Top Wineries for First-time Visitors

First time visiting Sonoma County Wine Country, or the wine-tasting trail? Whether you want to make a limousine-driven beeline for the most luxurious house of Cabernet Sauvignon, or prefer the non-intimidating setting of a little wine shack in which to talk about Zinfandel with the person who made it, relax: Sonoma County wineries have got you covered.

Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma

Begin the journey where it all began. Best known as California’s first premium commercial winery, Buena Vista was founded in 1857 by Hungarian entrepreneur Agoston Haraszthy, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista.” More recently, this California Historic Landmark winery in the town of Sonoma has been revamped by wine impresario Jean-Charles Boisset.

Outdoor tastings on the cobblestone patio may include BV wines, a boxed picnic lunch or cheese tasting, and a fascinating bit of history, including opportunities to view the barrel room or wine museum.

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens, Santa Rosa

Go beyond this famed winery’s best-selling Vintner’s Blend and discover Kendall-Jackson’s top reserve wines, as well as more unusual varietal offerings, in this chateau-style setting.

Surrounded by impressive gardens, you’re invited to wander this stunning estate to explore the demonstration vineyard, pick a leaf of lemon verbena in the sensory experience garden, and discover a variety of edible plants on the property. The winery’s tasting experiences include gourmet food pairings made with fresh ingredients from the culinary gardens.

Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville

The only place in Sonoma County where you can say “champagne” and not be corrected with “sparkling wine.” Korbel called its Méthode Champenoise-style wines champagne before the French wine region put the kibosh on using that designation outside its borders.

The granddaddy of local bubbly, Korbel was founded in 1882 by three Czechoslovakian brothers. Today, Korbel offers free winery tours, tastes of a wide array of its California champagnes, and the on-site Korbel Delicatessen & Market for a nice sandwich, pastry, or coffee under the shade of the property’s redwood trees.

Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol

These sparkling wines have been served by the White House for decades: The classic Russian Cuvée was uncorked at the Reagan-Gorbachev summit, and the Rainbow Cuvée was served by the Obamas at their annual LGBT reception.

Today, the winery’s rustic walk-up tasting bar, tucked away in the Green Valley region of the Russian River Valley overlooking a rolling swath of vineyard, is as fun as ever. Iron Horse is an ideal place to experience Sonoma County Wine Country.

Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood

Beloved as one of Sonoma County’s wine castles, the namesake chateau actually started out as a 1920s vacation home.

Set below a dramatic backdrop of volcanic peaks, this elegant winery is styled after a monastery in the French Alps, evoking the monastic tradition of winemaking in France. Stroll in the courtyard citrus garden and taste the reserve Malbec and the flagship Cinq Cepages Bordeaux-styled blend.

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg

The villa of Dry Creek Valley, Ferrari-Carano, is the place for walking, wine tasting, and dreaming among the vines.

The stately rose-pink villa architecture, plus the wide selection of estate-grown wines and options to taste them, make this winery a hit with first-time visitors. And a quiet walk through the shaded pond gardens provides a unique respite from touring and tasting.

Medlock Ames, Healdsburg

Among the excellent breed of “rural hipster” wineries, Medlock Ames, founded by two college buddies in 1998, is a great place to connect with modern-day Sonoma County Wine Country.

Tastings are hosted beneath an old olive tree or in a century-old, rustic-chic space, which formerly housed a saloon. The property’s award-winning landscape includes a bocce court and organically farmed edible gardens. You’ll find estate-pickled vegetables as well as crisp Sauvignon Blanc at their Alexander Valley tasting room.

DeLoach Vineyards, Santa Rosa

DeLoach is just one of the iconic wineries that changed the Sonoma County wine scene back in the 1970s and today earns its place as a top winery to visit for its fun and engaging wine-tasting opportunities. With a characteristic touch of whimsy, you can stroll the outdoor Theatre of Nature garden to learn about Biodynamic farming, and greet sheep and goats, or just sip Pinot or Chardonnay by the fireplace.

Harvest Moon Estate & Winery, Santa Rosa

It’s an absolute must for the first-time visitor to drop in on at least one of Sonoma County’s many lesser-known small, family wineries — you just may find your new favorite. Specializing in Russian River Valley Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, Harvest Moon offers the kind of tasting and learning experience that is intimate and unscripted. At this backroads bodega, often winery activities are on display in a courtyard setting that may remind some of the village wineries of Europe.

Discover a handy 3-day itinerary to Sonoma County Wine Country and the complete list of wineries in Sonoma County, California.

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Written by Sonoma Insider James Knight