WALT Winery in Sonoma was an absolute experience--and Elan Villamur made it unforgettable. We did the chocolate pairing featuring Chris Kollar chocolates, and they were next-level delicious. My favorite was the champagne paired with a lemon chocolate--perfection. Elan's energy was incredible. He made us feel like old friends from the moment we walked in, while also being extremely knowledgeable about the wines and pairings. This was more than a tasting--it was a full experience. We loved it so much, we joined the wine club on the spot. Highly recommend! read more

Previously wine member in 2013, rejoined a couple months ago... and the quality of the pinot has not changed. This is what's a pinot should taste like. Yes -it's gotten pricey over the years but has maintained its elegant, fruity, and pure deliciousness. Jesse and Elon provided fantastic service. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins could be accommodated. read more

Walt Wines - Outside - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Walt Wines (and Jesse, specifically) was the highlight of a recent bachelorette trip a group of 6 of us took to Sonoma county. We came to visit in March and hit most of the big wineries in the area (you know the ones). We received a recommendation from one of our tour guides to go and visit Walt and ask specifically for Jesse, so of course, we did. I can't say enough amazing things about Walt Wines but Jesse truly was the star of the show. He is so full of knowledge and is wonderful with customers. He spent a lot of time with us and ensured that our visit was special, especially for our wine-loving bride. We could not stop talking about him and the experience we had a Walt for the rest of the trip. Walt, you've got a great one on your hands - give him a raise! Thanks for an amazing visit, we hope to be back again in the future. read more

Amazing experience every time I visit to pick up my member release! All the Pinots are amazing but I also really enjoyed their Rose Champagne this time, perfect for the hot day. read more

Another great experience at Walt. Elan is the best guide to the great wines. Gap's Crown library is outstanding.

Excellent tasting room close to everything in Downtown Napa. Make sure you have a splash of champagne to start. Our host, PJ, walked us through several Pinots, Zins and Cabs on their beautiful patio. Try the spiced olives as an accompaniment. I'm trying to replicate them at home. read more

We enjoyed the Wine and Food pairing. Staff knowledgeable and we had great conversations. read more

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Did I just sign up for another wine membership in a place I do not live - why yes I did! And it's because I enjoyed Walt Wines so much! My husband and I were vacationing in Sonoma and happened upon Walt Wines. We did not have a reservation but the hostess assured us it would be a short wait and handed us some rosé to sip on. The rosé was delicious so we decided to wait. In just a couple of minutes we were taken to a beautiful outdoor bench with four gorgeous tasters of Pinot Noir waiting for us. I'm from Oregon so Pinot Noir is my favorite and I do consider myself pretty picky in regards to my pinots. Our sommelier was Elan and he was an absolute delight and so knowledgeable and passionate about the wines we were tasting. We ended up signing up for their wine club and walking away with four bottles of our favorite pinots. Thank you Walt Wines for a fantastic time and delicious wine! read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Great small quaint place to do a tasting! You are assigned a worker and they walk you through each of the wines. The wine was tasty and they give you a few extra pours. Tasting fee is $40. Overall, check it out if you like Pinot noirs! read more

The Pinot and Chardonnay, and the server, were excellent. Gave some privacy, too, which was nice.

Great experience. Staff was really approachable and fun. We did three champagne flights plus a Pinot flight. Loved everything. They know how to treat their members. read more

WALT Wines delivers an experience that's intimate, welcoming, and deeply rooted in quality. If you love Pinot Noir (or are just Pinot-curious), this is a must-stop in downtown Napa. The tasting room is stylish yet relaxed--modern without feeling stuffy. It has that cozy-lux vibe that makes you want to settle in, sip slowly, and stay awhile. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, striking the perfect balance between education and fun. You can tell they love what they do, and that passion shines through in every pour. The wines? Outstanding. WALT focuses on single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from some of the best sites along the Pacific Coast, and tasting them side-by-side is like taking a road trip through wine country--each one expressing a different sense of place. They also offer a few stellar Chardonnays that hold their own, but the Pinot is the star here. We left with a few bottles (okay, maybe more than a few) and already can't wait to go back. Whether you're a collector or just looking for a fun, delicious tasting experience, WALT checks every box. read more

Wonderful wine and relaxed tasting room. When in Napa, it's a great way to taste some excellent Chardonnay (3) and Pinot Noir (3). Walt is a division of Hall Wines and they have tasting rooms in Napa, Sonoma and Healdsburg read more

We are members and this was the last tasting room in the Hall family that we had yet to try! So when we spend the weekend up in Sonoma, we came in for a tasting. And as per usual, WALT did not disappoint. They have a nice tasting area inside and an expansive patio and yard area. Really nice to sit outside on a warm day. We had an excellent tasting with Kyle. A friendly and knowledgeable guy. He helped guide us through our tasting while adding in some side by side comparisons. We really liked our visit to WALT and will be back to this tasting room! read more

I love Walt! I have been a wine club member for about 4 years. Anytime I go I've had Elan as our host. He is great! Love how easy going he is and his personality. He also doesn't rush me out and takes time to talk with me and my guests about the wines without being pushy. Eventhough I have been there so many times I still learn at least one new thing when I'm there. The wines are great! I love the new champagne they recent have added to the Walt family of wines. Great service and I don't think I'll ever stop my membership with this winery. My favorite wine there is Corners. They also have a chocolate tasting that is amazing and so fun with a group! read more

We were hosted by John at the Oxbow location who took the time to explain all the wines to my group and answered all of my mother's questions. Love the wines and love the location. read more

THE BIG: If you're into pinot noirs, WALT wines is the place to be! Located right off of the square in Sonoma. Tasting room is relatively small but aesthetically very pleasing. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here on a Friday afternoon right before we were heading back to SF. We didn't have a reservation but thankfully they were able to slot us in. For the tasting, we started off north in Oregon at the Shea Vineyard before heading down to The Corners, Close Pepe and Bob's Ranch down in Santa Barbara. It's amazing to taste essentially the same grape but in different growing conditions. Education-wise, our pourer, Terry, was awesome and took us on a journey of WALT wines. THE FINAL BAMBOO: The damage done for 2 tastings was ~$80. The tasting pours are generous and you get to truly differentiate the compositions of pinot noirs from Oregon to Southern California. read more

Amazing staff and amazing wine. They were able to fit me in without a reservation. Kyle is very knowledgeable and helpful!

Love, love, love this place! Warm and friendly environment! We always feel right at home and comfortable. The wine is quality and enjoyable.

We had wonderful experience at WALT! Elon was warm and welcoming. He created a fun, educational experience and we will definitely be back again and hope to be sat with him! The location is intimate and lively. Everyone was great, plus their wine is always one of our favorites. Highly recommend. read more

We had our dog and we sat at a beautiful table on the front patio!! Mike J was our wine tasting host and he was so on peerage and attentive! Walt now has real CHAMPAGNE, not CA sparkling. Delicious and creamy! Wonderful addition to their amazing Pinots!! read more

Our recent tasting here was fantastic! We were greeted with some lovely Chardonnay while he set up an outside table. The weather was perfect for an outside tasting under a tree. The comparisons of the different regions was the highlight for us. The conversation about the various AVAs was so interesting. We loved the sierra mar and bobs ranch the most. So bottles came home with us. Make a reservation and enjoy this quaint and delicious place. read more

Everyone was warm, welcoming and extremely knowledgable. We had a great time and rejoined the Club - wine tasting there is always a great experience.....AND know they have champagne! And it's the real stuff from France so visit and try it all! read more

Love love Walt!! I've been a member of Hall Wines (owned by the same folks) and have visited here so many times. Before going to Walt, I didn't think I liked Pinot Noirs. And then I realized I did. Services is always great. The inside space is a bit small so ideally you can visit on a warm or at least not rainy day, to enjoy the wines outside. read more

This is the only club we belong to after being club members of many wineries over the years. Simply put the collection of all Hall/Walt and BACA wineries and their many locations is enough to keep us happy and busy tasting great wines with the help of their amazing staff. Always friendly, happy and informative. A special call out to Terry at the Sonoma Square location. He has hosted us several times and we always leave with smiles on our faces and a bunch of great wine. Highly recommended read more

Terry did an amazing wine tasting for our group of 4 wine drinkers. He was absolutely excellent! So knowledgeable about the wine and the winemaking process. The Pinot Noir wines at Walt were simply incredible! My faves Gap's Crown, Bob's Ranch, Sierra Mar, Rose' from Pinot Noir, and Rita's Crown. The tasting room was spacious and the atmosphere was wonderful. Terry showed us a short film with aerial views of the vineyards producing the grapes of each wine we tasted. Awesome, just awesome! Add Walt, located off Sonoma Square to your tasting journey. read more

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we sat under the redwood tree and enjoyed a wonderful tasting. I believe it was Terry who told us about the wines and also gave us time to enjoy them. My husband and I appreciated the knowledge and setting for the tasting. read more

Had the absolute BEST experience at Walt Wines in Sonoma. I would highly recommend visiting if you are in the area! Their hospitality service is unmatched. I will be back soon. read more

Our party of 4 had the chocolate and wine tasting paring. Our host was Elan and he was engaging, informative and an absolute pleasure to spend our afternoon with. The wines parings were a homerun with the chocolates which were beautiful made. If you're in sonoma Plaza, do not skip this winery read more

Walt Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Great wines and atmosphere. Staff are knowledgeable and provide a memorable experience. Definitely recommend the elevated pairings as the wines are food friendly and approachable. read more

Walt Wines - Walt Pinot Noir and Kollar Chocolate Pairing - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

As BACA club members, we decided to make an appointment at Walt Wines, part of the Hall family of wineries, in Sonoma for a wine tasting. Walt Wines specializes in Pinot Noirs and Terry, their wine expert, guided us through some of their best and very different Pinot's made from grapes from Oregon to Santa Barbera. Walt has a Pinot for all tastes and Terry's knowledge of these wines is thorough and exceptional. This cozy tasting room just off of the Sonoma Plaza is very welcoming and open 7 days a week. I would recommend that you make a reservation if you plan to visit on weekends since on our Monday visit they were busy. read more

Being a wine club member at one of WALT's sister wineries (e.g. BACA, Hall) means that I'll likely be returning here to WALT Wines for further opportunities to taste wine while picking up my wine allocation. For that, it's pleasant and as good as it needs to be. For those looking to go wine tasting in Sonoma though? For that I'd go elsewhere. Simply put, WALT Wines is just lacking all of those things that many people (self-included) enjoy about the act of wine tasting. The wine itself is good, certainly (they specialize in Pinot), but the property isn't what most of us think of when we set out to taste wine in Sonoma County. It's a simple little house with outdoor seating in front, on the side, and out back. Think cute and quaint with nary a vineyard in site, as opposed to luxurious or beautiful. WALT Wines, unfortunately, doesn't possess the sort of license that allows them to pour glasses of wine or allow one to purchase and enjoy a bottle on-site. This is a tasting only facility and the size of those pours is regulated. It's close to the Sonoma square and if you're already in the area seeking a casual wine tasting experience WALT will do but for a glass or bottle of wine and that quintessential wine country experience, I don't find WALT to be a wine country must. read more

Walt Wines - A nice tasting of Pinots from WALT Wines - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Cute tasting "home" off 1st in Sonoma so it's tucked a tiny bit away from the main square. They took our party of 6, last minute and did an excellent job. The wine flight was well thought out and presented. My only complaint was the ambience fighting with the outdoor elements lol We very much enjoyed the wine but in heat reaching 100 & winds kicking the pollen in our glasses, we rushed thru the flight to get our whole party in the comfort of neighboring AC. read more

We are members at Walt for a reason. Their wine is always amazing and we love the vibe and ambiance of both the Napa and Sonoma tasting rooms. Jesse took care of us and was exceptional. His expertise and passion for wines really shined! Can't wait to come back soon. read more

If you love Pinot Noir and are looking for a small tasting room right off the square in Sonoma you've found your spot! Knowledgeable staff to answer questions and guide you down the coast from Oregon to Southern CA trying different varietals. Dog friendly outside and the perfect spot to do a quick tasting before dinner in the square. read more

Walt Wines - Current Release Tasting - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

This wine tasting experience never disappoints. We joined this winery our first time here. We look at the quality of wines, the customer service, as well as the hours of the winery (we like to taste during the week) and whether or not we can bring guests and if we can switch out our selection if we want something different. This place ticked off all the boxes! read more

We've been to the Walt in Napa, across the street from the Oxbow but decided to give the Sonoma location a spin since we happened to be in the area. The tasting experience is more or less the same--you'll start with a glass of chardonnay, then move onto 4 single-vineyard pinot noirs from Willamette (OR), Anderson Valley (Menodocino), Petaluma Gap (Sonoma), and Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara). As with the Napa location, the wine educators are really knowledgeable--not just about Walt wines, but the vineyards, vineyard management, and even AVAs. If you're into pinot noir and interested to see how different clones grown in different regions are expressed differently in the wines, you'll really enjoy the tasting at Walt. For me personally, although I love the exploration of pinot from Oregon to Santa Barbara, the winemaking style isn't my favorite. These are some very lush, high alcohol pinots, one topping out at 15.1% (The Corners, Anderson Valley)--Dry Creek zin territory--and some of the elegance and expressions of terroir are simply overpowered by very dominant fruit, new French oak, and explosive alcohol. I can understand many people might love this style of pinot, but it gave me palate fatigue pretty quickly. That being said, if you're looking to include a tasting or two in your day trip to Sonoma, you will be blown away by the hospitality and learn more than you could ever want about different pinot clones, diurnal shifts and how terrain can impact it, soil composition, etc. A+ tasting experience, even if I wasn't the biggest fan of the wines. read more

When we lived in so cal. Well before the great movie came out, I binge read Sideways by Rex Picket. Bae was shocked as I never read a book cover to cover in two days. So she read it and also loved it. We of course loved the movie but the constructive out crop of all that was to learn, to respect and to appreciate a fine Pinot Noir. While I have a pretty good food palate, I don't think I have it honed in when it comes to wine. My scale doesn't vary from 4 buck chuck to high end... taste is taste. And we LOVE the Pinots from WALT. So far I haven't tasted anything objectionable. Bae joined their wine of the month club so we get a couple of bottles delivered; or in this case, beautiful spring day, new whip, and a long weekend to boot... let's go pick it up in person and schedule a tasting too. Bae was navigating on her phone because she was too lazy to give me the address to plug into the SAT-Nav (as my British pals call it) so we went 35 minutes outta the way and missed our allotted time. Totally booked they still accommodated us "members" by setting us up a little informal sampler tasting right at the front door on beach-wood patio chairs n table. I'm sure they would have kept pouring had we decided to keep trying, but I'm a total wuss and had to drive. Tasty, drinkable social and fun. All without having to get SIDEWAYS to appreciate! I have another reason to have a high regard for this wine. Bae mistakenly brought this wine and we left it unopened at a socially distanced friends gathering. The next day our friends who are wine snobs called raving, ranting, oohing and aaahing about that WALT Pinot she left at their house. "You guys are great friends welcome anytime ...will name the grandkids after you" kind of gushing. "Sweet!" Said I "Damn it" said Bae! "That was not a cheep bottle of wine" below her breath! "Glad you enjoyed it!" read more

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Jessie was our host. He is very knowlegeable and taught us a lot of stories about wines especially different regions of Pinot noir. We came to Sonoma to research Pinot noir, so it really helped the information. He also gave us excellent service. Don't miss the opportunity to go there for the wine tasting. read more

Jennifer was very cordial and knew so much about the wines. I loved the Pinot Noirs and joined your wine club. Thank you for the wonderful experience. read more