Copain Wines

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5

  • Main varietals: Chardonnay, Sonoma coast cool climate Pinots

  • Tasting fee: $65(basic flight) - $85 (with food)

Good wines are a must when I choose wineries to visit but it's always nice to find ones that also have great views and snacking options. I recently got to try a bottle of 2002 Copain Pinot and loved it so I looked into visiting the winery during my Sonoma trip. Their cool climate Pinots tend to be light and complex, more of a Burgundian style vs. Russian River Valley (which I find to be a bit sweeter and darker). I got to try the food pairing flight which included a welcome pour of their rosé, Chardonnay, 2 Pinots, Grenache, and Syrah. Each wine paired so well, my favorites were

  • Carmody & Citrus Pistachios with Chardonnay

  • Cherry gelée & Brie with a light berry focused Pinot

  • Duck breast & Dried blueberries with a dusty earthy Pinot

After seeing how much I loved their Pinots, the host gave me additional pours of 4 different Pinots and I loved them even more. I was clearly a very enthusiastic taster 🤣 My favorites were

  • 2018 Magie Hawk: amazingly light berries, super fresh and smooth

  • 2019 Cote Bannie: Dusty & earthy (from the pairing flight)

  • 2015 Kiser: Last vintage of this vineyard from Copain, took me back to Burgundy

These vineyard designates are only available at the winery, or now at my house! I left with 7 different bottles and a club membership. Highly recommend for cool climate Pinot lovers.

More about Copain : Website

Matanzas Creek Winery

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5

  • Main varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Bordeaux Blend

  • Tasting fee: $35

I’ve seen photos from Matanzas Creek on social media as the winery in Sonoma with a lavender field so I was excited to finally visit myself. Peak lavender season is mid June-July so the field wasn’t as full/bright but it was still beautiful and was a nice addition to the tasting experience. Tasting flight included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, 2 different Merlots, and 2 different Bordeaux blends. All of their wines had amazing nose and were easy drinking, great for those who enjoy Sauvignon Blancs and Bordeaux blends from Napa!

They also have outdoor tables ($50 to reserve or waived with 4+ bottle purchase) and bocce ball picnic so great stop for a group, not to mention the affordable tasting fee compared to $40+ in Napa and Sonoma these days.

More about : Website

Passalacqua Winery

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $50-80

  • Main varietals: Rosé, Chardonnay, Cab, Bordeaux Blends

  • Tasting fee: No tasting fee, recommended purchase of 2-3 bottles/pp

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.2

This place is another one of hidden gems that I almost don’t want to tell anyone about! Small family owned winery that helps visitors discover their wines and purchase vs. charging a hefty tasting fee. Located in Healdsburg, their ground is gorgeous with an outdoor tasting area that has an amazing view of the vineyard. All of their wines were wonderful and it was difficult to leave without bottles of them. I ended up loving two of their blends, Tredici and Ispirato but their Cabs from various vineyard “blocks” were excellent as well. Definitely going on my list of must visits in Healdsburg!

More about Passalcqua: Website, Yelp , IG

Reeve Wines

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $40-80+

  • Main varietals: Rosé, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot, Sangiovese

  • Tasting fee: $45 per person, waived for members

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.2

This modern-rustic winery is so charming and a great place to spend your weekend. Not only their wines are high quality, weekend tasting comes with a delicious wood-fired pizza! They make wines with lesser known varietals (Cab Franc, Sangiovese) in addition to various Pinots and Chardonnays from Sonoma and Mendocino. Not sure if it was the pizza pairing but every single wine we tasted were so good we ended up becoming members 😄 Space is small and they book up pretty quickly for weekend spots so make sure to reserve in advance!

More about Reeve: Website, Yelp , IG

De La Montanya

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 5/5, average price $30-80

  • Main varietals: Variety of whites (Viognier, Gewurztraminer), Bordeaux varietals (Cab, Merlot, Malbec)

  • Tasting fee: $30 per person, waived with purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.1

I love finding wineries that are casual and inviting but at the same time serious about their wines. De La Montanya is a great option that allows visitors to bring their own picnic or purchase snacks during the tasting. Makes this a great stop for a group during lunch time! Tasting involves ~5 different wines and our group enjoyed them all from light rosé to heavier Cab. Tasting experience and bottles are also very well priced! Tasting fee is waived with a bottle purchase that ranges from $30-80. It was almost a no-brainer to purchase a bottle. Adorable barn and garden is also a plus!

More about De La Montanya: Website, Yelp , IG