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Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma: Sonoma County's southernmost sparkling wine house is often a visitor's first exposure to local bubbles. The estate, overlooking the Carneros area of Sonoma Valley, offers dramatic views paired with estate wines and shareable plates. (Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards)
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Gloria Ferrer, tasting experience: Enjoy casual tastings on the terrace or in the recently renovated tasting room. Guests can order cheese and charcuterie plates to nibble on while taking in the view. Daily guided tours explain how sparkling wine is made using the traditional Champagne method. Reservations recommended. 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma, 707-933-1917, gloriaferrer.com. (Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards)
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Kunde Family Winery, Kenwood: The Kunde Family has been farming the land of their 1,850-acre Kenwood estate since 1904. Today, the family produces a wide variety of wines using grapes from their estate vineyard; some are distributed nationally while many are exclusive to their tasting room. (Rebecca Gosselin/for Sonoma Magazine)
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Kunde Family Winery, tasting experience: The mountaintop tasting, which takes place 1,400 feet above sea level, will impress both first-timers and regular wine country visitors. The tasting (by appointment only) starts with a private tour of the wine caves and mountaintop vineyard, which includes vines planted in 1882. Wrap up with a tasting of small-production wines on a deck overlooking the vineyards. 9825 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-5501, kunde.com. (Kunde Family Winery)
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St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Santa Rosa: Regularly voted "the best restaurant in the country," St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has been attracting wine-lovers and foodies for decades. The Santa Rosa estate, located on the edge of northern Sonoma Valley, offers wine tastings and vineyard tours but it is best known for its wine and food pairings. (St. Francis Winery & Vineyards)
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St Francis, tasting experience: New Executive Chef Trevor Eliason creates seasonal, multi-course menus that are paired with St. Francis wines. Pairings include pan-seared salmon with old vine zinfandel and braised oxtail risotto with the 90+ point Anthem Meritage. 100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa, 707-538-9463, stfranciswinery.com.
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Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen: A leader in eco-friendly wine production and farming, Benziger Family Winery is a must-visit for those interested in organic wine and sustainable farming practices. In 2000, the winery became certified biodynamic, which is the highest level of organic certification. (Benziger Family Winery)
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Benziger Family Winery, tasting experience: Jump on board the winery tram and experience a behind-the-scenes tour of the estate. During the 45-minute tour, guests visit the fermentation facility, crush pad and caves, followed by a tasting (they also get to see sheep in action as they clear the land of weeds). 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 707-935-3000, benziger.com. (Benziger Family Winery)
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Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville: Owned by the famous filmmaker and his wife, Eleanor, Francis Ford Coppola Winery is more than just a place to sample whites, rosés and reds — it's a "winery resort." The family-friendly property is a must-visit for film buffs as it features a display of memorabilia from Coppola films, including Don Corleone's desk from The Godfather and an original Tucker car from Tucker: The Man and His Dream, as well as costumes from Bram Stoker's Dracula. (Francis Ford Coppola Winery)
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Francis Ford Coppola Winery, tasting experience: In addition to tasting wines, guests can take a swim in the winery's pool, which offers poolside service. It's a popular summer spot for locals and out-of-towners alike, so make a reservation. The property also includes two restaurants, a game area with bocce, chess and other board games, and plenty of activities for children. 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1400, francisfordcoppolawinery.com. (Francis Ford Coppola Winery)
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Corner 103, Sonoma: Owner Lloyd Davis created Corner 103 with the goal of serving small-production wines that showcase Sonoma County's diverse terroir and to educate the public about wine and wine tasting in an unpretentious environment. This is a great spot for first-time visitors seeking to learn more about wine, including how to serve and pair it with food, both at home and when dining out. (Corner 103)
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Corner 103, tasting experience: Davis has created a series of food and wine pairings for his intimate downtown Sonoma tasting room and tastings are often led by the owner himself. Wines are paired with locally sourced small bites and, during the Sonoma Cheese Experience, guests are guided through a tasting Corner 103 wines and six cheeses, made within blocks of the tasting room. 103 W. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-931-6141, corner103.com
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Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa: Founded in 1977, Matanzas Creek is a destination for both gardeners and wine-lovers. Located just south of central Santa Rosa, in the Bennett Valley AVA, the winery has produced their signature merlot and sauvignon blanc wines regardless of wine trends for over 30 years. Sipping sauv blanc in the manicured gardens makes for a relaxing afternoon, especially if you love the scent of provencal lavender. (Matanzas Creek Winery)
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Matanzas Creek Winery, tasting experience: Pick up picnic provisions in Santa Rosa and, after tasting through Matanzas' wines in the tasting room, bring a bottle into the gardens to enjoy with your food. The property is in full purple bloom in early summer, making for great photo ops. Play a little bocce, explore the gardens and watch the sun set behind the mountains. 6097 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-521-7016, matanzascreek.com. (Matanzas Creek Winery)
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Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol: This Green Valley winery was founded in 1976 by the Sterling family. Today, three generations of the family live on the property. Joy Sterling, pictured here, is the winery's CEO. Specializing in sparkling wine and pinot noir, the family produces excellent wines that have been served at the White House multiple times; even the Queen of England has sipped on Iron Horse vino! (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
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Iron Horse Vineyards, tasting experience: The Iron Horse tasting room is located in a rustic barn-like building, attached to the working winery and overlooking the estate vineyards. Tours are offered by appointment. Taste one of their many sparkling wines, including the Russian Cuvee, which was made specifically for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings, which ended the Cold War. While you sip on a historic wine, be sure to say hello to one of the many cats wandering the property. 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, 707-820-1506, ironhorsevineyards.com. (Iron Horse Vineyards)
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Larson Family Winery, Sonoma: The Larson Family has worked their winery land since 1899. After raising dairy cows, ponies and horses, they planted their first vines in 1977 and now produce 5,000 cases annually. The winery is family-friendly and that includes dog members of the family too. (Larson Family Winery)
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Larson Family Winery, tasting experience: A barn-turned-tasting room, a picnic area on a large green lawn, a bocce court and yard games all lend to the laid-back tasting experience at Larson Family Winery. Taste the wines indoors or outdoors; the winery encourages guests to bring a picnic and spend the afternoon. After tasting, purchase a bottle of the sparkling wine, Three Lab Meritage (which pays tributes to the family's three dogs) or the jug wine, Wingo White. 23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma, 707-938-3031, larsonfamilywinery.com. (Larson Family Winery)
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Kendall-Jackson, Fulton: An iconic Sonoma County winery, Kendall-Jackson produces wines that can be found on dinner tables throughout the country. The estate is a must-visit for fans of accessible, sustainably-produced wines. The property is popular with professional chefs and home cooks alike, who visit the estate gardens for their organic produce and herbs, grown for use in the winery's kitchen. (Kendall-Jackson)
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Kendall-Jackson, Fulton: The Kendall-Jackson estate offers both wine tastings and food and wine pairings. Guests can sample reserve wines, available only at the winery, and tour the gardens. Foodies can reserve a food and wine pairing, which includes small bites, cheese and chocolate options, all prepared in the onsite kitchens. For those seeking something a little special, the winery offers summertime farm-to-table dinners that take place in the heart of the gardens under the stars. 5007 Fulton Rd., Fulton, 707-571-7500, kj.com. (Kendall-Jackson)
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Korbel Winery, Guerneville: Korbel Winery has been producing "California Champagne" at their Guerneville property since 1882. Widely distributed, Korbel's sparklers are toasted with during celebrations from coast to coast. Start your visit with a guided tour, which covers the history of the family-owned winery and how Korbel bubbles are made. Don't miss the world's largest Champagne bottle! (Korbel Winery)
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Korbel Winery, tasting experience: Taste seasonal and estate bubbles, including sweeter selections like the Sweet Cuvee and Le Premier, in the unpretentious tasting room. The tasting is free, but don't forget to tip your host. After the tasting, enjoy a lunch under shady redwoods. The Korbel deli serves freshly-made salads, sandwiches, soups, Korbel bubbles and local beers. 13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
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Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma: Founded in 1858, Buena Vista Winery is the oldest commercial winery in California. A historic landmark, the winery went through a renovation in 2012, which helped retain the property's 19th-century charm while bringing the winery into the 21st century. Today, Buena Vista produces estate wine in their original Champagne Cellars, which produced sparkling wine for the founder, Count Harazthy. (Buena Vista Winery)
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Buena Vista Winery, tasting experience: History buffs will enjoy a variety of wine tours showcasing the property, including the Historic Wine Tool Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of winemaking. Sparkling wine-lovers should head to the JCB Bubble Lounge, which serves sparkling wines made by owner Jean-Charles Boisset. Be sure to say hi to the count while you're there! 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, 800-926-1266, buenavistawinery.com. (Buena Vista Winery)
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Preston Farm & Winery, Healdsburg: Organic, rustic and charming are three words that capture the experience at Healdsburg's Preston Farm and Winery. The first grapes were planted on the property in 1895. Today, the winery produces certified organic and biodynamic wine on a working farm. (Preston Farm & Winery)
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Preston Farm & Winery, tasting experience: Preston personifies the rustic nature of Sonoma west county (the area west of Highway 101). Visitors can taste grenache blanc, cinsault and zinfandel, as well as estate-produced hard cider, olive oils, freshly baked bread from an onsite bakery and pickled veggies. There's also plenty of animals, including cats and sheep, and a bocce court and shaded picnic area.9282 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-433-3372, prestonfarmandwinery.com. (Preston Farm & Winery)
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Jordan Winery, Healdsburg: A regular on "best of" lists by wine critics, Jordan produces a chardonnay and a cabernet sauvignon that continue to impress. Two well-crafted wines that are cellar-worthy. The Jordan Winery chateau sits on a hill overlooking 1,000 acres of vineyards, organic gardens, lakes and olive trees. (Jordan Winery)
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Jordan Winery, tasting experience: Tour the winery and then sip chardonnay with hors d’oeuvre prepared by the estate chef while taking in the view from the terrace. Next, enjoy a seated cheese and wine pairing, which includes tastes of older vintage cabernet sauvignon, the winery's estate olive oil and artisan cheese. 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, 800-654-1213, jordanwinery.com. (Jordan Winery)
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Gundlach Bundschu, Sonoma: Gundlach Bundschu (pronounced "gun lock bun shoe") has been producing wines from their Sonoma "Rhinefarm" for over 150 years, making it the oldest family winery in California. Fourth generation Bundschus have turned the historic property into a place that blends history and hipness. One minute you're sipping dry gewürztraminer in a tasting room built in 1870, the next you're trying sustainably grown cabernet in wine caves. And then you're wrapping up the afternoon listening to a DJ play indie rock while nibbling on local food truck bites. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
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Gundlach Bundschu, tasting experience: Seasonal cave tours offer guests a chance to learn about how wine is made, from fermentation to maceration. The winery guarantees you'll "become familiar with many of the nerdy technical aspects of producing world-class wine." Or, opt for a more casual tasting in the courtyard or at the Donkey Bar (a hip outside tasting lounge named after the family's two pet donkeys) overlooking a pond. Pack a picnic; you'll want to stay all day.2000 Denmark St., Sonoma, 707-938-5277, gunbun.com. (Gundlach Bundschu)
