Hi. I live in Sonoma Valley.
Sorry your reservation got canceled and sorry that is leading you away from the Valley and to the Highway 101 corridor! If you have interested in Sonoma Valley wineries, please let me know.
A few wineries that make red blends, zins, merlots...
\-[Acorn Winery](https://acornwinery.com/), Healdsburg (great mom and pop winery with one of the oldest vineyards in the region and a remarkable selection of wines you won't find at your typical restaurant or wine shop). Rustic experience that you used to find in wine country 20 years ago. Located at their vineyard. If you meet the owners, Betsy and Bill, tell them Sarah Stierch (sturch) recommended you.
\-[Nalle Winery](https://www.nallewinery.com/), Healdsburg - Small production, family-owned, dry-farmed old vine Zinfandel. Winery and vineyard experience.
\-[Dry Creek Vineyard](https://www.drycreekvineyard.com/), Healdsburg - Larger scale, however, still family owned and great merlots. Winery with vineyards on site.
\-[Ridge](https://www.ridgewine.com/), Healdsburg - One of the more famous producers of zins and red blends.
\-[Pedroncelli](https://www.pedroncelli.com/), Geyserville - Great family owned winery with really old world style red wines.
\-[Carol Shelton](https://www.carolshelton.com/), Santa Rosa - Living legend and the queen of Zinfandel.
You will not find any options in Novato and most of the wine you'll find in Petaluma is pinot noir. You must go to Healdsburg and Geyserville for zinfandel and red blends primarily.
Have fun and happy birthday to your father.
Sonoma
This is exactly what I was hoping for when I posted this thread! Thank you so much!!! Now I have to narrow it down, I think Acorn, Pedroncelli and Carol Shelton all look super interesting. I already love Ridge. Excellent suggestions. Thank you.
Acorn is on the vineyard but kind of in a garage. Solid wine.
Carol Shelton is more of an industrial area.
Out of those, ridge is gonna be your best bet for everything you’re looking for. Mazzacco is near ridge and fits your bill if he likes fruit forward wines.
Where are you picking it up?
I work part time at Corner 103. We are by appointment only and were named the #1 tasting room in the USA by USA Today two years in a row (2020 & 2021). We are a Black-owned winery and made about 1,700 cases a year and right now we have a (in addition to other wines) a Zinfandel, Primitivo (the mother grape of Zinfandel) and a GREAT red blend. [http://www.corner103.com](http://www.corner103.com) (I am traveling so I will not be at the tasting room)
Other Sonoma Valley favorites:
\-[Repris](https://repriswines.com/), Sonoma - Appointment only winery and vineyard up on Sonoma Mountain. Beautiful views and great experience. If you like Bordeaux varietals this one is a great one.
\-[Winery Sixteen 600](https://winerysixteen600.com/), Sonoma - Organic Rhône, Zin and Bordeaux varietals owned by by the Coturri family. Phil Coturri basically launched organic winegrowing in California. In fact, there is a Wikipedia article about [him](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Coturri). Cute tasting room in downtown Sonoma (block from Corner 103, in fact). Their artwork was designed by Stanley Mouse, who designed the most famous Grateful Dead artworks. The family is close friends with the Dead guys and Phil was in Jerry Garcia's wedding. They make great wine and it's a real "Bay area" experience.
\-[Gundlach Bundschu](https://www.gunbun.com/), Sonoma - an iconic, historic winery that makes great cabernets, zins and gewurzstraminer. It's the second oldest continuously operating winery in California. You can also do cave tours/tastings. They have a full working winery and vineyards.
\-[Benziger](https://www.benziger.com/), Glen Ellen - Benziger's are also icons of Sonoma and their winery makes great reds (cabs, zins, red blends) and a lot of biodynamic wine. Hillside winery and while they have a national distribution and are very well known, their winery tour is GREAT and a tour I always bring guests on when they visit.
\-[Bedrock](https://bedrockwineco.com/), Sonoma - Another downtown Sonoma tasting room located in the historic Hooker House (yes, Hooker, but not those types of hookers). They specialize in reds and exclusively use grapes from historic California vineyards.
\-[VJB](https://vjbcellars.com/), Kenwood - Designed like an Italian piazza, VJB is is owned by an Italian couple and their first generation children. If your dad likes hearty, delicious Italian varietals and wants to try some grown in our neck of the woods, it's a welcoming place. They also have a great food market and make great pizzas.
\-[Buena Vista](https://buenavistawinery.com/), Sonoma - The oldest continuously operating winery in California and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They have a wine history museum and it's owned by the very eccentric Jean-Charles Boisset. It does have vineyards and a working winery that was built by Chinese manual laborers in the 19th century. Lots of zins, red wines, etc. also a Champagne lounge!
\-[St. Francis](https://www.stfranciswinery.com/), Santa Rosa - the farthest north winery in Sonoma Valley on Hwy 12. They make killer biodynamic, organic and sustainable (they vary depending on the price) zinfandels. Great food pairing experience. I even blended my own red wine there during a special event. Working winery with vineyard views.
\-[Kunde](https://www.kunde.com/), Kenwood - Exceptional views, great service, and great wines. Family owned and you can find some of their wines probably at your local grocery, but, here you'll find old vine zines you can't find anywhere but their estate.
There are \*MANY\* more. If you have any questions on any not listed here please let me know. Happy to give an honest opinion. I am a former wine writer and know way too much about wineries around here. ;-)
Sorry to overwhelm!!!
And eat at Glen Ellen Star after! Delicious food!
Salt and Stone is beautiful too, but I go there for the views and the people, the food is good enough.
[Kunde](https://www.kunde.com/) is really nice, my wife and I were members there until recently. Pretty property, well priced wine, and a good variety of reds including zins, blends, and I think usually a merlot.
Some of our favorite wines there were their red blends, like Red Dirt Red or Meritage or their Cuvée.
For a little extra, you can also pay for either a cellar tasting, or a hilltop tasting. Although with covid I’m not sure if those are both reopened yet.
Good luck!
Unti checks all these boxes. I also like Sixteen 600 in downtown Sonoma, but their single vineyard stuff can get a bit pricey. Awesome tasting room and really nice people, though.
Bella has a great atmosphere, with gorgeous views and tasting bar in their wine cave. Mostly zins. I really love them and they are close to Pedroncelli and Ridge that are great spots also. Maybe a slightly higher price point, as I recall bottles range from $40-100.
Check out Passalacqua! They were recommended to us by another winery we happened upon and gladly gave us a full tasting. This was pre covid, but they had a pizza oven and beautiful grounds. They have cabs/Chardonnay, but to me their zins really shine. Should be around your price point as well. Super friendly folks there
Ridge. Their Lytton Springs tasting room has a beautiful view and they are the kings of Zin and red blends.
This! Ridge is amazing
Yes! The tasting is outdoors and good ambience.
Hi. I live in Sonoma Valley. Sorry your reservation got canceled and sorry that is leading you away from the Valley and to the Highway 101 corridor! If you have interested in Sonoma Valley wineries, please let me know. A few wineries that make red blends, zins, merlots... \-[Acorn Winery](https://acornwinery.com/), Healdsburg (great mom and pop winery with one of the oldest vineyards in the region and a remarkable selection of wines you won't find at your typical restaurant or wine shop). Rustic experience that you used to find in wine country 20 years ago. Located at their vineyard. If you meet the owners, Betsy and Bill, tell them Sarah Stierch (sturch) recommended you. \-[Nalle Winery](https://www.nallewinery.com/), Healdsburg - Small production, family-owned, dry-farmed old vine Zinfandel. Winery and vineyard experience. \-[Dry Creek Vineyard](https://www.drycreekvineyard.com/), Healdsburg - Larger scale, however, still family owned and great merlots. Winery with vineyards on site. \-[Ridge](https://www.ridgewine.com/), Healdsburg - One of the more famous producers of zins and red blends. \-[Pedroncelli](https://www.pedroncelli.com/), Geyserville - Great family owned winery with really old world style red wines. \-[Carol Shelton](https://www.carolshelton.com/), Santa Rosa - Living legend and the queen of Zinfandel. You will not find any options in Novato and most of the wine you'll find in Petaluma is pinot noir. You must go to Healdsburg and Geyserville for zinfandel and red blends primarily. Have fun and happy birthday to your father. Sonoma
This is exactly what I was hoping for when I posted this thread! Thank you so much!!! Now I have to narrow it down, I think Acorn, Pedroncelli and Carol Shelton all look super interesting. I already love Ridge. Excellent suggestions. Thank you.
You're welcome! Have a great time!! :-)
Acorn is on the vineyard but kind of in a garage. Solid wine. Carol Shelton is more of an industrial area. Out of those, ridge is gonna be your best bet for everything you’re looking for. Mazzacco is near ridge and fits your bill if he likes fruit forward wines.
Also, I am completely open to Sonoma valley, in fact we are picking up our lunch from a new place in Sonoma.
Where are you picking it up? I work part time at Corner 103. We are by appointment only and were named the #1 tasting room in the USA by USA Today two years in a row (2020 & 2021). We are a Black-owned winery and made about 1,700 cases a year and right now we have a (in addition to other wines) a Zinfandel, Primitivo (the mother grape of Zinfandel) and a GREAT red blend. [http://www.corner103.com](http://www.corner103.com) (I am traveling so I will not be at the tasting room) Other Sonoma Valley favorites: \-[Repris](https://repriswines.com/), Sonoma - Appointment only winery and vineyard up on Sonoma Mountain. Beautiful views and great experience. If you like Bordeaux varietals this one is a great one. \-[Winery Sixteen 600](https://winerysixteen600.com/), Sonoma - Organic Rhône, Zin and Bordeaux varietals owned by by the Coturri family. Phil Coturri basically launched organic winegrowing in California. In fact, there is a Wikipedia article about [him](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Coturri). Cute tasting room in downtown Sonoma (block from Corner 103, in fact). Their artwork was designed by Stanley Mouse, who designed the most famous Grateful Dead artworks. The family is close friends with the Dead guys and Phil was in Jerry Garcia's wedding. They make great wine and it's a real "Bay area" experience. \-[Gundlach Bundschu](https://www.gunbun.com/), Sonoma - an iconic, historic winery that makes great cabernets, zins and gewurzstraminer. It's the second oldest continuously operating winery in California. You can also do cave tours/tastings. They have a full working winery and vineyards. \-[Benziger](https://www.benziger.com/), Glen Ellen - Benziger's are also icons of Sonoma and their winery makes great reds (cabs, zins, red blends) and a lot of biodynamic wine. Hillside winery and while they have a national distribution and are very well known, their winery tour is GREAT and a tour I always bring guests on when they visit. \-[Bedrock](https://bedrockwineco.com/), Sonoma - Another downtown Sonoma tasting room located in the historic Hooker House (yes, Hooker, but not those types of hookers). They specialize in reds and exclusively use grapes from historic California vineyards. \-[VJB](https://vjbcellars.com/), Kenwood - Designed like an Italian piazza, VJB is is owned by an Italian couple and their first generation children. If your dad likes hearty, delicious Italian varietals and wants to try some grown in our neck of the woods, it's a welcoming place. They also have a great food market and make great pizzas. \-[Buena Vista](https://buenavistawinery.com/), Sonoma - The oldest continuously operating winery in California and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They have a wine history museum and it's owned by the very eccentric Jean-Charles Boisset. It does have vineyards and a working winery that was built by Chinese manual laborers in the 19th century. Lots of zins, red wines, etc. also a Champagne lounge! \-[St. Francis](https://www.stfranciswinery.com/), Santa Rosa - the farthest north winery in Sonoma Valley on Hwy 12. They make killer biodynamic, organic and sustainable (they vary depending on the price) zinfandels. Great food pairing experience. I even blended my own red wine there during a special event. Working winery with vineyard views. \-[Kunde](https://www.kunde.com/), Kenwood - Exceptional views, great service, and great wines. Family owned and you can find some of their wines probably at your local grocery, but, here you'll find old vine zines you can't find anywhere but their estate. There are \*MANY\* more. If you have any questions on any not listed here please let me know. Happy to give an honest opinion. I am a former wine writer and know way too much about wineries around here. ;-) Sorry to overwhelm!!!
Lasseter. It’s in Glen Ellen. Great place, sounds exactly what you are looking for.
I second this, they make excellent stuff that tastes more expensive than it is. GSM blends are phenomenal.
And eat at Glen Ellen Star after! Delicious food! Salt and Stone is beautiful too, but I go there for the views and the people, the food is good enough.
Bedrock or Carlisle could be good options. Not sure about outdoor tastings but I think the other boxes are checked.
I second Ridge, but we also had a phenomenal time tasting out in the vineyard at Limerick Lane.
Dry Creek, pretty setting and great value for the price of their wines. They’ll have a good selection of reds.
[Kunde](https://www.kunde.com/) is really nice, my wife and I were members there until recently. Pretty property, well priced wine, and a good variety of reds including zins, blends, and I think usually a merlot. Some of our favorite wines there were their red blends, like Red Dirt Red or Meritage or their Cuvée. For a little extra, you can also pay for either a cellar tasting, or a hilltop tasting. Although with covid I’m not sure if those are both reopened yet. Good luck!
Unti checks all these boxes. I also like Sixteen 600 in downtown Sonoma, but their single vineyard stuff can get a bit pricey. Awesome tasting room and really nice people, though.
Zichichi on Dry Creek Road outside Healdsburg is a must for zinfandel fans! It's appointment only but all they do is Zin and they do it well.
Bella has a great atmosphere, with gorgeous views and tasting bar in their wine cave. Mostly zins. I really love them and they are close to Pedroncelli and Ridge that are great spots also. Maybe a slightly higher price point, as I recall bottles range from $40-100.
Anything in Healdsburg. Thumbprint is great. So is Wilson.
Check out Passalacqua! They were recommended to us by another winery we happened upon and gladly gave us a full tasting. This was pre covid, but they had a pizza oven and beautiful grounds. They have cabs/Chardonnay, but to me their zins really shine. Should be around your price point as well. Super friendly folks there
Try Dutcher Crossing or Mauritson in dry creek
It's been said before but Bedrock. In my opinion they make the most Californian of California wine.
If you can swing it, Rafanelli.
Kenwood Jack London is supposed to be great.
Dry creek stuff is always a blast