Wine tasting in Sonoma County

How to plan a day of wine tasting in Sonoma County

1. Book Iron Horse or Mascarin first, since both are by appointment only, then fill the rest of the day with rooms that take walk-ins.
2. Plan lunch near the Healdsburg Plaza or in Glen Ellen, or book a tasting that comes with food. At Capo Creek, every seated tasting is paired with dishes the owner cooks.
3. Ask about dogs and children before you go. Capo Creek admits no minors and Iron Horse allows no pets, while Laurel Glen welcomes both.

Which part of Sonoma County to start in

• Healdsburg

  Tasting rooms and restaurants sit on and around the Plaza, between Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley.

  Spill lists 169 wineries · 21 of 120 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

• Dry Creek Valley

  Just northwest of Healdsburg, known for Zinfandel, and home to Mascarin and Capo Creek.

  Spill lists 77 wineries · nine of 54 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

• Russian River Valley

  West of Healdsburg along River Road, known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

  Spill lists 148 wineries · 24 of 104 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

• Sebastopol

  The west county, where Iron Horse pours at the end of a dirt road in Green Valley.

  Spill lists 49 wineries · five of 31 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

• Sonoma Valley

  Highway 12 runs up the valley from the Sonoma Plaza through Glen Ellen and Kenwood.

  Spill lists 64 wineries · six of 47 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

• Glen Ellen

  A small town on Arnold Drive, with Laurel Glen's room downtown and Schermeister beside Sonoma Creek in Jack London Village.

  Spill lists 19 wineries · three of 14 with a stated policy don't require a reservation

Wineries we'd send you to in Sonoma County

Every winery here was covered by independent press, named in its paragraph, and we checked its visit details on its own website. They are in no particular order.

Iron Horse Vineyards pours at an outdoor bar beside a redwood barn at the end of a dirt road in Green Valley, near Sebastopol, looking out over the vineyard. Its sparkling wine has been poured at the White House for decades. Every tasting is by appointment, every day, and the winery asks you to book well ahead for weekends. Supervised children are welcome, and only registered service animals are allowed. The San Francisco Chronicle named it one of the top wineries in both the Bay Area and Sonoma County.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Tasting fee

$35 per person

Open

Every day

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Mascarin Wines, which used to be called 32 Winds, hosts one group at a time on a deck and under olive trees above Dry Creek, up a dirt road behind the vineyard. Visits are by appointment only, and the winery warns that Google Maps and Waze can send you the wrong way, so follow its own directions. Dogs are welcome if you check ahead, and supervised children are welcome too. The San Francisco Chronicle added it to its guide to Sonoma County's top wineries, and Sonoma Magazine included it among new tasting rooms to try in Healdsburg.

Mascarin Wines

Tasting fee

$45 per person

Open

Every day

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Laurel Glen Vineyard pours Cabernet from its Sonoma Mountain estate, library vintages included, in a tasting room on Arnold Drive in downtown Glen Ellen. It is open every day and welcomes walk-ins, and a quick text ahead makes sure there is room. Dogs are welcome, and children can sit with you during the tasting. It appears in 7x7's guide to Glen Ellen, and the Sonoma Index-Tribune covered its move into town.

Laurel Glen Vineyard

Tasting fee

$35 to $125 per person

Open

Every day

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Capo Creek Winery has no tasting bar. Owner and winemaker Mary Roy cooks the food paired with each seated tasting, served on a hillside patio over old-vine Zinfandel on West Dry Creek Road. Tastings are by reservation, booked by phone, and minors are not allowed. The North Bay Bohemian reviewed its tastings, and Andrew Harper included it among memorable winery lunches in Sonoma.

Capo Creek Winery

Tasting fee

$55-$265 + taxes and 22% tip

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Schermeister Winery pours mostly Pinot Noir made with native yeast, in a studio beside Sonoma Creek in Jack London Village that was once a recording studio. The owners pour, and walk-ins are welcome. Well-behaved children are welcome, and dogs get fresh filtered water. It is also in 7x7's guide to Glen Ellen, and the Sonoma Index-Tribune covered the room when it opened.

Schermeister Winery

Tasting fee

$45 per person

Open

Thursday to Sunday

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Can you bring your dog to wineries in Sonoma County?

Spill lists 154 of the 181 Sonoma County wineries with a dog policy on record as dog-friendly. Laurel Glen and Schermeister in Glen Ellen both welcome dogs, and Mascarin does too if you check ahead. Iron Horse allows registered service animals only.

• Laurel Glen Vineyard
• Schermeister Winery
• Mascarin Wines

Dog-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County

Is Sonoma County good for kids?

Spill lists 101 of the 105 Sonoma County wineries with a kid policy on record as kid-friendly. At Laurel Glen, children can sit with you during the tasting, and Iron Horse and Mascarin welcome supervised children. Capo Creek does not allow minors.

• Laurel Glen Vineyard
• Iron Horse Vineyards
• Mascarin Wines
• Schermeister Winery

Can you go wine tasting in Sonoma County without a reservation?

Of the Sonoma County wineries on Spill that state a reservation policy, 261 of 315 require one. Laurel Glen and Schermeister in Glen Ellen take walk-ins. Iron Horse and Mascarin are by appointment only.

• Laurel Glen Vineyard
• Schermeister Winery

How much does wine tasting cost in Sonoma County?

Across the 264 Sonoma County wineries on Spill that publish a fee, most tastings cost between $20 and $125. Some take the fee off when you buy bottles, Laurel Glen and Schermeister among them.

Budget Wine Tastings in Sonoma County