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Kosta Browne Winery

4.4 (18 reviews)
PriceyWineries
Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

By appointment only

Kosta Browne Winery Photos

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2009 Keefer Ranch
Fred T.

So years after my first review, Kosta Browne is still making fantastic pinot's While it no longer as rare as it was years back, they still are somewhat hard to find. The vast majority of the wine produced goes to restaurants. The rest goes to members of its wine list. If you see it at a wine shop they purchased it from someone who has an allotment. Unlike many wine lists, you may have to wait till you receive an allotment. I had to wait several before I was allotted 6 bottles for my first allotment in 2010 and it was another 4 year until I started getting a trickle of single vineyards. Since then mine has grown steadily and now I can buy way more than I can consume. I believe that the list is much much shorter these days and the allocation ramps us pretty quickly. You start out with your entry level pinots, mainly the Sonoma Coast and Russian River. Time and yes the amount you purchase dictates if you will be moved up to the single vineyard wines. As before the allotment you receive is based a few factors. Wines ship 2 times a year divided into first the Appellation Wines (entry level) then the single vineyards later. 1) Time time time. How long have you been on the list 2) How much you purchase. Do you buy your full allocation or just a few bottles. 3) Production. If its a banner year, you may get more of a particular vineyard etc. If its a low production year, you may not even get an allotment of that particular vineyard. There are a few I have yet to receive like the 4 Barrel. We stated getting Magnums the last few years as well of the Appellation series. If you haven't sampled the wine or are lucky to have had a friend with a few, its easy to join and get a few bottles yourself with a bit of waiting.

The tasting room
Natalie C.

I visited during COVID-19, so felt very lucky to have an opportunity to get to the tasting room once they finally opened it. The tasting room and experience was what you would expect from Kosta Brown. The wines were wonderful, our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and conversation was free-flowing. Would go back the next chance I have.

Russell Batt letting us sample wines from the barrel. Check out his beautiful Panerai watch too.
David C.

Kosta Browne Wines are exceptional! Wine production is very limited as Kosta Browne is focused on delivering the very best Pinots: flavorful, intense, and balanced. Three interesting notes about Kosta Browne: * Kosta Browne wines are carried in only the very best restaurants across the US, many of them Michelin starred establishments. * The winery is not open to the public. Only members are allowed private wine tastings, tours and wine allotments. * Wine membership is very unique. You don't just sign up and within a month start getting a shipment of selected wines on a quarterly basis. The Kosta Browne wine membership list has a 2-4 year waiting list! A group of friends and I did a private wine tour and tasting with Russell Batt in June 2014. Amazing experience! We tasted 3 bottles and also sampled a handful of wines directly from the barrels. The overall vibe was laid back and comfortable. It was as if we were just enjoying wine in Russell's very own house. It was perfect. We learned a quite a bit about Kosta Browne: 1. How Dan Kosta and Michael Browne humbly started their wine business by saving tip money! 2. The Kosta Browne wine making process 3. Kosta Browne's three appellation wines: Sonoma Coast, Russian River and Santa Lucia Highlands. As we concluded our private event, I just wanted to immediately buy a few bottles of wine! Again, Kosta Browne doesn't sell any wines at the wine tour. No gift shop, either. I left feeling helplessly craving more Kosta Browne wine. Grapes and terroir help distinguish good wine from great wines but I've always been a believer that it's also about the employees. Great employees like Joyelle Finn and Russell Batt combined with great wines create the Kosta Browne experience. Thank you for an amazing experience! Hope to meet Dan Kosta and Michael Browne in the near future or have an opportunity to invest in Kosta Browne!

Delicious wines

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12 years ago

Closed to the public. Only open to members for pickup. Get on the list; it is worth it. The best Pinots and a yummy Chardonnay

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Ask the Community - Kosta Browne Winery

Review Highlights - Kosta Browne Winery

I met the winemaker, Michael Browne, and he was so down to earth, friendly, knowledgeable, and enjoyable.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Fog Crest Vineyard - Tasting with a view!

Fog Crest Vineyard

4.4(215 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

This business does not care about it's customers and is so impossible to reach it's almost comical…read more I was a long-term customer of Fog Crest. In 2024 we received a shipment of wine where all the wine in the shipment was broken. In typical situations, wineries offer replacement of broken bottles, but Fog Crest was impossible to reach in spite of (literally) 50 phone calls and emails. Since I couldn't reach them, I canceled my subscription to their wine club. Flash forward a few months, they charge me another ~$500 on my credit card for wine, but never ship me any wine (in spite of the fact that I had already canceled online). Again, dozens of calls and emails, no answer and no response. Still trying. A few months after that, they charge me ANOTHER ~$500 on my credit card for wine, but don't ship that wine to me either. After probably 100 calls and emails, I finally talk to the wine club coordinator on the phone. She of course acknowledges my dozens of messages, and acknowledges my situation. She says she will replace the wine that was broken and figure out why they've been charging me for wine I haven't been receiving and make it right. But that she can't talk right now and she'd call me back with more information. That was a month ago. I've now called again dozens of times, and emailed. No response. Called and emailed the owner, no response. This is borderline criminal: $1,500 in charges for undelivered product, a non-existent customer service experience, and an online system so archaic that it doesn't process your cancelation and continues to charge you for product.

Zero Accountability and Terrible Customer Service - Avoid Fog Crest!…read more I'm absolutely appalled by my experience with Fog Crest Winery. We joined their wine club in 2023 and was charged $420 all of 2024/25 for wine that they NEVER shipped. When I called to inquire about where the wine was, I was met with complete silence--multiple calls and messages went unanswered. After finally getting a call back, the person said they only called me back because "she saw we had called a lot in one day." That was the first red flag. She promised to credit my account and look into another charge that had been applied. It's been SEVEN days since that conversation, and STILL no credit, no updates, and no resolution. I've followed up with multiple calls, messages, and emails... NOTHING. At this point, it's clear that they don't care about their customers. I highly recommend staying far away from Fog Crest if you value your time and money. Total waste of both

Photos
Fog Crest Vineyard - We offer lunch with an incredible vineyard view.

We offer lunch with an incredible vineyard view.

Fog Crest Vineyard - Our rose is legendary.

Our rose is legendary.

Fog Crest Vineyard - Indoor and outdoor tastings and food pairings.

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Indoor and outdoor tastings and food pairings.

Furthermore Wines - Courtyard - giant sequoia - chilln

Furthermore Wines

4.6(130 reviews)
3.4 mi
$$
Established in 2006
Family-owned & operated

My first time to their location in Sebastopol. I typically go to the one in Healdsburg and enjoy…read morethat location quite a bit. I always come to listen to music- specifically jazz, which they feature quite a bit. The outdoor setting at this location is very nice. I could see it conducive for events or group reservations. I came with a friend to hear the music and there's plenty of seating. There's a huge redwood tree near the table which offers shade and there are also umbrellas in the sunnier locations. They were making pizza in their own pizza oven today- however for a 10 inch pizza I thought $22 was a little bit much. There are definitely a nice variety of Pinot's offered. However, I was in the mood for something chilled and I opted for their Rose of Pinot. I was pleased with the size of the pour but not sure I would order that variety again. I do appreciate that you can bring your own snacks there

All right, I'm a little obsessed with Furthermore Wines…read more Our group of 8 had an AMAZING experience here. Dave was our host, and he was so knowledgeable, so personable, and so fun. He took excellent care of us and truly spoiled our group at our tasting. We did a small tour on the grounds and learned a lot about their process and the pinot noir process in general. We all loved the wines so much that everyone bought at least 1 bottle, and two of us signed up for their wine club. In fact, we had such a good time, that our group came BACK to share a bottle of wine in between our reservations. Dave took care of us and we were happy to spend some more time with him. It is such a great place -- the wine is incredible, service is excellent, views are gorgeous, and you feel you are right where you belong. Cheers!

Photos
Furthermore Wines - Joni Mitchell Situation

Joni Mitchell Situation

Furthermore Wines - Sign

Sign

Furthermore Wines - Tasting Courtyard, Giant Sequoia

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Tasting Courtyard, Giant Sequoia

Halleck Vineyard - 95+ Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

Halleck Vineyard

4.9(109 reviews)
4.2 mi
$$$

A friend had booked us a tasting experience at Halleck and its easily one of our top tasting…read moreexperiences yet! The property is beautiful with a nice little open area and views for days! Even the drive through the trees feels enchanted. David was the best. He took us on a journey and you could tell he knew his stuff. We also had a chance to meet one of the owners which was a nice bonus. The experience itself is intimate because you're with multiple people at your table but you get to experience it together. The food pairings were also delicious. Ok wine time. This was THE best Gewürztraminer I've ever had. Like, you could have a bottle of this easily on your own. We even took a few home to try with Indian food, and it was delicious. Another hit was their Zin which was interestingly like a strawberry rose but again, very easy and tasteful to drink. I cannot wait to go back because I need more of that Gewürztraminer!

Alison was amazing! She was so welcoming and explained all the wines so well. This was my first…read morewinery experience and it set the bar high for any future experience. Also loved that David made an appearance! You could really tell that they are passionate about what they do and it really elevated the experience!

Photos
Halleck Vineyard - Our Pinot Noir is a tour de force of bright cranberry, tart pomegranate, orange zest, sage brush, and alpine liqueur leap out of the glass.

Our Pinot Noir is a tour de force of bright cranberry, tart pomegranate, orange zest, sage brush, and alpine liqueur leap out of the glass.

Halleck Vineyard - Halleck Vineyard Wine Barrel Room

Halleck Vineyard Wine Barrel Room

Halleck Vineyard - Wine!

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Wine!

Balletto Vineyards - Rose of Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

Balletto Vineyards

4.4(232 reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

The first time I came here was around 2022, when Covid practices were still prevalent and these…read moreguys had a pleasant outdoor tasting area. I specifically came back here with my friends to enjoy some wine and a great outdoor experience with hopefully the same hospitality we got last time. We arrived and we were seated...it is still beautiful, but it seemed like the person who took care of our tastings just appeared to be very distracted and not so into the wine pours...we got small explanations of what we were getting and probably got the smallest tasting pours I have ever encountered anywhere...in which we got five. I thought the price tag of 30pp they would not be so stingy...and we did purchase a few bottles but there was no discount on the tastings even for that. I would highly encourage you to go elsewhere if you want to get a proper tasting. This place is just not the same as it was....what a pity.

They had some snacks menu the prices were absolutely great. I couldn't believe how reasonable they…read morewere. We totally lucked out. The weather was perfect, our server was great, Victoria was our server and we had so many laughs and good conversations Victoria was wonderful, We had a great tasting. The Reds were lovely, and the price was extremely reasonable, which seems a rarity nowadays. Sit outside under the pergola and enjoy the view. There is enough space between each other and feel like your conversation is still private. It was relaxing and delicious, excellent visit Cheers, my friends and SYOY 09/30/25

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Balletto Vineyards - Russian River Valley Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir by Balletto Vineyards

Balletto Vineyards - BCD Vineyard Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Designate bottle wine at tasting room in Santa Rosa

BCD Vineyard Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Designate bottle wine at tasting room in Santa Rosa

Balletto Vineyards - Sebastopol Hills Vineyard Walking Tour Self Guided and Staff led

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Sebastopol Hills Vineyard Walking Tour Self Guided and Staff led

Lynmar Estate Winery - Collectors Lunch

Lynmar Estate Winery

4.2(221 reviews)
2.9 mi
$$$

Our Healdsburg resort concierge recommended Lynmar Estate for one of the wineries for us to check…read moreout while we were in the Sonoma area and it was an amazing recommendation! Definitely try to make a reservation in advance for a more personalized arrival experience. We arrived a few minutes before our afternoon tasting appointment and were greeted warmly by the host staff whom poured our first glass of wine at arrival and showed us to our table. Our host Tome came by to greet us and welcomed us to the winery and brought us fresh popcorn to accompany our wines. He asked us which types of wine we liked and personalized our tasting experience accordingly. We tried a variety of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines and it really was truly one of the best wine experiences we have ever had in Napa. We also didn't feel pressured to buy anything or sign up for a wine club. The wine host staff just wanted us to have a good experience with them, which we truly did. We left with 3 bottles of wine, two for Christmas gifts and one for us. We truly want to thank the entire Lynmar Estate Winery staff for a great experience and we look forward to returning!

small winery with lovely people. visited for my birthday and our somm gave us four !!!! extra…read morepours. they sent us home with olive oil, dried lavender, and flavored salt all produced on the estate. lynn herself came to talk to us and was so friendly! unfortunately i only figured out after the fact who she was. their winemaker, pete, also came by to ask about our thoughts. left with a bottle of monastery 2022 after a drunken walk around the estate.

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Lynmar Estate Winery - Sparkling Rosé in the Garden

Sparkling Rosé in the Garden

Lynmar Estate Winery - Trio of Artisan Cheeses

Trio of Artisan Cheeses

Lynmar Estate Winery - Wine Flight Experience Overlooking Tasting Room Garden & Vineyard Views

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Wine Flight Experience Overlooking Tasting Room Garden & Vineyard Views

Iron Horse Vineyards - View from outside at Iron Horse

Iron Horse Vineyards

4.1(447 reviews)
5.5 mi
$$

Love this cute rustic winery on a hill! Amazing scenic views and delicious sparkling wines,…read moreChardonnay, and pinot noir. Carlo helped us and he was super nice and cheerful!

Edit in response to comment: Visit is from November 15th, 2025. Closeup of moldy grape from…read morecharcuterie board is attached below now. We've heard a lot of stellar reviews for Iron Horse, so we were underwhelmed by our experience. To start, we checked in at the front, got a glass of sparkling to start, and was told to wait for everyone joining us to get here. We waited for a few minutes. Our host ended up forgetting us and started walking off with the other party when they finally showed up, and the guy we checked in with had to go tell him we were part of his group. I enjoyed the charcuterie box that comes with the tasting, albeit there was some moldy bits here and there. We got the harvest magnum experience ($90/person). They offer more affordable experiences as well. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with any of the wines. I did enjoy the seating experience, the charcuterie box, and the mini impromptu tour everyone was given of the production. The wine itself was underwhelming for the price and as nothing stood out to us, we finished our tasting and didn't grab anything to go. As we weren't wine club members here, the host didn't pay us much attention. Worth trying once, maybe, to see if their wines are to your liking.

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Iron Horse Vineyards - A Winter Fairy Tale

A Winter Fairy Tale

Iron Horse Vineyards
Iron Horse Vineyards - The View

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The View

Kosta Browne Winery - wineries - Updated May 2026

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