The best wineries in Sonoma

When Brice Cutrer Jones learned of a piece of land opening up for sale in the Russian River Valley named Hallberg Ranch, he knew what a unique opportunity it was. This was back in 1999, and Jones had already built a successful winery, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. He decided to transform the land from a farm to a winery focused on pinot noir. Over the years, he's done just that, with Emeritus producing award-winning pinot noir varietals. Uniquely, all of the wine is dry-farmed using deep roots that enhance their complexity. Today, the winery is run by his daughter, Mari Jones, and winemaker David Lattin. The tasting room is elevated yet comfortable, with various seating options, as well as an outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards. Appointment only.

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Donum Estate has two primary focuses: aged pinot and contemporary art. Wine tastings here are thoughtful, private affairs that include samples of pinot noir during a stroll around the 200-acre estate. The dichotomy between the natural surroundings—150-year-old olive trees, vineyards, and an organic farm—and museum-worthy sculptures is stunning. Curated and owned by Allan and Mei Warburg, the collection features 30 large-scale works by well-known artists from around the world including Ai Weiwei, Yayoi Kusama, Louise Bourgeois, Keith Haring, and Tracey Emin. Appointment only.

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Just down the road from the haute hipsters of Scribe Winery lies Gundlach Bundschu, California’s oldest family-owned winery. With a century-old pedigree and a sixth-generation vintner at the helm, Gun Bun is a lively and idyllic place to taste; the 320-acre property is shaded by towering olive trees and bordered by a scenic pond. Gun Bun is also known for its weekend concerts, including the annual Huichica music fest. Don’t miss the pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon, as well as a refreshing gewürztraminer. Appointment only. 

Funded in 2014 by a family of University of Wisconsin alums—hence the jaunty badger gracing all the labels—the Hamel estate is a real gem with a sleek, modern tasting room designed by Gould Evans architecture. The space features 18-foot windows with views of Sonoma Mountain, an outdoor deck overlooking 100-year-old olive trees and an infinity pool, and a 12,000-square-foot wine cave. The vineyard employs organic and biodynamic methods, producing wine in limited quantities. Tastings can include cheese and charcuterie pairings all the way up to a four-course meal. Appointment only. 

Scribe Winery produces vibrant, terroir-driven wines. The property is managed by fourth-generation wine-makers and brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani and is known for its cool, laid-back vibe which attracts a young, hip crowd. There is no fancy tasting room here; when you arrive, you'll be given a blanket and encouraged to find a spot for yourself in the shade of a tree or at a nearby picnic table. Snack on fruit and nuts grown on the property, and the wine will come to you in the form of chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling and, perhaps the most unique—and delicious—of the bunch, sylvaner. Appointment only. 

This scenic, historic winery was originally founded in 1953 by ambassador James D. Zellerbach, who returned to the U.S. inspired after a sojourn in Burgundy, and is known for standout pinot noir and chardonnay. Perched at the southern tip of the Mayacamas range, the vineyard (owned by the de Byre family since 1975) offers bird’s-eye views of Sonoma Valley and the San Pablo Bay. Though the facilities date back to 1950s, the small-batch wines are produced using state-of-the-art technology. Appointment only. 

For a private tasting worth splurging for, reserve one of Viansa’s private outlooks, which range from intimate nooks to pillow-decked open-air cabanas. From the front terrace, you can gaze out over the estate vineyards, replanted in 2015 with 10 acres of pinot noir and 15 acres of chardonnay. The hilltop property includes 33 acres of vineyards in all, plus nearly 100 acres of picturesque wetlands, a gourmet market and a wood-fired pizza oven for all manner of food to pair with flights of pinot, chardonnay and sangiovese. Appointment only. 

The oldest commercial winery in California, Buena Vista's historic charm remains—as do the original Champagne cellars, now used as wine production facilities. The Carneros grounds feature a museum of 19th-century wine tools (more interesting than it sounds), a stylish lounge devoted to French bubbly, and tranquil picnic grounds. The winery’s location at the top of the San Pablo Bay means a diverse variety of microclimates, ideal for varietals ranging from merlot and syrah to chardonnay and pinot. Request a cave tasting, which concludes with samples drawn straight from the barrel.

Situated in the historic Vallejo-Castanada adobe, this downtown Sonoma winery is a haven for design lovers. Although the building received a grand facelift from San Francisco interior design legend Ken Faulk, it remains one of the few structures from California’s early Spanish Period. Three Sticks’ produces small batches of wines grown in various local vineyards. Sip it while you can—the winery only produces 4,000 cases a year, and much of it sells out before leaving Sonoma Square. Appointment only. 

One of Sonoma's oldest wineries, Seghesio Family Vineyards is known for producing a wide variety of zinfandels from sustainably-planted vineyards across Sonoma County. Taste a flight of their bright, bold vintages at the Italian estate's grand tasting room along with food pairings. In the Old Vine Cellar Lounge downstairs, sip Seghesio's best at a seated tasting surrounded by the winery's original redwood tanks. Appointment only. 

Yes, this is a winery by six-time Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola. Don't let the fact that it's founded by a celebrity deter you, though: the wine is excellent. Plus, it's worth a visit to check out the property alone, which is far more than a winery and more like a full-on resort. You'll find wine-tasting bars, two restaurants, a full bar, a swimming pool with cabanas, a movie gallery, a performing arts Pavillion and a park with bocce courts. Coppola likes to refer to the winery as a "wine wonderland," and we do not object. 

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Founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson, a scientist and microbiologist with a side gig as a wine consultant, Ravenswood made a name for itself with zinfandel and, these days, Peterson is known as the 'godfather of zin.' The winery's fruity, full-bodied wines— which also include chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon—are produced from grapes harvested throughout Wine Country. Sample flights from an Adirondack chair on the terrace, tour the barrel room or taste rare bottles in the library cellar.