Visiting Sonoma - Wineries for First Time Visitors

There are many opinions on what might be good starting places for first-timers who maybe don't know a whole lot about wine. Here are a few that will give you a well-rounded intro into Sonoma County wine. All are easy to get into as they don't require reservations for tastings though some other experiences such as tours or food plates may require giving them advance notice.

Sonoma County is large (bigger than the state of Rhode Island) so don't try to stop at them all on one trip.

Buena Vista tasting room

Benziger, Glen Ellen
Learn about green farming practices. The vineyard tram tour is the thing to do.

Buena Vista, Sonoma
Old, historic, extensively remodeled by the new owner (Jean Claude Boisset).

Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood
Beautiful grounds and building. Well-known wines.

Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma
Sparkling wine (plus still wines), outdoor seating, food plates, guided tours, great setting.

Kendall-Jackson, Fulton
Wine and food pairing available, gardens. You can taste the wines you find in restaurants and retail stores or reserve wines found only there.

Kenwood, yes, it's in Kenwood
Lots of "grocery store" wines, but go for the winery-only wines like the Jack London series.

Korbel, Guerneville
Lots of sparkling wine, free tasting, free tours, good deli on site, nice setting. Visit the nearby Armstrong Redwood park while you're here.

Kunde, Kenwood
Drop-in tasting room to mountaintop tastings overlooking their massive vineyards.

St. Francis, Santa Rosa
Known for their excellent food pairings -- and very solid wines.

St. Francis