Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a girls’/guys’ vineyard tour weekend, or a family event, we’ll narrow down the best wine tasting Sonoma, California has to fit your preferences. 

When visiting Northern California’s majestic wine country, you want to get the most out of your wine tour. But you’ve only got one weekend. And with over 600 vineyards spread amongst various rural neighborhoods, planning wine tastings in Sonoma may seem overwhelming.

Wineries are as diverse as the grapes grown and varietals offered, so start thinking about what wine tastings suit your needs. What distinguishes Sonoma from Napa is the size of the wineries. Sonoma has more small, family-owned wineries, where you’re likely to stay in a bed and breakfast and taste wines with the wine growers and winemakers and basque in the glory of their experiences making wine. Napa is a more developed tourism area with larger wineries, hotels, and hospitality centers, where you’re more likely to taste wines with a sommelier or wine steward.

But what is wine country exactly, and how do you seek out its gems when planning your wine tasting weekend? Let’s take a look at this renowned wine region, and give you tips to pick the special wine tasting rooms that suit the precise experience you want to have with your partner, family, friends, or colleagues. 

What is wine country?

The term “wine country” in the United States is most often used to refer to the North Coast AVA of California. More specifically, it describes Sonoma County and Napa Valley – the most famous wine regions in the country. 

Sonoma is the largest producer of wine in Northern California, and is considered the birthplace of the California wine industry. Spanning over one million acres, Sonoma County is a massive AVA to explore, filled with dozens of micro-climates that bring unique character to its wines. It stretches up and down the coast of California from Mendocino County to the San Pablo Bay, and east to the borders of Napa. 

Sonoma Vineyards by Appellation

Sonoma County has 19 distinct wine-growing regions or appellations known as American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). When you see a bottle of wine with the place it came from on the label, that’s the AVA. The more specific the AVA, the more desirable the wine.

Wine from the Russian River Valley is more desirable than wine from Sonoma County. Wine from Sonoma is more desirable than wine from California. The reason is that wine from California might combine grapes from Sonoma, Napa, and the Central Valley. But wine from Sonoma is made entirely from Sonoma County grapes. The more specific the sense of place is, the more desirable the wine is.

Sonoma Towns by AVA

Sonoma towns, which you’ll use to find your accommodations and directions to wineries and vineyards are different than Sonoma AVAs. Here’s a list of towns with denser concentrations of wineries and the AVAs they are in.

Geyserville Wineries

Portions of the Alexander Valley, North Coast, and Northern Sonoma American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with Geyserville, which is just off California .

The Alexander Valley AVA, located in the Geyserville part of Sonoma County is characterized by its diverse geography, featuring rolling hills, fertile valley floors, and a climate influenced by the nearby Russian River, making it ideal for growing a variety of grape varietals, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

Healdsburg Wineries

Portions of the North Coast, Northern Sonoma, the Russian River Valley, and the Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with the City of Healdsburg. 

Healdsburg, nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, enjoys strategic access to major transportation routes, including U.S. Highway 101, which runs directly through the town, connecting it to the rest of the Bay Area, and State Route 128, providing a scenic route to the nearby wine regions and coastal areas.

Santa Rosa Wineries

Portions of the North Coast and Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with the City of Santa Rosa. 

Santa Rosa, located on the eastern border of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, serves as a central hub with direct freeway access via U.S. Highway 101, connecting it to San Francisco to the south, while State Route 12 provides a scenic route westward to Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast.

Sebastopol Wineries

Portions of the Green Valley of Russian River Valley, North Coast, Northern Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and West Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with Sebastopol. 

Sebastopol, located in western Sonoma County, is surrounded by rolling hills and apple orchards, with access via State Route 12, which connects the town to Santa Rosa and U.S. Highway 101 – as well as the Pacific Coast Highway from Bodega Bay – providing convenient routes to the greater Bay Area and the Pacific coast.

Sonoma Wineries

Known for its wine-tasting rooms, craft shops, art galleries, and the colonial-era Sonoma Plaza, surrounded by 19th-century adobe structures. The City of Sonoma is the sixth most populous city in Sonoma County. 

Sonoma, nestled in the southern part of Sonoma Valley, is easily accessible via State Route 12, which connects it to Napa to the northeast, while State Route 37 and U.S. Highway 101 provide a direct route to San Francisco to the south, making it a convenient gateway to both wine regions.

According to legend, the native people of the region named Sonoma Valley the “Valley of the Moon” because, from certain sacred spots, the moon is said to rise and set seven times behind the peaks of the Mayacamas Range.

Sonoma County: Getting There

Unless you’re living in the area, the easiest and most economical way for most people to reach Sonoma County is by flying into SFO (San Francisco International Airport) or OAK (Oakland International Airport). Sonoma proper is about 45 miles north of San Francisco and 48 miles Northwest of Oakland, so either way, it’s about an hour’s drive up route US-101 N. 

Unless you book in advance they’re usually more expensive, but can fly directly into wine country via STS (Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport). As of March 21, 2024, there are direct flights into Sonoma from as number of regional airports.

Nonstop Flights to Sonoma County

You can fly nonstop to Sonoma County from some cities and skip the hassle of driving up from San Francisco or Oakland. Nonstop flights to Sonoma County’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) are available from:

Boise (BOI) to Sonoma

Burbank (BUR) to Sonoma

Dallas Ft. Worth (DTS) to Sonoma

Denver, Portland (PDX) to Sonoma

Seattle (SEA) to Sonoma

Kalispell (FCA) to Sonoma

Las Vegas (LAS) to Sonoma

Los Angeles (LAX) to Sonoma

Phoenix (PHX) to Sonoma

Salem (SLE) to Sonoma

San Diego (SAN) to Sonoma

Airlines Serving Santa Rosa (STS) are:

• Alaska Airlines: Burbank (BUR), Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX), Los Angeles (LAX), Orange County (SNA), and San Diego (SAN).
• American Airlines: Phoenix (PHX) and Dallas (DFW).
• Avelo Airlines: Burbank (BUR), Las Vegas (LAS), Palm Springs (PSP), and Bend/Redmond.

So now that you know where wine country is and how to get there, let’s discuss where you are going to stay and which Sonoma wine-tasting rooms you’re going to visit on your Sonoma wine-tasting weekend. 

Driving Directions from Santa Rosa Airport to a Sonoma Winery

Wine Tasting Prices in 2022 vs 2023

The price of a basic wine tasting in Sonoma County rose 11% from $36 in 2022 to $40 in 2023, according to the 2023 Sonoma Wine Tasting Report.

Planning your Wine Tasting Weekend

Make the most of your wine tour with seven simple tips. 

1. Wineries by Sonoma Appellation

Sonoma County is rural and spread out. Even if you are blessed with a long weekend, a few days is not much time to visit all of Sonoma wine country. To make the most of your wine tour, start by picking the Sonoma AVA that will be your home base for your wine tasting weekend. 

You can start looking for hotels or restaurants you love, and base your tastings around that. Or, if there is a particular type of wine you’re after, you can choose based in the Sonoma appellation. If you’re looking for the best Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Sebastopol or Healdsburg are good bets. 

For the best Pinot Noir wine, stay anywhere near the Russian River Valley or Sonoma Coast. If you prefer a good glass of Zinfandel, you’ll want to stay near Dry Creek, or near Alexander Valley if a bold Cabernet Sauvignon is what you’re jam.

For first time visitors (and even veterans) we often recommend the quaint town of Healdsburg. Situated smack in the middle of Sonoma County, Healdsburg gives you easy access to Sonoma’s most celebrated vineyards. 

Prices were up 9% in Healdsburg, the fifth most populous city in Sonoma County. The Russian River wraps around the Healdsburg downtown area, which has a dense commercial district surrounding a central plaza. But despite the foot traffic, only 5% more Healdsburg wineries are accepting walk-ins this year. Portions of the North Coast, Northern Sonoma, the Russian River Valley, and the Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with the City of Healdsburg.

Healdsburg has an adorable central plaza filled with shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms. It offers a range of fabulous accommodations from swanky, modern Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg’s heart, to cozy Victorian Raford Inn, 15 minutes outside of town, down winding country roads. 

Want for something a little more rustic and adventurous? Book the Wine Lodge at Halleck Vineyard in neighboring Sebastopol and enjoy taking a bath on the outdoor deck surrounded by Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir vineyards.

There are more tasting rooms in Sebastopol that include food pairings with entry-level wine tastings than any other Sonoma County destination. The number of Sebastopol wineries accommodating walk-in guests in their tasting rooms doubled from 10% in 2022, to 22% in 2023. Portions of the Green Valley of Russian River Valley, North Coast, Northern Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and West Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) intersect with Sebastopol.

2. Keep your Sonoma wine tour weekend simple

One of the most common mistakes people make when planning a wine tasting weekend is stretching themselves too thin. Sonoma is a vast wine region, and it can easily take an hour or more to get from one winery on your list to the next.

Running late to reservation after reservation certainly doesn’t make for the best holiday. Try to be strategic when planning wine tastings, meals, and lodging so you can spend the majority of your time relaxing and drinking and not stuck in the car. 

Try to plan convenient routes, and pick wine tasting rooms within relative proximity. When making reservations or plans, leave ample time to enjoy the wine and ambience at each stop. After all, that’s the whole point of a wine country weekend!

In general, we’d suggest no more than one or maybe two wineries per day. Sonoma County is home to many small and very small wineries that make accliamed small-production wines that are available by allocation only, which means only their wine club members can purchase them. You may be able to purchase a limited quantity of wine from their tasting rooms, but unlike Napa Valley which has more large wineries with brand name labels that can also find in supermarkets, wines from Sonoma County are usually made by small wineries as a labor of love.

When you do wine tastings in Sonoma County, you are more likely to meet the winemaker who tends the vineyard, does the barrel blending, and oversees production from grape to glass. For that reason, wine tasting experiences here are more intimate, longer, and involved.

If you want to be anonymous and visit a bunch of different wineries in a day, Napa Valley is probably a better choice. But if you really want to have an intimate tasting experience, Sonoma wine tours are what you’re after. You may even want to narrow it down to one Sonoma winery a day if you are planning to do a guided wine tasting at a small vineyard.

Sonoma wineries open around 10:00 or 11:00am and stop tastings between 4:00 and 6:00pm. Some of them have live music or other events in the afternoons, so if that interests you, you should factor this in when mapping out your itinerary. But since the lockdown, many Sonoma wineries have limited capacity and schedule their wine tastings by appointment only, so make sure and check in advance.

3. Does your preferred Sonoma winery require reservations?

Do some research to make sure the wine tasting rooms on your tour can accommodate your party. Some boutique wineries can’t accommodate large groups, and even big commercial wineries will probably want advance notice if your party is on the larger side. 

Some wine-tasting rooms accommodate children, and some wineries are dog-friendly, but not all of them do. If your party includes tots or terriers, it’s important to confirm if they will be allowed to avoid any snags in your weekend. Guided tastings at small wineries are intimate, and arriving late with kids or unsocialized dogs can disturb the wine-tasting experience for the entire group. Get there early so you can settle in.

4. Designate a driver

A car is a must for Sonoma wine country, and it’s important to designate your driver ahead of time. If you designate a driver from your group, they can still enjoy the wine tasting. Most Sonoma wine tasting room dispense spit mugs for those who want to sip (but not imbibe) their wine. 

If you’d rather let a little loose and leave the plans in the hands of others, you’ll need to hire a driver because the area is too rural to support Uber or Lyft drivers. You’d have to wait an hour to get picked up, if anyone even showed. There are chauffeurs to choose from, from freelance and family-owned businesses, to luxury transport providers like Sonoma Sterling Limousines or Pure Luxury Transportation. But it’s not cheap. And may of the smaller wineries won’t have parking for larger vehicles, so they’ll need to drop you off, and then come back and get you.

25 Ways to Indulge in a wine tasting Sonoma weekend without driving:

1. Enjoy a Sonoma wine tasting at a bed and breakfast in the heart of the valley.

2. Take a leisurely stroll to a neighborhood Sonoma winery tasting around Healdsburg Plaza.

3. Start your day with a delicious brunch at a local cafe before heading to a Sonoma wine tasting.

4. Relax at a local chalet while enjoying a private Sonoma wine tasting.

5. Visit Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery for a memorable Sonoma winery tasting experience.

6. Book a wine tasting Sonoma tour that includes stops at boutique wineries like Fulcrum.

7. Spend your afternoon at Banshee wine tasting in downtown Sonoma.

8. Experience wine tastings at top-rated locations like Hanzell Vineyards without leaving town.

9. Take a limo to MacRostie Winery for an intimate Sonoma wine tasting.

10. Discover new flavors at Anaba Wines during a guided wine tasting Sonoma session.

11. Walk to Enoteca and taste wines from local vineyards.

12. Join a guided wine tasting Sonoma tour that visits famous spots like Kamen Estate Wines.

13. Spend the evening tasting wines at Jeff Cohn Cellars in Sonoma Plaza.

14. Treat yourself to a relaxing day at Sonoma Mission Inn with wine tastings included.

15. Wander to a nearby vineyard and enjoy a peaceful Sonoma wine tasting.

16. Spend your morning exploring the Sonoma State Historic Park before an afternoon winery tasting.

17. Take a short walk to Benziger Family Winery for a sustainable winery tasting experience.

18. Indulge in a gourmet meal paired with wine tasting Sonoma at a local restaurant.

19. Reserve a spot for a wine tasting Sonoma weekend at Larson Family Winery.

20. Walk to a nearby hotel offering special wine tastings for guests.

21. Plan a visit to the Mission San Francisco Solano followed by a Sonoma wine tasting.

22. Enjoy a relaxing spa day with an afternoon of wine tasting Sonoma at a nearby trail’s end.

23. Take part in a Sonoma wine tasting experience at Donum Estate with a focus on art and wine.

24. Sip and savor wines at Pangloss Cellars while staying within walking distance of your accommodation.

25. Experience the unique terroir of Dry Creek Valley during a Sonoma winery tasting tour.

5. Dress Sonoma Winery Chic

When it comes to Sonoma, the temperatures are as varied as the wine varietals. While the afternoons are sunny and warm, the nights can be downright cold and foggy. As such, it’s best to come prepared with layers for your weekend.

In general, it’s best to mix style with convenience and comfort. Darker colors and patterns can hide potential wine spills, and flat, closed-toe shoes are recommended for walking tours of the vineyards. 

We also recommend skipping the perfume and cologne. That’s because 80% of what you taste actually comes from smell, and wearing a scent can affect the wine tasting for you and others in your party.

6. Stay hydrated

Wine isn’t the only thing you should be drinking. It’s important to drink water throughout the day – so you’re still enjoying your vacation come morning!

Use water to cleanse your palate between each wine in your flight, and try to drink about two glasses of water for every full glass of wine you enjoy. If you forget to hydrate during the tasting, it’s helpful to carry some water with you so you can drink it during car rides. 

7. And most importantly, have fun!

Once you have everything planned out, just relax and enjoy the educational (and tantalizingly tasty) experience that is Sonoma. You’ll be in idyllic settings sipping world-class wines with the people you love most. This is life at its finest! 

If you’re feeling intimidated, take a deep breath. Wine tastings aren’t only for experienced connessoiurs. Many people are still wondering “how does a wine tasting work?” And if that’s you, we have an entire post on how to taste wine with your name on it! 

Sonoma wineries are thrilled to welcome visitors who are just starting their wine discovery journey and are happy to teach you all about their wines and winemaking practices. Feel free to ask your host as many wine tasting questions as you want! 

But before you decide on any wineries, it’s time to ask yourself some questions to narrow down the best wine tasting rooms. 

Questions to ask yourself when choosing wine tasting rooms

Here are some of the most important things to ponder when narrowing down your wine tasting room selection. 

Do you want to meet the winemakers? 

Are you content learning about the wines from a waiter or staff member? Or do you want to hear from the people who make the wine themselves? If you don’t have many questions to ask, and just want to enjoy sipping good wine with friends or family, then maybe it won’t matter to you. 

But for some, a wine tasting is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse into how winemaking magic works! 

Do you want a party atmosphere or an intimate one? 

Ambiance is important when choosing your wine-tasting rooms. As you plan your weekend, ponder what type of atmosphere you want your tastings to take place in.

Would you prefer a large commercial tasting area where you can enjoy shuffleboard and bocce ball? A rock and roll lounge with a fun party atmosphere? A quiet table for two overlooking lavender fields? A private, custom experience in the vintner’s own home?

If you’re looking to connect with loved ones, perhaps you want more intimate shared experiences. If you’re just looking for a good time with friends or colleagues, you might prefer the freedom of a commercial tasting space. It’s all down to you and your group – and don’t be afraid to switch up the vibe a few times in your route!

Do you want a food pairing with your wine tasting?

Food options are an important thing to consider – as it’s best to avoid any issues of drinking on an empty stomach.

Many wine tasting rooms will offer cheese pairings or charcuteries boards with their tastings. Some even elevate each sip with farm-to-table plated meals by award-winning chefs.

Although wine tastings that include food pairings tend to be considered higher-value, just 12% of entry-level wine tastings in Sonoma County include food pairings of any kind. Sebastopol has the most wineries with entry-level tastings that include food pairings.

Wine tastings in Sonoma County that include food pairings are priced 58% higher than tastings that do not include food. While food pairings menus differ from winery to winery, they generally include single-bite delicacies such as cured porks, cheeses, olives, nuts, crackers, and/or dried fruits selected to enhance the flavor of the varietal poured.

The average price of a wine tasting in Sonoma County, which includes food pairings, is $59. By town, the average price of wine tastings that include food pairings is $87 in the City of Sonoma, $70 in Santa Rosa, $57 in Sebastopol, $52 in Healdsburg, $45 in Glen Ellen, and $25 in Geyserville.

Do you want to make a reservation in advance or do a walk-in?

Some people prefer the flexibility of spontaneous winery walk-ins, while others would rather reserve to guarantee their place and tour. Which would you prefer? 

Many wineries are open every day of the week and welcome walk-ins of small groups, but that is entirely dependent on the location and season. If you plan your weekend during the high season from June to October, expect more places to be fully booked up if you don’t reserve in advance. 

Especially during COVID times, a good number of wineries are making reservations a requirement. Indoor wine tasting rooms could be closed down, and they could be relying entirely on their outdoor spaces to seat your party.  

Sonoma wineries are easing their reservation policies. In 2022, only 15% of Sonoma wine tasting rooms accommodated walk-ins. But in 2023, that number rose to 26% as more Sonoma wineries sought to accommodate spontaneous arrivals. Santa Rosa has the highest number of wineries that accept walk-ins at 36%, followed by the City of Sonoma at 31%, Geyserville at 30%, Sebastopol at 22%, and Healdsburg at 17%.

For peace of mind, we generally advise you to make reservations as far in advance as possible. 

Do you want a guided tasting?

Would you rather be left to your own devices to chat with your party, or would you like the vintner to walk you through tasting?

Most wineries offer a wine bar where you can walk up and order wine flights. These commercial tasting experiences usually don’t require an appointment, and give you more time to sip and savor on your own.

If you want to truly get to know wine country though, we recommend a guided vineyard tasting. These tastings often include a tour of the grounds, so you can see where the wines are made and learn firsthand about the journey of the grape from vine to bottle. 

These boutique experiences have wine tasting rooms designed for more intimate or formal tastings where the vintner will open a number of bottles for you and your party to sample. As you drink, the winemaker will walk you through how best to enjoy each of their wines. At these guided tastings, you may even be able to try a sip from limited-edition reserve bottles. 

Wine Tasting Room in Sebastopol

If you’d like to sip the top Pinot Noir wine with winemakers at a small, intimate winery surrounded by vineyards, then your wine tour won’t be complete without a stop at Halleck Vineyard. 

The Sebastopol winery opens its doors to guests at their family estate every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with guided tastings at 11 am and 3pm by advance reservation.

Enjoy wine tasting in Sebastopol where you can sample award-winning, Best-in-Class Pinot Noir wines and other exquisite varietals from Sauvigon Blanc to Chardonnay, to delightfully dry Gewurztraminer – which are served paired with locally artisan cheeses and chocolates to enhance the wine tasting experience.

Map of Sebastopol, California

Wine Tastings: Our Top Picks

Over the years, we’ve published plenty of lists of our favorite Sonoma wineries to visit. Here are links to our favorite wine tastings in Sonoma Valley.

1. Bodega Bay Wineries and Vineyards

A list of the top 8 Sonoma County wine tasting rooms near Bodega Bay (with Map).

2. Sebastopol Wineries and Vineyards

Top 12 Sebastopol Wine Tasting Spots (with Map).

3. Russian River Wineries and Vineyards

Top 7 Russian River Wine Tasting Rooms (with Map).

4. Small Wineries in Sonoma

7 Best Small Wineries in Sonoma (with Map)

5. Romantic Sonoma Wineries

From the Russian River Valley to the majestic Sonoma Coast, how to find a romantic Sonoma winery.

6. Sonoma County Vineyards

15 Best Wineries in the Sonoma Valley for Wine Tasting

Why does Sonoma County produce the best Pinot Noir wine?

Sonoma County has some of the best wine growing conditions in the word. The weather, the ocean, and the soil all play a pivotal role in shaping the exceptionally strong flavors of the wine it produces. 

In particular, the Russian River Valley AVA, a mere 165,000 acres in Sonoma County, produces some of the most stunning bottles of Pinot Noir wine. 

What makes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir so exceptional?

The answer is made of many facets, the first of which is the incredible diversity of the soil. The Russian River Valley has some of the most diverse soil in the world, with more soil types than all of France combined. 

This soil is the result of volcanic eruptions from millions of years ago. The ash from the eruptions created sandstone rich in silt and clay, which the people of the Russian River Valley refer to as “Goldridge Soil.” 

This loamy soil is especially well draining, which makes it a perfect match for hard-to-grow Pinot Noir grapes. 

Pinot Noir grapes need cool climates with plenty of sunshine to thrive. If it gets too hot they will shrivel and raisin. If it gets too cold they will develop rot and disease.

Because of these, there are very few regions in the world that can successfully grow Pinot Noir grapes – but the Russian River Valley is one of them!

The Russian River Valley is known for its characteristic blanket of fog that envelops the rolling hills, and the vineyards nestled between them, for most of the morning hours. 

This fog works as a natural air conditioner, protecting the grapes from too much heat and prolonging the growing season in the process. With up to 20% more hang time on the vines, Pinot Noir grapes in the Russian River Valley become bolder and fruitier than ever thought possible. 

But the fog doesn’t work alone. It gives away to gentle, consistent sunshine in the late afternoon, which further helps the Pinot Noir grapes to thrive. 

This combination of sun, soil, and seaside fog work together to build a symphony of flavors within the resulting wine. 

Sonoma County, and the Russian River Valley in particular, have absolutely the best terroir on Earth for Pinot Noir grapes – which is why it also produces the best Pinot Noir wine in the world. 

So, now that you know a little bit more about why wine in this region is so spectacular, let’s help you narrow down the best bottles of Pinot Noir to purchase for yourself. 

15 Best Pinot Noir Wines from Sonoma County

Here is a list, in no particular order, of what we deem to be the best Pinot Noir wines in Sonoma – including some gems from the Russian River Valley itself. 

1. 2017 Emeritus Vineyards Pinot Noir, Wesley’s Reserve

The 2017 Wesley’s Reserve Pinot Noir from Emeritus Vineyards is intense and dramatic – bursting with dark berry flavors of blackberry, loganberry, and pomegranate. With luxurious tannins and a rich, fleshy palate, this Pinot Noir is sure to impress. 

Sip through the layers of black coffee, black pepper, frankincense, cedar, and spice and marvel at the complexity of this incredible wine. 

2. 2018 McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir

If you’re looking for the best Pinot Noir wine to pair with rich meat dishes like lamb stew, grilled meats, and duck – this is it. The 2018 McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir from Dutton Goldfield is endlessly complex, and you’re taken on a journey with every single sip.

It starts with bold aromas of Bing cherry, red beet, and black raspberry, then moves through whiffs of dried lavender and crushed granite. 

The mouth has lush fruit flavors of cherry, pomegranate, and cranberry accompanied cigar box spice and a long, lingering finish of Ceylon tea and minerality. 

3. 2017 Gioia Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2017 Gioia Vineyard Pinot Noir from Furthermore Wines won the Double Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, so that should already tell you to grab a bottle of it!

This clear garnet wine boasts elegant dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherry with a hint of florals and a bit of barrel spice thrown in. With solid acidity, soft tannins, and notes of oak, this is a wine that plays well with any dinner spread. 

4. 2016 Thorn Ridge Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir from Claypool Cellars is one of their best vintages of the last 10 years (and definitely one of the best Pinot Noir wines in Sonoma County). This stunning wine has notes of dark cherry, hibiscus, plum, leather, cola, and crushed stone. 

There are also hints of lavender, mint and dried herbs that sing beautifully in this strikingly savory and tannic Pinot Noir wine. 

5. 2018 Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2018 Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of the boldest and most zesty Pinots around. Bursting forth with plum, vanilla, and tiramisu flavors, this wine gives way to notes of pomegranate, boysenberry, and peppercorn. Try it paired with Steak au Poivre, or Coq au Vin.

6. 2018 Hartford Court Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir 

The rich soil at the bottom of the Sta. Rita Hills provides a deep complexity and highly textured feel to the 2018 Hartford Court Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir. Characterized by dark cherry and plum aromas and a long, beautiful finish, this wine brings Burgundian elegance straight to California. 

Aged in just under 30% new French Oak, this bottle of wine hosts an abundance of earthiness from sappy herbs to forest floor to the hints of loamy soil from whence the wine came. It delivers ample salinity, minerality, and tannins along with the delicious dark fruit flavors.

7. 2017 Pinot Noir, Hallberg Vineyard

This Pinot Noir wine is simply layered with notes of fresh fruit, dark candied cherries, roasted meat, molasses, and even Vegemite! With a lot of weight to the mid-pallet, this vintage is one of the best Pinot Noir wines for matching with hearty French dishes like beef bourguignon. 

8. Cristina Pinot Noir 2017

The Christina Pinot Noir 2017 from Marimar Estate is incredibly engaging, with aromas of ripe cherry, dark fruit, and just a hint of pomegranate. The palate is seductive and silky with an unending finish and savory notes of anise and bay leaf. This is a wine that will age sublimely. 

9. 2017 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir

This glistening garnet wine is as silky as it is bold, with gamey tannins, medium body, and ample fruit. It greets you with alluring aromas of boysenberry, blueberry, and sweet almond, and deep flavors of blackberry, coffee and cola. This is truly a classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. 

10. 2017 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir

If you’re looking for a truly smooth sip of wine, then the 2017 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir from Gary Farrell Winery is just the ticket. This lighter-styled Pinot features summer strawberry, ripe cherry, and raspberry flavors all rolled up in layers of violet, rose, mushroom, and black tea. 

11. 2018 Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir

The 2018 vintage from Red Car is particularly special because of the cool, long growing season that produced this wine. It allowed the fruit from each of the three clones at the Heaven & Earth vineyard to build deeper, more complex flavors from the extended hang time. 

This is one of the best Pinot Noir wines for experiencing the pinnacle of the cool-climate style. Savory, brooding, and deliciously balanced, this Pinot Noir boasts bright blackberry, pomegranate and rhubarb – seasoned in baking spice, cardamom and a hint of white pepper.

12. Synthesis 2019 Estate Pinot Noir

The cool mornings and fog drenched valleys of the Russian River Valley produce exceptional Pinot Noir wine, and the Synthesis 2019 Estate Pinot Noir from Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery is one of them. 

This Pinot Noir is exceptionally perfumed with aromas and flavors of fresh pomegranate, dark berries, rip strawberry, fresh earth, orange peel, and subtle hints of rose. With a spine of firm acidity, fleshy tannins, and a finish of truffle and clove, it’s worth far more than its price tag. 

It’s rare to find Pinot Noir of this quality at this price point, so if you’re on a budget, this is the best Pinot Noir wine for you. 

13. 2018 EnRoute “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir

Tantalizing and opulent, the 2018 EnRoute “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir does the Russian River Valley proud. Lush and silky from start to finish, this decadent Pinot Noir unfolds layers of dark berry flavor, dried rose petal aromas, and lingering hints of clove and forest floor. 

With a juicy entry, spiced accent and mineral finish, this complex bottle is one of the best Pinot Noir wines to enjoy with a buttery grilled salmon. 

14. 2018 Cuvée Eva Marie Pinot Noir

The 2018 Cuvée Eva Marie Pinot Noir is named after the wife of Three Sticks founder, Bill Price. The wine has a lot to live up to – but we’d say the pure luxury of this bottle certainly does. With a light, velvety smooth mouthfeel, and long, smoky finish, you’ll keep coming back for more. 

Crafted from their organically farmed Sonoma Mountain property, and aged in hand-selected toasted French Oak barrels, this carefully curated Pinot Noir is a delight. Deep blackberry, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa nib, and sultry vanilla play on the palate with every sip.

15. 2017 The Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir 

No list of the best Pinot Noir wine in Sonoma County would be complete without the 2017 The Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir from Halleck Vineyard. 

That’s because this incredible Russian River Valley Pinot Noir won the Double Gold and Best in Class at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition – naming it the best Pinot Noir wine in the whole nation! 

The Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir is truly stunning and sophisticated. Entirely organic, it is one of the finest wines in the world. This garnet gem of a wine is transparent and brilliant with a highly aromatic noise of rose petals, black tea, bing cherry, and cranberry. 

The Pinot Noir has ample minerality, and great texture with rich fruit tones of dark cherry and dried fruit, as well as earthy hints of dried herbs, tea leaves, and gentle tobacco. 

But 2017 The Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir isn’t the only award-winner on the Halleck Vineyard roster. With a foundation of hard work and the perfect Sebastopol Hills terroir, Halleck Vineyard regularly releases Best in Class and Double Gold winning bottles of Pinot Noir. 

Experience the very best Pinot Noir wine on offer

Armed with this list of the best Pinot Noir wine in Sonoma County, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing Pinot perfection. 

And, if a specific vintage is no longer available at the time you read this article, don’t worry! The Sonoma County wineries on our list are some of the best of the best – wineries that consistently pump out delectable and award-winning bottles of Pinot Noir wine. 

When it comes to Sonoma County wine, it’s hard to go wrong, but these vineyards always get it very, VERY right. So grab a case or two and get to sipping this sublime red wine for yourself!

Sonoma County, California – a 60-minute drive from San Francisco – is home to many of the top boutique wineries in the US.

All in all, there are 632 licensed Sonoma wineries, according to the most recent Sonoma Wine Tasting Report. But fewer than that are operational, and still, fewer have wine tasting rooms. We estimate there are around 400 tasting rooms in Sonoma county, which is a lot to choose from.

So whether you’re lucky enough to be living the dream in Sonoma County, or just visiting on vacation. You probably want to know which are the best Sonoma wineries in this collection of Northern California coastal communities from Bodega Bay Wineries to Healdsburg, Santa Rosa Wineries, and the Barlow in Sebastopol, built amidst the site of former apple orchards and apple processing facilities.

Lucky for you, we have some insight as a Sonoma County vineyard ourselves. And while we can’t recognize all the top Sonoma wineries and hardworking winemakers we love in one list or guide, we can narrow it down to some extremely unique Sonoma wineries to try on your next visit. 

We’ve made sure that these vineyards are all within driving distance of each other. So it would be easy to plan a Sonoma wine tasting tour that lets you visit a few of them. 

We have chosen to focus on small, family-owned wineries in particular for our list of the best wineries in Sonoma County. Because big-name brands are easy enough to find, and we want to help you sniff out the hidden gems of the region. 

With so many incredible Sonoma California wineries to see, it was hard to narrow down the list. For the sake of brevity, here is our list of the 21 best wineries in Sonoma County. 

Map of the Best Sonoma Wineries

21 Best Sonoma Wineries in Sonoma County

Do you want to discover the finest wines that Sonoma County has to offer by embarking on a wine-tasting tour through the picturesque vineyards and wine estates?

Be sure to visit our top picks of family-owned boutique wineries and Sonoma wineries, where you can indulge in some of the region’s most delectable wines. Whether you explore a charming vineyard or a renowned wine estate, you’re guaranteed to savor a truly exceptional tasting experience.

1. Halleck Vineyard Sebastopol Winery

3785 Burnside Road, 95472 Sebastopol US

• Why we chose it: For a truly unique wine-tasting experience, head to Halleck Vineyard, where award-winning small-production wines are handcrafted. This small-scale winery offers limited-production wines that showcase the cool climate of Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. Furthermore, tastings are limited to just 16 guests; each wine is expertly paired with local delicacies. Advance reservations as required and 11 am and 3 pm seatings are hosted Thursday through Sunday.
• Who it’s for: Pinotphiles looking to enjoy the best Pinot Noir in the United States should definitely try this highly personalized Sonoma wine-tasting experience.

Unforgettable Wine-tasting Experience at Halleck Vineyard in Sonoma County

Don’t miss Halleck Vineyard, where the first Pinot Noir Vineyard in Sebastopol was planted, making Halleck the original winery where Pinot grapes were grown. Halleck Vineyard is also known as one of the best wineries in Sonoma County wineries & vineyards.

It’s 15 minutes from Bodega Bay or the Barlow in downtown Sebastopol and nestled in the hills on the edge of the new West Sonoma Coast AVA. This small, family-owned estate winery produces award-winning, hand-crafted Sonoma county wines that are not sold in stores.

Halleck Vineyard’s mission is building community through wine. These intimate Sonoma County wine-tasting experiences are hosted at the Sebastopol estate, where winemaker Ross Halleck lives. Surrounded by the first Pinot Noir vineyard ever planted in Sebastopol, guests are wrapped in the fabulous hospitality of Ross Halleck and Harris Miner, where they are introduced to their mesmerizing selection of Russian River Valley wines.

Halleck Vineyard has won Best in Class for their Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc and their star Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Their accolades are as exceptional and diverse as their wines. Their Dry Gewürztraminer – reserved for Inner Circle Wine Club members only – has been judged the number one white wine in California! Check out their seemingly endless list of 5-star reviews.

2. Bricoleur Vineyards Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Bricoleur Vineyards has a little bit of everything. Despite being new to the scene, they’ve already earned their spot on our list of the best wineries in the Sonoma County area.
• Who it’s for: Anyone ready for a wine DESTINATION – and those looking for dietary-friendly wine tastings.

Bricoleur Vineyards: Perfect Addition to the Sonoma Wines County

Bricoleur Vineyards is a sustainable winery poised to become one of Sonoma County’s most iconic wineries. Despite opening during the lockdown, owners Mark and Elizabeth Hanson have enjoyed considerable success.

Situated in the Russian River Valley, the vineyard is a picturesque weekend getaway with grape vines, olive groves, a honey farm, a rose garden, fruit orchards, bocce courts, and a private pond for rowing and fishing. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience their renowned wine private tasting.

We also need to mention their culinary team. Their modern tasting experience is as versatile as it is artisanal – with vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options in their pairings. They even do picnics.

You can also sip some unoaked Chardonnay or Alexander Valley Zinfandel while supporting a good cause. This fabulous family winery gives back to numerous charities, from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to the Sonoma County Fire Relief Fund.

3. Pax Wine Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: This is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County to try something you haven’t experienced before.

• Who it’s for: Lovers of Syrah – and anyone looking to explore cool climate Sebastopol wine varietals.

• Why we chose it: This is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County to try something you haven’t experienced before.
• Who it’s for: Lovers of Syrah – and anyone looking to explore cool climate Sebastopol wine varietals.

Artisinal Winemaking at Pax Vineyards Sonoma

When you visit Pax Wine, expect a unique Sebastopol wine-tasting experience because they offer “esoteric varieties” of wine. These varieties include Trousseau Gris, Charbono, Mission, and Gamay Noir. If you haven’t heard of one or more of those grapes, you’re in for a treat!

Pax Wine offers more than just great California wine. Their hospitality and exclusive tours allow visitors to enjoy stunning coast views from the gardens overlooking the glass-walled winery.

Using sustainable and biodynamic methods, Pax is a premier producer of Syrah wine. Conveniently located near local shopping, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries, a tour of Pax offers a unique and eco-friendly experience.

4. Dutton-Goldfield Sonoma Wine Estate

• Why we chose it: With ratings like these, we’d be remiss to leave them off our list!

• Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a great wine-tasting experience – or a fur-baby friendly day trip.

Dutton-Goldfield Winery: Partnership of Vineyards and Winemaking in Sonoma

Don’t miss the rustic luxury of Dutton-Goldfield Winery, one of the best Sonoma wineries. Dutton-Goldfield is a partnership between grape grower Stever Dutton and winemaker Dan Goldfield.

Reserve your tasting and enjoy their sustainable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as a variety of red and white wines. So you’re bound to find something you enjoy.

Their Sonoma wine tasting room has both indoor and outdoor seating, with a beautiful patio for summer wine tastings and a cozy fireplace for winter wine tastings. They have a bunch of fun Sonoma wine pairing options – including sushi pairings – and are a dog-friendly winery, so your pooch can enjoy the fun too.

5. Red Car Wine Sonoma Vineyard

• Why we chose it: We love their sustainable approach to winemaking. We also think you’d be hard-pressed to find a better Rosé from a Pinot Noir.

• Who it’s for: Anyone with a penchant for new and interesting Rosé wines. 

Taste the Best of Sonoma Winery Red Car Wine Co.

Red Car Wine Co. is a top winery in Sonoma County known for its sustainable, organic vineyard and family wines. Their Rosé of Pinot Noir is a must-try with notes of orange blossom, orange sorbet, and red grapefruit. The wines have bright acidity and lively aromatics, perfect for food pairings.

Enjoy a tasting with delicious cheese and charcuterie boards featuring their olive oil, local cheeses, and more. The beautiful spreads include salami, cornichons, local cheeses, sun-dried fruits, house-made pickled veggies, sliced baguettes, and more.

Don’t forget to make a reservation to experience the great atmosphere and beautiful vines.

6. Bowman Cellars Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Bowman Cellars has delicious wine and a delightful ambiance to match.

• Who it’s for: People looking to party at a beautiful, character-filled venue. (And anyone looking for a 420-friendly experience.)

Sip, Savor, and Relax at Bowman Cellars Winery and Sonoma Vineyards

Ready for a fun and funky outdoor experience in the countryside? Head on over to Bowman Cellars, one of the best wineries in Sonoma County for a good time. 

Bowman Cellars specializes in hosting private events and intimate dining experiences. Their cozy patio has comfy chairs and excellent food – and is a cannabis-friendly space.

The husband and wife team at Bowman Cellars produces mouthwateringly good wines from Zinfandel to Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Noir to Chardonnay. And, if you are there on the weekend, you can experience their famous biscuit sandwiches from their restored vintage Airstream trailer.

7. Bump Wine Cellars Sonoma Winery Vineyard

• Why we chose it: Bump Wine Cellars is all about the people. Mieko and Geordie are fantastic hosts who truly make the experience (but we have to say, their wines are a real treat too).

• Who it’s for: This is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County for art-lovers and those looking for an intimate wine-tasting experience. 

Exploring Sonoma’s Vineyards: Bump Wine Cellars’ Terroir-Driven Wines

Geordie and Meiko Carr are making waves with their small-lot, single vineyard wines at Bump Wine Cellars. They not only focus on showcasing the local terrior, but also local artists. Come see the rotating gallery of local art on their walls!

Apart from the stylish decor, the tasting room at Bump Wine Cellars is home to some magnificent wines – and the Zinfandel is the star. 

Husband and Wife Sonoma Winemakers

But the best thing in the room are the husband-and-wife team themselves. Geordie and Meiko personally pour your glasses while sharing stories about their history and their wines. 

8. Russian River Vineyards Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: We love the devotional approach to farming at Russian River Vineyards. The live music is a nice addition to their premium-quality wines.

• Who it’s for: Those looking for fabulous ambiance for their wine. From mood-setting music to sanctuary wellness experiences, they have it all here. 

Sustainable Sonoma Winery with Delicious Pairings

Gio Balistreri, the winemaker at Russian River Vineyards, comes from four generations of farmers, and it shows! The wine Gio makes is a tribute to the Russian River Valley and the incredible fruit this terroir – and his expertise – creates. 

The sustainable wines at Russian River Vineyards are full to bursting with flavor, and you can pair them with gourmet food boards, sandwiches, and salads. 

But something that sets this vineyard apart is the ambiance. You can book Sunday “Yoga & Wine” experiences, and the wine tastings are accompanied by live music from the best local musicians. It’s one of the best wineries in Sonoma County if you’re looking for a relaxing getaway. 

9. Garden Creek Vineyards Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Karin and Justin provide an intimate and enjoyable experience, and the hilltop scenery is spectacular.

• Who it’s for: People looking for a drop of something special in their wine-tasting tour.

The World-Class Wines of Garden Creek Vineyards in Sonoma

Garden Creek Vineyards is a bit off the beaten path – but it’s worth the journey to explore. Nestled on the eastern hillsides of Alexander Valley, Garden Creek Vineyards is wine-making paradise overlooking a stunning mountain view. 

Karin Warnelius-Miller and her husband Justin grew up in the world of winemaking and have a true passion for the craft. When you visit their vineyard, they make the experience both personal and informative. This is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County to learn about winemaking! 

After a walk through the vineyards, you can enjoy a candle-lit tasting of their diverse range of wines. On the tasting menu? Everything from Petit Verdot and Scheurebe to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. 

10. Lynmar Estate Winery Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: This Sonoma luxury at its finest and one of the best wineries in Sonoma County for an overnight stay.

• Who it’s for: People looking for an elevated wine-tasting experience or those looking for on-site accommodations – The Bliss House sleeps up to six adults. 

Experience the Ultimate Wine-Tasting at Sonoma’s Lynmar Estate Winery and Vineyard

Ready for some ritz and glam? Lynmar Estate Winery provides a luxury wine tasting experience for its visitors – and you can spend the night on the estate! 

Lynmar Estate Winery creates ultra-premium wine in its state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery and caves. And on the property, they have bountiful gardens of fruits, vegetables, and herbs which their chef uses to create gourmet meals for wine tastings.

You can enjoy a private lunch in the gardens surrounded by beautiful plants and buzzing hummingbirds. All while paired with the perfect glass (or bottle!) of wine. 

11. Schermeister Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Schermeister Winery is a lovely creekside destination with a unique concept – and we really love this winemaking duo!

• Who it’s for: People with children and fur-babies in tow – and those looking for an immersive experience for the senses. 

Schermeister Winery: Where Wine and Art Meet in Sonoma

Looking for something outside the norm? Schermeister Winery is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County for unique wine tasting! Case in point: they have an aroma bar. A unique place where you can experience the 18 most common aromas found in wine. 

Schermeister winery is fun for all ages. The stunning creekside tasting room is child and pet-friendly (as long as your dog is on a leash). And as long they will play nice with the sweet vineyard pup, Eli! 

Winemaker Robert Schermeister and his wife Laura are passionate about wild fermentation wines that are unfiltered, sustainably farmed, and vegan friendly wines.

Schermeister Winery, a premium winery with acres of vineyards, also offers artwork for sale by local artists and the winery owner’s family, who are artists themselves. Available pieces include artisan cutting boards and bowls.

Schermeister Winery happens to be a fabulous spot for art collectors too. You can buy work from local artists or from the family themselves! Both Laura and her father are artists, and you can buy their beautiful pieces, which include a range of artisan cutting boards and bowls. 

12. Mira Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Mira Winery is perfecting the art of winemaking in Napa Valley.

• Who it’s for: Anyone looking to dip their toes into Napa wines during their stay in the Sonoma wine country. 

A Hidden Gem in Wine Country: Mira Winery’s Boutique Vineyard

We have to be upfront about this: Mira Winery, located in Napa Valley, offers high-quality handcrafted all-natural wines. While not one of the top wineries in Sonoma County, it’s one of the best boutique wineries in Napa Valley, just a short drive away.

Check out Mira Winery’s wide variety of single-vineyard, single-varietal wines on their beautiful land. Visit their Winery & Hospitality House, south of Yountville, to learn firsthand how their pure winemaking approach transforms the flavor of their wines.

Each bottle is a work of art. And you’ll have a chance to enjoy Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and more.

13. Hartford Family Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: The unique winemaking procedures at Hartford produce some extraordinary depth in their wines.
• Who it’s for: Lovers of Old Vine Zinfandel, as this is where Hartford truly shines. 

Explore The Library Wines in the Hartford Family Sonoma Winery Cellar

Hartford Family Winery produces wines with serious personalities in Forestville. Hartford’s small and low-yielding vineyards specialize in single-vineyard varieties and deliver extremely expressive and well-balanced wines.

Winemaking is an art form here. Wines at Hartford are not fined or filtered, preserving every ounce of flavor and texture from the vine in every sip. The grapes are not crushed during their winemaking process. Instead, they are cold-soaked and stirred in open-top fermentors to extract optimum color and mouth feel.

The resulting wine is spectacular. Try the exceptional Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Old Vine Zinfandel from their wine cellars (with a stupendous library of vintages) while enjoying the outdoor BBQ.

14. Emeritus Vineyards Russian River Valley Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Dry farming practices at Emeritus Vineyards create distinctly dry and refreshing glasses of wine.
• Who it’s for: People looking for a relaxing getaway – and a place to top up their electric vehicle!

Taste the Best of Sonoma Wines at Emeritus Vineyards

Experience the breathtaking views at Emeritus Vineyards, a dry-farmed and sustainable vineyard in North Sebastopol. The atmosphere here is equal parts elegant and rustic. You’ll see wall-to-wall glass doors on the former-apple-barn tasting room that open up onto an expansive terrace.

Dry farming means no supplemental irrigation is used. The vines are only watered through natural rainfall. Since rains are scarce in California summers, the roots have to dig deep for water. The helps to prevent excess sugars in the grapes while preserving delightful acidity.

Emeritus takes sustainability seriously. They even offer visitors both universal and Tesla charging stations for electric cars. So you can refresh your palette and your battery at the same time. But don’t confuse dry farming with the Sonoma County Wine from the Dry Creek AVA. Only a few of the Dry Creek wineries are actually dry-farmed.

15. Iron Horse Vineyards California Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: If it’s good enough for the president, then you need to try it. Plus, the view is pretty spectacular.
• Who it’s for: Anyone with a penchant for sparkling wine, and those looking for a good cause to contribute to during their wine tour. 

Celebrating Tradition and Excellence: Iron Horse Winery in Sonoma

Green Valley is home to a vineyard producing California’s most celebrated sparkling wines. Iron Horse has been handcrafting estate-exclusive and exquisite bottles of bubbly for decades. And they’ve named the place after the railroad stop that crossed the property in the 1890s.

Iron Horse has truly perfected their craft, and it shows. Their sparkling wines have been served at the White House for six consecutive presidential administrations.

They also produce a limited-production Blanc de Blancs with National Geographic, contributing a portion of the proceeds to protect the world’s oceans. Now that’s something we can “cheers” to.

16. Lambert Bridge Boutique Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Lambert Bridge provides an absolutely idyllic location to taste wine. They also have a particularly exceptional Sauvignon Blanc. 

• Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to enjoy some small-lot wines in a beautiful and intimate setting. 

Indulge in a Unique Wine Experience at Lambert Bridge Winery in Sonoma

Lambert Bridge Winery lies nestled among forested redwood hills just west of its namesake trestle bridge. The grounds are a joy to visit, boasting lavish gardens and rolling hills.

The wines are cultivated carefully here. They use berry-by-berry sorters, small-lot fermentors, and pedigree French oak barrels to extract the perfect balance, complexity, and concentration of flavor.

Sit on the shaded patio and watch butterflies dance across the garden. Or enjoy your wine from the intimate picnic vistas or stunning redwood tasting room.

17. Marimar Estate Vineyards Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Marimar provides a different wine experience than any other Californian winery. You’ll swear you’ve been transported to Catalonia!
• Who it’s for: Lovers of Spanish-style wine – this is the real deal.

Solar-Powered Sonoma Winery: Marimar Estate Vineyards

Marimar Estate Vineyards is unique in California because it is totally European in style. The planting density is 2000 vines per acre, four times that of Californian tradition. This high density promotes root competition and reduces yield, but the fruit that does come forth is more flavorful, refined, and balanced.

The entire property at Marimar is 100% solar-powered. And they incorporate thoughtful, sustainable practices when possible. For example, they have beehives to aid plant growth and cover crops to keep harmful pests at bay.

When you walk through the doors, you step straight into Catalonia, as winemaking equipment, furniture, and crockery were all brought over from Spain. Fifth-generation Torres family member Christina Torres was recently appointed General Manager of the family estate winery. She previously worked with Jackson Family Wines.

Stop by and relax by the fireplace while sipping some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on offer.

18. VJB Cellars Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: VJB is as close as you can get to a trip to Italy – and that Italian hospitality is hard to beat.
• Who it’s for: People who want to try some unique Italian wine varietals while partaking in pizza on the piazza. 

Taste Rare Italian Varietals at VJB Cellars in Sonoma’s Vineyards

Now it’s time for a quick trip to Tuscany (that is, as close as you can get to it without leaving Sonoma). VJB Cellars is quintessentially Italian, from the warm hospitality to the wood-oven-fired pizza to the stunning Tuscan-style villa.

At VJB Cellars, you’ll be able to taste some hard-to-find Italian varietals. This is your place if you’ve ever wanted to try Sagrantino, Nebbiolo, Nero d’Avolo, or Tocai Friulano. In fact, the family produces over 20 types of wine for you to sip and savor.

You can even enjoy some delicacies from their Italian marketplace while you sip your wine on the piazza.

19. Three Sticks Wines Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Three Sticks has some of the best Chardonnay around. You simply can’t miss the Adobe if you’re passing through Sonoma. 

• Who it’s for: History buffs, Chardonnay-lovers, or those looking to add a little Mexican flare to their wine tasting trip. 

Discovering History and Wine at Three Sticks, a Sonoma Winery

Visiting Three Sticks is like being transported back in time. The tasting room rests in the historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe, one of the few remaining structures from California’s Mexican Period.

Built-in 1842, the Adobe has been lovingly restored by the team at Three Sticks. It is now an iconic landmark right in the heart of Sonoma.

But Three Sticks isn’t only about the ambiance – it regularly produces award-winning Chardonnay wines. Drop by for a taste of these Sonoma delicacies, and enjoy a meal from their renowned partner restaurant, El Dorado Kitchen.

20. Peterson Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: The “Zero Manipulation” winemaking methods result in some unique and flavorful wines.
• Who it’s for: Fans of Zinfandel wine – this here is some of the best. 

Sonoma’s Family-Operated Peterson Winery: A Vineyard with Character

Dry Creek is home to some of Sonoma’s best Zinfandel wine – and Peterson Winery is a cut above. That might have something to do with their unique wine-making approach, which they call “Zero Manipulation.” This low-tech yet high-touch approach produces soulful wines with amazing characteristics. 

Peterson Winery is completely family owned and operated. The Peterson family has been making wine here for over 30 years, and has learned how to truly maximize the flavors each bottle of wine. Even more amazing? They do it all sustainably. 

21. Hanzell Vineyards Sonoma Winery

• Why we chose it: Hanzell Vineyards has one of the best vineyard tours in the region, and the passion of the staff is contagious. 

• Who it’s for: Those looking to learn a little extra about winemaking while being greeted by some truly adorable animals. 

Hanzell Vineyard: Where Wine, Nature, and Animals Come Together in Sonoma

Hanzell Vineyard was founded by James D. Zellerbach 1953 with the hopes of creating wines that could compete on the world stage. We would say he’s done it; the vineyard produces truly exceptional wines. But it’s not just the wine that makes Hanzell stand out. It’s the people. 

Every staff member is passionate about winemaking, and super informative about the process. Your personalized and intimate tour will teach you all about the biodynamic farming, geography of the landscape, and history of the caves. 

At Hanzell, they practice “Holistic Integrated Farming” which makes use of natural nutrient cycles and helps reduce their carbon footprint. They hope to one day be 100% self-sustained, but in the meantime, any material brought in must be ethical and Certified Organic. Check nutritional on wines here.

And, while you tour the fascinating property, you may just meet sheep, chickens, deer, baby piglets, Edsel the cat, or Scout and Radley – the Maremma Livestock Guardian Dogs. The animals are all SO sweet and friendly, and can only add joy to your visit. 

Get the most out of your Sonoma County wine tour

That’s our short list of the best wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Pick the ones that caught your eye and plan your dream trip.

Lucky for you, these wineries are all close to each other. So you can pick and choose your favorites to create an unforgettable road trip throughout wine country. 

What are you waiting for? From creekside getaways with a view and luxury locales to pet-friendly estates and award-winning, family-run operations, the best wineries in Sonoma County await! 

California wine country is one of the most revered viticultural areas on Earth. This incredibly diverse region boasts prized Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Offering a vast variety of wines to explore, California has something for each unique preference.

When trying to narrow down the best wine region and wineries to tour in California, the search can quickly become quite daunting. Whether you’re looking for fancy urban tasting rooms, rolling estates, barns-turned-wineries, or veritable castles, you’ll find exactly what you’re searching for here. Each region has its own distinct personality – and there is no shortage of exceptional wine.

Today, California produces nearly 90% of the wine in the USA, but it wasn’t always a viticultural power house. In fact, the world only started to pay attention to the wines of California and in particular, Sonoma wine country, in the late 1970s.

So where did California wine country come from exactly, what makes its regions so unique, and how was it able to produce some of the absolute best Pinot Noir on Earth, the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir?

What is California wine country, and how did it begin?

California wine country dots its way up and down the length of the Golden State, spanning from the northern reaches of Humboldt County all the way south to the border of Mexico. It consists of 139 unique AVAs. 

What is an AVA? The acronym stands for “American Viticultural Area,” and these wine-growing regions are established and recognized by the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). 

To be classified as an AVA, selected areas are placed under careful evaluation of soil composition, elevation, climate conditions, and unique qualities in the grapes grown there. And, if a wine is designated to come from an AVA, federal regulations require at least 85% of the wine to be derived from grapes grown within those established boundaries. 

Now, when you get a bottle of wine labeled “California AVA,” this isn’t an AVA in the truest sense of the word. These generic labels are often used by large, multi-vineyard brands who mix together different batches of grapes from all over the Central Coast. These wines are often untraceable to a single origin and lack the unique characteristics that can be enjoyed in a small batch, artisan crafted bottle of wine produced from a specific AVA wine region. 

When talking about California “Wine Country,” this doesn’t necessarily refer to California’s wine-producing regions on the whole. It typically refers to a specific region of California: most often, the North Coast AVA. 

Covering 3,000,000 acres, the North Coast AVA stretches from Fort Bragg to San Pablo Bay and includes big names like Sonoma County and Napa County, regions so sought after that they together became synonymous with the phrase “Wine Country.” 

So what led this particular terrain to be so distinguished amongst other wine regions? Let’s take a trip through the history of wine country in California. 

How wine country came to be

Wine was introduced to California through Spanish Franciscan Missionaries in the late 18th century. The first documented planting of wine grapes was at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá in 1769. The variety, planted by Father Junípero Serra, became known as the Mission grape.

Father Serra, often called the “Father of California Wine,” planted Mission grapes in eight more missions around San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In no time at all, Mission grapes were being used for red wines, white wines, fortified wines, and brandy.

The California wine industry strikes gold

On January 24th, 1848, an unassuming carpenter was constructing a sawmill along the American River when he noticed a glint in the streambed. It was gold. 

Once word got out, everyone was scrambling to get to Northern California. Within the year, the population of San Francisco swelled from a mere 1,000 to 25,000 people – people who were thirsty for more than just gold. 

The demand for wine in the North absolutely exploded. And so, while the wine industry in Southern California was just starting to take off with force, pioneering winemakers began to plant vines all over El Dorado County, Sutter County, Napa County, and Sonoma County. 

One such man was Agoston Haraszthy. 

All hail the King in the North

Agoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian merchant promoter who arrived in Sonoma County in 1855. Recognizing that the terroir was ideal for growing wine grapes, he immediately purchased a vineyard, which he named Buena Vista – the second commercial winery in the entire state. 

Commissioned by the California legislature to study European viticulture, Haraszthy made several trips to Europe to visit the best wineries across the country. Thanks to his trips, he imported more than 100,000 cuttings from the best European vineyards. 

But his work didn’t stop there. Back in Sonoma wine country, Haraszthy dug out numerous wine caves, and promoted hillside planting, and non-irrigated vineyards, spreading knowledge of winemaking practices everywhere he went. 

Diligent winemakers of Napa and Sonoma wine country started producing extremely high quality wines, but fell short due to a lack of audience. Indeed, these incredible wines were almost impossible to market. 

May 24th, 1976 was the day all that changed. 

To celebrate the United States Bicentennial, Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher, the founder and director of France’s first private wine school respectively, organized the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. 

Renowned French oenophiles, with their refined palates, gathered to participate in a blind tasting that pitted wines from California’s North Coast AVA against world-preferred French classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux. Much to the surprise of all, Californian wines swept the board.

This “Judgement of Paris” put all eyes on the North Coast.

Why Sonoma wine country is the place to beat 

Between Buena Vista, and Gundlach Bundschu (the first family-owned winery), Sonoma County is considered by many to be the true birthplace of the California wine industry. Sonoma county is twice the size of Napa, and produces triple the amount of wine grapes. While Napa is popularly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon varietal, Sonoma wine country’s geographical diversity supports a vast range of stellar varietals.

Sonoma wine country boasts an unbelievable geographic range from sweeping valleys and craggy mountains to inclined benchlands and foggy hills. Vineyards start right at sea level, and range up to 2,600 feet in elevation. 

And then there’s the soil. Formed through dramatic volcanic eruptions, just the Russian River Valley of Sonoma wine country alone has more variety of soil composition than all of France. 

With such varied topography and microclimates across its 18 AVAs, Sonoma wine country has become famously known for a variety of outstanding wines produced within the North Coast AVA.

Cool mornings, sunny afternoons, and almost no rainfall from May to September have blessed Sonoma wine country with an especially long growing season – allowing even the most particular of wine grapes to ripen to perfection while preserving their balance and acidity. In fact, over 65 different wine grape varietals happily call Sonoma wine country home. 

Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley produce distinctive and approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, while Dry Creek Valley creates the most intensely flavorful Zinfandel on the market. And then, of course, there is the sublime Chardonnay and Sonoma Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. 

The cooling maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean produces some of the most elegant examples of Pinot Noir that one can experience. Which is why, if you’re looking for the very best Pinot Noir wine, you simply can’t skip Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. 

When it comes to wine, quantity is not the best indicator of quality. We did our own taste test of Mark West vs Elouan and Meiomi vs Belle Glos, pitting the most popularly searched bottles of Pinot against small-batch bottles of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. In our hearts, and certainly on our palates, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir wins time after time. 

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – the gem of Sonoma County 

The very best wineries in Sonoma wine country for Pinot Noir are nestled in the Sonoma Coast AVA. Known for a cool climate and twice the annual rainfall of its inland neighbors, this region produces Pinot Noir distinct from the rest of the world. Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is full to bursting with bold flavor, expressive layers, and well-integrated tannins. 

The coastal climate here allows Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir to truly shine. Most vineyards here are planted above the fog line, where the warm afternoon sun allows Pinot Noir wine grapes to enjoy a longer growing season without succumbing to rot, resulting in higher levels of acidity, stronger tannins, and bolder fruit flavors.

If you encounter a bottle of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, no matter which micro climate it hails from, you can expect your sip to be consistently expressive. Indeed, all three of the best Pinot Noir wine regions in Sonoma wine country (Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, and Sonoma Coast) rest within the Sonoma Coast AVA. 

The top Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir regions

Each bottle of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is remarkably distinct and expressive, even when compared with other Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir wines. That’s because the Sonoma Coast AVA encompasses multiple renowned wine appellations within its borders. In fact, the Sonoma Coast is the largest licensed AVA in the country, stretching from Mendocino County in the north to San Pablo Bay in the south to Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma in the east.

The true Sonoma Coast, often referred to as “West Sonoma Coast” to avoid confusion, is a small strip of land between Fort Ross and Cazadero. If vines are planted more than a few miles inland of the Pacific Ocean, they are usually referenced under a different regional AVA name within the larger Sonoma Coast AVA.

West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is strongly affected by coastal breezes and morning fog. These coastal wines are characterized by bright acidity, silky tannins, and distinct notes of sassafras. These robust Pinot Noir wines have fabulous aging potential.

Los Carneros Pinot Noir, on the other hand, is influenced by its close proximity to San Pablo Bay. Straddling the borders of the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, these coastal mountains experience maritime air in all directions. This exceptionally cool region with clay-heavy soils produces Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with spicy berry fruit flavors, crisp acidity, tight structure, and hints of earthiness. Clay soils produce more bold color and tannins as the vines work harder for their fruit. 

Between the hills of West Sonoma Coast and Los Carneros lies the Russian River Valley, perhaps the most famous Pinot Noir region in all of North America. Because it rests below the fog line, the Russian River Valley experiences much cooler night time temperatures than West Sonoma Coast or Los Carneros. This natural air conditioning creates an extra long growing season. 

The resulting Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is incredibly aromatic and expressive; with carnation and rose notes on the nose, and hints of cola, sarsaparilla, and black cherry on the palate. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is riper, richer, and deeper than Pinot Noir from surrounding regions, while retaining the same great acidity. It is also set apart by a sense of minerality, subdued spice, and lush velvety texture. 

Because there is more variety of soil in the Russian River Valley than in all of France combined, it’s understandable that two vineyards, side by side, could still produce wildly different Pinot Noirs. Within the Russian River Valley are many distinct microclimates, each with their own character. 

Wines from the warmer Middle Reach at the north of the valley are known for bursting red cherry flavors, while Halleck Vineyard’s own Sebastopol Hills in the south produces wines set apart by complex earthiness and minerality.

Because terroir is so deeply expressed in a glass of Pinot Noir wine, artisanal wineries try to make your bottle of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir wine as traceable as possible, narrowing down the origin of your wine to the smallest AVAs, regions, or exact vineyard from whence it came. 

Sample Sonoma wine country’s best Pinot Noir wine

If you want to try the best Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir wine in Sonoma wine country, be sure to visit the Halleck family estate for a wine tasting in Sebastopol. The Pinot Noir wine at Halleck Vineyard was voted #1 in North America at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and now you can experience it for yourself in the heart of the Russian River Valley. 

It’s the question everyone wants answered for their wine country weekend trip. Each of these renowned wine regions has premium wine offerings, so the answer to this question comes down to personal taste. 

Napa and Sonoma are equally impressive. They both produce consistent chart-topping wines and memorable wine tasting experiences. That being said, although separated by just one mountain range, these viticultural neighbors couldn’t be more different. 

When it comes to Napa, just point your finger on the map and you’re sure to hit a Michelin star restaurant like French Laundry or a winery with 95+ point bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon. Sonoma, on the other hand, is home to the #1 Pinot Noir in North America, as well as more intimate wine tasting experience, award-winning sustainable wineries and farm-to-table dining experiences. 

With almost 1,000 wineries between them, and exciting activities all around, there is absolutely no way to cover all Napa and Sonoma have to offer in a single trip. So the question becomes; Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting: which should you choose? 

To help you make your decision, let’s take a look at where these popular AVAs are and what makes them so distinct, so you can find the best fit for your wine tasting trip. 

Where are Sonoma and Napa Valley?

If you’re planning a trip to wine country, then you need to know where you’re going! Although most people picture Napa and Sonoma County when asked “what is wine country?” they probably wouldn’t be able to point out where the AVA boundaries are drawn, let alone explain the nuances that set these regions apart. That’s where we’re here to help.

Sonoma County and Napa Valley are located about an hour north of San Francisco by car. Sonoma lies in the west, starting at the Pacific coastline and spreading north to south from Mendocino County to San Pablo Bay. It is the Mayacama Mountains that draw the eastern border of Sonoma County, and separate it from Napa.

Sonoma is over twice the size of Napa, measuring in at 1,738 square miles compared to Napa’s 800. And while Napa County spans from Lake County in the north to Solano in the south and Yolo in the east, all the action is centered around one strip of land.

Despite its small size, Napa has almost as many wineries as Sonoma, which means they are truly packed in next to each other. You can find these wineries surrounding the towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga, and up and down Highway 29. 

And, although Sonoma and Napa look right next door to each other on the map, the traffic in Napa’s thoroughfare, and the mountains between them, make it nearly impossible to book a morning tasting on one side and an afternoon tasting on the other. 

Which means, you’ll have to pick a side! Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting: which will you choose!? To help you figure out the answer, let’s discuss the top difference between Sonoma vs Napa wine tastings. 

6 differences between Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting 

1. The vibe

There is no doubt about it: Sonoma and Napa both produce absolutely stellar bottles of wine. But whether you choose Napa Valley vs Sonoma County for your weekend will almost always boil down to the vibe you are looking for. 

When it comes to atmosphere, Sonoma vs Napa wine tastings are completely different experiences. Napa is sophisticated and glitzy – all about big impressions (and big price tags to match). Sonoma feels far more authentic, with hidden gems behind every corner, and something special for every budget. 

Napa is over-the-top glam with five-star hotels, luxurious spas, seven-course tasting menus, and sweeping vineyard villas plucked straight from Tuscany. If you’re after the finer things in life, want to completely pamper yourself, or are hoping to impress your sweetheart on a honeymoon or romantic weekend getaway, then Napa Valley might be your speed. 

If you want to slow things down, and really dig into the wine tasting journey, then it’s all about Sonoma. Sonoma County is inviting, cozy, and far less concerned with surface-value experiences. Here, it’s the wine itself that takes center-stage.

Sonoma County is more about family-owned wineries and farm-to-table fare than grandiose tasting rooms. There is a distinct focus on authenticity, quality, and sustainability. In fact, a whopping 99% percent of Sonoma vineyards are certified sustainable, making Sonoma County the champion of sustainability in America. 

If you’re looking for a relaxed and intimate weekend with laid-back wine tastings, straight-from-the-farm freshness, and breathtaking outdoor experiences, then Sonoma is the place for you. 

And, if you’re new to the wine scene, and still looking for wine tasting tips, you might feel less intimidated in Sonoma County. With plenty of small, private tastings, your party can ask the winemakers any questions you might have about the varietals and how best to enjoy them. (You can always check out our post on how to taste wine to get yourself started!)

2. The wine varietals 

Beyond the overall vibe of your tasting room, one of the main differences in Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting is the type of wine you’ll be trying. 

Napa Valley is known for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon, buttery Chardonnay, and fruit-forward Merlot wine. You can expect the majority of your Napa wine tasting flights to stick to these three types of wine. 

In Sonoma County, on the other hand, you’ll be greeted by much more diversity. Thanks to its vast range of microclimates, Sonoma produces more than 40 varieties of world-class wine. When you treat yourself to a Sonoma wine tasting weekend, you can try elegant red blends, startlingly dry white Zinfandel and Gewurztraminer, zesty unoaked Chardonnay, and of course, prized cool-climate Pinot Noir. 

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in particular, is considered by many to be the best pinot noir wine. It certainly has something special to offer, with bolder flavor and mouthfeel than almost any other style of this sophisticated varietal. 

When deciding between Sonoma vs Napa wine tastings, choose Sonoma if you love Pinot Noir, or are looking for diverse, approachable wine flights. Opt for Napa if you prefer prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon and buttery Chardonnay. 

3. The price point

Another point to consider when deciding between Sonoma vs Napa wine tastings is the price.  

People don’t go to Napa to pinch pennies. Napa is all about glitz and extravagance, with luxury hotels and pricier wine tastings that range up to $50. All in, the average day in Napa will set you back $460 per person. 

Sonoma offers a wider range of budget-friendly options, as well as luxury accomodations for those who want them. Enjoying a day in Sonoma wine country, including lodging, will cost you $292 on average. You can also expect your wine tastings to be more reasonably priced, with fees between $15-$25 which are often waived if you purchase a bottle of wine. 

Of course, a trip to wine country is exactly what you want to make of it. You can certainly camp out at night in Napa, and take yourself through town on a bike by day. And you can also book five-star hotels and Michelin-star meals in Sonoma. With so many options available, the budget should be the last thing to hold you back from enjoying the magic of wine country.

4. The lodging

As we’ve already mentioned, Napa tends to be on the more glamorous side of things when it comes to lodging, while Sonoma tends to be more cozy. So, when planning Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting, you might want to factor accommodations into your choice. 

In Napa, you can expect fancy urban hotels and relaxing resorts with expansive pools, 24 hour spas, and state-of-the-art fitness centers. Think luxurious touches like L’Occitane bath products, hydrotherapy tubs, and Nespresso coffee makers in your room. You might even find accommodations with PGA Championship golf courses and a smattering of tennis courts like the Silverado Resort and Spa.  

In Sonoma, there is a wide range of accommodation options, with farm-stays and Victorian manor houses, and even hyper-modern hotels to choose from. You can still appreciate ample luxury, with feather beds, jetted tubs, and full-service spas. But expect a more cozy feel with private outdoor spaces, in-room fireplaces, and special personal touches. 

For example, guests of Kenwood Inn and Spa can enjoy freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on arrival, while those who stay at the Gaige House + Ryokan can partake in an afternoon Jasmine tea service to relax after a day of touring. 

Or if you want to experience Sonoma like a native, we also have private guest quarters at the Halleck Vineyard Estate in Sebastopol.

5. The traffic

Napa Valley is sometimes called the Disneyland of wine. And what do you expect at Disneyland? LONG LINES. 

If you’re planning a wine tasting weekend in Napa, expect to battle some serious traffic, especially if you are visiting during the peak season of August to October. Most of the wineries in Napa are very close together, and located right off Highway 29, so the traffic gets notoriously backed up. (All the more reason to reserve a stretch limo to enjoy your time on the road!)

While Sonoma County is more spread out, and you would expect drive times to be much longer, your commute should be smooth sailing. That’s because Sonoma County has plenty of backroads to take – and if you book a private chauffeur, we’re sure they’ll know them all! 

6. The activities

When deciding between Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting, it’s important to consider what else you want to do during your stay. Many vinophiles are perfectly content to simply sip their way through wine country, but a Napa Valley or Sonoma County wine tasting trip can be about so much more than just wine.

While the landscape of Napa may not be as varied as in Sonoma, it’s still completely stunning – with enchanting valleys swathed in a tapestry of vineyards. You can enjoy this scenery while soaring above the valley in a hot air balloon. Or, you can grab tickets for the Napa wine train, and cruise from downtown Napa to St. Helena in style (perhaps taking part in a murder mystery dinner in the process!)

You can also spend time in Napa playing golf, visiting wine caves, signing up for tasting menus, or relaxing in the Calistoga hot springs or award-winning spas. 

Sonoma, on the other hand, is a nature-lover’s paradise. Beyond tracking down the best wineries in Sonoma, there are some incredible outdoor activities to partake in, from trekking and biking, to birding and kayaking. You can even enjoy a stroll through a petrified forest, a lakeside picnic, an outing to Safari West Wildlife Preserve, or even some whitewater rafting! 

From redwood forests to mountain lakes to rocky coastlines, Sonoma has it all. But it isn’t JUST about the outdoors. Healdsburg and Sonoma Town Plaza make for fabulous window shopping, with numerous art galleries, boutiques, and local markets with handcrafted charcuterie and chocolates. 

As you can see, the activities in Napa and Sonoma are as different as their attitudes, and could make all the difference when deciding on a Sonoma vs Napa wine tasting weekend. 

Book an intimate wine tasting in Sonoma County 

There is no universal BEST when it comes to Sonoma vs Napa wine tastings. There is only the best for you and your preferences. Sometimes you want an authentic, laid-back wine tasting weekend in Sonoma, and other times you want the full decadent and romantic Napa experience. 

But if Sonoma sounds like your cup of tea (er, your sip of wine), then we know you’d love our wine tasting in Sebastopol at Halleck Vineyard. Our family estate is nestled in the rolling hills of the Russian River Valley, and we’re incredibly proud of the Pinot Noir our slice of land produces year after year. 

Come learn about the process and passion behind the #1 Pinot Noir in North America, and get a glimpse into what makes the wine so special in this stunning place we call home. 

Fear not, for Sauvignon Blanc wine is the perfect pair with a number of dishes, and we’re sharing some of our top recommendations here. From salads to seafood and peas to pavlovas, you’re in the right place when looking for the best Sauvignon Blanc food pairings for any course, in any season. 

Better yet, we’re sharing the easy-to-follow recipes for these downright delicious dishes that will bring out the best in your zesty Sauv Blanc. 

Sommelier’s Choice | Award-Winning Sonoma Whites

The many tastes of Sauvignon Blanc wine 

In order to understand why these Sauvignon Blanc food pairings work so well, it’s a good idea to get at least a basic introduction to nuances in the tasting notes of this white wine. 

Because they vary more than you might think!

Sauvignon Blanc is a brightly acidic white wine with fruit-forward tastes ranging from tart lime and green apple, to tropical passionfruit and ripe white peach. It has a medium body, is boldly aromatic, and can carry green and herbal qualities thanks to a chemical compound called pyrazines. 

These pyrazines can cause notes of bell pepper, gooseberry, grass, or jalapeño and make Sauvignon Blanc taste distinctly unique from other white wines. 

If the idea of sipping of fresh-cut grass topped with jalapeños on top doesn’t sound like your cup – er, glass – of wine, just remember these are subtle notes. The mix of fresh fruit and crisp greens truly makes it a refreshing, very drinkable white wine.

If you were comparing, say, a Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc, the latter is bolder, grassier, and more acidic, while the former is softer and more subtle. 

Sommelier’s Choice | Award-Winning Sonoma Whites

Then there is the matter of addressing whether Sauvignon Blanc is sweet or dry.

Sauvignon Blanc is typically made in a dry style, which means there is little-to-no residual sugar in the wine. The high acidity also lends to its refreshing, dry taste. That being said, Sauv Blanc can sometimes taste sweeter if it is harvested particularly late and/or fermentation was not completed, leaving more residual sugar. 

Finally, it’s important to know that Sauvignon Blanc wine is especially expressive of its terroir. This is one of the reasons the wine is so diverse. For example, a New Zealand Sauv Blanc can taste completely different from a French Sauvignon Blanc – and yet again altogether different from one made in Chile or California. 

In a cooler region, the green vegetal flavors will be stronger, while in a warmer region there will be riper fruit flavors in a Sauvignon Blanc wine. 

Some excellent Sauvignon Blanc wines hail from Marlborough, New Zealand, where the sandy soil creates a fruitier, fuller-bodied, and more acidic taste. They also tend to be slightly sweeter, as most NZ winemakers choose to leave a bit of residual sugar to balance out the acidic punch of this region.

In the Loire Valley, France, the best Sauvignon Blanc wine is quite earthy, flinty, smoky, and mineral-forward. In fact, it’s often considered some of the best in the world – and an altogether different drinking experience from a Marlborough Sauv Blanc. Meanwhile Sauv Blanc from Bordeaux will have bright grapefruit qualities and grassier undertones. 

Whether your wine is more acidic, herbaceous, or mineral will affect your Sauvignon Blanc food pairings. However, there are some foods that are just gene rally great pairing options with Sauvignon Blanc. 

A general guide to Sauvignon Blanc food pairing

Sauvignon Blanc food pairings are as varied as a Sauv Blanc’s tasting notes. But that doesn’t mean that pairing this delicious wine needs to be difficult.  

When you have bold flavors in a wine it’s good to look for food with bold flavors to match. 

Some great Sauvignon Blanc food pairings include tart vinaigrettes, briny sauces, spicy dishes, and herbal fare. The tartness of Sauv Blanc will lighten the heavier dishes and enhance subtle flavors, while the pyrazines will play wonderfully with vegetarian cuisine. 

Sauv Blanc can pair beautifully with light, delicate flavors as well, which makes it great for white meats, spring vegetables, and fresh tomatoes. 

We generally wouldn’t recommend this white wine for heavy, meaty dishes with gravy or rich sauces, though. You may also want to steer clear of creamy sauces and cooked tomato – unless your Sauvignon Blanc is oaked; then those might be well-suited Sauvignon Blanc food pairings after all! 

As you can see, pairings can be broad, and there are no hard and fast rules for all Sauvignon Blanc wines. That’s why we’re here to help you figure out the best Sauvignon Blanc food pairings – and the specific types of Sauv Blanc that should accompany them.

Award-Winning White Wines from Sonoma County

12 of the best Sauvignon Blanc food pairings 

There are so many amazing food pairings for your glass of Sauv Blanc, but here are twelve of our favorites:

Cheese

One of the most classic Sauvignon Blanc food pairings is goat cheese. And Crottin de Chavignol is one particular cheese we recommend. A minerally French Sauv Blanc is a match made in heaven for this lightly tangy, creamy cheese.

There are many other kinds of cheese that you can pair with Sauv Blanc, such as Fontina, Brie, Swiss, Feta, Ggouda, and Gruyère. You just want to remember to pick one with some tang, bite, or brine to balance out the citrus in the wine. For those same properties, yogurt and crème fraîche also make great pairings. 

Spring vegetables

Because of the vegetal pyrazines in Sauvignon Blanc wine, it pairs exceptionally well with veggie-heavy dishes, particularly when spring vegetables are involved. If your recipe contains dill, zucchini, fennel, artichoke, asparagus, or peas, it’ll be a great pairing option. 

In particular, some herbaceous New Zealand Sauv Blancs pair well with these veggies. Try it with a simple spring vegetable side dish, or even a green goddess hummus! You can also add these spring veggies to heavier, heartier dishes to help the acidity of the wine shine through. 

Shellfish

If you have a citrusy Sauvignon Blanc on hand, we would heartily recommend a heaping plate of shellfish! Oyster, clams, lobster, crab, prawns, and scallops all make for wonderful Sauvignon Blanc food pairings. Try them with a wine from the United States (California), Australia, Chile, or the Bordeaux region of France. Might we say, our Halleck Vineyard Little Sister Sauvignon Blanc has been tried, tested, and approved as a great pairing wine with raw oysters! Join us for a Sebastopol wine tasting, which is one of the top rated wine tasting Sonoma County has to offer.

But any minerally or earthy Sauv Blanc will go perfectly with fresh crab, raw oysters, and other lightly cooked shellfish.

Finally, we must mention one of our favorite Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: garlic prawns. This simple recipe combines citrus, garlic, and seafood for an absolute dream of a Sauv Blanc match. Best yet, you can add a splash of wine to the dish!

Fish

Fish of all kinds can find their match in a Sauv Blanc. A minerally Sauv Blanc such as one from Loire Valley, France or Tasmania is sublime with a simple, lightly seasoned white fish such as cod, sea bass, snapper, sole, haddock, or halibut. It is also a fantastic match for sushi and in our opinion, the very best wine with salmon.

If you are dealing with more spicy or oily fish dishes, opt for a New Zealand Sauv Blanc or another acidic cool-climate wine. You can try mackerel, sardines, fish and chips, and smoked salmon as Sauvignon Blanc food pairings. 

Salad

Fresh salads with tangy vinaigrette are another one of the best Sauvignon Blanc food pairings. Even better, if it has a sprinkling of goat cheese or feta on top! 

But Sauvignon Blanc can pair beautifully with a whole range of salads from fruit salads to grain-based ones, like tabbouleh. As long as it’s packed with fresh herbs and greens, avocado, mango, papaya, fresh tomato, or grilled red peppers, there’s a good chance it will be spectacular with your bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. 

We love this warm goat cheese salad, featuring fresh herbs, tomatoes, and a punchy vinaigrette. Absolute *chef’s kiss* wine-pairing perfection. 

Pasta

Pasta can go very well with multiple styles of Sauvignon Blanc. An oaked Sauvignon Blanc will work very well with creamy pasta dishes or a mushroom risotto. Citrusy or herbaceous Sauv Blancs, on the other hand, are better with pesto pasta, ravioli with herbed tomato sauce, or simple pasta dishes with olive oil, lemon, fresh tomatoes, and greens.

Try this quick and easy pesto pasta dish with chicken and fresh tomatoes for a sure-fire Sauvignon Blanc food pairing. 

Thai food 

If you want to add a little heat to the kitchen, Thai food is an absolutely fire Sauvignon Blanc food pairing. We prefer an herbaceous Sauv Blanc for spicy south-east Asian dishes with lime and chili. 

Some of our favorites include Thai chicken salad and Thai green curry. And, if you’re worried about tracking down Thai ingredients, we’ve got this super simple Thai green curry recipe for you. 

Greek food 

Thai cuisine isn’t the only type of food that’s a perfect Sauvignon Blanc food pairing. Traditional Greek dishes, with their feta, citrus, artichoke, and briny olives, bring out the best in a citrus-heavy Sauvignon Blanc. 

Pair your Sauvignon Blanc with a classic Greek salad, or a yummy Greek chicken pasta with olives and feta. We also highly recommend this cucumber dill yogurt salad for a warm summer evening.

Mexican food 

We already mentioned spicy food as a great Sauvignon Blanc food pairing – we can’t forget about Mexican food! Though you may not immediately think of wine when you think Mexican food, the avocado, cilantro, cheese, and chilis in guacamoles, salsas, and toppings all go really well with a white wine. We recommend a more fruit-forward Sauv Blanc to mellow the spice in your Mexican fare. 

Try your Sauvignon Blanc with homemade guacamole, ceviche, quesadillas, queso fundido, or this delicious fresh fish taco recipe with cilantro, avocado, fresh tomato, cheese, and citrus. Top it with some Tabasco or even some Sriracha, and enjoy. YUM! 

White meats 

An oaked Sauv Blanc is the best pairing option with white meats like chicken, turkey, or pork chops. The fattiness of the meat will help the wine’s acidity shine beautifully. 

We recommend this tasty rosemary chicken, or perhaps, grilled or roasted chicken with white wine butter sauce, which will bring out the signature buttery taste of an oaked Sauv Blanc.

Fresh herbs 

We’ve already touched on herbs in some previous sections, but they make for such a harmonious pairing with herbaceous, grassy Sauv Blancs that we needed to dive deeper into the best pairing combos. 

Look for recipes with mint, basil, cilantro, rosemary, parsley, thyme, fennel, dill, chives, or tarragon. You can also dress a salad, veggies, or light meal with any of these to turn almost any dish into just the Sauvignon Blanc food pairing you’ve been looking for! 

Desserts 

Last but not least, we can’t forget about dessert. You might not think a dry wine would pair well with dessert, but as long as your dessert is light, tart, and/or tangy, it can make a surprisingly good Sauvignon Blanc food pairing. 

Try pairing your white wine with fruit tarts, macarons, or this delightful match: a passionfruit and mango pavlova. Heaven. 

It’s time to set the table with your Sauvignon Blanc food pairings! 

Now you’re all set for dinner with these fabulous Sauvignon Blanc food pairing ideas. Whether you want a refreshing salad, some spicy Thai or Mexican food, a smoky fish dish, or a tart dessert, there is a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that will perfectly balance it all out. 

Try a minerally Sauv Blanc from Loire Valley, or a tart, fruity bottle from Marlborough. And, if you’re looking for a versatile hard-hitter, our very own 2019 Little Sister Sauvignon Blanc from Halleck Vineyard has both acidic and mineral qualities. It’s even very slightly oaked – making it the best of all worlds! 

This list will help transform the average wine club gift into a spectacular one. But one thing before we get to our top picks from the best wine clubs.

Let’s discuss the best way to present your gift so it’s a resounding success.

How wine of the month club gifts work

There are three main ways wine of the month club gift subscriptions work: prepaid, pay-as-you-go, and with electronic gift cards.

Prepaid wine memberships let you choose the number of months/shipments you want to pay for. Sometimes, they offer discounts on longer subscriptions or shipping.

With these gifts, you pay a fixed price up front for everything, including shipping. And you won’t have to worry about any surprise charges. 

Pay-as-you-go clubs bill you before every shipment. And the price may vary, depending of the bottles they send that month. If you want to cancel your subscription, you often have to log-in to an account to do so. 

Personalized wine subscriptions let you decide if you want to receive the bottles they recommend, or change your order to some of varietal. This allows you to specify shipment exactly how you want it.

If you’re gifting a wine club membership, be careful to note when the email will be sent to the giftee. If it’s immediate, you might want to wait for the special day to place your order. 

The best wine of the month club gift subscriptions will allow you to choose a date in the future when you would like the email to be sent. 

No matter which of these avenues you go down, you won’t have much to present to your giftee when giving your wine of the month club gift. The wine won’t be there yet! 

We have you covered there too. 

The best way to present your wine of the month club gift

You want to give your wine of the month club gift with a little flourish. So why not include a few things any wine connoisseur would love? 

We recommend a nice set of wine glasses, a bottle stopper, or corkscrew. Even a cute framed quote about wine will go over well. 

You can also print out some information about their wine club subscription to place in the gift box. But the best wine clubs send out a welcome package to their new members with tasting and paring notes.

The top 10 wine of the month club gifts for 2021

We’ve looked through them all, and we think these 10 wine of the month club gifts are sure to be hits. 

1. Winc

Want to give your gift recipient the reins?

Winc Wine Club lets them pick their own wine. When they go to redeem their gift, they’ll be prompted to take a quiz on their wine preferences. This covers everything from favorite regions to most loved cuisines and flavor profiles.

Since your gift recipient will get to fill out all the information themself, you won’t need to worry about picking the best bottles for their tastes. Winc will handle all of that for you. Best yet, the 4 bottle monthly shipment only costs $29.95, so it’s incredibly budget-friendly. 

Best for: Less discerning, value oriented customers who are new to fine wine culture.

Ships to: Every state in the US except AK, AL, AR, DE, HI, KY, MI, MS, NJ, RI, SD & UT.

Wines included: The wines are different every month, and are tailored to the giftee’s exact tastes. However, all come from premium wineries around the world.

Quantity: 4 bottles

Price: $29.95

Other details: WINC is the value champion of minimal-intervention winemaking, and is committed to increasing their organic, vegan, low sugar, low sulfite, and sustainable options.

2. Vinebox

If you aren’t sure exactly how much your giftee likes wine, or don’t want to commit to full bottles, this could be your option. Vinebox is a truly unique wine of the month club gift to try.

They don’t send wine bottles, but rather wine vials. Each one contains just enough liquid for a full glass of wine. 

This wine-by-the-glass club allows the giftee to sample the six to nine of the season’s best wines. It also gives them credit to buy a full size bottle if/when they fall in love with one of them. We recommend the Peaks & Valleys or Single Varietals boxes if you’re going for variety.

Best for: Moderate wine drinkers or those looking for an at-home wine tasting experience.

Ships to: Anywhere in the United States except AL, AK, AR, DE, HI, KY, MS, NH, RI, SD, UT, and VT.

Wines included: There are multiple gift options available. Choose from an all rosé box and all red wine box, and two boxes with a mix of reds, rosés, and white wines.

Quantity: No bottles here! 6 or 9 vials are included in each box.

Price: $65 – $95

Other details: Vinebox is a lot of fun. They offer amazing promotions, including a wine advent calendar for the holidays! Now that’s a gift to put a smile on anyone’s face. 

3. Cellars Wine Club

The Cellars Wine Club is like eight clubs in one. So you’re sure to find a wine of the month club gift to impress your colleague or loved one. Best yet, the subscription starts from just $29. There’s an option for every budget too!

This easily customizable wine club comes with a unique 100% “no bad bottle” guarantee. They also promise 30% off retail prices, no matter which plan you choose. 

Best for: Everyone! The variety of options and the surety of a good bottle make sure of that. 

Ships to: Anywhere in the United States with the exception of AK, AL, DE, ND, SD, HI, MS, RI, KY, NH, and UT.

Wines included: Anything you can imagine. Reds, whites, sweet wines, sparkling wines, and even boxes that include premium wines of 90 points and higher.

Quantity: Anywhere from 1 to 12 bottles per shipment. 

Price: From $29 to $369

Other details: 90+ Point, Sparkling, and Sweet Wine club options make this a unique gift. If you don’t know what kind of wine your giftee likes, sparkling wine is always well-received. 

4. Wine Awesomeness

Wine Awesomeness tracks down the best wines from around the world. They even include the stories behind the bottles in their monthly magazine, thebacklabel. This magazine includes wine vocabulary lessons, tasting notes, and full recipes to pair with the wine subscription! 

Best for: Anyone who wants to learn more about wine – or loves to cook. 

Ships to: Anywhere in the United States besides: AK, AL, AR, HI, MS, SD & UT.

Wines included: Reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines from every corner of the globe.

Quantity: 3 or 6 bottles (depending on the choice of subscription)

Price: $49 – $79

Other details: Wine Awesomeness brings a whole wine adventure straight to your door. They also include interesting insights on wine regions around the world. It will inspire the giftee to get off the couch and into the kitchen (or maybe even onto a plane). 

5. Women-Owned Wineries Wine Club

Woman-Owned Wineries (WOW) is fighting to create more equality in the wine industry. They offer curated monthly wine boxes from a pool of over 600 women-led wineries around the country. Choose just a single shipment, a seasonal subscription, or an Explorer’s Club package!

Best for: Anyone who wants to support talented women with delectable wine.

Ships to: All states except AL, DE, HI, KY, MS, OK, SD & UT.

Wines included: Small-batch wines of all varieties from the United States.

Quantity: 1 or 3 bottles.

Price: $102 – $199 per shipment (plus a flat shipping fee).

Other details: WOW prioritizes wines with ethical farming practices so you can feel good about supporting more than just the incredible women in the wine industry. 

6. 90+ Cellars Wine Club

90+ Cellars isn’t a wine of the month club gift, per se. It’s seasonal!

They offer quarterly shipments of wine. Each one includes detailed tasting notes of the highly prized bottles. Every single bottle, whether red, white, rosé, or sparkling is guaranteed to have 90+ points. 

Best for: Those who enjoy limited-edition, premium wines – and won’t need new bottles every month. 

Ships to: All states in the Continental US except for AL, AR, KY, MI, MS, SD & UT.

Wines included: Mixed bottle (red, white, rosé, and sparkling) and red-wine-only options available.

Quantity: Choose from 3, 6, or 12 bottle shipments. 

Price: $50 – $180 per season

Other details: Wines ship every March, June, September, and December with free shipping on 12 bottle shipments. They offer both prepaid and gift card payment options. 

7. WSJwine Premier Club

Want a luxury wine club gift backed by a 100% money-back guarantee? Then take a look at The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ wine Premier Club.

Each shipment of limited-release wines is painstakingly selected from exceptional estates in Bordeaux, Napa, Tuscany, and beyond. 

Give your giftee special access to the world’s most sought-after wine styles, personalized to their preferences.

Best for: Elite wine connoisseurs and those who appreciate a bit of luxury. 

Ships to: All states in the Continental US except for AL, AR, DE, IA, RI, and UT.

Wines included: Premium red, whites, or a mix of both.

Quantity: 12 bottles every 3 months.

Price: $259.99 per shipment

Other details: Your gift recipient will receive a preview of each shipment. They can change the mix, skip cases, or alter delivery times whenever they want. 

8. Ownroot Collective

The Ownroot Collective offers members the opportunity to purchase exclusive wines from entrepreneurial winemakers. Twice a month, the recipient will receive an email introducing an exciting winemaker and their brand. They’ll then have the unique opportunity to purchase their wine.

If they decide to purchase, they will then be invited to join the winemakers for virtual tastings. It’s also a chance to pick their brains on the winemaking process. This provides an amazing educational opportunity.

You pay for the access, and can also include a gift card for wine purchases.

Best for: Those who want to be the first to discover new talent from California – and get access to wine and information they literally cannot find anywhere else. 

Ships to: Most places in the US that allow reception of wine from out of state.

Wines included: All varieties (and often rare ones) from California vineyards.

Quantity: Dealer’s choice! Up to 12 bottles twice a month. 

Price: Membership is just $8.95 monthly or $89.95 annually. Wines are full-priced and range from $25-$45 per bottle.

Other details: This is an automatically renewing subscription, so keep in mind that you must cancel it if you don’t want the gift to keep giving!

9. Wine Down Box

Wine Down Box isn’t just about high-quality wines. It’s about expertly curated wine pairings. Each gift box includes a bottle of small-batch California wine as well as artisanal cheese, handcrafted charcuterie, and crackers made from scratch. Perfect for any party or picnic. 

At $70 or less per box, it’s a fabulous deal. 

Best for: The distinguished foodie in your life. 

Ships to: All states in the Continental US except for AL, AR, DE, FL, IA, KY, MS, RI, SD, and UT.

Wines included: Limited-edition California wines in any variety. These include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc to Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Quantity: 1 bottle per month

Price: $63 – $70 per month

Other details: Wine Down Box offers premium pairings at affordable prices. From Chardonnay with sage and herb cheese to Sonoma Zinfandel with aged cheddar and Sopressa, there is something to savor for every taste. 

10. Halleck Vineyard Inner Circle Wine Club

The best wine clubs are more than just a subscription. Halleck Vineyard is one of the best wineries in Sonoma County, and our Pinot Noir wine has been ranked the top in North America.

When you gift a membership to the Inner Circle, you’re gifting far more than wine.

The Inner Circle is incredibly exclusive. We offer limited and rare selections meticulously chosen for our members. These are then twice yearly in the Spring and Fall. Membership also includes private tastings, either at the Halleck family estate – or in the giftee’s own home! 

In addition to the intimate tasting experiences, the Inner Circle offers incredible travel opportunities to its members. Your giftee can enjoy a culinary tour of Cuba or a wine adventure on safari in South Africa. You never know where Halleck Vineyard will take you next!

Best for: Pinot Noir lovers (especially Russian River Valley Pinot Noir) and anyone who loves finding hidden gems.

Ships to:

Wines included: All Pinot Noir or a mix of red and white wines from the family estate in Sonoma.

Quantity: 2, 6, or 12 bottles

Price: There is absolutely no fee for membership. You only pay the price of the wine – which runs $29 to $110 per bottle.

Other details: As if all the perks above weren’t enough, Halleck Vineyard will work with your gift recipient to offer an auction lot that supports their favorite charity. Halleck has raised over $750,000 for the organizations their members love.

Now the gift ideas are flowing. And you officially have the best way to purchase and present your wine of the month club gifts.

Now there’s just one important detail left – which wine club gift to choose! 

And, at Halleck Vineyard, we’re pretty partial to this white wine varietal as well. We recently bottled one of our best Chardonnays, and as such, we wanted to take the time to really appreciate this special wine. 

We’re here to tell you all about this incredible wine variety. We’ll talk about the history of Chardonnay, the tasting notes, the calorie breakdown, the best food pairings, and more. 

What is chardonnay wine?

Chardonnay is an immensely popular dry white wine that can be found in most wine-growing regions around the world. From California to New York, Quebec to Italy, South Africa to New Zealand – Chardonnay has its hold on the industry. 

A glass of Chardonnay can range in color from pale yellow to straw gold, and is medium to full-bodied with moderate tannins and acidity. 

Chardonnay is known for its adaptability, ageability, and buttery taste. It’s also one of the easiest wine grapes to grow – which has helped its popularity take off around the globe. 

Chardonnay grapes

Chardonnay grapes are just as happy in cool climates as they are in warm ones. And that has made them one of the most widely-planted grape varieties on Earth. They are used to make not just Chardonnay, but Champagne, sparkling wine, and dessert wine as well. 

The grapes used in Chardonnay white wine are yellow-green at first ripening, and often darken to yellow or green-brown by harvest. These small, round grapes maintain quite high acidity and green fruit flavors in cool climates, but take on tropical fruit flavors in warmth.

Chardonnay of esteemed quality can be made in most any climate. But the best qualities in Chardonnay grapes are expressed in areas with soil high in chalk, clay, and limestone. 

This is why Chardonnay fairs so well in Sonoma County and the Russian River Valley in particular. 

Indeed, Chardonnay grapes truly take on the flavor of their terroir (that is, the soil and climate they are grown in). This allows for many styles of Chardonnay to be produced, from smoky and citrusy wines to mineral-driven wines to honeyed tropical ones. 

Chardonnay tasting notes

Because Chardonnay grapes are so expressive of their terroir, the range of resulting flavors is incredibly nuanced and diverse. The primary fruit flavors can be anywhere from meyer lemon zest to passionfruit to baked apples. 

A cooler climate Chardonnay will be more citrus-forward. Meanwhile, a warmer climate or late harvest Chardonnay will have a bit less acidity, with notes of papaya, pineapple, or fig. 

In certain soils, Chardonnay picks up flavors of wet flint rocks, beeswax, or jasmine. 

But these are just one aspect of a Chardonnay wine’s flavors. Indeed, a whole host of other flavors are imparted not by the soil, or by the grapes, but by the winemaking process. 

Oaked vs unoaked chardonnay – what’s the difference?

The big difference between oaked vs unoaked Chardonnay is the flavor – because you can’t get that signature buttery taste without oaking your wine. 

Where does the butter flavor in Chardonnay come from?

The butter flavor comes from diacetyl, a byproduct of the malolactic fermentation process within the oak barrel. This is a process most red wines go through. However, Chardonnay is one of the few white wines that has the depth and strength to stand up to it. 

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a process where Oenococcus oeni (a good bacteria) converts malic acid into lactic acid.

Malic acid is something found in grapes and green apples, which contributes to their tartness. Lactic acid, on the other hand, is found in dairy products. It is a softer, creamier acid. So you can already see how this process can transform an acidic wine into a creamy one.

Winemakers may add different strains of bacteria to strengthen or diminish this chemical process. Or they may simply trust nature to do its work.

But it’s the resulting diacetyl that is the star in an oaked Chardonnay. Diacetyl is used to make “butter flavored” popcorn taste like butter – and it creates our iconic buttery wine as well. 

Chardonnay that is aged in oak barrels may also express notes of vanilla, coconut, and baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It often tends toward more tropical fruit flavors. 

Not all Chardonnay is oaked though, and unoaked Chardonnay has a very different personality than her smooth sister. 

What does an unoaked Chardonnay taste like?

Unoaked Chardonnay is made in stainless steel barrels. Because the MLF is blocked, it doesn’t take on buttery qualities. Instead, it has a crisp taste and tart flavors of lemon, pear and green apple – a bit like a Pinot Grigio, but less floral.

This white wine is fresh, bright, and distinctly dry. The notes of acid and minerality are truly allowed to shine through, which makes it tingly and light on the tongue. 

At this point, you might be wondering how such distinctly different wine styles came about! So let’s take a look at where Chardonnay wine came from, and where it’s going. 

A brief history of Chardonnay

Chardonnay’s origins stretch back a thousand year, and many of those years are shrouded in mystery. It wasn’t until quite recently that scientists discovered Chardonnay grapes to be a crossbreed of half Pinot Noir and half Gouais Blanc.

Gouais Blanc originated in Croatia, spread throughout the Roman empire, and today is all but extinct. We are incredibly lucky that nature took its course and gave us the gift of Chardonnay. 

Beginnings in Burgundy

Chardonnay is named after the place it was first cultivated – the little village of Chardonnay in the Burgundy region of France. It was tended to by Cistercian monks, who set up vineyards in the 14th century solely dedicated to the grape.

These monks were the first to recognize that variations in soil and climate affected the flavor in the wine. Their notes have inspired many of our modern day winemaking techniques. 

The wines they produced were buttery, beautiful, and instantly iconic. 

Barreling towards disaster

Because Chardonnay fared so well in France, immigrants took the vine to the Americas in hope to achieve success in the New World. 

This did indeed go well for a while. But, in the age of excess (also known as the 1980s) – when wine drinking was extra in-fashion – things took a bit of a turn. 

Big businesses tried to capitalize on the popularity of Chardonnay by flooding the market with affordable bottles. Unfortunately, they cared more about profit margins than perfection, and these heavily oaked borderline sweet wines received some serious backlash. 

Chardonnay became associated with a low class wine for people who don’t really like wine. The Frappuccino of the wine world if you will. It even earned itself the acronym ABC.

Anything but Chardonnay.

Thankfully, all was not lost. Some thoughtful vintners set about finding the very best qualities in their Chardonnay grapes, and a new style of Chardonnay was carefully tended. 

Chardonnay finds its balance

In the past couple decades, a new wave of Chardonnay has been born. This Chardonnay is less oaky, and more refined. It’s the partially-oaked Chardonnay wine. A wine with elegance and freshness – where the best features of the fruit are brought to light. 

When oaking is dialed back, it allows the wine to age incredibly while still reflecting the terroir of its birth. The best of these balanced Chardonnays come from Sonoma California, and in particular, the Russian River Valley. 

This change and variety in flavors and styles has often left wine drinkers perplexed: “Is Chardonnay sweet or dry?” “What style was my Chardonnay made in?” “How many calories in a bottle of Chardonnay wine?”

Let’s find out. 

What’s in a glass? Dissecting your Chardonnay

What is Chardonnay Wine? History, Tasting Notes, and Pairing Tips

We’re here to end the confusion once and for all. Chardonnay wine is dry. That is to say, it is classically made with little-to-no residual sugar after the fermentation process is through.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t detect hints of sweetness in a glass of Chardonnay. A fruit-forward Chardonnay might have notes of baked apple, mango, or pineapple.

The oaking process as well can impart caramelly, buttery qualities to your glass – which can be confused with a sweet taste. 

All things considered, however, Chardonnay is quite a dry white wine. It is nowhere near as sweet as a Riesling or Moscato. But, if you look at a Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay doesn’t hold quite the same dry zing. 

This balance has made Chardonnay a perfect fit for many wine drinkers. 

Even though Chardonnay is a delightfully dry wine, all alcohol has calories. Let’s look at how many carbs are in Chardonnay, and how many calories are in a glass of Chardonnay wine. 

Calories in Chardonnay

A typical 5-ounce serving of Chardonnay wine has 120 calories. This means there are around 625 calories in a bottle of Chardonnay. 

If there is a touch of residual sugar in your wine, it will also contain some carbs. Rest assured that your glass of wine would only contain a small amount of them. You can expect to find around 2 grams of carbohydrates in your serving of Chardonnay. 

So now that you know what’s in your glass…what do you do with it? Let’s dive into the very best pairings for your refreshing white wine. 

The perfect pairings for Chardonnay wine

Because Chardonnay has such a vast range of flavors, it is delightfully easy to pair with a variety of foods. 

All types of seafood are a good place to start, from grilled fish to raw fish to shellfish. 

White meats like chicken and pork can also work nicely, especially if prepared with a mild, buttery, or creamy sauce. When pairing meats with Chardonnay of any kind, you want to avoid any super sweet sauces. 

Depending on if your wine is oaked or unoaked, you will be able to play off different nuances when pairing your wine with food. 

Serve your Chardonnay slightly chilled between 50–55 °F to get the most out of it. You can also opt for a Chardonnay wine glass (the widest wine glass used for white wine). This will dispense the bold flavors evenly across your palate. 

Food pairings for oaked Chardonnay

The complexity, richness, and buttery undertones of an oaked Chardonnay make it a perfect match with fresh lobster. It can also stand up nicely to the richness in crab, veal, pork, chicken, and fatty fishes like seared salmon. 

A heavily oaked Chardonnay will work wonders with bolder cheese such as Camembert or blue cheese. 

You can also compliment your oaky wine with roasted flavors, from smoked foods to caramelized onions to toasted nuts. 

Food pairings for unoaked Chardonnay

In contrast, an unoaked Chardonnay will pair best with more delicate white meat flavors. White fish, simple roast chicken with herbs, or some fresh shrimp would work very nicely with this crisp white wine. 

You might also try pairing your unoaked Chardonnay with a soft, creamy cheese like goat cheese or Brie. Creamy soups and pasta dishes are also delicious accompaniments. 

Experience the best of California Chardonnay

If you’ve sworn off Chardonnay because of some unfortunately over-oaked experiences, you haven’t had the right bottle yet. But this is it.

Our Sonoma Chardonnay wine is the best of both worlds. A New World wine with Old World style and the perfect balance of acidity, minerality, and the lightest hints of oak. 

Are you a fan of White Burgundy? Do you want your sip to take you back to an era where Chardonnay was at its most refined? Then this is the wine for you.

Chardonnay got a bad reputation in the 80s because of some heavy-handed winemaking, but it’s important not to discount the variety from one style alone. Chardonnay is an incredibly sophisticated grape. We even use it to make Champagne! 

And so, we think it’s important for you to learn a little bit more about what Chardonnay wine is. You’re about to learn how it’s made, and if Chardonnay is sweet or dry. That way, you can find the perfect bottles for any event. 

What is Chardonnay – and how does it taste?

What is Chardonnay? Chardonnay is the most enjoyable white wine grape to grow! 

The Chardonnay grape is a green-skinned grape that originated in the Burgundy region of France. It’s a cross between two varieties of grape: Pinot Noir and the nearly-extinct Gouais Blanc. 

The resulting Chardonnay grapes were a godsend. They are robust and fare well in a variety of climates. 

They are also naturally neutral grapes, which means they take on the flavors and characteristics of the terroir where they are planted. Terroir is a wine term used to describe the soil and climate of the winemaking area. 

The grapes were easy to grow, and the flavors were a dream to mold with winemaking techniques. And so, Chardonnay quickly spread from Burgundy to most major wine regions in the world, including the United States, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

General Chardonnay tasting notes

In general, Chardonnay is a fruit-forward wine with medium-to-full body and lower acidity levels. It is known to be relatively dry. (This doesn’t mean it can’t be sweet – we will get into this later.)

But it can be difficult to describe how a Chardonnay wine tastes because no two bottles are the same. 

Some Chardonnay wines have notes of lemon peel and crisp pear. 

Others tends toward tropical flavors of pineapple and mango. 

Some bottles are remarkably buttery, while others have an acidic zing. 

Chardonnay from Sonoma County

A sip of Chardonnay can conjure notions of jasmine, honeysuckle, cucumber, and mint. It can also have notes of chalk, wet stones, mushrooms, caramel, and nutmeg.

How does such a diverse wine exist? 

Let’s touch on what causes each of these unique flavor profiles. That way, you can identify the best bottles of Chardonnay for your tastes and answer the question, “is Chardonnay sweet or dry?” with confidence. 

One of the most important factors in a Chardonnay wine’s taste is the winemaking process. That is, whether it is oaked or unoaked.

Let’s take a look at these very different fermentation processes for Chardonnay wine, and the flavor profiles of the wines that result from them. 

Oaked Chardonnay tasting notes

And oaked Chardonnay is one that has been fermented or aged in oak barrels. The uncontrolled temperature helps to cause malolactic fermentation, which affects the texture and flavor of the wine. 

This style of fermentation is popular in Burgundy, Napa Valley, South Africa, Southern Australia, and Puglia, Italy. 

Chardonnay that has been oaked will express warmer, creamier notes of butter, vanilla, pineapple, papaya, coconut, or baking spice. These notes can make the wine appear sweeter, and many people who think Chardonnay is sweet have only tried heavily-oaked versions. 

But, despite this signature buttery sensation, an oaked Chardonnay is still quite a dry wine. 

Unoaked Chardonnay tasting notes

The unoaked Chardonnay taste is quite different from that of its buttery sister. Unoaked Chardonnay has been aged or fermented in stainless steel tanks instead of oak barrels. This blocks the malolactic fermentation process and creates a drier, more acidic taste. 

This style of Chardonnay is popular in cool climates like the Willamette Valley, Western Australia, Chablis, France, and Casa Blanca Valley, Chile. 

Chardonnay that is unoaked will often taste more of citrus fruits like lime, lemon, or grapefruit, as well as tart green apple. It is distinctly bright and fruity – more akin to a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. 

When comparing unoaked Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc, the latter still has higher acidity and more herbaceous flavors, so it might appear more dry than the Chardonnay. 

So does that mean even unoaked Chardonnay is sweet? Let’s take a look at where Chardonnay falls on the wine sweetness scale. 

Is Chardonnay sweet? The wine sweetness scale

Is Chardonnay sweet? Not according to most people – and certainly not according to a wine sweetness chart. 

Many people are falsely mistaken that Chardonnay is sweet like a Moscato or Rosé, but it is actually made in a dry style. 

In the world of winemaking, “dry” simply means that the yeast has eaten most of the sugars in the grape juice to turn them into alcohol. Any sugar left over at the end of fermentation is called “residual sugar.” If a wine has less than 10 grams of residual sugar per liter, it is considered dry. 

Chardonnay generally falls into this category. 

In fact, Chablis, which is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, is one of the driest white wines, as is Chardonnay-based Brut Champagne. 

Let’s take a quick look at a white wine sweetness scale so you can see if Chardonnay is sweet or dry:

• Bone Dry (Less than 1 gram of sugar per liter): Muscadet, Brut Nature

• Dry (Less than 10 grams of sugar per liter): Chablis, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
• Off-Dry (10-35 grams of sugar per liter): Early-harvest Riesling, Gewürztraminer wine
• Sweet (35-120 grams of sugar per liter): Late-harvest Riesling, Barsac, Sauternes, Muscat
• Very Sweet (More than 120 grams of sugar per liter): Sherry, Ice Wine 

As you can see, Chardonnay is a dry white wine, but that doesn’t mean sweet Chardonnay doesn’t exist. Chardonnay grapes can be made into anything from a bone-dry wine to a sweet dessert wine.

Even if it is made in the dry style, there are several factors that can make you perceive that your Chardonnay is sweet.

What makes it so that a Chardonnay is sweet or dry? Let’s take a look at some of the external factors affecting your bottle of wine. 

Why is Chardonnay sweet or dry?

Sweetness means different things to different people. What is sweet to one person might not be to another – but that’s also one of the things we love about wine. It’s an incredible personal journey to discover your preferences. 

The sensation of sweetness doesn’t always have to do with sugar content. It may have to do with the fruitiness, the alcohol content, a lower acidity, or the way the wine was made. Here are just a few of the things that may affect the sweetness of your Chardonnay wine. 

Region

Because Chardonnay grapes are so expressive of their terrior, regional variations play an essential role in the flavors of Chardonnay wine. 

Cool climate Chardonnay will typically be more acidic and lighter-bodied. These Chardonnay wines tend toward citrus or pomaceous fruit flavors and minerality, and the lighter alcohol content makes them elegant and refreshing on the tongue. 

Some regions where this style is common include Burgundy, Champagne, Sonoma Coast, Willamette Valley, Tasmania, New Zealand, Northern Italy, Germany, Austria, and Chile. 

Warm climate Chardonnay is very different indeed. It has higher alcohol content, lower acidity, a fuller body, and bold tropical fruit flavors of guava, yellow peach, pineapple, passionfruit, banana, or mango. 

Because of the lower acidity and higher alcohol content, it may appear that your Chardonnay is sweet. The opulent fruit flavors can also give this impression of sweetness. 

You can find this style of Chardonnay in Southern Italy, South Africa, South Australia, and much of Spain and California. 

Winemaking techniques

One of the biggest influences on whether Chardonnay is sweet is the winemaking process. The type and size of the barrel is important. But the amount of time the wine spends in it and the fermentation choices of the winemaker also play a significant role in the resulting flavors. 

If the winemaker chooses to oak their Chardonnay, it may appear that the Chardonnay is sweet. The malolactic fermentation will produce a buttery mouthfeel and notes of vanilla, caramel, or baking spices. This can lead to a remarkably desert-like quality, even if the wine is dry. 

The longer the Chardonnay spends in oak, the stronger these secondary flavors will become. The sugar compounds present in the wood will slowly be extracted into the wine, making it appear sweeter and sweeter. 

In addition, some winemakers will actually add sweeteners and other ingredients during the winemaking process. This could be to extend the wine’s shelf or could be to mask the low quality of their wine grapes. You certainly don’t want your wine to be sweet because of this! 

It’s important to find winemakers that are transparent about their processes and produce wine of a high caliber. 

If you’re looking for a very dry Chardonnay, you might wish to try an unoaked one. Temperature-controlled stainless steel barrels stop the malolactic fermentation process, making unoaked Chardonnay wines more sharp, mineral, acidic, and refreshing. 

Temperature

Just like any white wine, Chardonnay should be served chilled. That’s because if the wine is too warm, the flavors will be muddled, and the alcohol will be front and center. 

A higher level of alcohol can make a wine appear sweeter, and so, if you serve your wine too warm, you may think your Chardonnay is sweet. 

Conversely, if you serve your wine too cold, you won’t be able to taste all the beautiful nuances in your glass. We recommend serving it at a temperature between 50–55 °F. You can chill it with a 30-minute ice bath or a few hours in the fridge. 

Harvest time

The time of harvest can also affect the sweetness of your wine. The longer a grape is left on the vine, the higher sugar content it develops and the lower the acidity gets. Vintners in warmer regions often choose to let Chardonnay grapes ripen fully before harvesting. 

With late harvest, the once-green grapes turn golden-yellow, and the resulting Chardonnay is sweet in comparison to other Chardonnay wines. It will taste less acidic, and more fruity and tropical, so even if the residual sugar is still low, there will be hints of sweetness on your palate. 

An early-harvest Chardonnay, by contrast, will appear more tart and dry. 

How to find the perfect Chardonnay wine for you

With over 25% of Americans enjoying Chardonnay on a regular basis, you know the varietal is doing something right. So now you just have to find the right bottle for YOU. 

One bottle of Chardonnay is incredibly different from the next, which can make it intimidating to find a bottle you like. But it also means that once you understand your preferences, you will absolutely be able to find a Chardonnay wine that suits them. 

If you are hoping your Chardonnay is sweet, you might want to try an oaked, warm climate or late-harvest Chardonnay wine. 

If you want a distinctly dry and acidic Chardonnay, you can try a cool climate, unoaked variety.

Or, you might like to try an artfully balanced Chardonnay like the Chardonnay wine from Halleck Vineyard. 

Our Chardonnay tips its hat to Old World styles from Chablis, France. It has none of the heavy butteriness that you would expect from an oaked wine – it has been oaked just long enough to round out the mouthfeel. 

Our Chardonnay has spent most of its time in stainless steel. Therefore, it has crisp acidity, ample minerality, and a hint of salinity on the back of the palate. With a delicate nose of green apple and white flowers, and a taste of tart citrus, apple, and pear, this Chardonnay is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

We’re here to demystify this delightful white wine. We’ll discuss what makes one Chardonnay taste so different from another – so you can choose the perfect bottle to suit your personal tastes. 

How does Chardonnay taste? A complete comparison

Chardonnay grapes are known as neutral grapes, which means they don’t have a lot of flavor or aromatic notes on their own. Instead, the taste of Chardonnay is affected by the terroir of the region where it was planted. 

The soil, the sun, the fog, and the rain can all paint broad strokes of influence across the blank canvas of Chardonnay taste. And, as luck would have it, Chardonnay grapes are incredibly hearty and easy to grow in most winemaking regions around the world. 

This means there is vast diversity in Chardonnay tastes. One plot of soil can produce a very different wine than the one next to it. A cool climate Chardonnay might taste of tart green apple or lemon zest. Meanwhile a warm climate Chardonnay may deliver tropical pineapple on your palate. 

If you’ve only tried Chardonnay from one region, you are missing out on an enormous variety of mouthfeels and flavors. A Chardonnay from Burgundy, Australia, Italy, and California will almost taste like different wine varieties entirely. 

Only part of this is due to the region. The rest is due to the winemaking techniques. 

Because Chardonnay grapes are naturally high in acidity, and are so neutral in flavor, they lend well to aging. The strength of their structure and their fleshy texture allows them to stand up to oaking, as only few white wines can. 

What is oaking, and why is it done to wine?

Oaking is the process of aging or fermenting wine in oak barrels, and the practice of oaking actually started by accident. 

Before oak, the main winemaking vessel was a clay amphora, which was exceedingly popular in Europe and West Asia up through the Roman Empire. Clay was a wonderful wine vessel because it was airtight, but unfortunately it was also incredibly heavy and difficult to transport. 

Eventually the Romans came across the Gauls, who were using wooden barrels to transport beer. The Romans decided to try it for their wine. They determined that oak would be the best medium because it was not only plentiful, but soft and easy to bend into barrels. 

These lighter, waterproof vessels soon replaced the clay amphora in most of Europe, although the clay vessels are still used in Georgian winemaking today. 

The Romans started to notice a change in the quality of their drink, after using these oak barrels to transport their wine for quite some time, . The wine had more flavor complexity and textural interest! 

How does oak affect taste?

How (and how much) oak affects the flavor and texture of wine depends heavily on the choices of the winemaker. Size, toast level, length of ageing, and type of oak all play a part in the unique way oaking affects the wine’s taste. 

To start, let’s talk about what takes place chemically when wine is stored in oak barrels.

Wood is a porous material that allows the wine to be exposed to oxygen and varying temperatures. This permits the wine to go through a process known as malolactic fermentation (MLF). 

When Chardonnay goes through ML, benign bacteria changes the tart malic acid (which gives the wine its citrusy/green apple sort of flavor) into lactic acid, which is found in dairy products. The process also creates the byproduct diacetyl. 

Diacetyl is what is responsible for the signature buttery flavor of oaked Chardonnay. It was also used to flavor movie theater buttered popcorn for years. The lactic acid only adds to this buttery effect by giving the wine a creamier flavor and mouthfeel. 

The longer Chardonnay sits in oak, the more buttery and oily it will become. Flavors from the wood itself will also start to leech into the wine. What flavors these are depend entirely on the wood. 

For example, French oak imparts flavors of vanilla bean, savory spices, and smoke. Whereas American oak lends to flavors of vanilla extract, baking spices, and coconut. 

New oak barrels will more strongly affect the flavor, as will oak that has been toasted longer. Smaller oak barrels will also affect the flavor more because of the higher wood surface to wine ratio. 

Neutral oak barrels, on the other hand, will only affect the mouthfeel and not the Chardonnay taste itself. 

In general, an oaked Chardonnay will have a fuller body, lower acidity, and toasty, nutty, buttery, and even sweet notes. 

Now you may look at those tasting notes and wonder: “is Chardonnay sweet or dry?” We’re here to tell you that even an oaked Chardonnay wine is generally made in the dry style. 

When Chardonnay has been “over-vintaged, meaning it has been oaked for over a year, it can start to become cloyingly buttery and oily. This dessert-like flavor and texture is what turned off so many wine connoisseurs in the 80s, when oaky was in.

But Chardonnay grapes have many tricks up their sleeves, and so, the unoaked variety of Chardonnay started to gain popularity in the backlash against oak. 

How does unoaked Chardonnay taste?

It would almost be more apt to compare unoaked Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc than vs oaked Chardonnay. 

Unoaked Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc share a number of similar flavor profiles and textures, though the Sauv Blanc is a bit more acidic and vegetal. 

Unoaked Chardonnay is bright and crisp, with a lean mouthfeel that sits on the center of your tongue. This is in stark comparison to its oaky sister, which covers the entire midsection of the palate with its robust, buttery texture. 

How is this distinctly different Chardonnay made? In stainless steel tanks. 

Stainless steel is impermeable, creating a space free from oxygenation or temperature fluctuations. This means the wine is blocked from malolactic fermentation, and the pure fruit character of the Chardonnay is preserved. 

The resulting wine sings the pure song of its homeland. An ode to the soil and sanctuary of its birth. 

A cooler climate like Sonoma County, California; WIllamette Valley, Oregon: Loire and Chablis, France; Casablanca Valley, Chile; or Western Australia can produce Chardonnay tastes from tart lemon to zesty grapefruit to crisp green apple. 

A temperate climate or later harvest in a cool climate region might produce Chardonnay tastes of yellow apple, pear, or stone fruits. 

And a warmer climate like Napa Valley, California; Puglia, Italy; Burgundy, France; Mendoza, Argentine; or Southern Australia will create more tropical fruit flavors in the wine – from pineapple to passionfruit to starfruit and mango. 

None of the butter, toast, or vanilla flavors from oaking will be present in an unoaked Chardonnay. Instead, you might find minerally notes in your glass – especially if it’s a cool climate unoaked Chardonnay. 

Notes of chalk, fresh soil, oyster shell, or pencil shavings can come through after the immediate nose of bright fruit. The unoaked wine will be more firm and structured, and leave you with a long, tingley, and often floral finish. 

If you prefer your white wine to be on the drier and more mineral side of things, you should consider a bottle of unoaked Chardonnay over the more popular oaked variety. 

Or, you can find a bottle with a balance of both. Some winemakers combine stainless steel fermentation with a few months of oak ageing. This produces a wine with just a hint of oak and a fuller mouthfeel, which can appeal to a wide range of palates. 

Because of the different levels of “oakiness” that can be found in your bottle of Chardonnay, it can often be quite tricky to pair with foods. But, with a few tricks, you’ll be seamlessly integrating your bottle of Chardonnay into any mealtime. 

The best food pairings for Chardonnay wine

With so many styles of Chardonnay, it’s important to discuss the nuances of each when attempting to pair your wine with food. Here are our top recommendations for Chardonnay wine on the whole, as well as what will pair best with an oaked or unoaked Chardonnay taste. 

In general, you must remember the neutral quality of the grape. For that reason, it is recommended to pair your Chardonnay wine with dishes that are light, creamy, and simply seasoned. 

White meats like white fish, shellfish, chicken, and pork are sure pairings when prepared in the proper styles. We will give examples for both oaked and unoaked wines below. 

Something easier to talk about while generalizing are foods that are best to avoid. 

Strong pungent or spicy foods can easily overwhelm your Chardonnay wine. For this reason it’s best not to pair it with Chinese, Indian, or Thai cuisine. 

Unless your Chardonnay is quite acidic, like an unoaked cool climate Chardonnay, it’s also best to avoid acidic foods. Too much acid, such as in capers, olives, raw tomatoes, or tart vinaigrettes, can make your Chardonnay taste sour. The same can be said for bitter greens. 

It’s also important not to serve your wine too cold, as temperature below 48 degrees will greatly dull the Chardonnay taste and inhibit its pairing potential.

But enough about what NOT to do. Here is how you should pair your bottle of oaked or unoaked Chardonnay wine. 

Food pairings for oaked Chardonnay

If you have a big, oaky bottle of Chardonnay wine, then it’s important to play off the toasty, buttery flavors that ooze from your glass. Here are some of the best pairings for an oaky Chardonnay taste. 

Roasted foods

Oaked Chardonnay has soaked up the flavors of the toasted oak barrels it was housed in, so it pairs particularly well with toasty food flavors like roasted nuts, flaky pastries, and grilled or smoked meats and vegetables. 

A crisp-skinned roasted chicken, seared scallops, grilled lobster, or hazelnut-crusted pork will all be sublime with your glass of oaked Chardonnay. 

You might also wish to incorporate slow roasted tomatoes or caramelized onions into your dish. 

Rich foods

If your glass of wine has that butter Chardonnay flavor, then it’s great to pair with buttery foods as well. Think butternut squash ravioli in sage and browned butter, or fresh lobster with butter and cream. 

You can also try other dishes with rich, creamy sauces, like eggs benedict, steak béarnaise, or a creamy risotto or soup. 

A particularly rich Chardonnay can even hold up nicely against a seared foie gras.

Bold cheeses

If you have a heavily oaked Chardonnay, you might want to pair it with a bolder cheese like Camembert, English hard cheddar, or even blue cheese. A lightly oaked glass is a perfect match for a medium cheddar as well.

Seafood

When it comes to seafood, your oaked Chardonnay will pair well with white flaky fish and shellfish – especially if they have been grilld. A very oaky bottle is wonderful with a pan-seared salmon as well.

Late summer vegetables

When choosing vegetables to pair with your wine, think late summer (and even autumn) vegetables like corn, red pepper, pumpkin, and butternut squash. 

Food pairings for unoaked Chardonnay

If you have a bottle of unoaked Chardonnay, you will want to play off the bright, minerally, and acidic qualities in your wine. Here are some of our favorite pairings for unoaked Chardonnay. 

Lightly herbed foods

Remember, it can be easy to overwhelm delicate Chardonnay grape flavors. As such, a crisp Chardonnay is best paired with simply prepared foods like baked white fish or poultry in butter and herbs. 

Tarragon, basil, dill, mustard, and pesto sauce are all fabulous flavors to play with in your pairings. 

A simple pasta or chicken in mushrooms and herbs will be an absolute success with your unoaked Chardonnay. 

Bright, acidic foods

While too much acid can completely ruin the flavor of your oaked Chardonnay, an unoaked bottle can truly be complemented by a bit of acidity. Try an appetizer with fresh tomato, or poached chicken in a lemon and tarragon sauce. 

Creamy cheeses

You’ll want to keep your cheeses like and refreshing like your wine. Try pairing your unoaked Chardonnay with goat cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella. A mushroom and brie pizza is a sure pairing with an unoaked Chardonnay taste. 

Seafood

Unoaked Chardonnay is wonderful with raw, steamed, and lightly cooked seafood. It can make a surprisingly good sushi wine, and is also fabulous with crab, prawns, scallops, clams, mussels, and lobster. 

Try a simple lobster with drawn butter, a classic crab roll, or a creamy shrimp dip with your wine. 

A particularly mineral variety of unoaked Chardonnay – such as a Chablis – is also the perfect pairing for oysters. 

Spring vegetables

The flavors in your unoaked wine will sing best with spring vegetables. Think green peas, asparagus, edamame, white beans, and spinach. Try a spring vegetable risotto or soup to bring out the best flavors in your glass. 

Find the perfect Chardonnay taste for your palate

No matter what kind of wine you prefer, there is a Chardonnay for you. If you prefer dry, crisp, mineraly wines, try a cool climate unoaked Chardonnay. 

If you’re looking for a dry, fruity wine with a zing, try a temperate, warm climate, or late harvest unoaked Chardonnay.

Looking for a bold mouthfeel and luscious texture to pair with roasted meats and spices? Then an oaked Chardonnay will be your best friend. 

And, if you want the best of both worlds, there are some truly magnificent bottles of Chardonnay that have been fermented in both stainless steel and neutral oak to produce a rounded mouthfeel while allowing the beautiful fruit flavors to shine through. 

Take our Chardonnay wine at Halleck Vineyard for example. It’s the perfect balance of unoaked and oaked Chardonnay tastes. 

Made in a dry, Chablis style, our Sobre Vista Chardonnay has beautiful notes of apple, pear, and citrus, with qualities of minerality and salinity on the back of the palate. 

You can try it for yourself during your wine tasting in Sonoma County, or order a few bottles to sip from the comfort of your home.