We got married at Pacheco Ranch Winery - from the moment we met Deb and Herb and walked the…read moregrounds, to the cleanup after the big day, we loved every second we spent here. We couldn't describe more ideal hosts for our wedding - Deb and Herb were kind and thoughtful, extremely professional and prompt, super flexible, and an absolute joy to work with. With all our questions and extra visits, we always felt welcome and accommodated at Pacheco Ranch. On the day of the wedding, Herb and Deb were directing traffic, managing vendors, and clearly enjoying every moment of it. They take so much pride and love in caring for their home, and it shows in the natural beauty that flows throughout the ranch.

Who even knew this place was here? Talk about a hidden gem - i've lived about two miles from…read morePacheco Ranch, have passed the grapevines many times, but never realized there was an actual winery back there! The grounds are beautiful, I see why many people choose this spot for weddings and parties. The old ranch house is still owned by a descendent of Ignacio Pacheco - for whose family our town, some shopping centers, and a bunch of streets (including Rowland) in Marin are all named. We were there on a beautiful November day at an event remembering a friend who had recently passed. Even though the event itself was bittersweet, the management at the ranch did an exceptional job of making our visit memorable. The family provided parking assistance, led all the guests to the beautiful outdoor space, and kept the food and beverages flowing during the memorial. I will definitely think of Pacheco for our next event!

Really nice spot to go after the farmers market on Saturday afternoon. Friendly staff, great wine…read moreand relaxed atmosphere. Theres a patio area with comfortable seating and two fire pits. Tried the red wine flight and the Prosecco brut, both were delicious. I will definitely be going back.

I'm loving it thus far! Perfect Dog, People and car watching spot. Friendly and welcoming. And…read moredirectly across the street from Pizzeria Picco!

Gordon Hull built his "meadery" from scratch, love and best-work local employees that also…read more(obviously) are "LIVE" people that bring the love of their/this "unique" land -- the incredible Pt. Reyes and Inverness natural environs -- to living color. He, in his epicurean farmers-neighbor's traditions relish the "art of great homegrown, local ... 'food' ...". So, "SHUUuu. (!!)". ... it's a 'secret" ... along with much of SFBay Area northern environs as well ... UnForgettable.

The mead was delicious! The gardens were so beautiful to walk around and see all the flowers. The…read moreperson manning the counter was very kind and knew a lot about the mead. They also have lots of cute merch including honey which we bought! If you buy 3 bottles they waive 1 tasting fee.

Food was good service was excellent and the ambiance made everything taste even better. Lovely…read morepeople with great customer service and very personable. We went for Mother's Day. Glad we had reservations. We had wine tasting along with food tasting. Everything was good and beautifully presented. Afterwards, we went into the gift shop and purchased lotions and the best ginger jam that paired well with Brie. The tastings were ample and a nice selection. It was pricey, but for a special occasion, worth it. The Ode body butter is the best I had to get another jar. It is really moisturizing and lasts a long time. I prefer the "verde" scent. They have lavender, and unscented too. very relaxing vibe.

McEvoy Ranch is a spectacular place that is surrounded by olive orchards, ponds, and wildlife. It…read morehas both advantages and disadvantages. My personal SWOT analysis is listed below: Strength: *Famous in California *It offers tours, tastings, workshops, and sells wines *Pioneering Olive Oil *Award-Winning Quality *Historical Significance *Sustainability & Organic Farming *A seat-down outdoor area with scenery for any occasion *Outlet shop in downtown Petaluma Weakness: *The place is in a remote area *The olive oil testing fee is pricey compared with other places we visited in Paso Robles California *Skin products are large and heavy for tourists to take on an airplane or carry on *The table turnover rate is lower than restaurants with food consumption *No restaurant or delicatessen available *They need to hire more staff to maintain the quality of their property Opportunities: *If customer satisfaction is high *If they have good marketing strategies *Not many competitors nearby *More demand *Skin product choices are variable Threats: *If people are not familiar with olive products, they may not like this place *Customers may occupy the tables for a long time during peak season or times *Other places or similar products may have better quality at a lower price with generous portions *An alternative option in the food industry, suppliers, and cosmetics companies Overall, it's a great place to hang out on any occasion with family or small groups. The outdoor area is beautiful and relaxing. Since it is an open space, it could be very hot in summer or cold in winter, or during the rainy season. Moreover, this ranch is also not very noticeable to international tourists. We found it because during the New Year's holiday, many places are closed. So we googled this place while we were staying at the Hampton Inn Petaluma. We are from San Luis Obispo, California. There are many olive oil farms nearby. We not only visited the farms but also tasted the olive oil at a little fee or sometimes even for free.

I've been here a few times for events. One time was an outdoor grape stomping contest--so much fun!…read moreWe made a t-shirt with our grape-stained feet! We danced in the roped-off street to Doc Kraft. We played skee ball that day, too. We've danced indoors, too. My favorite is Jay Lewallen, who has sometimes paired with other musicians. I love his cover of the song Rusty Cage. We've played bingo there a few times, too. Trek Winery's Sangiovese wine is my absolute favorite. It's a cozy, neighborhood place with tall ceilings. The back patio has a lovely water feature. Everyone who works there is personable and helpful. They always have a few items that would make interesting gifts like candle holders from barrel planks, at times.

This is a great wine bar in downtown Novato. It is a couple blocks away from Grant Ave. A few of my…read moregirlfriends introduced me to Trek while back. Since then I've been back a several times. They sell beer, red and white wine and champagne by the glass. The last time I was there one of the staff mentioned they will be selling more champagne which is great news since I'm a bubbles girl! They have a food menu as well. I've tried a couple of their flatbreads which are tasty. Last year they started to host bingo for various organizations in their big venue space. It's lots of fun and for great causes. The schedule is the first Sunday of every month and every Tuesday evening. There is also comedy shows, chair massage events and live music in the main area.

Dancing Crow Vineyards brought a selection of wines to the Clement Street Farmers Market San…read moreFrancisco. Decent pricing on a nice mix of vintages that were brought to the Farmers Market.

Stopped by the outdoor market in Larkspur and come upon this wine and casual tasting area. We…read moreenjoyed whites and reds. Then walked away with their bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Which was refreshing and hit the spot on a warm day. Hidden gem! Check it out.

Great winery with lots of history! I popped this cab from 1997! It has aged incredibly well. I…read morehave also spent time with the owner. Great guy, and great wine. Well done, sir!

Cool winery surprise! Driving over to Pt Reyes on a…read moregorgeous Sunday noticed this pleasant winery & Inn run by lovely couple Steve & Molly Doughty. Pleasantly surprised to find vintage Pinot Noir, '02'12 Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnay -oh my! The proprietors are delightful in regaling the history of this rare find; special blends for local rockstars The Grateful Dead-not for sale; delightful garden tasting & picnic area surrounded by happy hummingbirds & families enjoying the very pleasant atmosphere. Do stop in for a Tasting & buy some of their fine wines @ most reasonable prices & say hi! You'll be happy!

Cazadero makes some absolutely delicious wines. Their Parameter King Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay is…read moreoutstanding and so is the Bei Ranch Chardonnay. As a big fan of Pinot, I'm looking forward to trying their Parameter King Ridge Pinot Noir. I know some awesome Pinots come from Cazadero. The owner, Frank, is a very friendly man. Give it a try, and you won't be disappointed.

From the owner: Our Gold Medal winning Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons have been honored with 76 Gold & Silver…read moreMedals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp, New York Finger Lakes International, Women's International and Monterey Wine Competitions, The Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Sunset Magazine, Orange County Fair and the Grand Harvest Awards. We sell in many local Grocery Stores, Wine Bars, Restaurants, Specialty Shops and Our Website. To name a few of the places we like to sell out Wine at are: Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa CA, Wilibess in Petaluma CA, Big John's in Healdsburg CA, Fircrest in Sebastopol CA, Cazadero General Store in Cazadero CA and Sophie's Sellers in Duncans Mills CA.

Great hang out even if you don't drink though they prefer you do…read more Nice location downtown Great vibe Relaxing and full of people who love wine and music Wine slushies are yummy

Mantra is a great wine tasting room in downtown Novato. A girlfriend brought me here a few years…read moreago and we've gone back several times to enjoy a glass of bubbles. Their prices are reasonable and their champagne is fantastic. Over the summer I had a wine slushee that was delicious. The atmosphere is cozy. There is plenty of seating and also a few rooms off to the side where you can also sit and enjoy your drink. It's nice to sit outside when the weather is warm. Sometimes there is live music which is a treat. They offer food from Finnegan's which is a couple doors down. The service is always friendly.

Orion is the best red I've ever had. Granted I was influenced or primed to love it thanks to the GQ…read morearticle. But you literally drink this and sit back in awe.

We need more winemakers like Sean Thackrey -- and we certainly need more people like him as well…read more People often like to pose the question -- if you could invite anyone from any point in history to dinner, but could only invite so many people, who would you invite? Sean Thackery is one of my people. Considered by many to be a maverick, a rebel and an eccentric -- but also one of the most philosophical, intelligent, soulful and gifted people in the wine industry. Thackery did not get degree in viticulture or enology, he studied art history. His wines are made with his intuition, what his palate tells him and tips from his collection of ancient oenological texts (the world's largest such collection in his opinion). He has been making wine in a Bolinas eucalyptus grove for more than 20 years. The first wine he produced was a Cabernet Sauvignon, but quickly moved to other varietals. Today, Thackrey says he hasn't bought a Bordeaux or a Napa Cabernet in 25 years. "They're just too damn polite for me," he says. "Why drink a wine that you wouldn't like if it were a person? It's like sitting next to someone and everything they say has to be so proper." Tastings of his wines reveal consistently powerful, intense flavors and rugged tannins -- and there is a signature minty, eucalyptussy component as well. His wines are thought provoking and complex. Unlike almost every wine in the world, Thackrey believes his taste better the day after they are opened -- and I actually might agree. "My wines are like a person," he says. "They talk, they change, they tell you something different every sip. They taste different from one day to the next, from one hour to the next. That kind of complexity is what makes wine interesting." Thackrey certainly has his followers and his critics. There are those that love his wines and others who do not -- and many of his thoughts do not find a lot of acceptance from some in the industry. His operation is quite small (3,000-5,000 cases annually), only recently adding a forklift and a bottling line. He didn't learn how to make wine by going to UC Davis -- and has both feet firmly planted in the art, only sticking his toe into the science (but understands it does have its place in the process). Thackrey often notes that there is no word for "wine-maker" in French, adding that if "chefs were trained the way wine-makers are, you would rarely eat out." Thackrey says that each time he gets back from harvest, he turns off the engine, opens the cab, and looks back at the truckbed stacked with grapes, tons of them, in hundreds of boxes. He just looks; and after a very particular moment of silence, says to myself, "OK, Sean, there it is. Do something." The first thing he does first is very interesting. After the grapes are picked, he lets them sit and "rest" at least 24 hours outside his home, a technique that one UC Davis professor says nobody else does today. Thackrey says the idea goes back at least to the Greek poet Hesiod's book "Works and Days" (circa 700 B.C.). "(Letting the grapes rest) is commonplace in wine literature until the middle of the 19th century," Thackrey says. "That's what impressed me about it. It's a lot of work to do this, so they must have thought it was accomplishing some sort of useful purpose." Thackrey does use a machine to crush the grapes, but he pours the juice into open-top vats to ferment beneath the stars and eucalyptus trees -- a technique that fell out of fashion more than 200 years ago. Thackrey reads 7 languages. In addition to making wine, he is also creating an online archive of original texts that document the history of wine and wine making. He has personally transcribed all of these documents and the library currently contains about 100 transcriptions. He hopes this will be one of his huge contributions to the wine world, but his contributions go well beyond -- and he is so deserving of more attention, respect and adoration.