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

Lynmar Estate

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $50-100

  • Main varietals: Sparkling, Pinot, Chardonnay

  • Tasting fee: $60, waived with membership

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

In Sebastopol, the more quiet town of Sonoma, you will find various small wineries that offer great Pinot and Chardonnay. Lynmar is one of them and welcomes you with a modern tasting room in the middle of vineyard hills and an adorable garden. Tasting is accompanied by gourmet popcorn that pairs really well with their line up of Chardonnay and Pinot. I ended up really liking their intro level Russian Valley Pinot and left with a few bottles! Our group of 6 enjoyed tasting in the garden with a vineyard view and it was definitely difficult to leave.

More about Lynmar: Website, Yelp , IG

Amista Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 5/5, average price $30-60

  • Main varietals: Various of sparkling, Rhone blends, Zin, Cab

  • Tasting fee: $30 for still $40 for sparkling, waived with 2 bottles purchase or membership

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.0

If you are tasting in Healdsburg (which you absolutely should!) Amista is a good option for anyone who like Rhone blends or sparkling wines! They have two different flights so it’s also good for a group. Outdoor tasting area has a view of their vineyards and is so great to spend the morning or afternoon. They serve popcorns with the tasting that goes well with their fun and easy drinking wines.

More about Amista: Website, Yelp , IG

Iron Horse Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $50-90

  • Main varietals: Sparkling, Chardonay, Pinot

  • Tasting fee: $30, waived with 2 bottle purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.1

It’s always fun to find wineries with a line up of sparkling wines in Napa or Sonoma, as the region is mostly known for Cabs, Pinot, and Chardonnay. Iron Horse was a great find in Sebastopol with options to choose between still or sparkling flight. You can taste at a casual outdoor tasting bar with an amazing view of the vineyard up on the hill or reserve a seated experience in the Gazebo. I didn’t get to try their Pinots or Chardonnay but I enjoyed all the sparkling wines on the flight. I was lucky enough to taste next to club members and got to taste one of their sparkling magnums, which was the best!!

More about Iron Horse: Website, Yelp , IG

Pride Mountain Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $50-80

  • Main varietals: Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah

  • Tasting fee: $30, waived with 2 bottles purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

Did you know you can visit a winery that is on both Sonoma and Napa? Such a unique experience at Pride Mountain, winery located right on the country line of Sonama and Napa. Their address says Santa Rosa, which helps them keep their prices lower even though the winery is easier to access from Napa. The entire tasting experience is super fun. It starts from the tasting bar and you also get a glimpse of their cave where they also do a barrel tasting. They also have one of my favorite varietals, Cab Franc! Wines are good and the view is amazing. if you are able to make it up to the mountain, definitely recommend

More about Pride: Website, Yelp , IG