12 Hidden Gem Wineries in Sonoma to Visit Now!
Sonoma County is a paradise for Pinot Noir lovers! My recent visit to Sonoma County was so beautiful; I loved every part of it. I especially loved going off the beaten path to find wineries in Sonoma that are lesser known but still produce fantastic wine.
I was able to find many hidden gems throughout the different regions of Sonoma, including Sebastopol, Kenwood and Russian River Valley.
Here is a list of 12 hidden gem wineries in Sonoma that I highly recommend visiting!
Pssssst. I visited both Napa and Sonoma during this trip. If you only have time for one, read this post where I compare the two wine regions so you can determine which is best for you!
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Hidden Gem Wineries in Sonoma
1. Hamilton Family Vineyards
Hamilton Family Vineyards is a small, family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Kenwood, CA. I stumbled upon this winery after a recommendation from another wine enthusiast, and I am so glad I did! If you visit on a weekday, you might be lucky enough to run into the owner, Lindsay. I was able to hear her and her husband’s story during my tasting experience and it was very inspiring!
Lindsay and Greg started their winemaking journey with humble beginnings. What started as a hobby in 2011 soon turned into a full-blown winery with a tasting room in the coveted Sonoma County.
Hamilton Family Vineyards’ wine is excellent. Their tasting menu is diverse with several varietals to taste which gives you a good idea of the variety of wine they produce. My favorite on my tasting menu was their red blend called The Phoenix!
The tasting fee is $35 per person, waived with a 3 bottle purchase.
2. Ty Caton
Ty Caton is a winery with a wine tasting room located in Kenwood, California. Ty Caton, the owner and winemaker, is known for producing high-quality, handcrafted wines at a reasonable price. He primarily focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon, but produces several other varietals.
Ty Caton is committed to sustainable farming practices, and the vineyards are often managed with a focus on environmentally-friendly methods.
While most tastings happen at the tasting room in Kenwood, the winery and vineyards are sometimes opened up to members of the wine club for special events! You can inquire for more details about a tasting at the winemakers property on their website.
The wine tasting fee is $25, and you will get to choose from two different tasting menus based on your taste preference.
3. Merriam Vineyards
Merriam Vineyards is a stunning winery at the edge of the Russian River AVA in Sonoma County. Merriam Vineyards was founded in 2000 by Peter and Diana Merriam after falling in love with Sonoma Valley.
Their love of Burgundy and Bordeaux-style wines lead them to having a “minimal intervention” approach to their winemaking. They allow the wine to speak for itself, and focus more on blending to perfect the wine rather than altering the wine in fermentation.
A wine tasting at Merriam Vineyards includes a tasting of five of their estate-grown wines, and is $35. There is also the option to book a tour and tasting or an elevated experience on their website if you are looking to learn more about their wine production.
4. Limerick Lane Cellars
Right next door to Merriam Cellars is Limerick Lane Cellars, a phenomenal winery that specializes in Zinfandel! Owned and operated by Jake and Alexis Bilbro along with Chris Pittenger as their winemaker, this team is dedicated to producing the best Zinfandel in the world while using low intervention farming methods.
You can even stay at the estate, at their large hilltop estate or at their vineyard farmyard retreat. Both vacation rentals offer incredible amenities in the heart of Sonoma County, making it the perfect destination for a wine vacation.
A wine tasting here is $40 for an indoor or outdoor experience, depending on your preference.
5. Buena Vista Winery
Buena Vista Winery, California’s oldest premier winery, is an outstanding addition to any Sonoma winery visit. Founded in 1857, Buena Vista has had a long history of perfecting California wine-making. This was very apparent during my visit here! Everything I tasted was delicious, including the white wine which I am usually less of a fan of.
A standing tasting at the Sonoma tasting room is $25 per guest, while a seated wine tasting is $35 per guest. For an elevated experience, you can book a tasting in the Buena Vista library for $100 per guest.
6. Russian River Vineyards
Russian River Vineyards, not to be confused with Russian Rive Brewing Company, is a family and dog-friendly winery located in the heart of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. Although newer to winemaking, the Russian River Estate has a rich history of farming, which laid the groundwork for fertile soils and a craft of sustainable farming.
Russian River Vineyards is the best winery in Sonoma to have a casual day with family and friends. Offering a large selection of food and wine by the glass or bottle, many visitors will picnic at one of the many table for a perfect afternoon.
A wine tasting at Russian River Vineyards is $30 per person. In 2023 when I visited, they were offering a waived tasting with a 1 bottle purchase, which is a phenomenal deal!
7. Littorai Wines
Up next, we have Littorai Wines, a boutique winery in Sebastopol that has perfected bio-dynamic farming and wine-making. Starting in 2003, Heidi and Ted Lemon have built a farm and winery that is both self-sustaining and environmentally friendly.
During my tour of Littorai Wines, I was able to see the generative farming in action. Nothing goes to waste, and they utilize plants and previous years vines as nutrition and crop cover.
Summed up beautifully as a quote from Littorai Wine’s philosophy:
“Winegrowing is a wonderful word, for it implies that the object is not to produce the most beautiful vine or grape cluster but to produce the finest wine. Such wine should be a reflection of the vineyard and not the cellar.”
Littorai Wines
A wine tasting at Littorai is $65 per person, and reservations are required.
8. Freeman Vineyard & Winery
Freeman Winery is another hidden gem winery in Sonoma that has mastered the craft of cold-climate, Burgundy-style wines. Ken and Akiko Freeman started Freeman Winery in 2001 as they had a shared love of California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The product: Incredible wine that is balanced, refined, and oh-so delicious.
As a smaller winery, reservations are required to ensure that you will receive an outstanding experience.
A wine tasting is $40 per person, and can be booked online.
9. VJB Cellars
VJB Cellars is an Italian-style winery located in the heart of Kenwood. Two brothers from the Belmonte family originally starting creating wine to serve at their flourishing Italian restaurant. The winery officially opened in 2003, serving all Italian varietals, many of which are not grown many other places in California!
At VJB Cellars, you can do a wine tasting indoors for $25 per person, or on the piazza for $35 per person. It is recommended to make a reservation, but not required to be able to taste if your group is 5 or less!
There are also many shaded tables where you can enjoy wine by the bottle, along with an extensive food menu. There is even a small gelato shop on property!
10. Bartholomew Estate Winery
Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery was named one of Sonoma’s most beautiful wineries, and its easy to see why! The winery sits on a large estate on Bartholomew Park, a protected park with trails for hiking, horseback riding, or picnicking.
A wine tasting at Bartholomew starts at $40 per person, with an option for wine by the bottle to enjoy on the park grounds.
11. Viansa
Viansa is another stunning Italian-style wineries located in Sonoma. Founded by Sam & Vicki Sebastiani in 1990, Viansa’s history has deep roots from Tuscany that shaped their wine production to this day.
The property is one of the premier features of this winery, with incredible Italian-style architecture that makes you feel as though you have transported to the heart of Tuscany.
Even better, the estate has panoramic views of the Sonoma Valley that you truly cannot get elsewhere.
Enjoy lunch from their authentic Italian shop while you sip a glass of your choice. Or, enjoy a wine tasting on the summit for $40 per person to try the latest releases that Viansa has to offer!
12. St. Anne’s Crossing
Last but not least, we have St. Anne’s Crossing rounding out our list of hidden gem wineries in Sonoma. St. Anne’s Crossing is a beautiful winey in the heart of Sonoma that primarily produces single vineyard Zinfandel from different sub-regions of the county. Ken and Diane Wilson, the owners, envisioned creating a destination winery in Sonoma Valley for Zinfandel, and they have done an excellent job of accomplishing that!
During your wine tasting, you will be guided through how each terroir and micro-climate has shaped the taste profiles for their latest release Zinfandel wine! A wine tasting is $40 per person, and reservations are required 48 hours in advance.
Map of Sonoma Wineries
Here is a map of the 12 hidden gem Sonoma wineries mentioned above to help you plan your trip! It is advisable to visit neighboring wineries on a single day to save time in transportation!
Summary
Sonoma County is becoming a major wine destination around the world as more people recognize the excellent wine grown from this region. Even still, I recommend checking out small production wineries, as they are often more than excited to share more about the winemaking process (if this interests you!)
For recommendations about other wine regions to check out in the United States, read these posts:
- Top 20 Underrated Wine Regions in the United States
- The 5 BEST Underrated Wine Tasting Regions in California
What’s your favorite winery in Sonoma? Let me know below in the comments! Cheers!
