Beyond the Bottle: Sonoma County Winery Experiences Without the Alcohol

While Sonoma County wineries are often best known for their vintages and tastings, there are plenty of area wineries that offer experiences that don’t involve drinking wine. Whether you’re a designated driver, want to practice soulful travel, or simply prefer to be alcohol-free, these Sonoma County wineries are just a few with tours, dining and other activities that enable you to experience the vibe of the vineyards yet explore beyond the bottle.  

Bartholomew Estate Winery, Sonoma

The woodsy grounds of this central Sonoma winery include Bartholomew Park, a 375-acre public park that was once the site of the 19^th-century home and vineyards of Count Agoston Haraszthy, founder of California’s oldest winery. Today, both park and winery visitors can explore roughly 3 miles of hiking trails and walking paths here, meandering along a duck pond, vineyards, oaks and redwoods, and up to a view over San Francisco Bay.  

The Donum Estate, Sonoma

Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville

Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen

The tasting room at this Sonoma Valley winery features a gallery of artwork that’s been commissioned for use on Imagery’s wine labels. There are about 700 works in the winery’s collection, mostly paintings in various media, and around 100 works are displayed at any given time; it’s easy to take a self-guided tour of the gallery while the rest of your party tastes Imagery’s estate-produced wines.

Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa

Quivira Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg

Located 10 minutes from Downtown Healdsburg, this Dry Creek Valley winery has gorgeous gardens, a protected creek, and a strong focus on organic farming. In addition to Rhône-style wines, Quivira makes its own garden-grown produce, estate olive oil, jams, and spices, all of which are highlighted in the winery’s Garden Table Dinner Series. Generally held once or twice a month amid the winery’s kitchen gardens, these dinners always have a different theme, from the cuisines of different countries to holiday celebrations. Wine is served at these dinners but isn’t required to enjoy a beautiful meal.

DaVero Farms & Winery, Healdsburg

In addition to Italian wines like the rare Sagrantino, this biodynamic Dry Creek Valley farm focuses on olive oil and vinegar. A 45-minute Estate Oil & Vinegar Tasting includes an overview of the winery’s regenerative farming practices, a self-guided tour of the pollinator and edible gardens, and tastings of its estate olive oils and red wine vinegar. While you’re here, be sure to say hello to the farm’s chickens and pigs.

Trattore Farms, Geyserville

A 5-minute drive from Lake Sonoma, this Dry Creek Valley winery produces its own array of extra virgin olive oils by rehabbing century-old olive orchards, planting new trees, and using a Bonafide 19^th-century olive mill imported from Italy. The winery’s Olive Oil Tasting includes samples of 12 flavored and unflavored oils. (And don’t miss Trattore’s tasting-room collection of vintage tractors.)  

These are far from the only Sonoma County wineries with non-alcoholic activities, tours, and events that appeal to non-wine drinkers. For more ideas, be sure to check out: 

• 10 Terrific Garden, Vineyard and Winery Tours  

• 6 Sonoma Wineries That are Making Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

• Wineries with Fun Sports Activities 

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Written by Melanie Wynne