Let me just say what a great experience we had with Nick. He not only had great knowledge of the wines he was serving but also had great conversations about baseball which my husband enjoyed. He alone made us want to come back soon. The winery was beautiful with a very relaxed atmosphere. read more

Passalacqua Winery - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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This was our first winery on our trip and hands down, our favorite one by far. Colin was simply charming and very knowledgeable on wines. Everything he poured for us was delicious. It was great getting to talk with him about different wines and life. We both felt like we had gained a new friend. The view is incredible! We had a fountain near by so, with the view, great wine and the water element, it made it such a peaceful day. Literally, every wine was delicious. Looking forward to our next trip back there. read more

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We went 7 winery's and this was our favorite!! The ambiance is 11/10. So beautiful. The staff was incredible - so knowledgeable and friendly! Great wine. Highly recommend this place. I want to have my birthday here. read more

Passalacqua Winery - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Day 2 and we added a winery to our itinerary because of course we needed to go to 4 wineries in one day. @passalacquawinery was a great stop. Colin made the experience perfect. Female wine maker and small production winery! The wines were delicious. We tasted all we could. We really enjoyed their Zinfandels and the Primitivo. The quiet sleeper is the Lago di Merlo Fiano. The Italian Fiano grape tastes like a lite sav blanc, but has the mouth feel of a Chardonnay. The grounds are beautiful and staff is knowledgeable, kind, and not pretentious. Just a wonderful experience. read more

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Chris is amazing to work with for scheduling wine tastings. Very knowledgeable and friendly.

It's a beautiful winery with amazing views, delicious wine and fantastic staff. It's not a regular winery where you can simply go online and make a reservation. You would need to contact them directly and learn about their wine and key audience to determine if you are the right fit. It's all about the experience, and it was such a treat to spend an afternoon at Passalacqua: we learnt about the wine process (was lucky enough to visit during the harvest and try their "boozy grapes"), relaxed outside soaking all the views and, of course, can't say enough good things about the wine. Staff is beyond amazing! Thank you for such a fabulous time! read more

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Hands down the most beautiful winery I have ever visited. The sprawling deck has plenty of patio space and a panoramic view of the valley. Their comfortable lounge furniture and multiple fountains immediately had us relaxed and feeling at home. Tastings are done by appointment-only to ensure each guest is well attended. We enjoyed every wine we tried and were excited to support a female winemaker! They are surprisingly rare in the wine industry, and Jessica knows what she's doing. Ended up buying a few bottles; which I highly recommend as you cannot get their wines anywhere else! I cannot wait to come back! read more

Passalacqua Winery - Wine on the deck - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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We thought it would be a sad set up during a rainy day in February but this winery brought out all the stops. Our gift and guide throughout the experience was Colin MacPhail who had an amazing story for every wine that left us wanting to spend more time (and money) at the vineyard. Truly a unique experience you don't want to miss out on at this small quaint vineyard. read more

Thank you Colin for your service yesterday at the winery! We felt incredibly welcomed, like family, and Thoroughly enjoyed the wine and the knowledge he shared with us. The grounds are incredibly relaxing and beautiful, and we enjoyed the fire pit as the sun began its descent. I highly recommend making this a stop when in Dry Creek and we will certainly be back read more

Passalacqua Winery - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Loved our time here and Colin was wonderful to talk with and educate us on their wines - he moved through the three tables of guests effortlessly giving everyone just the right amount of attention. The views here were our favorite and we loved the wines! Can't wait for our shipment to arrive in the fall! read more

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Passalacqua location, deck, and private lunch area you cannot beat. It's an off the mainstream winery you should check out. Their space is small so make sure to make a reservation and know that their wine to buy is $35-60. Some of their reds were great but I didn't love the whites. This area is known for red wine so their Pinot rose was very tasty. If you're not interested in the hustle and bustle of the larger wineries you will get a very one on one experience here. read more

We enjoyed our wine tasting experience here but it got awkward really quick. The wine is great and the views overlooking the neighbors vineyards are awesome. It's a beautiful property hands down. What I wish I knew before visiting here was a few things: when I went on their website it doesnt mention a tasting fee, it states: "we do not charge a recreational tasting fee as our guests come to find and purchase wines they wish to bring home" this statement was a little confusing to me so I reached out via email. The confimed there is no tasting fee which is cool but not at all a common occurrence. We booked a tasting for the next day. Upon arrival the staff was nice and guided us to our spot overlooking the vineyard. Our tasting was well over 2 hours and we only tried 3 small pours of wine, most of the time was spent waiting on our wine educator and actually listening to her stories. I mean it's nice to meet new people and hear their experience but most of the time was her talking about her family, step dad and their family dynamic of a blended household. It wasn't really the relaxing afternoon I expected to spend with my wife. Most of the time the wine educator would sit down and make herself comfortable and talk to us. It was really hard to get much privacy between us during the tasting, maybe if there was more wine involved it would have been fine with a buzz towards the end of the tasting, the wine educator asked us if we would like to take something home, we purchase the 2020 j.rickards vineyard zin. Our wine educator brought our check and it was $75 per person for the tasting and the bottle of wine. We asked her to clarify why there was a tasting fee charge. She proceeded to tell us that most people that come tasting end of joining the club or buying more wine than we did and therefore they don't charge a fee. I explained I talked to someone via email and double confirmed about the no tasting fee and she replied that is something they are trying to work out. I guess they expect everyone to join that visits, that's where it really rubbed me wrong with the term "no recreational tasting fee" anywho she removed the fees and just charged the wine. That's when we were finally able to wrap up this visit and move on. Although our wine educator was very nice, it was just exhausting to just sit there for two hours to hear all about her and her life. The property was beautiful and we enjoyed the wines but I'm not sure if we will return, it was just a overall not relaxing experience. read more

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Colin hosted for my mother and aunt during their stay in CA for my wedding back in July and as a gift, my mother took my wife and I to Passalacqua Winery! I absolutely LOVED the experience. Colin was beyond an excellent host; we didn't feel even remotely uncomfortable being absolute novices when it comes our love for red and white wines, as he went into excellent detail about palate preferences and history of how the different types were made. I would ABSOLUTELY go again! read more

We first visited in November 2020 and our trip planner found this gem for us. I love reds and I immediately knew we needed to become members. We are a part of their red wine shipment. We have never been disappointed by the views, service, stories, and wine. The views are beautiful. I always look forward to the holiday season for their shipments! The inspire 2019 wine is incredible. read more

I Passalaqua Winery. We have been wine club members since 2015. Every time we are here we are treated like life long friends. Sitting on their beautiful patio drinking amazing wines. I love the innovative and creative wines Jessica creates. Colin is delightful and dose a great job training his staff members. We are always thrilled when we visit 2x a year to taste the wines and of course bring home more. Annually we also purchase their futures which are wonderful. If your looking for great cabs, zins and some great blends visit Passalaqua. Our favorites are the Familia, PQZ and fiano. read more

Dry Creek Valley is truly a wine country gem and experience to explore and enjoy. Lake Sonoma and her wineries are simply fantastic and visually stunning. With so many wineries to drink up amazing varietals...here lies Passalacqua...Awesome! You will need an appointment to stop in for a visit. All good! You can call same day and if available get ready for a relaxing time of wine country hospitality. The winery is set just off Dry Creek Road near Lambert Bridge. Vineyards surround multiple deck areas overlooking the vines. You can also be seated inside near the fireplace and tasting lounge. The wine varietals themselves are fantastic (C'mon...Lol...This is why we really visit!). The Zinfandel and Cabernet are incredibly tasty and you can even order up some charcuterie too! The hospitality is second to none with a knowledgable and fun tasting room staff who love their work...gotta have a passion for wine...not a 9-5 job! A great all around wine country experience for certain. Really cool...They do not advertise or distribute their wine...A special place in the valley. Cheers! read more

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Lovely outdoor "socially distanced" wine tasting on the patio with sweeping views. Wonderful build up on the flight tasting with total attention to our group and great telling of the various vineyards from where the grapes came. Completely recommend! read more

There is nothing more unattractive than a grown man blowing chunks and this is what greeted us upon arrival to Passalacqua Winery. At noon, only an hour into the dry creek passport weekend, good god man you really need to pace yourself better. That experience aside the rest of my experience may have not been much better. Let's just say I found the staff completely stuck up and unprofessional, their wine was average at best, and I will not be back again. $15 to $20 per person for a tasting. read more

The Dry Creek Valley is another world away from the madness of any career, city or stress. I enjoyed an amazing Passport weekend which started and ended at Passalacqua. I have made a vow to go back at least twice a year (from LA). The entire event was family run, with cousins, sisters, fathers, mothers, wives, brothers and even little Mariela. If you have good taste, not only in wine, but in atmosphere, ambiance, and surroundings, you will love Passalacqua. You will not want to leave. We actually have to pull ourselves out of the place and force ourselves to visit other wineries. None compare. Yes, a winery is about the experience and beautiful gardens, views and surroundings, but what should bring you back is the wine. Mostly known for the amazing Zins, you can not taste a glass that does not blow you away. Even after a few cases we have gone through at home, every new bottle we open tastes new and like the first taste of the most delicious wine you will have the pleasure to experience. I don't know what adjectives to use to describe the wine.. "hints of chocolate, coffee with a fruity and smooth palette", but i can send you all a guarantee, no matter what the level of wine expert you are, you can not go wrong. No wine snob atmosphere here, the most pleasant and accommodating family and staff we have ever encountered across Napa or Sonoma! Thanks Jason and Noelle! read more

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We really enjoy Passalacqua and their wines. Each time we have visited we have been treated to a fantastic tasting event served with class and consideration. For the people that have mentioned "not kid friendly" - "What do you mean reservations?" etc. well - it isn't kid friendly and yes, you do need reservations. It is a business and a wine business at that. It is part of their exclusivity and frankly, part of the experience is to get away from the kids in an adult setting. read more

What a stunning winery, gorgeous views and delicious red wines. Our friends are members and recommended we visit so we booked an appointment. We had such a great experience, so relaxing in an idyllic setting. And Sadie was charming, so knowledgeable about wine and extremely accommodating. A truly wonderful afternoon. read more

Hands down my favorite winery to visit! The staff are very personable and make you feel like you are their most special guest of the day. The wine is divine, the setting spectacular, and the ambiance magnificent. We have become wine club members there and highly recommend their Estate Zinfandel! read more

We had a great time at this winery but the wines weren't our favorites. They had a special event going during barrel tasting that we managed to snag tickets to. I will say that the 2013 barrel tastes were terrific. I think it seems promising for the next vintage. The 2012 was in the tasting room though and it did not seem special. They had a paella chef on the property for the event (Gerard's) and it was fantastic! The owners of the winery (the wife is the wine maker) were on site and we were able to chat with them at length about the process which was really educational and a meaningful experience. The people were really terrific so I was disappointed that I didn't really connect with any of their wines. I could certainly see returning another year when the 2013 is released because like I said, what we sampled from the barrel did seem very promising! Oh and shout out to their yellow lab, Abby, who I absolutely adored! She was available for kisses and lots of affection! read more

Passalacqua Winery - Abby - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies is this: "An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure" (bonus points if you can name the movie). Unfortunately, it appears that Passalacqua has decided to go the manure route. I've been a wine club member at Passalacqua for well over a decade. I haven't been up in a couple of years and called to make a reservation for Father's Day (oh, the irony) for a small group of adults and kids. And was told that the winery is not "kid friendly" anymore. I've been to A LOT of wineries in California and never heard of such a thing. After the initial "WTF" moment, I get it, not everyone wants to have kids around when they are enjoying a glass of wine. But the fact that this particular winery is not kid-friendly is especially odd because they had always billed themselves as a family winery (irony, again, and also hypocrisy). Of course, the Passalacqua family has the right to run their winery however they want. I am sure there is no shortage of people who are only too happy to go to a kid-free winery. But I have the right to take my money elsewhere, and so I have. Wine club membership canceled. I am sure there are plenty of wineries in the Dry Creek Valley who will welcome my money - and my kid. read more

I love this place. This is probably one of my fav. wineries in Northern California. The staff is always soo polite and friendly and the wines are always delicious. I will always come here every time I am in the area. You have to make a reservation to visit, but that is a good thing to keep away all of the drunk people who drink wine just to get drunk! Thank you for making me a happy jew :) read more

The setting is very pretty, and it's around the corner from the General Store along Dry Creek. Note: by reservation only. Tastings are $25, but each of the pours is pretty small. One person's fee is waived for every 3 bottles you purchase. I think you're paying more for the experience - it's a very beautiful outdoor setting overlooking the vineyards. They come to you with the wines, and they're clearly very knowledgeable about the wine production. They focus on zins, but they did have a chardonnay, as well. We ended up liking the PQZ the best (around $40/bottle). They're a very small production company, with some wines having only 9 barrels of the variety per year. Again - on the pricy side for a tasting, but it's a very nice experience. read more

*Note: this review is for Passalacqua's Wine ONLY* I was introduced to Passalacqua's wine last night during a private tasting at The Inn at Union Square in San Francisco. The Inn, a boutique hotel in Downtown, brought in Passalacqua, a winery in Healdsburg, to do a private wine tasting event for their guests. The Sales Manager, Lisa, was present to introduce the wines and do the pourings. She was very personable - informing and educating the guests of the various wines they brought in for tasting. These are the Passalacqua wines I tasted: - 2008 Dry Creek Chardonnay * RECOMMEND * - 2008 Russian River Valley Zinfandel - Viti della Nebbia ** HIGHLY RECOMMEND ** - 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel - Maple Vineyard - 2008 Dry Creek Valley Sangiovese - 2008 Dry Creek Valley Carbernet Sauvignon * RECOMMEND * Of these, my personal favorite was the Viti della Nebbia Zinfandel. This Zin had a hint of a fruity taste, was full-bodied and extremely smooth, which made it delicious (especially paired with my brie!) and so easy to drink! While I am not usually a white drinker, Passalacqua's Dry Creek Chardonnay won me over. It was so smooth and refreshing! It was probably the best Chardonnay I've had in a really long time. I'd highly recommend it to the white and/or Chardonnay drinkers. The Sangiovese didn't go as well with me, but quite possibly due to the fact that I had my heart set on the Viti della Nebbia! I also enjoyed the Cabernet, and would rate this as my second favorite below the Viti della Nebbia. The Maple Vineyard Zin was good, but nothing close to its rival. The Maple Vineyard Zin just couldn't top the Viti della Nebbia - which was hands down the best! I really enjoyed Passalacqua's wine tasting event at The Inn at Union Square. I was highly impressed with the quality of Passalacqua's wines and will definitely buy/drink it in the future. A big "thank you" to both the winery and the hotel for hosting such an enjoyable and successful event! The next time I'm in Healdsburg or Wine Country, I'll most certainly make a stop at Passalacqua's Winery to tour and taste! read more

Don't let the little reserved sign on our table fool you. Not a snobby place that won't take you in . The wine is Amazing!!! 2008 Cab block 4 was beyond. Was driving around enjoying the beautiful views when I decided to stop at what looked like someone's retirement home. Once you walk to the back...WOW... view for miles. If you become a wine member which I suggest... there are private Cabanas that make you feel like your on your Honey moon. The staff is beyond friendly ... had a lovely woman be my tour guide... she was great. Simply a great must visit of Sonoma. read more

Passalacqua Winery - Wow. Just wow. - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

A delightful place. We came here for barrel tasting & thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide was knowledgeable & friendly and we thought the wines were good. I don't know how often they do this, but paella was served on the veranda. What's not to like? A fun place with great scenery & wines. read more

Smaller than most but so worth it. Our group loved the wines, service was great the two staff were so friendly, knowledgeable and ready to satisfy all our needs. Absolutely beautiful scenery and very nicely decorated/landscaped. Excellent for private functions. read more

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Poo, poo I say. Good wine, well made if not a bit overpriced compared to others in Dry Creek. That said. Know it all and uber salesy dude at the counter. Interesting history to the winery and beautiful grounds for it's small size but that was all in the shadow of Mr. Used Datsun salesguy pushing cheesy lines. We had a tasting pass from our B & B that he wouldn't honor in spite of buying wine and asking courteously. Too bad, we were going to put that toward another bottle. read more

This is a great winery to visit while in the Dry Creak area. I have been here a couple times now and have left with bottles both visits. Most recently I purchased one a 2006 Zin. The man pouring was knowledgeable and friendly, and he took time to talk about the wines in detail with us. The property is beautiful; a great place to break for lunch or snacks. read more

We stopped here on a whim as we were driving around the area recently. I really wasn't ready for a wine tasting that early in the day, but their sign said "garden" and not being one to pass up a garden, we stopped. We did make our way into the tasting room and enjoyed a tasting. Several whites and reds, more than were listed on the tasting sheet. The woman who poured for us was delightful, I'm sorry I can't recall her name now. She answered all our questions, explaining different aspects of the wines simply and understandably. I felt I could ask anything without worrying whether my questions were naive or not. The final two wines were accompanied by the most amazing chocolate truffles rolled in cinnamon and chipotle pepper. An amazing combo. Needless to say, we ordered some wine to be shipped home. It would be fun to join their wine club and stop there often to enjoy a picnic and glass of wine on their patio. Highly recommended. read more

Wonderful experience! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The wines were absolutely great and we were definitely left wanting more and to go back very soon. The 08 Cab was amazing, but their Zins and Sauv Blancs were equally excellent! Joined the wine club and we can't wait for the first shipment. read more

Last tasting of the day, we had a great experience. We decided on this place after our scheduled stop didn't put out a good vibe. What a beautiful but quaint tasting room and really nice grounds. They had an event for a 25 year old's birthday party going on. Because I went wine tasting with 30 of my friends when I turned 25 too. Our host was sharing that many of them had never tasted wine before. They all looked like they were having a lot of fun. Who wouldn't at this place. All in all, the Saviognon Blanc was quite refreshing as well as the Primitivo. We managed to get out of there with a few bottles as well. read more

Cute and quaint winery with yummy yummy wines. A flight of 4 costs only $5. The woman who helped us was extremely knowledgeable. I was able to taste the same Chardonney prepared in two seperate ways. The first was prepared in steel casings. The 2nd was prepared the traditional way and tasted significantly different than the first ( and not in a bad way). Wine tasting in this particular area was nice and not as touristy as the usual adventure in Napa. read more

My friend and I had a fabulous time here! We were pretty much the only people there the afternoon we visited. The man working was extremely friendly and talkative. We bought an amazing bottle of zin and picnicked for hours in their beautiful outdoor area. This place is definitely worth the stop!! read more

The best winery I've been to and especially friendly staff. They don't pour much for the wine tastings. The reserve wine tasting is definitely worth the $10 and with it comes a little extra attention. I went three times before I became a wine club member and I haven't been disappointed since. If you go, try the cabs, bite the bullet and get their 18/19 2004 Cab. It's excellent. read more

The best wine tasting experience I have ever had. We were a party of five and seated out on a beautiful patio area. Our host, Colin, not only poured our wine, told us about them, but also shared wonderful stories of the wine, the area and of his Scotland birthplace. By the time we left, we had tasted some of the finest wines in the area and felt we had made a new friend. If you are trying to go to many wineries and want 3-4 pours and move on, don't bother to go to Passalacqua. This is for wine sipping and leisurely tasting. You won't be sorry that you lingered. read more

This winery started off as a great experience. I came here with some friends for my birthday and we were having a fun time. We paid for a wine tasting and were enjoying the experience when we were cut short and asked to leave. Our driver informed us that our wine server cut our tasting short because he thought we were all too tipsy. It was our 2nd stop for the day and we hadn't been drinking that much. I noticed that the winery wasn't happy with an impromptu visit or guests and was denying anyone who showed up for a wine tasting without a reservation. The winery wasn't very busy which was a surprise, as the wine was good. All in all it made for a disappointing visit, as it was our first experience with the winery and my birthday. read more