Top Sonoma Wineries in the Town of Sonoma
Visit historic Sonoma Valley wineries just off the Sonoma Plaza
Located near the famous Sonoma town plaza are several renowned
wineries including two of the oldest wineries in California. Visit
the Buena Vista winery and Gundlach Bundschu winery for a historic
perspective of winemaking in California. At Sebastiani, another
100-year-old winery, you will see a new tasting room and facility.
At Ravenswood you will find Zinfandels galore. A picnic lunch is
ideal at Buena Vista or Gundlach Bundschu.
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Buena Vista Winery
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Winery Descriptions, Driving directions, Tasting Room Hours
Gundlach Bundschu
To get to this historic family-owned winery from the plaza, travel
east on East Napa Rd., turn right on 8th St. and follow the white
winery signs. The wines are all excellent at this historic winery.
The winery began operation in 1857 with a founding date just a short
three months later than the nearby Buena Vista Winery. The winery
today is owned by the same family and is now in its sixth generation
with Jim Bundchu at the helm. The winery produces about 40,000 cases
of wine per year. They produce an amazing 16 wine varietals, and
all but 2 are produced from the Gundlach Bundchu Estate of 350 acres
of vineyards. They produce several white varietals, all dry and
well balanced. The reds are the most recognized, with the Merlot
the best seller. The grounds are quite beautiful, with a great picnic
area. Don’t pass by this winery.
Tasting room open daily, 11 am to 4:30, (707) 939 3015
Email: info@gunbun.com, Gundlach
Bundschu
Buena
Vista Winery
If you are a wine history buff, you will need to stop at the Buena
Vista winery, the first premium winery in California and a registered
historic landmark. It opened its doors in 1857, founded by wine
pioneer Count August Hazasthy. Today the winery is own by Boisset
Family Estates. You will enjoy browsing the memorbilia in this
historic tasting room.The Buena Vista winery owns 1000 acres of
vineyards in the famed Carneros region of Sonoma and Napa counties.
This region is world famous for producing fine Chardonnay and Pinot
Noir wines. The Buena Vista winery owns more acres in the Carneros
region than any other winery. To get to the winery from the Sonoma
Plaza, travel east on East Napa Rd., almost to the end, and turn
left on Old Winery Rd. and follow the signs to the winery.
Tasting room open daily, 10 am to 5, (800) 926 1266
Email: bvw_info@buenavistawinery.com, Buena
Vista Winery
Sebastiani Vineyards
Sebastiani
is another grand old winery in the town of Sonoma. The Sebastiani
Family began operating this winery in 1904. In 2009 the Sebastiani
Family sold the winery to Bill Foley and his Foley Estate corporation.
Only time will tell if the long tradition of this fine winery continues.
The winery still has much history of California winemaking to view
and experience. To get to the tasting room from the Plaza, head
out along East Napa St. to Fourth St. East. Make a left turn and
you will shortly see the parking lot and hospitality center.
Tasting room open daily, 10 am to 5
Phone: (707) 933-3230, Email: info@sebastiani.com, Sebastiani
Vineyards
Ravenswood Winery
If you like Zinfandel wine, make sure you put Ravenswood winery
at the top of your list. The winery currently makes 15 different
Zinfandels. Fourteen of these Zinfandels are made in very small
case lots and many of these are sold only at the winery or through
the winery’s web site. The other Zinfandel is called the Vintners'
Blend and the winery makes 300,000 cases of this wine per year.
It is their inexpensive bargain and value wine that you will find
in most supermarkets. Why so much of this wine? The Vintners' Blend
makes the winery profitable and enables them to produce some hand-crafted,
high-quality wines that are less profitable. It’s a good trade
off. They also produce a few whites, and one that we found to be
exciting was a very reasonably priced dry Gerwurztraminer for $12.
A good idea when visiting Ravenswood is to compare a few of the
Zinfandels made from various areas of California. You get an idea
of the aroma and flavor differences found in the different growing
regions. To get to Ravenswood Winery, take Fourth St. East, and
drive past Sebastiani. Turn right onto Lovall Valley Rd, then a
left turn onto Gehricke Road and up the hill a short distance.
Tasting room open daily 10 to 5,
Phone: (888) 669-4679, Ravenswood
Winery
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