I went in the early winter, after the time change…read more + beautiful views, especially at sunset + sprawling grounds, which allowed for a bachelorette party to do their thing without disturbing my ears and other sensibilities + pleasant server; he wasn't rushing us though we were the last party to leave + good wines - some were a bit drier for my taste, though I did end up leaving with a bottle + a bit off the beaten path which I like I did have to ask if there was a charcuterie plate, which wasn't on the (wine) tasting menu, and was able to be accommodated. Make sure to make reservations as I'm sure this place is a delight in warmer weather!

We came here on a Sunday during November in the late afternoon. They have a beautiful property with…read moregreat vineyard views! We sat outside on the patio in a little covered gazebo. Our reservation was for 3pm, we were running a little late from a previous tasting and the host said it was fine as long as we got there by 3:30pm! We were the only ones there, so service was quick and attentive. Our host talked with us about the history of the winery and gave some details about each wine we tasted. This winery does tastings for $25 each and you get to try 4-5 different wines. We enjoyed our experience here and thought the wines were good, but nothing really stood out to make it a spectacular experience. I would've enjoyed getting to interact with our host more but it seemed like she was busy cleaning things up since they were closing soon. Overall we still had a nice time here and it was a beautiful place to enjoy some wine!

Kenwood Vineyards Spooky Fun & Spectacular Wine!…read more(Visited Halloween Weekend, 2025) What an amazing Halloween experience at Kenwood Winery in Sonoma! The staff went all out dressed to impress in their creative costumes, bringing such a fun, festive vibe to the night. We enjoyed a delicious cheese platter paired with generous pours of their incredible Jack London wines, rich, full-bodied, and absolutely delicious. Between the cozy atmosphere, friendly team, and top-notch wines, Kenwood is a must during spooky season (or any time of year!). Can't wait to come back for another glass or three!

Visited this winery during Sonoma Sips event ( Feb 15-Mar 15, 2025) . What a fantastic way to…read moreexperience a new winery with the offering of a $15 tasting. The setting is beautiful with the magnificent redwood trees and the stylish finished barn tasting room. There is outside seating with umbrella coverage for shade. Our host (Lori) was amazing sharing so much knowledge about the wines and was very friendly making us feel like regulars when it was our first visit. The tasting came with rustic crackers ( my favorite brand btw). This is a very relaxed unpretentious tasting experience. We were offered a couple extra tastes of our hosts favorites. Enjoyable wines at a good price point.

Yes it's a winery, but it's about more than wine…read more Belden Barns is a family-owned establishment that recognizes and appreciates the agricultural aspect of being a winery. Beyond growing amazing grapes and making them into delicious, award-winning wines, they also have residencies for young farmers to have access to some of their land to so they can launch their farming careers. Come here for a tasting and you'll be captivated by the down-home farm-y feeling of the land. You can sense it's an intentional space as soon as you set foot on the property. They offer a variety of wines to taste and experience--from a bubbly to a white, to a variety of reds--you can't go wrong with a single sip. My favorite was Serendipity. The highlight of the visit isn't about grapes or farming or wine. It's about The Wishing Tree. After you walk through the vines, stop by the tree and make a wish for yourself, attach it to the tree, and let destiny take care of the rest. This is a super special spot in Sonoma County you won't want to miss.

Half the fun here is getting to Belden Barns--the road over Sonoma Mountain makes it a bit of a…read morechallenge and the entrance isn't super-clear, but once you get inside this sprawling property (and close the gate to keep the deer out) you'll get a chance to see a really cool vineyard/farm/winery taking shape. The tasting in an old barn is unpretentious and straightforward. After a nice Rose' to start, the unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc was an unexpectedly substantive and fruit-forward SB that deserves the plaudits it has received. Belden Barns is also the site of the only Gruner Veltliner planting in Sonoma County (and one of a tiny handful in the whole state) and the estate bottling of it is nicely-made, with a clean finish and solid acidity. The Serendipity Pinot Noir is outstanding--liked it much more than the Estate Pinot Noir, though it was nice to see the contrast in winemaking style between the two (go for the Estate if you like cherry cola). As for the Syrah, well, if you like Syrah, you'll likely like this Syrah. It's a good cool climate Syrah. The tasting consisted of 6 wines but they had plenty of other interesting bottles and we picked up their Blanc de Noirs and a Late Harvest Viognier. Surrounded by so many Chard/Pinot-only places, it's refreshing to find variety while still maintaining quality. While the Wishing Tree experience was a great way to cap off the visit, it was neat just to be able to walk around the vines and see some of the views off of Sonoma Mountain and into the valleys and hills around. There's a lot of interesting history about the property and some really cool farming ideas that they're working on. It's nice to see a winery that's taking a different direction from most others. We'll definitely be back to try the cider and some other wines and will look forward to seeing how the place and the wines develop.

Impromptu wine taste on a slow weekday pays in spades. Had time to kill before the dinner hours so…read morewhat better way to taste some new wines and culture an education. #vacaymode Rolled through almost on their last hour of the day. Parking lot was empty and thought they were closed but decided to take a peek anyways, and lo and behold the lights were on and the door open. I was greeted by a super cool dude who didn't seem the typical tight and stuffy wine country host. I was an able to sit at a bar setting, told the details of their tasting (price, tasting line-up, fees waived if wine purchased etc). For a $25 fee (which was waived at the end cuz I always buy a couple of bottles) I was able to taste at least 5 different wines with a bonus at the end. I was also given a small ramekin of macadamia nuts, which I've never had with a wine tasting. But totally works because these nuts are very hearty and full of rich oils which counter the acidic and tannic nature of wines. Dude then plays some tunes from his personal playlist as their main sound system seemed to not be working that day and it was straight music that I personally dig. Lol. And for a full hour no one else came in which was a new experience for me. We just sat there as he poured and educated me on each of their wines and we just casually talked about random cool things, so not bogged down with wine banter. At the end I walked out with 3 new bottles, wine country air on blast and a nice dinner looming just a half mile down the road. One of the best laid back wine tasting experiences I've ever had. #luckyducky

S E R V I C E: My…read morehusband and I came here for our anniversary, and it's the same day as Veteran's Day. We weren't sure if there were any wineries open, so we decided to be spontaneous! There's plenty of parking available, and it looks beautiful and rustic. It seemed honestly dead, so when my husband and I opened the door to walk in, we saw one woman who looked like she was cleaning the table. We asked if they were open, and she responded with an annoyed, "Yeah?" She was the only one working that day, and told us there's seating in the back which we had no idea of. From that point on, our tasting experience lacked connection and excitement. W I N E: I really wanted to like them, but everything was just too strong for me, or the taste didn't surprise me. We asked if there were other options for me to taste, but we were told everything was sold out or they didn't have anything else opened. O V E R A L L: Beautiful place, however, customer service and wine fell flat for us. I like that they're dog friendly, and they seem to have the best wine club membership in Sonoma county (you get access to a bunch of other wineries which is honestly pretty cool).

After 15 years in the wine industry, I've experienced a LOT of wine presentations, so when one…read morereally stands out, I take notice. Bethany delivered the best wine presentation we've experienced to date, and we won't soon forget it! She brought the perfect combination of knowledge, storytelling, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for the wines. We enjoyed the wines so much that we ended up taking home a mixed case. (Who could possibly pick just one?!) A truly primo tasting experience. Don't miss it!

The "All About Italian" tasting experience at Muscardini Cellars is an elevated, private experience…read moreto taste a wide range of wines paired with local goodies. The pours are generous and it was fun to pair with each bite, my favorite pairing was the Rosato di Sangiovese with herbed feta cheese. The experience was refined yet we still felt relaxed the whole time. A great stop in Kenwood!

Mark guided us thru some beautiful wines. He was so knowledgeable and he made us feel like family!…read moreThe property and castle is just stunning and the wines were incredible! 11 out of ten stars! We are highly considering being wine members there now!

What a beautiful property! So much history and elegance to explore. Wyn was so helpful and…read moreinformative and Jerry the bartender was super friendly with great restaurant recommendations. We enjoyed a delicious glass of Zinfandel while roaming the grounds taking in all the fabulous views. If you want to be wowed by the beauty of Sonoma, ornate architecture, while sipping some delicious wine, this is a must see.

St Francis Vineyard was hands down the highlight of our trip! Not only is the vineyard absolutely…read morebeautiful, but every member of the staff was so warm and welcoming. The cart excursion (their unique take on a trolley tour) was simply amazing - easily one of the best experiences I've had at a winery/vineyard. Our driver Tony was fantastic - super knowledgeable about the wines and the vineyard, friendly, and just a great host. He drove us around the property, stopped so we could actually sample some of the grapes straight from the vines, poured us wine, and shared interesting stories and facts along the way. He even played great music, which really set the mood and made the whole experience super fun. After the ride, we were led to a table that had been beautifully set up for us, where we enjoyed our final pour while looking out over the vineyard. We spent time just relaxing, chatting, and taking in the scenery - it couldn't have been a more perfect way to end our visit. The wine was exceptional, and the whole experience was so thoughtfully put together. This was our absolute favorite stop on the trip, and I can't recommend St Francis enough for anyone looking for a truly memorable wine country experience! * I do believe you need to book the trolley ahead of time.*

We reserved a "Secrets of Sonoma" wine tasting. Worth every penny. Great wines, friendly…read moreknowledgeable staff, and a great spread of snacks with several gourmet dips made by their on site chef using local fresh ingredients. Better yet we had a table just off one of their estate vineyards with a beautiful view of the hills. Tony was a standout. Ask for him.

This is an unassuming little winery in a very nice setting. No fancy tasting room but lots of…read moregreat seating outside for tasting. Had some really nice reds and it was fun to talk to the tasting guide abut the wines and the winery. Very knowledgeable and made for a nice hour or so. Wines are reasonably priced so was able to bring a few of what we tried home.

My wife and I set out early yesterday to get out of the house and spend the day up in the Russian…read moreRiver visiting some of our favorite haunts. I have been a fan of Joseph Swan wines for longer than I care to mention - let's just say over 30 years. Ironically though, I haven't visited the tasting room very often. My wife and I stopped in last year - it happened to be the Sunday of the Barrel Tasting weekend in March, I think - and had such an enjoyable experience, that we have been itching to return ever since. We were lucky enough to get an appointment on this trip. First off, Richard was an excellent host. He is very friendly and knowledgable. We enjoyed chatting with him very much. Second, we love the wines - so honest, so pure. We tend to prefer wines that are lower in alcohol, not heavily oak-influenced, and that taste of the grape...This winery has been carrying that torch since Joe Swan founded his winery around 50 years ago. Rod Bergland, who's been making the wines for the past 30 years or so, is very respected in the industry for this very reason. Rod happened to be onsite and was gracious enough to spend some time chatting with us. What a treat! It was fun and fascinating to hear some history of the winery, the vineyards and the wines from the guy overseeing it all. Fantastic spot for a low-key, no hype visit. Nice setting. Great, honest wines at reasonable prices. Iconic winery and people.