door, but the delicious wine and exemplary service is what will make you stay. J. Rickards Winery boasts some of the best red wines and the most scenic views within Alexander Valley. My friend and I visited J. Rickards Winery during an event and it easily became our favorite winery stop out of the 4 wineries that we went to. This is a family owned and operated vineyard, and the winemaker is involved in every aspect of the winery. In fact, we met the owner and winemaker (Jim) while we were there and he poured some of our wines. If that ain't personalized service, then I don't know what is! How often do you find the actual winemaker out and about pouring the wines?! Not too often these days. I also must mention that this is a full family operation. As Jim was pouring our wines, he introduced us to several members of his family who are also involved with the winery. Just amazing! I was just soaking everything in, including the fabulous wines. The views are quite breathtaking here. What I love is that even though the views are immaculate and the estate is gorgeous, it still has that lovable homey feel to it. It doesn't feel commercialized because it isn't. It's a very relaxing experience and we truly did not want to leave. The wines are exquisite. Both their white and red wines are scrumptious, but it's that Zinfandel that will make you fall completely in love. Zinfandel is what they're known for and rightfully so. Their bright, fruity, and jammy Zinfandels are right up my alley. As a Zin lover, my palate was completely quenched by the exceptional Zinfandels here. Other wonderful tasting notables are their Rosé and red blend. The service that we received from everyone was top tier. I don't venture out to Cloverdale too often, but I will make a special visit just to come back to J. Rickards again.

    Lots of parking. Inside is their store. Tasting generally happens outside where they have lots of nice seating.
    Jeff A.

    This place makes a huge variety of rather average wines, sold at pretty affordable prices. The tasting is cheap, and is waived if you buy a couple bottles. This is a dying trend in Napa/Sonoma, so for that reason and a few others, I'm going to give this place 5 stars. PROS: 1) Rather beautiful location with easy parking and friendly people 2) There's a barn dog that is friendly and loves everyone 3) The tasting is only $20 or $25 (can't remember which) and is waived if you buy 2 bottles 4) Bottles are cheap starting around $30 5) The tasting is flexible. I told him I only wanted reds, and that wasn't a problem 6) There's a rather crazy selection of wines. Like WAY too many. But if you like choice this should be a plus CONS: 1) The wines are overly sweet and designed to be consumed sooner rather than later. This might be a pro for some people. 2) They will not open anything not opened. I ended up purchasing two bottles that they had available for sale, but would not let me sample because they were not open. Can't really complain since it was a cheap tasting that ended up being free due to the bottle purchase.

    Tasting menu (but ask for the Chronicle Wine competition winners)
    Tracey A.

    I was en route to J. Rickards Winery with friends when a salient observation was made: "In truth, our overall feelings about a place can be greatly influenced by the company we go there with". Someone else chimed in, "I could be eating the worst food and if I'm with friends having fun, 5 stars". I was with friends Id not seen for 1+ years. I was having fun. 5 stars. But here's the rub: J. Rickards Winery would've warranted 5 stars even if I'd taken a sandwich there solo, sat at a picnic table overlooking the vineyards, and enjoyed a tasting of their SF Chronicle Gold Medal Award winning wines. So, though the company I kept did a lot of the heavy lifting, it wasn't just the company. J. Rickards sits in Cloverdale (Sonoma County), in a wine region often overlooked because a) it's not Napa Valley and b) it's fairly far from my home. When you're there though, you begin to understand why it's worth the drive. It's not just the excellent wine, the lack of pretension this winery and its workers present, and the astonishingly (these days) reasonable tasting fee ($15, waived with bottle purchased for consumption at home). Rather, it's all of this plus the opportunity to enjoy a bottle on site - along with whatever lunch you might bring (on-site food offerings coming soon). On a weekday afternoon, this experience was ours for hours, with no pressure to move along or even to make a purchase. It probably helped that the friends I was with were J. Rickards Wine Club members. This meant free tastings for up to 6 of us plus incredible deals on already incredibly reasonably priced wine. I paid wine club price for a bottle that won Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine competition and came away with change from $30. Try that in the Napa Valley. There was absolutely nothing not to enjoy at J. Rickards and thus, there was nothing I didn't enjoy. Though there are several different tastings on offer, you can't go wrong with the Chronicle Wine competition tasting (1 white, 3 reds).

    Runaway moms taking a break from life.
    Kong P.

    We were camping in the area. Left the kids and husband for a little break. Found this gem. Christine and Tara were the best! My girlfriends and I had such a great time with them. We laughed so hard and was able to WINE-down.

    Grapes
    Dan M.

    J. Rickards Winery was awesome! The host Ozzy did an amazing job showing us the barrel rooms, walking us through the fields, and being super knowledgable unlike any of the other 3 hosts we had on our Platypus Wine Tour. None of them made us feel special and important like that which is what I was expecting in Sonoma like Ozzy did! Ozzy was the best sommelier wine host I have ever had! He was impressive! The wine was exceptional!!

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    Super fun wine tour stop! Ozzie made our afternoon a fun and wine filled experience. Everything we tried was very drinkable and enjoyable!

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    Review Highlights - J. Rickards Winery

    When I first arrived at the vineyard I gravitated to Jim's tractor - a beautiful little Lamborgini crawler.

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    Blue Rock Winery

    Blue Rock Winery

    4.4(7 reviews)
    0.7 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.

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    Blue Rock Winery - Cheese plate and first 4 wines

    Cheese plate and first 4 wines

    Blue Rock Winery
    Blue Rock Winery

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    Mercury Geyserville

    Mercury Geyserville

    4.8(83 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    A tasting worth the drive -- and one we'll remember for years…read more We first met the Mercury team at a recent event in Sausalito and could immediately tell they were offering more than just wine -- there was artistry and playfulness behind every pour. We knew we had to experience their tasting room in Geyserville, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it was the best tasting we've had since 2012 -- hands down. The Vibe The moment we walked into the tasting room, we felt completely welcomed. The energy was light, engaging, and genuine. This wasn't your typical stiff, scripted tasting -- it felt more like visiting a friend who just happens to be incredibly passionate (and knowledgeable) about exceptional wine. You don't just taste here; you connect, laugh, and learn something cool along the way. The Wines Each pour had personality -- creative blends, bold structure, and something memorable in every glass. We ended up taking home a few bottles that are already earmarked for upcoming holiday dinners: 2023 Skins - an orange Chardonnay that stopped us in our tracks. Golden, aromatic, and layered with apricot, pear, and tropical brightness. It's ancient in method but totally modern in vibe -- unlike anything we've had before. 2021 Freddie Rosé - somewhere between a rosé and a light red. Beautiful ruby color, bright cherry, tart quince, and a juicy finish. A standout for its structure and fun factor. 2021 Syrah (Pigoni Vineyard) - deep, rich, and elegant. Cherries, vanilla, and a touch of cocoa. Smooth from start to finish -- the kind of Syrah that feels both grounded and luxurious. 2021 Rocket - a red blend with complexity and finesse. Every sip revealed something new -- cassis, plum, dark cherry. A fantastic wine for a slow evening and good conversation. 2021 Zinfandel (North Coast) - bold and festive, perfect for chilly nights or hearty meals. The kind of Zin that reminds you why the grape got famous in the first place. Each wine told its own story, but together they also reflect the creativity and boldness of the Mercury team. It's not just about making wine -- it's about playing with tradition and making it personal. The Experience This is what tasting should feel like: casual, elevated, and full of joy. You'll laugh, you'll sip, and you'll probably linger longer than you planned. We're already talking about coming back -- not just to try new wines, but to keep this experience going. Because at Mercury, it's not just about what's in the glass -- it's about the people, the energy, and the memories you take with you. Thank you to the whole Mercury team for making our day! We came for the wine and left with so much more.

    ***3.5 Stars*** A…read morereally fun and lively tasting room with top tier service, but the wines leave much to be desired. Stopped here with a friend during a wine and food pairing event. The food pairings were delicious but we didn't particularly care for most of the wines that we tried. Mercury tasting room in located right in downtown Geyserville. Since Geyserville is so small, it's pretty hard to miss. This place is usually packed with people on busy weekends. The staff in the tasting room were all super welcoming and pleasant. They lead us to their back patio which has a really fun and casual vibe. It's a great place to chill and catch up with friends. Despite how tiny this tasting room looks on the outside, their patio is actually quite spacious. They were pouring wines from their two different wine labels so that everyone could compare the differences in taste. And while both labels did taste different, we weren't really impressed with either. Most of what we tried tasted pretty..... young. Too robust and too tannic. Even when paired with the bites, they still tasted like they needed to age a bit more. The only wine that I liked during the tasting was their Zinfandel, and even that didn't blow me away. Who knows.... It could have just been a bad batch or maybe it was produced from vines that were hit with the smoke from the fires. I really enjoyed the atmosphere but the wines were a bit disappointing. This should really be a 3 star review based off of the wine alone, but since the service and atmosphere was great, I'm bumping it up to a 3.5 aka 4 stars. Although I wasn't too impressed with the wines this time around, I would still come back to try something different on a future visit.

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    Mercury Geyserville
    Mercury Geyserville
    Mercury Geyserville

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    Trattore Farms and Winery - Wine and views.

    Trattore Farms and Winery

    4.6(112 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Had a GREAT time here a few weeks ago. We got together a group of 10 of us for an afternoon trip…read morewith both wine and olive oil tasting. I don't normally drink wine but came for the olive oil and the experience and it did not disappoint! I also eventually changed my mind that red wine can be good:) We were seated indoors and Edd gave us the rundown of what we'd be tasting for the afternoon complete with stories and lots of fun facts. (I now look at any bottles that say "cold pressed" with some light skepticism since it's clearly only written there for marketing purposes!) We ordered a selection of the panini sandwiches, the burrata and butternut squash salad, and the charcuterie board. The fire cheese was delicious and the spread was perfect. Throughout lunch, Edd brought us different wines to taste and by the end we were most definitely sold on the Stone Soup (the red version). The olive oil tasting was so much fun. First of all the bread was so delicious. And then we tasted about 15 (?) different olive oils or vinegars. The raspberry, lemon, and garlic ones were clear favorites. My personal favorites were the garlic and sage. Even though it was a bit of a rainy & cloudy day, the views from the patio were beautiful. We finished our wine out by the fire pit outside, and now I really need to come back during the summertime when the skies are more clear for the full experience. I left with lots of olive oil and great Christmas gifts for the family. The four piece olive oil sets are perfect for that and I brought one home for my family and we did our own inspired mini taste testing (I still miss Trattore's bread tho). 10/10 recommend and yes I definitely want to come back for the summer views and this pizza oven I keep reading in all the other reviews:))

    what a wonderful place on so many levels. went there yesterday with a large private group and it…read morewas fabulous. thanks so much to Ed. who was our host. he had a myriad of information. he was fun and funny, charming and delightful. their wines were unique and different and flavorful. we were also blessed to have a very large olive oil and vinegar tasting with wonderful crusty bread. The views are fabulous as was the experience. highly recommended

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    Trattore Farms and Winery - In the tasting room

    In the tasting room

    Trattore Farms and Winery - Big ol' tractor

    Big ol' tractor

    Trattore Farms and Winery - Cheapest flight came with two olive oil and a vinegar to taste

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    Cheapest flight came with two olive oil and a vinegar to taste

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8

    Souverain & Cellar No. 8

    3.6(5 reviews)
    2.1 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

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

    Icaria Winery

    5.0(5 reviews)
    3.8 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

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    The view

    Francis Ford Coppola Winery - Diamond Collection 2020 Chardonnay

    Francis Ford Coppola Winery

    4.0(1k reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    Staff met us warmly at the entrance to the chateau like building; we highly recommend the tour so…read morethat you know the story of the Coppola family better, their highs and lows that they went through; his movies and to learn so much about Coppola's wife, Eleanor -Francis's rock! The restaurant and atmosphere for lunch was good; I urge you to try the three course menu; each wine pairing was excellent. Our group were able to experience a delightful meal with much conversation supported by an attentive staff. We'll come by to celebrate a birthday or any other special occasion.

    Came by on a cold, windy, rainy afternoon for lunch with some friends…read more We were greeted on entering and directed to where we need to go. The restaurant is the building to the left as you enter as well as the museum. We ordered the 3 course menu with wine pairing for what I thought was a great price. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairings. The crab fritter with caviar: 3.5 stars. It was a fried potato ball with minimal crab. The caviar and accompanying sauce is what made the dish. The mushroom risotto: 3 stars. Perhaps it's because I don't care for risotto - too moist for rice. However the flavor was good, albeit a little salty. The mushroom were cooked for perfection and delicious, wish I had more. The salmon with broccolini:3 stars. cooked to order. I like mine well done due to preventions of parasites. But it was still moist. The accompanying sauce did not help flavor much but I guess I could have put more salt. I really enjoy the veggies in the dish. The broccolini was cooked the way I like and the rings of squash were tender and sweet. The hubby got the beef shoulder for his third course:5 stars. Tender and falls apart much like a pot roast. Flavorful as well. Apple tart and ice cream: 4 stars. I actually enjoyed the dish. Not too sweet. You can taste all the flavors and texture. Over all we had a great time with the wine, food was accompaniment. The museum was fun to stroll thru as well.

    Photos
    Francis Ford Coppola Winery - Dining room

    Dining room

    Francis Ford Coppola Winery - Fritto Misto - Calamari, broccolini, cauliflower, onion, and Calabrian tomato sauce. Perfectly seasoned, battered, and fried.

    Fritto Misto - Calamari, broccolini, cauliflower, onion, and Calabrian tomato sauce. Perfectly seasoned, battered, and fried.

    Francis Ford Coppola Winery - Upstairs

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    Upstairs

    J. Rickards Winery - winetastingroom - Updated May 2026

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