The Best Wine Tasting in Sonoma if you Have a Car
Here in Sonoma County, we’re blessed with beautiful countryside, mild climate, and some of the continent’s best wines. Whether you’re a lifeline resident or a first-time visitor, wine tasting in Sonoma is the perfect opportunity to put it all together.
As you plan your Sonoma wine-tasting excursion, you’ll want to think early on about how you’ll get around. For many visitors, especially those planning to visit multiple wineries in the region, a private vehicle affords the most flexibility at a reasonable cost.
That could mean your own car or one that’s borrowed or rented. What matters is that you’re able to explore the Sonoma countryside on your own timetable and easily reach the county’s “hidden gem” wineries.
These are among the best wineries to visit with a car in Sonoma, in our opinion. No surprise that Roche Winery’s main production facility and “Tipperary Vineyard” make the cut, but we’d encourage you to try a few of the other establishments listed here as well.
Roche Winery
Roche offers two tasting experiences for Sonoma visitors: The downtown Sonoma tasting room, which offers walk-in tasting flights and wines by the glass, and the main production facility a few minutes outside town. Neither requires reservations, though they are recommended at both locations if you’re able to plan ahead.
The Roche Winery main production facility’s tasting room features a spacious, comfortable indoor seating area and an extensive outdoor patio with shaded tables, benches, and nooks. There’s plenty of parking onsite, even during peak periods.
Where: Main production facility, 22097A Bonness Road, Sonoma; downtown tasting room 122 Spain St, Sonoma
Hours: Main production facility, daily, 10:30am - 5:00pm; downtown tasting room, 11am - 7:30pm
Viansa Winery (Viansa Sonoma)
Situated on a winery-rich stretch of Arnold Drive, Viansa Winery (or Viansa Sonoma, as it’s also known) is a great stop for Italian-style wine enthusiasts who’d like to hit multiple wineries in the same day without driving too far.
Viansa is worth the drive, such as it is. Enjoy your tasting flight on a sweeping outdoor terrace with stunning views of the Mayacamas Mountains, or purchase a glass (or whole bottle, if you have a larger party) inside and bring it out to the open seating area on the main lawn. If you do want a true tasting experience here, note that reservations are required.
Where: 25200 Arnold Drive, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5 pm
Buena Vista Winery
Buena Vista Winery has one of the oldest tasting rooms in the region, an elegant, almost castle-like space that dates to 1857. Known as the historic Press House, it’s available for formal seated tastings and more laid-back standing tastings at the one-of-a-kind wooden bar. Though onsite parking is plentiful, the tasting room always seems to be busy, so do be sure to reserve well in advance.
If the weather cooperates, Buena Vista Winery has a beautiful outdoor space that feels more like a park than a winery terrace. Here, you’ll lose yourself amid mature trees that provide plenty of shade on even the hottest Sonoma summer days.
Where: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Gundlach Bundschu Winery has two things in common with Buena Vista Winery: It’s old (dating back to 1858, and in fact it’s the oldest continuously operating winery in Sonoma County); and it has an amazing outdoor patio.
Actually, three things: Both wineries have ample parking and easy wayfinding, so they’re ideal Sonoma wine-tasting destinations for people with cars.
Back to Gundlach Bundschu itself. Known locally as “Gun Bun,” its vast outdoor space is among the most inviting of any Sonoma wineries (with the possible exception of our own outdoor spaces, of course). It’s kid- and pet-friendly, has secluded and well-shaded seating areas, and frequently hosts live music in the afternoon.
Do note that Gundlach Bundschu requires reservations for tastings, and the last daily seating is relatively early (3pm). But there’s enough space outside that reservations are usually easy to come by.
Where: 2000 Denmark Street, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 11:30am to 4:30pm
Beresini Winery & Black Dog Ranch
Beresini Winery, also known as Black Dog Ranch, sits amid the hills in picturesque Glen Ellen. It’s an easy drive from Sonoma proper but far enough away to feel like a different place and time, thanks to a wine tank dating to 1885 that now serves as the winery’s “indoor” tasting room.
If you have the time, book a tour of Beresini’s beautiful grounds or a special private 90-minute tasting with the winemaker himself. The reservations-only policy ensures that the winery is never crowded and parking is always easy to find.
Where: 14300 Arnold Dr #B, Glen Ellen
Hours: 11am - 5pm (last tasting reservation at 3:30pm daily)
Kunde Family Winery
Kunde Family Winery has spacious public accommodations at its main facility in Kenwood, conveniently located off the region’s main transportation artery (Sonoma Highway). A noted venue for intimate weddings and corporate events, Kunde also has an excellent wine library that fuels unique tasting experiences. If you have extra time, take a four-hour “estate hike” with the winemaker to explore the beautiful grounds — leashed dogs welcome.
Where: 9825 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood
Hours: Daily, 10:30am - 5pm
Annadel Estate Winery
A few miles down Sonoma Highway from Kunde Family Winery lies Annadel Estate Winery, another picturesque vineyard-and-production facility that routinely hosts weddings and corporate events. Though not as extensive as Kunde, the 33-acre grounds are well worth exploring — featuring historic “ruins” of past structures on the property. Also worth visiting is the beautiful Flower Farm, a beloved floral supplier for businesses and events around Sonoma County and beyond.
Where: 6687 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa
Hours: 11am - 4pm most weekdays; 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Reichwage Winery
Reichwage Winery is a small, dog-friendly winery with a reputation for distinctive wines and laid-back tasting experiences. Tastings are reservation-only, and the Reichwage can’t accommodate larger tour buses, so parking is always plentiful (and the space itself uncrowded). Allow yourself another hour or so to explore the Twin Hills Orchard and Vineyard grounds, a gem among Sonoma gems. And look for Reichwage’s small-batch hard ciders; it’s one of the few Sonoma wineries with its own apple orchard.
Where: 1689 Pleasant Hill Rd, Sebastopol
Hours: Daily, 11am - 4pm
DuMOL Winery
DuMOL Winery isn’t “off the beaten path” in the traditional sense. It’s on the outskirts of the town of Windsor and within earshot of the 101 freeway. It’s not surrounded by vineyards. But it’s one of the more innovative wineries operating in Sonoma today, so it’s well worth the 30-mile drive from downtown Sonoma. Make the trip and you’ll be rewarded with personal attention from winery staff and — weather and staffing permitting — an intimate tour of the production facility.
Where: 1400 American Way, Windsor
Hours: Daily, 10:30am - 3pm
Wine Tasting in Sonoma With a Car — Tips & Things to Know
As you plan your next Sonoma wine-tasting excursion, keep some things in mind about wine tasting in Sonoma with a car.
Parking at Sonoma Wineries
Most wineries in the Sonoma countryside have onsite parking lots with ample space. If you’re planning to visit a winery that offers tastings by appointment only, you should have little trouble getting a spot close to the building.
Close parking isn’t guaranteed, however. During peak visiting times, generally weekend afternoons, parking can be at a premium at popular Sonoma wineries that accept walk-in guests and offer wine by the glass. While some wine enthusiasts take advantage of wine country bus or van tours, many get around the area in private vehicles.
If you’re concerned about parking availability — particularly if you or a member of your party has mobility issues — don’t hesitate to call ahead of time to ask winery staff. They may be able to accommodate your needs or at least advise you on the best times to visit to avoid parking issues.
Driving and Parking in Downtown Sonoma
You may notice that none of the wineries featured here are located in downtown Sonoma (or any other Sonoma County downtowns, for that matter).
But Roche Winery does have a popular downtown Sonoma tasting room that offers wine tastings and wine by the glass right off of Sonoma Square. So do a few other Sonoma wineries we’re fans of. So we do recommend visiting downtown Sonoma before you leave the area. (And if you’re up by Santa Rosa or Healdsburg, check out their downtowns as well.)
Fair warning: Parking in downtown Sonoma and other wine country towns is a bit more challenging than parking at area wineries. If you’re able, use one of the free public lots: the Casa Grande lot off First St. East or the smaller Sebastiani Theater lot off East Napa St. The Sebastiani Theater lot has designated charging stations, so that’s your best bet if you need to charge your EV.
Otherwise, there’s free street parking in and around Sonoma Plaza, as well as on downtown streets farther from the plaza. Plaza and Plaza-adjacent parking is time-limited during business hours every day but Sunday (three hours maximum) and can be difficult to find. Parking in other parts of downtown is easier to come by but may be restricted to vehicles with residential permits or time-limited during the day.
For more information, refer to the city of Sonoma’s brief downtown parking guide.
Getting Around Sonoma in a Car
In the GPS era, you probably don’t need step-by-step directions to any particular Sonoma winery. But there are a few things Google Maps won’t tell you about getting around Sonoma by car:
Travel Times: Travel times around Sonoma County vary significantly based on traffic and weather conditions (more on that below). On weekends, California Highway 12 (the main route from Sonoma northward) and even the side roads branching off to various Sonoma wineries can get congested.
Traveling Through Towns: While not quite San Francisco-levels of driving stress, Sonoma County’s downtowns (even the small, cute ones) can get quite crowded with cars and pedestrians during busy periods. Be aware of your surroundings and be patient with others.
Road Conditions: Sonoma is a beautiful place, but the hills and valleys that make it so picturesque also make driving more difficult. Especially on hilly side roads, expect tight curves, limited sightlines, and narrow rights-of-way. The posted speed limit is your friend.
Weather Issues That Can Affect Travel in Sonoma
Sonoma enjoys beautiful weather much of the year. That allows us at Roche Winery to offer pet-friendly outdoor wine tasting at both of our tasting rooms — and we’re far from alone among Sonoma wineries.
Unfortunately, the weather isn’t always perfect here. After typically bone-dry summers, the winter months bring much-needed rains to Sonoma. Often, the rains come as gentle showers, but more severe storms can occur as well, sometimes lashing the region for days on end.
During periods of heavy rain and wind, driving in Sonoma is more difficult. Localized flooding and downed tree limbs can temporarily render roads impassable (or prompt local authorities to close them). Some countryside wineries may be temporarily inaccessible due to these closures or may preemptively close their doors for the safety of patrons and staff.
If you’re planning a wine-tasting trip to Sonoma during the wet seasons, we encourage you to monitor the forecast and to be prepared to modify your plans in the event of inclement weather.
Where to Rent a Car in or Near Sonoma
If you’re visiting Sonoma from elsewhere in the country, the best place to rent a car for your journey is the airport you fly into. The two closest major airports are San Francisco (SFO) and Oakland (OAK). Both have large rental car centers on or near the airport, and SFO has a number of off-airport agencies as well.
If you’re planning to spend time elsewhere in the Bay Area without a car, you’ll also find rental car agencies in central San Francisco, central Oakland, and scattered elsewhere throughout the region. And if you plan to fly into Sonoma directly, you can look into rental car options there, though the bigger regional airports will almost certainly have better brand and vehicle selection.