Wine Tasting Deals in Sonoma County

 These are the current deals on wine tasting that I've run across.

The Phases of Wine Sales Going in the Crapper

There are five stages of grief: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. So far with the wine business facing a downturn I've seen action, panic, and marketing. 

Action is ripping out vineyards and lay-offs. That is, cutting product and people -- the usual corporate steps. Panic is the fear you can sense in writing and speech from some in the industry. Marketing is what I see now as people are trying to get more time and money spent on reminding people to buy wine, sometimes in weird ways. One is a tasting room tax on sales with the money going to some as yet undetermined group to do some sort of marketing. 

Whatever the next phase is, I hope we get there soon because this marketing phase seems wrong.

I vote for giving the people what they want. That would be things like fun, unpretentious wine in cans, or at least something beside a 750ml glass bottle. Get rid of the corks, add ingredient labeling. I don't know which phase this is, but I hope it's one of them. Innovation, baby!

Thanks for your attention to this matter.  

Beautiful Wineries of Sonoma County

Some of the most eye-catching wineries in the county are listed below. I don't make any claim to these being the most beautiful as beauty is in the eye of the beholder / beer holder / Chardonnay holder. 

Some are more for the architecture, some for the surrounding landscape, some have artwork. 

The Other Valley for Cabernet

Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon. There are folks out there who believe Napa is the only place for Cab. There's another valley, and it's not too far from Napa.

Spring 2026 Events in Sonoma County

The big happenings from March through May in Sonoma County, some are wine-related, some aren't.

Before American Wines Were Labeled With Grape Names

  American wine wasn't always named for its varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, etc.).

Cost of Goods Sold for Wine

What determines the price of a bottle of wine? There's definitely supply and demand, for certain wines and for certain grapes from certain places. What we'll cover here are the basics or labor, material, and overhead.

Winter In Sonoma County (pics)

In case it's dreary at home, and you want a break, here's what you might find in Sonoma County in the winter months. All are my photos from past years.

Wine Industry Report for 2026

The Silicon Valley Bank's Wine Division puts out an annual report on the financial state of the American wine industry. The data comes from wineries returning a survey of their past year's performance. Their State of the US Wine Industry report is required reading for many in the wine business. Below are a few key points. Go here and click on Download Now to see the full report.

Wine Faults

Something ain't quite right with your wine, but you aren't sure what it might be or if it's just you. Following are the most common problems you can find with wine. Some of them happened at the winery, the others in storage, in transit, or in your hands.

Describing Sonoma County Towns

If you are wondering where to stay when visiting Sonoma County, rather than asking people on Reddit or looking at a map, use this handy description guide to pick what fits your personality.

Towns listed from large to small. 

Visiting Sonoma County in the Winter

Is an off-season visit right for you? Here are pros and cons of a winter visit. The same applies for Napa, our next door neighbor.