Exclusive and Unique Wineries

Sipping premium wines and nibbling gourmet goodies can be even more delightful with the perfect ambiance — and Sonoma County, California, wineries deliver an array of special settings to enjoy the fruits of the vine and more.

Here’s a quick overview of possibilities for your perfect luxury wine-tasting experience. Please call ahead to make reservations.

Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves, Healdsburg 

Nearly 7,000 square feet of caves are carved out of the steep hillside beneath this wine estate’s prized Lily Hill vineyard. Easily blending rustic beauty and intimate elegance, this man-made warren houses barrel storage, a tasting room, a dining room, a private tasting bar, and a performance room for concerts, in addition to chef-led cooking classes. 

A small, family-owned winery in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, Bella focuses on limited-production, vineyard-designate wines using Zinfandel grapes from old-vine vineyards. Their goal is to balance rich, sensuous textures and compelling fruit with the character and complexity of vines planted more than 100 years ago.

Lynmar Estate, Sebastopol 

Lynmar is committed to sustainable farming, biodiversity, and farm-to-table cuisine, and produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Rosé varietals.

With a modern aesthetic that embraces the land, this sprawling winery estate includes a sleek tasting room with clean lines and soaring overhead beams; an expansive courtyard with magnificent views of rolling vineyards and gardens; and a wood-fired oven ringed by a majestic grove of redwoods.

Discover excellent tastings, tours, and annual events, such as a classic Russian River Valley pairing of “Pinot & Pizza,” or an elegant three-course, farm-to-table lunch paired with Lynmar’s handcrafted wines and served on the veranda overlooking gardens and vineyards.

Ram’s Gate Winery, Sonoma 

On a rising hillside at the southern entrance to Sonoma Valley sits this spectacular winery with 30-foot-high ceilings, walls made of reclaimed snow fence, and massive floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open to sweeping vineyard and bay views.

Designed to fuse classic elegance with a youthful spirit, the winery’s exterior is a modern interpretation of the weathered farmsteads in the area. Inside is an eclectic mix of contemporary chic and urban cool — relaxed yet refined.

The winery’s exceptinal food-pairings compliment the wine, all of which are made from the winery’s own grapes and nearby vineyards. The goal is to make the finest small lots of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced by the local climate and terroir. 

Thomas George Estates, Healdsburg 

The past melds seamlessly with the future at this winery, housed in a historic 1902 hop kiln building completely renovated into a state-of-the-art winemaking facility. The building is surrounded by beautiful grounds with four separate picnic areas. 

Run by a father-son team, Thomas George Estates produces small-lot artisan wines, focusing on site-specific Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays grown in the cool heart of the Russian River Valley.

Hans Fahden Winery, Santa Rosa

Set on a Mayacamas Mountains hillside, on land owned by the Fahden family since 1912, this 100-acre property features a volcanic wine cave and a Monet-style garden setting, with a teahouse overlooking lily ponds. Wine tastings are available by appointment only, and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and tour the gardens. 

Now run by the third generation of the Fahden family, each year this winery produces about 2,500 cases of rich, dark Cabernet Sauvignon from its estate vineyards. The volcanic ash in the soil imparts a deep color and distinct flavor to the wine.

Other exclusive and unique wineries in Sonoma County:

• Buena Vista Winery, in the town of Sonoma, is the oldest commercial winery in California. Built in 1857, it’s an official historic landmark, including its elegantly dark and mysterious wine caves.
• Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, in Healdsburg, offers a sense of serenity and seclusion on more than 1,300 scenic acres devoted to vineyards, a winery, hospitality center, culinary garden, residence, stables, equestrian pavilion, sports fields, ponds, guest houses, and wilderness.
• Deerfield Ranch Winery, in Kenwood, features tastings in the relaxing comfort of its Grand Room, located at the center of its wine-glass-shaped, 23,000-square-foot wine caves.
• Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, in Healdsburg, perches atop a ridge along a winding road with spectacular views of the sweeping valley below.
• Jordan Vineyard & Winery, tucked into the foothills of the Alexander Valley in Healdsburg, offers breathtaking views and a true farm-to-table experience on 1,200 acres.
• Lambert Bridge Winery in Healdsburg features a charming tasting room with wooden walls, a vaulted ceiling, and a glass wall looking into the barrel room. Its lavish grounds include cascading vines, colorful flowers, and an expansive lawn overlooking vineyards and forests.
• MacRostie Winery & Vineyards in Healdsburg offers an array of inviting venues, both indoors and out, for intimate seated tastings.

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Written by Patricia Lynn Henley