Wineries with Indoor Tasting Rooms Near Sonoma Plaza
At Roche Winery, we love tasting wine outdoors as much as anyone. We have two amazing outdoor tasting rooms to prove it: one at our main production facility in the Sonoma Valley and the other at our downtown Sonoma outpost.
Indoor tasting experiences have their place, though. And the weather doesn’t always cooperate with our outdoor tasting plans.
So if you’d prefer to leave Mother Nature’s whims at the door and guarantee a comfortable tasting session, head inside.
These are a few of our favorite indoor winery tasting rooms near Sonoma Plaza in downtown Sonoma. No surprise that Roche Winery’s downtown Sonoma tasting room makes the list, but do make time for one or two (or more) of the many others while you’re here!
Roche Winery (Downtown Sonoma Tasting Room)
Our downtown Sonoma tasting room features an indoor bar overlooking Sonoma Plaza, perfectly placed for our guests to take in the area’s comings and goings. Enjoy a guided tasting prepared by one of our knowledgeable hosts or wine by the glass. Ask about our food pairings, too, as we’re proud to partner with local producers to provide an eclectic sample of Sonoma’s bounty.
Where: 122 West Spain Street, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 11am to 7:30pm
La Prenda Marketplace
Family-owned La Prenda’s Sonoma roots stretch back generations and touch some of the most storied vineyards in the region, from the lower Sonoma Valley to the upper Alexander Valley. Their wines are renowned for consistent quality and impressive range. And their small downtown Sonoma tasting room, located just off the Plaza, feels like an extension of their home. Stop by and try a signature five-wine tasting flight for yourself.
Where: 535 West 1st Street, Sonoma
Hours: Thursday - Monday, 12:30pm to 5pm
Sojourn Cellars
Situated just steps from Sonoma Plaza, Sojourn Cellars’ “tasting salon” is an elegant yet laid-back indoor space featuring detailed wine country maps and wood decor. Its small size makes it ideal for couples and small groups of friends eager to escape the hustle (such as it is) of Sonoma Plaza.
Where: 141 East Napa Street, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm (appointment only)
Lake Sonoma Winery
Lake Sonoma Winery’s low-key tasting room sits back from the street, lending an intimate atmosphere. Yet its indoor bar has a clear view of Sonoma Plaza, making it a good people-watching perch. You’ll be more focused on the expansive library wines, though.
Where: 134 Church St, Sonoma
Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 11am to 6pm
WALT Wines
WALT’s wine selection spans nearly the entire California coast north of L.A., and north into Oregon and Washington. But what (if anything) it lacks in local focus, it makes up for in indoor ambiance. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the undisputed stars of the show here.
Where: 380 1st St W, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 11am to 5pm
Auteur Wines
Auteur’s charming “Bungalow” tasting room occupies a century-old house right off Sonoma Plaza. It’s almost as captivating as the wines themselves, which Auteur sources from choice cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. Be warned: Reservations are always in high demand here, so plan early.
Where: 373 1st St W, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
Bennett Valley Cellars
Bennett Valley Cellars’ quiet yet roomy tasting room is perfect for small groups and larger gatherings alike. Book ahead if you’re interested in a private group tasting featuring Bennett’s finest offerings. The menu is heavy on Sonoma-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Where: 127 E Napa St, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 12pm to 6pm
Winery Sixteen 600 (Tasting House)
The farthest tasting room on our list is still less than a block from Sonoma Plaza, and it’s worth the “hike.” The laid-back tasting room is a celebration of home and friendship, with comfy couches and chairs and a warm ambiance that puts first-time guests at ease.
Where: 589 1st St W, Sonoma
Hours: Daily, 10am to 3pm or 4pm
Things to Know About Wine Tasting Near Sonoma Plaza
Sonoma’s wine-tasting culture is famously open and laid-back, but it’s best not to go into a day of wine tasting totally unprepared. Here’s what you should know before you begin your experience here.
Tasting Room Hours
If you’re new to wine tasting in Northern California, you might be surprised to learn that most winery tasting rooms here follow abbreviated hours. This is down to a variety of factors, from ongoing staffing challenges across the service sector to the tremendous amount of work that must happen behind the scenes to ensure every guest has an amazing experience.
As you can see from the list above, tasting room hours vary. But wineries generally open their doors to guests between 10am and 11am on days when they’re open to the public. Tastings continue through at least mid-afternoon, with the last seatings generally coming at 3:30pm or 4pm.
This “last seating” part is important. Even Sonoma wineries that don’t require reservations (and there are plenty) may turn away guests who arrive close to the posted closing time. Wineries that do require reservations often post last seating hours on their websites. The last seating usually comes 60 minutes before posted closing.
Downtown Sonoma tasting rooms do tend to have longer hours than tasting rooms at active production facilities in the Sonoma countryside. So if you’re hoping to grab a glass at 5pm or later, focus on these Sonoma Plaza-area spots.
Wine Tasting Etiquette
If you haven’t been wine tasting for a while (or ever) you likely have an outdated idea of what it’s like. Its persistent reputation as a stuffy, snooty activity for ultra-rich snobs is entirely undeserved. Wine tasting is for everyone.
That said, wine tasting is a little different than, say, going to the gym. Some tasting rooms accept walk-ins and have open seating, but others require reservations and seat all guests at tables or high-tops. Tastings are often paced, which means they’re supervised by a knowledgeable staff member who pours each glass, explains what’s in it, and fields questions while guests taste.
So it’s best to think of wine tasting as similar to dining out at a nice restaurant. Maybe not a wildly overpriced white-tablecloth joint, but not your neighborhood food truck, either.
Tasting Room Attire
On the subject of wine tasting etiquette, some notes about what to wear while wine tasting in Sonoma.
If there’s a chance you’ll take your tasting experience outdoors, dress for the weather. During the summer months, wear light, breathable clothing. In the cooler season, wear (or at least bring) an extra layer to don and doff as needed. It doesn’t hurt to call ahead and ask about heating and cooling in outdoor areas — many wineries have fans and heating elements outside, but not all.
Indoors or out, go for a “casual elegance” look. Whatever this means to you is probably fine with your hosts, as long as it doesn’t involve beach wear.
Oh, and wear white at your own risk. We’ve seen our share of wine-tasting accidents.
Pet and Child Policies
You could easily fill a long weekend of wine tasting and still not visit every dog-friendly Sonoma winery. Still, check each stop’s website for details on whether they allow pets and what, if any, restrictions pet owners must follow. (Dogs may be restricted to outdoor areas, for example.)
Call ahead if the website is unclear. Pet policies can and do change over time.
The same applies to kids and young adults under 21. Some wineries are affirmatively kid-friendly, while others require that everyone be of legal drinking age (or at least 18). Again, it never hurts to ask.
Guided Tastings vs. Tasting Flights and Wines by the Glass
The default wine-tasting experience is “guided,” led by an experienced host who pours each glass and explains what you’re drinking. But it’s increasingly common for Sonoma tasting rooms — especially in downtown Sonoma — to offer self-guided tasting flights and wines by the glass.
Research your options before you arrive so you can tailor your experience to your preferences. If you want to sip and chat casually with your companions, a by-the-glass approach might be the better bet. If wine education is your main goal, go with a guided tasting.