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Best Wineries in Sonoma County


Best Wineries in Sonoma County – Laid-back Sonoma County in Northern California is a wine, food, and nature lover’s dream, captivating visitors with its stunning landscapes, quaint towns, locally-focused restaurants, and multigenerational family-owned wineries.

This vast growing region (roughly double the size of neighboring Napa Valley) is made up of 19 AVAs, where diverse terrain and microclimates make it possible to grow a wide variety of grapes, including chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and zinfandel.

With so much to see, do, and taste, Sonoma County is truly a Wine Country paradise for every type of traveler.


NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY
Northern Sonoma is warm, sunny, and dry, perfect conditions to grow the densely structured wines that this region has become known for.

Home to Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Knights Valley, Northern Sonoma Wine Country specializes in cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel.


CENTRAL SONOMA COUNTY
Central Sonoma County encompasses the cool, lush wine regions of Russian River Valley and Green Valley. Pinot noir and chardonnay thrive here, producing wines with rich fruit and balanced acidity, while endless natural surroundings add to this region’s appeal.


SOUTHERN SONOMA COUNTY
Southern Sonoma, closest to Napa, thrives on diversity, from world-class wineries and breweries to gourmet cheese makers and locally-driven restaurants.

The main grape growing regions here are Sonoma Valley and Carneros, where one will find chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot.


COASTAL SONOMA COUNTY
The Sonoma Coast combines the rugged splendor of the Pacific coastline with the tranquility of gently rolling vineyards. Sonoma Coast AVA and Fort Ross Seaview AVA grow elegant chardonnay and pinot noir on foggy hillsides.


best-wineries-in-sonoma-county-Ferrari-Carano-Vineyards-Winery

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery


8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

Explore the picturesque winery with breathtaking views, gardens, and delicious, hand-crafted, award-winning wines.

Swirl, sip, taste, tour, stroll, and shop.

Open by appointment for wine tasting experiences, walk-ins are welcome based on availability.

Ferrari-Carano is located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley.


Ledson Winery & Vineyards


7335 Sonoma Highway 12, Kenwood CA 95409

Intimate tastings of meticulously hand-crafted, limited production wines scoring in the mid-’90s and above, showcasing the absolute best Sonoma County has to offer.

Oak-shaded picnic grounds, a gourmet marketplace, and mountaintop tastings.

Explore an architectural showpiece known as the “Castle,” nestled among 20 acres of vineyards.

Taste highly coveted, estate-grown, handcrafted wines and enjoy a picnic from our Gourmet Marketplace in the majestic Oak Grove. 


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Chateau St. Jean


8555 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood CA 95452

Experience the Sonoma wine lifestyle at Chateau St. Jean.

Delight in our award-winning wines in our 1920s Chateau and take in the breathtaking views of our estate.

Set at the center of a 250-acre estate, the chateau and its surrounding gardens exude a timeless, continental beauty and grace that invite discovery and relaxation.

Choose from one of the many tasting experiences designed for small and large groups, or visit their deli with its French-inspired, Sonoma-fresh menu and enjoy an impromptu picnic with a view.


Benziger Family Winery


1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen CA 95442

Visit this popular destination and certified Biodynamic ranch for a unique wine experience.

The diverse Biodynamic® vineyards produce intensely flavorful and site-expressive Bordeaux-style wines.

Tribute, an elegant blend of these sites, is marked by bold flavors and deep layers, revealing the complex terroir of their Sonoma Mountain estate. 

Tram tours, tastings offered daily. “A must visit winery estate.” – Wine Spectator.


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Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery


10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

Committed to creating terroir-driven wines of character, richness and elegance from the diverse terrain of our Chalk Hill AVA.

Experience the warm hospitality, elegant estate wines, and stunning views of our 1,300-acre estate.

The true essence of Chalk Hill is its estate, a unique corner of California wine country.

Here, proprietor Bill Foley both preserves the nature of the land and honors it by producing wines reflecting its exceptional qualities.

Chalk Hill Estate Winery is located at the eastern edge of the Russian River Valley — south of downtown Healdsburg in the world-renown Sonoma wine region of California.


MacRostie Winery Estate House


4605 Westside Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

Named Best Tasting Room in Sonoma by San Francisco Magazine. Savor our highly acclaimed single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, take in the stunning panoramic views of the Russian River Valley, and experience our world-class hospitality.

Set against this dramatic backdrop, each tasting experience highlights at least five wines, with a focus on bright, balanced and complex single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from their estate properties, and from acclaimed partner vineyards throughout the Russian River Valley, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast and beyond.


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Iron Horse Vineyards


9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol CA 95472

An enchanting, family-owned winery where rustic redwood barns grace a hill surrounded by vine-covered undulating landscapes.

The outdoor “Tasting Room” offers a mesmerizing view ensuring an unforgettable wine-tasting experience.

Three generations live on the estate ranging in age from 28 to 92.

Iron Horse offers Sparkling Wines, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs in our al fresco, outdoor tasting “room” overlooking the breathtaking views of our Sebastopol vineyards, all the way across Sonoma County to Mt. St. Helena.


Jordan Vineyard & Winery


1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

Experience our culinary hospitality through intimate food & wine pairing experiences, featuring Chardonnay, library vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, and hors d’oeuvres.

An homage to French wines and old-world hospitality in the 1970s, Jordan is known for its silky, elegant Cabernet Sauvignons — a perennial no. 1 on the Wine & Spirits Restaurant Poll — as well as its Burgundian-style Chardonnay.

Jordan wines are crafted to pair beautifully with a broad range of foods, and the winery specializes in intimate, seated, food and wine pairings, offered by appointment, rather than having a tasting room.


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A. Rafanelli Winery


4685 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

A. Rafanelli Winery is a family-owned, Sonoma County wine producer based in the Dry Creek Valley AVA.

The Californian estate is renowned for its small selection of red wines produced from three key grape varieties: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Be sure to make reservations at this cozy winery with an amazing family history behind the vineyard.

Your no-frills tasting experience will be all about the exceptional wines.


Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery


10701 Westside Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

In the heart of the beautiful Russian River Valley, Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery offers a proud winemaking history and a unique sense of place.

Perched atop a ridge along winding Westside Road, the winery offers a spectacular view of the sweeping valley below.

Gary Farrell Winery Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays have remained benchmarks of the region: elegant, complex expressions of their Russian River Valley vineyard origins.


best-wineries-in-sonoma-county

Hawley Wine


6387 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg CA 95448

A small family owned winery that produces limited-production, hand-crafted wines using local organically grown grapes.

The tasting room and gallery offers indoor lounge seating and an outdoor patio space for tasting through a flight of wines while nibbling on grab-n-go snacks.

This small, family winery crafts nine different wines in small lots to capture the character of the grapes.

Enjoy original artwork by Dana Hawley and furniture creations by our Winemaker, Austin Hawley

Though the tasting room is located downtown Healdsburg, you can make an appointment to tour and taste at the winery.


Twomey Cellars


3000 Westside Rd., Healdsburg CA 95448

Twomey makes delicious, food-friendly wines to share and enjoy with family and friends.

From California to Oregon, Pinot Noir to Sauvignon Blanc, they seek out exceptional vineyards capable of producing wines of balance, complexity, and distinction.

Located just two miles from Healdsburg Square on one of wine country’s prettiest byways, Twomey Healdsburg features a striking modern design with winding, wraparound patios set into the rolling foothills.


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