I try not to use the phrase a "hidden gem" too often or not at all, but Sonoma Aperitif should fall into that category if it indeed a legitimate term to use! I had loose plans to visit Sonoma Aperitif on a weekend a few months back, but was not committed due to other plans. Well I had some spare time and figured I'd try to stop by and see if I could do a walk in tasting/sample. Laura who is the owner graciously accepted us into her old style barn converted into a tasting room. It really displays the Petaluma hospitality as well as the true country vibe of the aesthetics inside. For those a tad confused about Aperitifs, it is not your normal cocktail you will throw back or glass of wine/beer. They are typically served before or after (Sometimes depending on the country/region) to cleanse the palette. This is not to say you cannot make cocktails with it, but typically from what I have been told it is an after or before meal "sipper". Back to the tasting, Laura had a few that she was pouring today ranging from Lime/Citrus to Buddhas hand and Grapefruit. All had their very own distinction from each other. The real jewel of the tasting was the fact that Laura was pairing everything with very simple ingredients to make delicious cocktails! To give an example a aperitif splash with a rosemary shrub gave the aperitif a whole different level of complexity. The tasting itself was very affordable, and at the time included a wine tasting at the same bar by another company (No longer being offered though). Flavors may change throughout the year due to the seasons of various fruits though, so what one may see on one visit, may be gone the next depending on inventory, so keep that in mind if you really like any of the aperitifs. I could easily recommend this to someone who is looking for an alternative to Wine and Beer tastings. read more

Apéritif is a French word derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means "to open". An apéritif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite, and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet." Fantastic alternative from ciders and wine tasting. (But I still love ciders and wine :) I've never experienced aperitif. Laura, the creative mistress and owner was highly informative and had so much passion with her creations. Her previous career led her to this wonderful libation. The public gets to reap the rewards. This tasting bar shares the barn themed building. We came in to taste her aperitif creations and ciders from a very new up and coming cidery, "Acre and Spade" (see my Yelp review) After our cider tastimg, she placed 3 different tall slim bottles of aperitifs and poured each one in a very tiny martini stemmed glass, along with a ceramic bucket to pour any extra aperitif. As she poured each aperitif one flavor at a time, she offered the flavor profile. It's great with a bit of ice, which is extra perfect on hot days. She then made a cocktail using a lemon flavored "shrub *" and one of the aperitif (sorry I forgot which one). It was delish. I felt so "classy" lol. She added a sprig of fresh rosemary, so as your sipping, your nose picks up the Rosemary aroma. We offered our opinion for each aperitif and she listened intently as we slowly tasted each one. Their was no wrong answer as each flavor description is subjective to our own taste buds. This visit was eye opening, informative and very enjoyable. Our group ended up purchasing a pack of cider and few bottles of aperitif. She mentioned she had a few strawberry aperitif which we were lucky to enjoy. These aperitifs will be part of holiday dinners or any festive group gatherings. But equally fantastic for summer parties or warm/hot weather. * "The term "shrub" can also be applied to the sweetened vinegar-based syrup, from which the cocktail is made; the syrup is also known as drinking vinegar. Drinking vinegar is often infused with fruit juice, herbs and spices for use in mixed drinks." read more

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Well, this place is awesome. Seriously though, if you're in the mood for a truly unique tasting, then you absolutely have to come here. Sit down and enjoy the delicious alcohol + fruit infused cocktails. I can honestly say this has been my favorite spot to discover in a very long time. I am so excited to have found this place and I plan to come back very soon. Additionally, I plan to ring my friends and family here when they visit - it is that wonderful of an experience (and delicious too! So. Delicious!) I bought a bottle of the Strawberry Basil aperitif to go, so I can try to replicate some of the amazing tastings I had. Just do yourself a favor and check this wonderful place out. You will absolutely love it. read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

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Laura is so cute! WE actually stumbled in on accident (looking for Scoggin Wines) it probably happens all the time, but shes always so inviting and her place is super cute and rustin. It was empty on a Sunday evening, but nevertheless we decided to give it a shot. She is so creative with her flavor combinations. I love how passionate she is, even though this is just her hobby (what a cool hobby!). Her flavors are all pair really well. and I love when she busts out the champagne and makes little mimosas for you to try. They're to die for! They'd be so refreshing on a summer's day. My favorites were the Grapefruit and the Chine Quince Aperitif. It was awesome we got to try all her little concoctions and she fed his jam/cheese and crackers as well. Overall it was a lovely experience and so unique! Definitely stop in her (accident or not) and you'll be humbled by Laura's graciousness and welcoming :) read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Cheese and marmalade tasting! - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

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On a Friday afternoon, my entire office gathered to experience Sonoma Aperitif. We were welcomed by owner, crafter, graphic designer, and hostess extraordinaire, Laura. From the first sip to the last, we were all captivated. Her aperitifs are all created with local organic fruits and herbs, often sought after and handpicked by Laura from unusual and forgotten fruit trees & bushes, white wine and fortified with vodka (16% alcohol). We started with tastes of all her current seasonal aperitifs, which included: white nectarine and rose, strawberry and basil, heirloom citrus, ruby red grapefruit, and rangpur lime. They were intoxicating to smell, I think you could probably get away with wearing them as perfume. And they were sublime to sip on; ice cold, lightly sweet and bursting with fresh flavor. The rangpur lime was very unusual, it took a sip or two for my palate to adjust to the flavor. My favorites were the white nectarine and strawberry basil, but they were all very good. So, you'd think the FREE tasting would end there, but oh no, we were just starting. Then Laura brought out her drinking shrub, which is non-alcoholic and meant to be mixed into drinks, not imbibed solo. In case you haven't heard about this stuff it's becoming all the rage, especially in hyper-local, hipster, foodie type spots. Laura had a raspberry and a sour cherry shrub that we first sipped on its own. By itself it tastes like an awesome marinade or salad dressing, sweet and very vinegary. But then it was mixed into cocktails; sour cherry with grapefruit aperitif and raspberry with prosecco (my new most favorite drink ever). It's heaven and I'm already playing with the raspberry shrub I bought at home in assorted cocktail incarnations. But the tasting didn't end there either! So, what happens to all that fabulous fruit once it's been infused into the wine? Laura turns it into jam ($8)! So we sampled her jam on bread accompanied by goat cheese. Delicious and such great use of something that might otherwise go into your compost. After sampling blackberry and raspberry/santa rosa plum, Laura pulled out her sweet red vermouth and anise biscuits. I've never really sipped on vermouth, and boy was I surprised how GOOD it was! I had in my mind vermouth tasted like medicine (I have a one time attempt to make a gin martini to thank for that). This was herbaceous, sweet and in perfect company with anise biscotti. Unfortunately, this vermouth was developed for another company and she doesn't sell it. But, she is working on a version for her company that she will have for sale... hopefully soon! I really could go on and on about this place and the fabulous products that Laura makes, it was an incredible experience and I can't wait to keep trying new aperitifs as they come out. I left with a bottle of the white nectarine and rose aperitif ($25 regardless of flavor) which was met by oohs and awws from everyone that tried it. It was also very good mixed with some bubbly, it added a subtle sweet note. And of course that raspberry shrub ($15), which I have yet to try on food, but I suspect would be a winner in that arena as well. Because of the type of license she has, she is open by appointment only. But she informed us she is typically there on Sat & Sun from 1pm to 5pm, so just give her a call if you're in the area. You will seriously thank me for it! read more

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Laura is great and the aperitifs and shrub are incredibly fabulous. They are ideal summer fruity libations to sip on a warm day - preferably near a pool, lake or the sea! My favorite was the citrus with Buddha's hand, but my husband preferred the grapefruit! Taste them and decide which is your fave!!! read more

Wonderful place! I visited from the east coast and Laura is very nice and detail oriented. The place is quiet, private and quaint! The aperitifs are delicious! Must come if you are in Sonoma! read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

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My boyfriend and I stumbled upon a GEM! The owner was so kind and generous. Our tasting included 5 different types of delicious aperitifs as well as her delicious preserves. She had such a welcoming, knowledgeable, and playful presence. It was a true treat. We bought a bottle of Grapefruit Qu'est-'ce Que c'est Aperitif. It has been a favorite at holiday gatherings with a bit of champagne on top! I'm almost out and headed back for more....maybe fig or quince this time....might have to just try them all again! Thank you read more

We didn't have an appointment but saw the great Yelp review and decided to see since we were in the area. Laura is great! She welcomed us in and was super informative. She explained her craft and explained the products that she had. We got an aperitifs as well as a preserve. Both were awesome. read more

This was such a cute little find! The aperitifs were amazing- such a refreshing summer treat! Woman owned, and super knowledgeable. And the ambience of the tasting room was so adorable. Such an awesome place. I am definitely coming back next time we are in town! read more

My husband and I were visiting Penngrove recently and we stumbled on Sonoma Aperitif while looking for PW Scoggins winery, and thank goodness we did!! Laura was absolutely amazing. Very warm and welcoming. Not only did we try different aperitifs and shrubs, but she answered all our questions (and believe me, we had A LOT since we'd never heard of an aperitif before). The highlights for us were the white nectarine and roses aperitif, grapefruit aperitif, and the sour cherry shrub. We loved that everything was made from local ingredients on site. At the end of our tasting, Laura was nice enough to draw us a little map of the area and let us know what to check out since we'd never been to Penngrove before. All of her recommendations were spot on!! Next time we're in the area, we'll definitely go back!! read more

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Love it! I had a lovely time tasting and chatting with Laura. Her tasting room is adorable. We tasted aperitifs, shrubs and jam. My favorite thing I tasted was the heriloom citrus aperitif although I bought every thing I tasted. Laura was so welcoming and she clearly loves talking about citrus fruit and recipes. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying new flavors. read more

Sonoma Aperitif - tasting - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

We stopped by this lil Gem on the way out of town and we're glad we did. My wife and I were very impressed with the quality and hospitality we experienced during our visit. We tried a wonderful tasting of different aperitifs that were made by Laura, who was very gracious and knowledgeable. We can't wait to go back and would suggest to bring a few people with you to experience it. read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

We stopped in and didn't want to leave. The Apertif are amazing. These are fairly uncommon to most Americans, but very common in France and extremely well-made and delicious. When she try these they will be on your pre-dinner menu. We also enjoyed the Camraderie and the fine Mendocino red wine from their shared Winery partner - delicious pepper flavors common in European wines - just delicious. Super nice ladies too read more

You must stop in for a delicate taste of Laura's exquisite aperitifs

Laura was an extreme pleasure to learn from, and she was a great host! The aperitif's are delicious, and the shrubs are so amazing! I highly recommend stopping by and doing a tasting, you will want to take every bottle home. read more

We stumbled across Sonoma Aperitif and are so glad we did! We got a personal tasting of aperitifs and tasty marmalades from the owners/producer herself. All of her aperitifs were so creative and delicious! Her marmalades were so fresh and full of fruit favor!! Be sure to stop by here and try something different!! read more

Super fun addition to any wine tour of the area. We were lucky enough to be served a trio of amazing wine-based drinks by proprietor Laura Hagar Rush including an amazing lil white wine, blood orange, rosemary and prosecco concoction. Fantastic. read more

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. As we were pulling up, Laura was just about to leave for lunch but decided to make time for us. She gave us tastings from the Bosch Pear, Chinese Quince, Feijoa,Grapefruit & Blood Orange aperitifs. The Bosch Pear & Chinese Quince were our immediate favorites. Having been to France, and tried their aperitifs, the ones that Laura made were far superior. I also love that it's small batch and she uses what's in season to make her products. I was already very happy with the tastings but Laura also let us taste some of her homemade jams. Somewhere along the way she must have read that I was adventurous because she brought out some citrus that I have never heard of before. We got to taste some of those as well. The best part of the experience was when Laura let us taste another batch of grapefruit aperitif that she had stashed away. The one that we tasted in the beginning was a little too bitter for my tastes so she mentioned that this particular batch was sweeter. It was, and I immediately wanted a bottle of it. That's when she said that she wanted to bottle it right then and there and that I could bottle my own. This was a particularly big deal to me because I love seeing how things are done from start to finish. It was such a special experience to me and I could never express my gratitude enough to her. In a way, I hope that this place stays the same so I can keep coming back and have it be special but I also want Laura's business to thrive and grow. She is a fantastic lady and I hope to be back soon! read more

The best aperitifs in town! Laura was so friendly and has the best hospitality! We sampled all her bottles, which are all fantastic! The only negative is deciding which bottle to buy first! Thanks again Laura, we will definitely be back!! read more

Laura is amazing! So sweet, fun and she truly cares about what she's doing. She is very willing to share her knowledge and talk about her journey to aperitifs. And on top of all of that, her aperitifs are fabulous. Especially the feijoa and blood orange. Do it. read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Laura prepping the goat cheese with her jam!!!! (Made from left over apertif wine rinds)! - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

Unique experience with a gracious owner. The aperitifs are delicious and fragrant. Highly recommend a visit!

We had such an amazing time visiting Sonoma aperitif. Laura is such a gracious host and made us feel ever so welcome. Definitely generous with the pours and the aperitifs all taste amazing. Laura was gracious enough to make us a couple of cocktails as well and treat us to some of her very delicious jam, also homemade. I would definitely recommend visiting Sonoma aperitif, it was such a lovely and relaxing experience for myself and my boyfriend. More people need to know about this place, visit soon and you will not be disappointed. read more

An incredible experience. A true gem where home made aperitifs hide, made of herbs, fruits and flowers with the greatest care from the owner who welcomed us with a big smile and guided us through her universe of multiple tastes. She was generous with the free tasting and kind to our children who could try non alcoholic variables. read more

This place is awesome! We sort of ended up here by accident and it was such a pleasant surprise. The owner (Laura) started the business a couple of months ago. She uses (mostly local) organic fruits and spices to infuse wine into a lovely before (or after) dinner drink. We tasted grapefruit, quince and anise, pineapple guava, pear and pear and fig, as well as a lovely sour cherry shrub. Laura was a friendly and welcoming host, and it made it a great experience. I bought several bottles, which were quite reasonably priced. read more

What a wonder stop !!! Thank you Laura the tasting was spectacular !!! So excited to take some shrub home. :)

My boyfriend and I happened upon this place a little by accident and boy were we glad! I never would have thought to go aperitif tasting and it was such a unique, interesting experience. Everything we tried was delicious! Laura, the owner, was also charming and generous. Great spot! Ask her about the shrubs. :) read more

This place is an amazing gem. Every drink is unique, delicious, and a piece of art. Also the price is extremely reasonable for what you are getting. Do yourself a favor and come to taste these appertifs, shrubs, and whatever she happens to have on hand today. read more

Love!!! This place is so fun and different! Highly recommend!!! Great service. A little hard to find. read more

Sonoma Aperitif - Wineries Near Me - Penngrove, California

After a lovely afternoon at Lagunitas Brewery we decided to check out a winery near by. Sooma Aperitif is only about 1/2 mile from the brewery so we made our way there with only 10 minutes left before closing. Laura was so friendly and an amazing hostess. She enjoyed chatting with us about her aperitif. I had no idea what an aperitif was before visiting this little place and she gladly talked to us about its history, her recipes-- and we were all captivated. Would definitely recommend stopping by. read more

Normally I like to review places after my second visit as much as I can. I have to say that Sonoma Aperitif is impressive and a must see in Penngrove / Santa Rosa area. Laura is by far one of the artisans that dedicates her soul to her work. With that comes an array of wonderful experiences and one of the most pleasant and amazing tastings of none wine in the wine country. She has revive old traditions with new materials and brings to live combinations with her shrubs that made me happy and amazed. There are not enough great things that I can say about my experiences here at Sonoma Aperitif. I came to the area two times in between and could not make it to see her and have to say that I actually felt sad for not being able to see her and see what else she had come up with. That says something considering the abundant options in the area. You must come, try, support and enjoy this place. You will find the experience great and the owner a pleasure to meet. read more

This was one of the best tastings I have done. Laura is truly passionate about her aperitifs and products. We enjoyed hearing her stories, and her generosity and excitement made our trip off the beaten path well worth it. Foodies and seekers of unique and independent artisanal finds should not miss this gem. read more

My boyfriend and I are new to the area, and we actually found Sonoma Aperitif by accident (we were looking for P.W. Scoggins Wines, which is another great stop right next store). Laura was incredibly friendly and welcoming and we were happy that we found her! Her aperitifs are simple amazing. I love all of them, but some of my favorites include strawberry basil and pear. They are lovely on their own and they are also delicious mixed with a little champagne. I have stopped by Laura's shop many more times, and every time there is something new and interesting to taste. I would highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. read more

Very fun and personal tasting! Delicious aperitifs and custom mixings made for a great time!

I've been tearing out magazine articles about Sonoma Aperitif for over a year, always hoping to have some extra time to be able to check it out. Last week it finally happened and I'm so very happy it did! Not only is the owner fun and congenial, not only is the space open and bright but the Apertifs are amazing! Delicious! Inspired! It's my new "go-to gift" for all of my friends! Of special note: Loquat & Roses. Astonishingly delicious. read more